News
Anura denies GR inviting them to form government in 2022
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had not invited the National People’s Power (NPP) to form a government during the public protests in 2022, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday (19) in Colombo.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe had said President Rajapaksa invited the NPP to form a government but the NPP shied away from the opportunity, he said.
“This is a blatant lie. Wickremesinghe knows well that neither Gotabaya nor Mahinda invited the NPP to form a government in mid-2022. Why would the Rajapaksas invite us to form a government? We wrote to Gotabaya on 12 May 2022, saying that we were ready to take over, he didn’t even acknowledge that letter from us,” the NPP leader said.
Dissanayake said in July 2022, the MPs had been given the chance to elect an interim President and that he was one of the contestants. “If the Rajapaksas wanted us to take over, they could have voted for me. Did they? They know that an NPP government would punish those involved in corruption. The corrupt politicians who ran the country for the past 76 years, would do everything to stop us.”
Dissanayake said that President Wickremesinghe had managed to secure the support of MPs who made up the worst government in recent Sri Lankan history.
“He has gathered the support of these corrupt Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs and pretends it’s a great achievement. On the other hand, Namal is desperate to woo these people back,” he said.
Dissanayake added that political parties needed to secure the support of the people by informing them of the policies of the party. Sri Lankan voters can no longer be swayed by MPs who cross over for political gain, he said.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to the project to provide technological solutions to prevent wild elephants from being hit by trains was signed yesterday (01) afternoon at the President’s Media Centre, under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Coordinated through the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, the project is being implemented as a public-private partnership, with the Railway Department, the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Forest Conservation Department working together, with full financial support from People’s Bank.
The system consists of three-beam detection, passive infrared (PIR) sensors, automatic temperature sensors and a tamper alarm system to detect animals weighing more than 20 kilogrammes and unauthorised interference. Signal lights (red/yellow/green) installed on either side of the railway tracks, together with a special screen installed inside the locomotive cab, will alert the driver in advance to the exact location of an elephant.
A demonstration test of the system was successfully conducted at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage premises in the presence of the relevant officials, following which a report on the system was prepared.
The system will be implemented as a pilot project from next month at 13 locations where wild elephant accidents are frequent. A newly developed website is also scheduled to be launched to enable the progress of the project to be viewed live.
Additional General Manager of Railways P.D.S.B. Chandrasena, Director General of Wildlife Conservation M.S.L.R.P. Marasinghe, Conservator General of Forests S.C. Palamakuumbura and Chairman of People’s Bank Chandana Guniyangoda signed the relevant MoU. Officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, including Presidential Additional Secretary (Clean Sri Lanka) Engineer S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, as well as senior officials from the Railway Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Conservation Department and People’s Bank, were also present.
[President’s Media Division]
The Commissioner General of Examinations has announced that the results of the 2026 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination have been released online, and can be viewed on the department’s official website: www.doenets.lk
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed Sri Lanka on Monday, 31 August, to undertake an official visit to Bhutan to participate in the Global Conscious Food Systems Summit, scheduled to be held in Bhutan.
During her visit, Prime Minister Dr Amarasuriya participated in the opening plenary of the Summit on 1 September, where she delivered a keynote address under the theme “Rising to the Moment: Igniting Consciousness to Address the Polycrisis.”
The Prime Minister will also engage in discussions with international leaders and representatives on strengthening cooperation towards sustainable food systems, food security and resilient communities.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
MoU signed for technology to prevent wild elephant-train collisions
Grade 5 scholarship exam results released
Prime Minister participates in Global Conscious Food Systems Summit in Bhutan
Bouchier century sets England up for record 282-run chase against Ireland
Muneeba, Pakistan’s spinners knock Thailand out of Asia Cup
Showers will occur in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News6 days agoEight politicians in drug kingpin probe
-
Features4 days ago“Wrap Me Up in My Blazer”— A Gentlemanly Bradby Reminiscence
-
Business6 days agoSri Lanka opens up: A new season of direct connectivity
-
Features6 days agoRedefining ageing in Sri Lanka
-
Latest News6 days agoNepal-Tibet floods: What happened, what caused them and who is missing?
-
Features3 days agoWhen Sri Lankan stories find their own voice
-
Editorial7 days agoUnfolding El Niño and burning issues
-
Editorial6 days agoThe toxic legacy of two lakes