News
LSSP leader Prof. Tissa Vitarana condemns Israel’s attack on Palestine, calls for global action
In a strongly worded statement issued to the media on Friday, Prof. Tissa Vitarana, leader of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), condemned the ongoing attack on Palestine by Israel, supported by the American government, and highlighted its global impact.
Prof. Vitarana described the conflict as “one of the worst human-made disasters in history,” surpassing even the atrocities of the Second World War. He noted that while the Nazis avoided attacking hospitals marked with red crosses, the Israeli government, led by Netanyahu, has waged war in a vicious manner, destroying schools and homes, killing over 45,000 people, and wounding more than 100,000, 75% of whom are women and children. He criticized Israel’s actions as a “war of extermination,” depriving Palestinians of food, water, medicine, and electricity under the guise of targeting “terrorists.”
The LSSP leader also addressed the recent ceasefire, facilitated partly by the US, with Trump aiming to emulate Barack Obama and win a Nobel Prize as a peacemaker. While Hamas and Hezbollah have observed the ceasefire, Prof. Vitarana accused Israel of repeatedly violating it by killing and wounding innocent Palestinians, refusing to withdraw its soldiers, and banning UNRWA, the UN agency providing essential supplies to the people. He commended the UN Secretary-General for labeling Netanyahu and the Israeli military general as war criminals but expressed disappointment at the international community’s silence.
Prof. Vitarana emphasized the need for a two-state solution, urging the UN to recognize Palestine as an independent, sovereign state. He also highlighted the plight of Palestinians returning to Gaza and the West Bank, only to find their homes destroyed or severely damaged. Despite Israel’s ban, UNRWA continues to operate under UN direction, providing critical aid to the affected population.
On a related note, Prof. Vitarana drew attention to the global problem of hunger and starvation, exacerbated by rising food prices driven by profiteering middlemen. He cited Sri Lanka’s experience during the 1972/73 economic crisis, when Dr. N.M. Perera, then Finance Minister, successfully tackled the issue by establishing Producer and Consumer Cooperatives linked through a Marketing Department. Prof. Vitarana called for the revival of this model in Sri Lanka and suggested it as a valuable example for other countries facing similar challenges.
by Saman Indrajith
TheBatalanda Presidential Co-mission report was tabled in Parliament yesterday (14) by the Leader of the House and Transport Minister, Bimal Ratnayake.
Minister Ratnayake announced that the government has decided to forward the report to the Attorney General for legal advice. Additionally, a Presidential Committee will be appointed to provide guidance and recommendations on how to proceed with the findings of the report.
Ratnayake said that the Cabinet-of-Ministers, along with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has made a policy decision to take necessary action in response to the report. He reassured the public that steps are being taken to ensure that such a dark chapter in the country’s history is never repeated.
Minister Ratnayake said that a two-day debate on the Batalanda Commission report will be scheduled in Parliament at an appropriate time, allowing for a detailed discussion on the report’s findings and recommendations.
The report, which will be printed in all three official languages—Sinhala, Tamil, and English—will be made available to the public in the near future. Ratnayake confirmed that printed copies would be provided to Members of Parliament, as well as the general public, for review.
The Leader of the House revealed that there are 28 evidence volumes associated with the Commission’s work, which will be submitted to Parliament at a later date for further scrutiny.
Ratnayake said that as the entire country is concerned about the findings of the Batalanda Commission, the government’s commitment to addressing the issues raised, and preventing future atrocities, stands clear. The next steps, including legal action and policy recommendations, will be shaped by expert advice and informed parliamentary discussions, he said.
The Parliamentary watchdog Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has found that there were fake documents regarding the importing of medicines under the emergency procurement system in 2022 and 2023.
This was revealed during a COPE meeting held at Parliament probing the transactions of the National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA).
NMRA CEO Saveen Semage told the Committee that several fake documents have been found due to the lack of registration of medicines.
Stating that six such fake documents were found last year alone, Saveen Semage said he had recorded statements regarding each of the documents with the Financial Crimes Investigation Division.
He revealed that, however, no investigations have been conducted yet into the incidents.
“We have documents with confessions from a woman accepting that fake documents had been made. However, a statement has not even been recorded from that woman yet,” he said.
Meanwhile, COPE member MP Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana also revealed that the highest number of waive-off registrations (WOR) for medicines had been obtained in 2022 and 2023.
He said 656 waive-off registrations (WOR) had been obtained in 2022 and 261 in 2023, adding that this proves that discrepancies have taken place during the emergency procurement of medicines during these periods.
Furthermore, Deputy Director General of the Medical Supplies Division of the Health Ministry, Dr. G. Wijesuriya, said discussions are underway on allowing the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) to directly import essential medicines.He pointed out that it was essential to take a policy decision in this regard as a solution to mitigate such discrepancies.
by Norman Palihawadane
Department of Prisons’ Media Spokesperson, Gamini Dissanayake said yesterday that retired Superintendent of the high security Boossa Prison, Siridath Dhammika, who was tragically gunned down at Thalagaha, in Akmeemana, on Thursday (13), had been provided with a firearm for his protection during his tenure, considering the potential threat to his life.
Dissanayake said that during his service period, he had received threats from certain individuals.
Furthermore, the Prison Department stated that during his service, there were no significant issues or shortcomings found in his personal records.
Dissanayake said that the majority of detainees at the Boossa Prison are individuals linked to organized crimes.
Batalanda Commission report tabled … finally
COPE finds fake documents submitted for emergency procurement of drugs
Retired Superintendent of High Security Boossa Prison had threats – Prison Spokesman
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