The government is focusing on providing packs of essential food items to low-income earners in preparation for the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

In order to make policy decisions related to ensuring food security, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, K.D. Lalkantha, and Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe, along with members of the Food Policy and Security Committee, gathered for the third time on Monday (24) at the Parliament premises to focus on these matters.

The meeting also concentrated on ensuring the continuous availability of essential food items without shortages during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year period, as well as maintaining price control over these goods.

During the meeting, the budget proposal to allocate Rs.01 billion to provide essential food items at subsidized prices to low-income families during the festive season was thoroughly discussed.
The discussion also focused on maintaining essential goods’ prices at minimal levels in the market, with particular attention given to the reduction of bakery product prices.

The purchase of rice was another key point of discussion, with attention directed towards ensuring that rice mill owners use the credit facilities provided to purchase the appropriate quantities of rice. Concerns were raised that some rice mill owners were using the credit for other purposes, and officers were instructed to investigate these matters.

It was disclosed that several prominent rice mill owners had obtained over 15 billion rupees in bank loans for the procurement of rice. Consequently, the government plans to purchase 250,000 metric tons of rice and has focused on encouraging smaller rice mill owners to engage in the purchasing process. Officials were further directed to ensure the prevention of any rice shortages.

Additionally, the meeting discussed the expansion of the cooperative and Sathosa trade networks to offer essential goods at subsidized prices to consumers. The establishment of a consumer-friendly market, supported by effective price controls, was also addressed.

The meeting included the participation of Secretary to the Prime Minister, Pradeep Saputhanthri, Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Kapila Janaka Bandara, and other members of the Food Policy and Security Committee, consisting of ministry secretaries.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has said the government’s failure to take action against those responsible for extra-judicial killings has led to allegations of a culture impunity.

The BASL has emphasised the need for the police to take all necessary action against officers who are responsible for custodial deaths and extra-judicial killings.

The following is the text of the statement issued yesterday: “On 19th February 2025, a suspect was shot dead inside the Magistrate’s Court of Colombo whilst in the custody of Prison authorities.

Thereafter, on the night of 21st February 2025, two suspects were shot by the Police whilst in custody, allegedly during a confrontation. It is alleged they were involved in a killing which occurred earlier that night in Kotahena.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) expresses grave concern over the spate of incidents, which pose a grave threat to the rule of law in the country.

It is imperative that the law enforcement agencies, namely the Police and Prison Authorities, exercise great caution and act with utmost responsibility to prevent such incidents, as such incidents would tend to erode public trust in the legal system.

The BASL regrets to note that similar encounter killings have occurred in the past without proper investigation, and no meaningful action has been taken to bring the culprits to justice.

This inaction on the part of the law enforcement authorities has led to allegations of a climate of impunity on the part of the State. Such failures have resulted in the administration of justice being called into question and a significant loss of public confidence in its efficacy.

Extra Judicial killings can never be a solution in confronting increase in criminal activity. Crime can best be curbed when there is adherence to the rule of law by the State.

The BASL calls upon the Acting Inspector General of Police to launch an immediate impartial inquiry to investigate how the said two persons were killed at the hands of the Police and to take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such serious incidents of encounter killings and custodial deaths.

Further, the BASL strongly emphasizes the need for the Police to take all necessary action against officers who are responsible for the culture of custodial deaths and extrajudicial killings to ensure that such incidents are eradicated from society.

This is imperative to strengthen the rule of law and restore public confidence in the justice system. The BASL will continue to closely monitor the progress of the investigations and assure its unwavering support in the efforts to ensure that the law enforcement system provides safety and security to all citizens.”

Leader of the House and Transport Minister Bimal Ratnayake informed the House yesterday that Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya had been appointed Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on High Posts.

The Committee on High Posts examines the suitability of persons who have been either appointed to any post or nominated to hold office in any post determined by the Cabinet of Ministers and makes recommendations regarding such persons.