News
Sajith warns: Don’t let trade union action stall cyclone relief
Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa on Friday stressed that relief efforts for communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah must not be derailed by internal disputes, as several trade unions announced plans to withdraw from disaster relief duties.
Taking to ‘X’, Premadasa called on the Government to prioritise coordination and ensure uninterrupted assistance to families still awaiting aid.
“The Government must work closely with officers on the ground to ensure coordination and uninterrupted support. When families are still waiting, how can we allow for this confusion?” he questioned, emphasising that relief measures should not be delayed under any circumstances.
His remarks follow the decision by several trade unions representing Government officers engaged in disaster relief operations to launch trade union action beginning from Friday (27 February).
The unions announced their withdrawal from relief-related duties, citing unresolved issues affecting officers involved in post-disaster operations.
According to the unions, more than 93 days have elapsed since the widespread destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah. During this period, disaster relief officers and Grama Niladharis have worked continuously, day and night, acting as key coordinators between the Government and affected communities. However, they claim that authorities have failed to adequately address longstanding concerns relating to officers engaged in relief work.
Meanwhile, Secretary to the President Nandika Sanath Kumanayake yesterday underscored the need to expedite relief and recovery initiatives.
Chairing a progress review meeting of the National Council for Disaster Management, he called for strengthened coordination among State institutions responsible for disaster response, noting that effective inter-agency collaboration is critical to delivering timely assistance to affected communities.
Efforts to accelerate recovery and maintain continuity in relief operations are ongoing.
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]
Winners to receive medals at Western Province School Games after many years
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
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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