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Kiriella takes up call by clergy for early vaccination
Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella and Colombo District SJB MP Dr Harsha de Silva meeting Ven Ittepane Dhammalankara Nayaka Thera in Kottawa yesterday
Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella yesterday called on the government to make arrangements to give priority to members of the Maha Sangha and clergy of other religions in Covid vaccination programmes.
Speaking to the media after meeting with Ven Ittepane Dhammalankara Nayaka Thera, MP Kiriella said that his party requested from the government to give priority to bhikkhus, members of the Catholic clergy, Kurukkal of kovils and Moulavis of mosques in giving the covid vaccine. “The religious leaders made the request in that regard. All religious leaders are rendering a huge service by helping people to stay calm in this situation. Their service should be appreciated. They should be given priority in the vaccination programme,” MP Kiriella said.
He said the government had neglected the upcountry areas, specially the Kandy district, in its vaccination project. “PCR tests are not conducted. It is sad to say that the entire central province has only a single PCR machine. We call on the government to pay more attention to Kandy because that area is only second to Colombo in terms of vulnerability,” the MP said.
Kiriella said that Ven Dhammalankara Nayaka Thera had been informed of the government’s plan to rush the Colombo Port City Commission Bill in Parliament. “We have asked the government to postpone the Bill being debated in Parliament. Yet the government seems to be adamant in its plans to move ahead and get the Bill passed soon. We seek the intervention of the Maha Sangha to suspend this process for some time,” MP Kiriella said.
Colombo District SJB MP Dr Harsha de Silva was also present.
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Russian Embassy, Russian House, unveil plaque at Public Library in honour of 80th anniversary of victory day
The Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Russian House in Colombo unveiled a plaque at the public library Colombo today (29th April) in honour of the 80th anniversary of victory day.
Victory Day is celebrated on the 9th of May, the day Nazi Germany was defeated in World War II. It is an important date in the Russian calendar and an integral part of Russian culture.
The plaque was jointly unveiled by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka Lenav Dzhagaryan and Ms Maria Popova Counsellor of the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka and Director of the Russian House in Colombo
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Ministerial committee appointed to review and further enhance ‘State Commercial Enterprises Management draft bill’
It has been recognized that the state enterprises should be re – structured and maintained with proper administration with the assistance of local or foreign investments without being a continuous burden to the General Treasury and the country’s economy. Therefore, it is the policy of the new government to introduce an efficient and accountable mechanism in the regard. An initial draft named “State Commercial Enterprises Management Draft Bill” has been already prepared to introduce a new legal framework required for maintaining after performing necessary restructuring and with proper management of government owned business companies. Thereon, it will be possible to totally free the state entrepreneurship establishments from political influences and appoint professionals with proficiency for its board of directors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to grant policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for the said initial draft and appoint a special committee with the following composition to submit appropriate proposals for further enhancing after reviewing the initial draft:
• Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour and the Deputy Minister of Economic Development – (Chairman)
• Hon. Sunil Handunneththi Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship
• Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co – operative Development
• Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Sooriyapperuma Deputy Minister of Finance Plan Implementation
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to appoint Thilak Nandana Hettiarachchi, a special grade officer in Sri Lanka Administrative Service who served in the post of Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Buddha Shasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, to the post of Commissioner General of Official Languages with immediate effect.
Russian Embassy, Russian House, unveil plaque at Public Library in honour of 80th anniversary of victory day
Ministerial committee appointed to review and further enhance ‘State Commercial Enterprises Management draft bill’
Thilak Nandana Hettiarachchi appointed Commissioner General of Official Languages
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