News
Now, Devananda boasts of having got jab for Jaffna
By Shamindra Ferdinando
EPDP leader and Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda has become the latest Minister to claim he got the Covid-19 vaccine doses for the people of his electoral district––Jaffna.
The Jaffna district has received 50,000 doses of a Sinopharm stock recently received from China. Altogether China delivered 1.1 mn doses on March 30 and May 26.
Political sources alleged that Minister Devananda was seeking, like some of the other ministers, petty political advantage at the expense of the government. Responding to The Island queries, sources said that the government released vaccines for the Jaffna district in line with overall assessment of the situation.
The Fisheries Ministry, in a statement dated May 30 quoted Minister Devananda as having said that the inoculation drive would begin on Monday (31). Minister Devananda has issued instructions to relevant officials to launch the inoculation on Monday in areas affected by the Covid-19 epidemic. However, the Jaffna vaccination programme got underway yesterday (30) with Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa reaching there overland to oversee the programme.
Minister Rajapaksa accompanied by SLPP MP Angajan Ramanathan and Northern Province Governor P.M.S. Charles visited several vaccination centers at Nallur,
Kaithady, Karaweddi and Point Pedro.
The Sports Ministry quoted lawmaker Namal Rajapaksa having invited those 30 years of age and above to get the first dose and others to receive vaccine in their respective electorates.
The vaccination programme for the public initially confined to the Western Province comprising Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts has been expanded to Galle and Matara in the Southern Province and Kurunegala in the North Western Province, Kandy District in the Central Province, Ratnapura and Jaffna in the Sabaragamuwa and Northern Provinces, respectively.
Several politicians, including Gampaha District SLPP heavyweight Prasana Ranatunga and Kandy District Minister Keheliya Rambulwella among others declared they would get vaccines for their districts.
Authoritative sources however insisted that expansion of the inoculation drive depends on proper health ministry assessment of the situation in a particular district not based on political considerations.
Meanwhile controversy over the ongoing vaccination drive took an unexpected turn yesterday with Health Minister Pavitradevi Wanniarachchi declaring that inoculation at Abhyaramaya temple, Narahenpita hadn’t been carried out under the purview of her ministry. Minister Wanniarachchi was responding to Ven Muruththettuwe Ananda Nayaka thera accusation that the government bungled the inoculation drive.
News
Cabinet nod to increase the number of new automated passenger clearance gates at the Bandaranayake International Airport to 12
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 19.05.2025 to purchase four (04) automated passenger clearance gates for Bandaranayake International Airport.
In addition, it is expected to extend the automated passenger clearance gates facility so far given only to the Sri Lankans
parallel to the e – passport issuance system to be introduced in the year 2027 also to the foreigners who travel to and from this country.
Furthermore, considering also the number of air passengers rapidly increasing with the fast – forwarding business and tourism field, the appropriateness to increase the total automated passenger clearance gates up to twelve (12) in number has been recognized.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers, approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs to initiate the procurement and installation of 12
automated passenger clearance gates altogether with the already approved four (04) and another eight (08) automated passenger clearance gates adhering to the formal procurement procedure
Based on the observations submitted by the Task Force on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing for Terrorism, approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 18.12.2024 to amend the Trust Ordinance No. 9 of 1917 including amendments proposed by the Financial
Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the Trust (Amendment) Draft Bill formulated by the Legal Draftsman.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Justice and National Integration
to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby, submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Action was taken to provide a fuel relief for the fuel consumers during the months of April, May and June of 2026 to redress by minimizing the impact caused to the day today life of the citizens of this country as well as the entire economy due to the price hike of petroleum fuel in the global market resulting from the war situation in the Middle East.
Government mediation is essential for minimizing the impact on the day to today life of citizens in this country due to that war situation not being ended further. Therefore, it has been planned to redress on the sale price for Auto Diesel and Industrial Diesel for a period of 03 months by the Government to provide relief to the public as well as to maintain the prices at a bearable level to the consumers without escalating the fuel prices in this country compared to the escalation of fuel prices
in the international market.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to
allocate provisions subject to the monthly limitations respectively as rupees 15 billion for the month of October, rupees 13.5 billion for the month of November and rupees 12.15 billion for the month of December to provide the said relief
Cabinet nod to increase the number of new automated passenger clearance gates at the Bandaranayake International Airport to 12
Draft Bill for amending the Trust Ordinance
Implementing further relief programme to Public sffected by the Middle East conflict situation
Establishment of a Spectrum Management and Monitoring System and a Quality of Service and Quality of Experience System for the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka
Appointment of a Committee for the Restitution of Sri Lankan Cultural Heritage Held Abroad
Ten-Year National Action Plan on the Social Protection Sector (2026–2035)
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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