News

Udaya slams SLPP Gen. Secy. for demanding his resignation over fuel price hikes

Published

5 years ago

2021/06/14

Sahan Weerasooriya

… questions Kariyawasam’s agenda: President sets the record straight

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila yesterday (13) told a hastily arranged media briefing at his Ministry that the economy was in such bad shape that the government couldn’t have further delayed the upward revision of fuel prices.

Attorney-at-law Gammanpila revealed that the Central Bank in a missive dated May 31 strongly advised the Treasury to increase fuel prices or face the consequences.

Minister Gammanpila, who is also the leader of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya emphasized that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the Finance Minister, authorized the price increase.

Minister Gammanpila said so in response to SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam’s scathing attack on him over the price increase.

Kariyawasam, in a statement issued on behalf of the SLPP, questioned Minister Gammanpila’s motives. The National List MP went to the extent of questioning whether Minister Gammanpila pursued a hidden agenda to undermine the SLPP and its leadership.

Soon after the conclusion of Minister Udaya Gammanpila’s media briefing yesterday, the Presidential Secretariat issued a statement explaining the circumstances leading to the fuel price hike. The statement essentially endorsed the views expressed by Minister Gammanpila at the briefing.

The Presidential Secretariat explained that the primary reason for the price hike was that the CPC owed a staggering Rs 652 to the Bank of Ceylon and the People’s Bank whereas the CEB owed Rs 85 bn to the same banks.

Minister Gammanpila told the media that if Kariyawasam issued a statement in his capacity as an MP, he would have ignored it. However, the issues raised on behalf of the SLPP couldn’t be disregarded, Minister Gammanpila said, revealing that he announced the price increase on June 11 in the wake of a committee chaired by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa deciding on the move on June 09.

According to Minister Gammanpila, the committee comprised President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Trade Minister Bandula Gunawadena, Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Power Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa and State Ministers Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Lasantha Alagiyawanna and himself.

Minister Gammanpila said that before he made the announcement Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa furnished written approval for the increase. Referring to MP Kariyawasam’s letter that demanded Minister Gammanpila’s immediate resignation over fuel price hike, the PHU leader emphasized that it was a government decision.

Gammanpila said that the SLPP General Secretary shouldn’t find fault with him for a collective decision taken by a committee headed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Having explained the financial crisis that had been caused by growing losses due to underpricing of fuel, Minister Gammanpila claimed that he was able to prevent fuel price increases on three occasions by making representations to the Treasury since he became the Energy Minister. However, the Treasury had ruled out interventions in the current situation, Minister Gammanpila said, asserting that the accumulation of losses were a very heavy burden on the banking sector. Declaring that the Petroleum Corporation owed banks as much as over Rs 600 bn, Minister Gammanpila warned of possible collapse of the banking sector if remedial measures weren’t taken.

Responding to a query, Minister Gammanpila said that he volunteered to make the announcement at his expense as he wanted to save President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. According to the PHU leader, State Minister Cabraal attended his media briefing as Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s representative. Actually, MP Kariyawasam had lambasted the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa by issuing a statement therefore the issue at hand was who should accept responsibility for wholly unnecessary development and resign.

MP Kariyawasam didn’t answer his mobile phone.

Claiming that SLPP leader Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa and its Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris hadn’t been aware of Kariyawasam’s missive, Minister Gammanpila asked who gave the MP authority to issue such a statement.

Minister Gammanpila side-stepped query whether SLPP strategist Basil Rajapaksa was behind the move. A smiling Minister Gammanpila said that Basil Rajapaksa wasn’t behind him. The Minister wanted the media to raise it with lawmaker Kariyasawam.

Responding to another query, Minister Gammanpila questioned the rationale in Kariyawasam’s actions, while making reference to the SLPP General Secretary previously taking on National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa in the wake of the latter urging the SLPP to accommodate President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the decision making process of the party.

Minister Gammanpila said that five years ago the public didn’t know who Sagara Kariyawasam was. However, in the wake of Kariyawasam’s battle with Minister Weerawansa, people got to know him. “My mother, a retired principal, inquired from me who Sagara Kariyawasam was after he demanded Minister Weerawansa’s resignation,” lawmaker Gammanpila said.

Minister Gammanpila said that Kariyawasam’s objectives needed to be examined. The minister declined to reveal what President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa told him after SLPP General Secretary demanded his resignation.

Minister Gammanpila strongly defended the decision to increase fuel prices regardless of the difficulties experienced by the public.

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News

Prime Minister on official visit to Manila, Philippines

Published

2 mins ago

2026/03/9

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed for Manila, Philippines, at midnight on 8 March on an official visit at the invitation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), where she will participate in events marking International Women’s Day.

Upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila, the Prime Minister was welcomed by Dr. Chanaka Thalpahewa, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Philippines, along with officials of the Government of the Philippines and representatives of the Asian Development Bank.

During the visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the International Women’s Day event hosted at the ADB Headquarters in Manila.

On the sidelines of the event, the Prime Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with several Ministers of the Government of the Philippines to further strengthen cooperation and bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the Philippines in areas of mutual interest.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

It is the government’s responsibility to ensure women’s rights are realized in everyday Life, and are not confined merely to Laws – PM

Published

7 mins ago

2026/03/9

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that the political, economic, and social rights of women are not confined merely to laws or written documents, but are realized as a reality in the daily lives of every woman in the country.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating as the Chief Guest at the National Celebration of International Women’s Day 2026, held on March 8 at the Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Auditorium of the University of Ruhuna in Matara under the theme “The Pride of a Prosperous Country – She is the Nation’s Path Forward.”

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister further stated:

“The freedoms we enjoy today including the right to education and political rights were won through the struggles carried out by women throughout history. This day is not merely confined to flowers. Our goal is to safeguard those rights and create an environment where every woman in our country can lead her life towards a better future.

The products of women entrepreneurs in this country should not remain confined to their local areas. The government is working to create an environment to ensure that they become active contributors to the national economy.

At the same time, a proposal has recently been presented by the Parliamentary Women’s Caucus to introduce a National Care Policy in order to recognize both the paid and unpaid contributions made by women for their families and for the country’s economy.

The Prime Minister also emphasized that women have a significant responsibility to stand for humanity in the face of the various crises occurring around the world. She called upon the women of the country to unite with compassion and take the lead in raising their voices for peace.

Addressing the event, Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj stated that a new era has dawned in which the tears and sweat shed by women working abroad to strengthen the country’s foreign reserves will receive due recognition. She further noted that a comprehensive mechanism involving all ministries will be implemented to support women entrepreneurs, female heads of households, and women who have experienced violence.

At this national event, the Prime Minister also presented appreciation awards to 25 successful women entrepreneurs from across the island.

The occasion was attended by the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunneththi, Southern Province Governor Prof. Susiripala Manawadu, Deputy Ministers including Dr. Namal Sudarshana, along with ambassadors, public representatives, and a large number of participants.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

India offered sanctuary to Iranian ship three days before US sank it

Published

31 mins ago

2026/03/9

Priyan

Iranian warship Iris Dena sank after being hit by a US submarine on 4 March [BBC]

The Iranian warship Iris Dena was given permission by India to dock three days before it was torpedoed by a US submarine, India has said.

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said Iran had sought permission for three of its ships to dock at Indian ports on 28 February – the day the US and Israel began a war on Iran – and permission was granted by India on 1 March.

The ships’ movements between 1 and 4 March are not clear and nor is why only one of them made it to India.

The sinking of the Iris Dena, with 130 sailors on board, in international waters off Sri Lanka’s southern coast on 4 March marked a dramatic widening of the war – and raised questions about India’s authority in its backyard.

It was the first military strike outside the Middle East since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran. President Donald Trump has said destroying Iran’s navy is one aim of the assault.

The three Iranian ships – Iris Dena, Iris Bushehr and Iris Lavan – had all participated in a military exercise hosted by India between 15 and 25 February in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam.

They left Indian waters on 25 February and were likely to have been in international waters on 28 February – when the US and Israel began attacking Iran.

“The Iranian side had requested permission on 28 February for three ships in the region to dock at our ports. This was accorded on 1 March,” Jaishankar told parliament on Monday. “Iris Lavan actually docked on 4 March in Kochi. The crew is currently in Indian naval facilities. We believe that this was the right thing to do.”