News
Johnston tells Dayasiri to solve portfolio problem within SLFP
Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday said that the allocation of cabinet ministerial posts among the SLFP members was a matter solely in the hands of the SLFP and other allied parties of the SLPP government had nothing to do with it.
The Minister said so responding to a question raised by a journalist, during a ceremony at Laggala, on a statement made by State Minister of Batik, Handloom and Local Apparel Products Dayasiri Jayasekera that Basil Rajapaksa and Secretary to the President, Dr. P.B. Jayasundera created state ministries such as for clay, cinnamon, pepper and batik, which he received were ridiculed by the people, Minister Fernando said State Minister Jayasekera, as the General Secretary of the SLFP, should have known better. “When the SLPP government was formed the number of Cabinet ministerial posts had been distributed among the allied parties. Likewise, the SLFP got two Cabinet posts and they nominated Nimal Siripala de Silva and Mahinda Amaraweera for them. It is up to the SLFP state ministers do solve the matter, within their party, whether they want to make a change and appoint Jayasekera or some other in place of the current Cabinet ministers they have. They have mixed up the facts and the issue and now make statements. Minister Jayasekera says that he is ready to work with the President and the Prime Minister and asks for a better position. It is a matter that they should solve within the SLFP of which Dayasiri, as the General Secretary, could effect that change. We also deny the accusation that the state ministers have been reduced to the level of mere rubber stamps. We know how the previous government treated the state ministers, but under this government the allocations and tasks assigned to them have been gazetted as a means to give them power. If anyone thinks that baseless allegations could help them attract public support they are mistaken and that will be proven when they go to the poll next time,” Minister Fernando said, adding that Jayasekera should first decide whether he would hold the Batik Ministry portfolio or exchange it with Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva’s Labour and then solve that matter within the SLFP.
Members of the South Asian Journalists Forum have gathered at the University of New Delhi for a two day conference themed ‘Peace and Co-operation’.
Journalists from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India are attending the conference hosted by the University of Delhi in collaboration with the India Chapter of SJF, and will deliberate on how the media can act as a catalyst for regional stability and mutual coexsistence.
A tree plantation campaign was also held at the Ghandi Bhawan premises of the University to mark the event and symbolize growing regional ties.
The Sri Lanka delegation is led by President of SJF’s Sri Lanka Chapter Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi.
The Governor of the of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat, along with the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Harsh Sanghvi, met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Thursdy [February 05] at the Parliamentary Complex to discuss the arrangements related to the exposition of the Devnimori Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha, which have been brought to Sri Lanka under the patronage of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India.
These sacred relics of Lord Buddha were discovered during archaeological excavations conducted in the 1960s at the historic Devnimori site in Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Until now, these relics had never been taken outside India. As a result of discussions held between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Sri Lanka, the people of Sri Lanka have been granted this rare opportunity to venerate these sacred relics.
The exposition of the relics is being held for a period of seven days, from February 05 to February 11, at the Gangaramaya Temple in Hunupitiya, Colombo. Discussions were held between both parties regarding the arrangements related to this event.
The discussion was attended by Samar Nanda, Joint Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Culture; Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, Acting High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka; Abhijit Halder, Director General of the International Buddhist Confederation; along with several others.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) GHARIAL made a port call in Colombo for operational turnarounds on 04 Feb 26. The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in compliance with naval traditions.
Commanded by Commander Gaurav Tewari, INS GHARIAL is a vessel with a length of 124.8 meters.
During this visit, ten (10) Bailey Bridges, brought by ship, through the coordination of the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka, will be handed over to the Disaster Management Center. These bridges will provide temporary transportation links while bridges damaged across the island by adverse weather conditions are repaired.
The crew’s itinerary features scheduled goodwill activities with the Sri Lanka Navy, alongside visits to several tourist attractions across the island.
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