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Emergency for fear of street protests: Kiriella

Published

5 years ago

2021/09/5

by Saman Indrajith

The government has brought about emergency laws as it is worried of the possibility of people taking to the streets against the suffering, says the main Opposition SJB.

Addressing a press conference held at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo on Friday, Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella said that the government was engulfed by the fears of public outcry and massive protests.

“It is afraid that people will take to the streets. That happened in India when the government there could not control the prices and provide for people. It is easy to predict that the public outraged by the shortages and suppression by the government could repeat the same here. So they have introduced emergency rules to mobilise the forces against such rallies and protests,” Kiriella said.

He said that the government introduced the emergency rules stating that it was for the purpose of price controls of essential goods. “You do not need emergency laws to implement price controls. We have enough laws for that purpose. We have the Consumer Affairs Act and the prices of essential goods and services could be controlled under the provisions of that Act,” he said.

The Chief Opposition Whip said that the government was gripped by the fear of a wave of public protests. “It is afraid that it would face the same fate that its Indian counterpart had experienced when around 2.5 million farmers took to the streets of New Delhi several months back.

“The government knows that whenever it opens the country there would be protests by public servants, teachers, farmers and youth will come out condemning this rule by an impotent cabal. Some political parties have already made public statements to that effect and pledged that they would bring people to the capital to protest against the government.

“It is for the purpose of controlling that rising opposition against the government that they have introduced the emergency rules,” Kiriella said.

SJB National List MP Mayantha Dissanayake also addressed the press.

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Police officers donate LKR 9,687,462 from day’s salary to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

Published

5 hours ago

2026/04/27

Priyan

A sum of LKR. 9,687,462, raised from day’s salary officers of the Police Department, has been donated to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to support the recovery of communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah and to assist in rebuilding the country following the disaster.

To date, officers of the Police Department have contributed over LKR. 74 million to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund through three such contributions of one day’s salary.

The donation was presented on Wednesday (22) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat by the Personal Assistant to the Inspector General of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police C. C. Bamunuarachchi, to the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Chief Inspector Udaya Kumara, Officer-in-Charge of the Police Secretariat, was also present on the occasion.

[Presidents Media Division]

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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time

Published

13 hours ago

2026/04/27

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 26 April 2026, valid for 27 April 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry
of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

News

Opposition asks for PSC to probe Treasury theft

Published

14 hours ago

2026/04/27

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sajith

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the illegal diversion of Treasury funds, amounting to US$2.5 million to a third-party account.

Premadasa has said both the chairmanship and a majority of the Committee’s membership should be held by the Opposition to ensure impartiality.

The government has not only failed to account for the loss of US$2.5 million but also deliberately withheld information from Parliament, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) and the public, Premadasa has told the media, accusing the ruling party of seeking to deflect responsibility by initiating an internal departmental inquiry, which he describes as a biased process designed to justify predetermined conclusions.

The Opposition Leader has said only a transparent and independent probe could establish the facts, adding that such an investigation could be effectively carried out through a Parliamentary Select Committee led by the Opposition.

He has also warned that the alleged failure to inform Parliament about the missing funds amounted to a serious breach of accountability.