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Kiriella pooh-poohs rumours of SJB split
Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella, on Saturday, said that there was no split in the SJB, and the rumours being floated about the party were baseless.
In answer to a question raised by a journalist MP Kiriella said: “I assure you that there is no truth in the story doing the rounds that the SJB is divided. We, under the leadership of the Opposition Leader, are forging ahead as a united force. We are a new party and it is owing to the people’s trust in the Opposition Leader we won 52 seats. Sajith Premadasa, as the son of former President Ranasinghe Premadasa, would look after the interests of the down-trodden sections of society. People know that.”
MP Kiriella said that SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa had met a delegation from the EU visiting the country and requested it not to deprive Sri Lanka of the GSP plus concessions. “Yet our leader asked the EU to urge the government to uphold democracy and the rule of law. We asked the EU to urge the government to respect human rights and civil rights of the people. Many people are being held under detention orders. Many trade union leaders and journalists have been harassed. We asked the EU to urge the government but not to deprive the country of GSP plus concession,” he said.
MP Kiriella said that while the EU experts were in the country the CID summoned journalists who had exposed the garlic scam. “The EU has a clear idea of suppression of journalists and they witnessed the way the CID is being used as a coercive means to harass journalists who do not toe the government line. Besides the incident of a minister visiting Anuradhapura and Welikada prisons to threaten inmates too received wide publicity while the EU delegation was in the country. They took notice of such instances,” the MP said.
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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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