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Johnston urges CEB unions not to strike

Published

5 years ago

2021/11/1

New Kelani Bridge Project Director Eng Darshika Jayasekera explaining a point to Highways Minister Fernando during the inspection visit

It is unfair for trade unionists to take people hostage and cut off the power supply for two days to win their political demands, Chief Government Whip Highways Minister Johnston Fernando says.

Responding to journalists’ queries during an inspection tour to observe the finalizing of the work of New Kelani Bridge, which is to be opened, the Minister said that the trade unionists have mixed some of their professional grievances with political agendas of the parties they belong to. “People should understand that these unionists actually are doing politics on the pretext of winning their demands. We can recall how they opposed the East Terminal Development Project of the Colombo Port a few months ago. The end result was Sri Lanka had to give away the West Terminal, which is larger and could have been more profitable. Trade unions have a national responsibility. Whenever there is a threat to the national interest, they should give priority to them over their political agendas,” the Minister said.

“Now, they have threatened a blackout, and keep the country two days in the dark over the Kerawalapitiya power plant project, which will reduce the price of electricity,” Minister Fernando said.

Asked to comment on minor parties in the government holding separate meetings and press conferences on various issues showing differences of opinions, the Minister said: “We are an alliance and there are minor parties that are free to hold separate meetings. We saw that they have been holding such meetings during the recent past. It is their right. That is not a problem for us as a government. All our allies meet every two months to discuss as a single entity.”

Associated with the minister was Secretary to the Ministry of Highways RWR Pemasiri, Chairman of the Road Development Authority Chaminda Athaluwage, Project Director Eng Darshika Jayasekera and other ministry officials.

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Cabinet aporives recruitment of Nursing Instructors for Nursing Schools under the Ministry of Health and Mass Media on Contract Basis

Published

6 hours ago

2026/09/1

Priyan

There are 17 nursing schools under the Ministry of Health and Mass Media including the postgraduate primary nursing school.

There are 142 vacancies in the posts of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education) as on 31.03.2026 in those schools while 24 officers are to be promoted to the special grade on 31.12.2025 owing to the vacancies existing in the post of Special
Grade Nursing Officer (Education). Therefore, the number of vacancies is to be 166.

In addition, there are 24 vacancies in the post of Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education).

Although at present action has been taken to upgrade the nursing schools to nursing colleges and upgrade the nursing diploma course to nursing degree course, no action has been taken so far to carry out recruitment for the training relevant to the appointment for the post of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education).

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to recruit retired nursing instructors and nursing instructors who served in the nursing schools belonging to the three armed forces and are retired or have resigned legitimately from service to the post of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education) on contract basis.

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Signing agreement for the establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Sri Lanka

Published

6 hours ago

2026/09/1

Priyan

It has been decided to establish a BIMSTEC technology transfer facility in Sri Lanka by entering into a Host Country Agreement at the second leaders’ summit of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal
Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) held in New Delhi, India, in 2008, with the objective of enhancing regional cooperation.

The relevant cooperation agreement was signed by the member countries at the 5th BIMSTEC summit on 30-03-2022 in Colombo.
The prime objective of this technology transfer facility is to provide technology, capacity building, and management of intellectual property for the micro, small, and medium-scale
enterprises of the BIMSTEC member countries.

According to the cooperation agreement, an agreement should be entered into between Sri Lanka, as the host country, and BIMSTEC Secretariat for formalizing the legal status, privileges, and immunities of the technology transfer facility.

The drafted agreement has received the relevant institutional approval and legal clearance.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Science and Technology to sign the proposed agreement.

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The cabinet approves agreement on mutual legal cooperation in criminal matters between the Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea

Published

6 hours ago

2026/09/1

Priyan

Approval has been granted at the cabinet meeting held on 11-12-2023 to sign an agreement between the Republic of Korea and the Government of Sri Lanka regarding mutual cooperation
in criminal matters.

However, according to the aforementioned approval, the relevant agreement could not be signed between both parties.

Through this agreement, opportunities will be provided
for mutual assistance to other countries in handing over judicial documents and collecting evidence for the use of criminal case matters.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution provided by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to sign an agreement between the Republic of Korea and the Government of Sri Lanka to cooperate in criminal matters.