News
Ramanayake languishes in prison while big time criminals are pardoned – former Speaker
Former MP Ranjan Ramanayake is languishing in prison while big-time criminals are pardoned by the President, Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Chairman of the National Movement for Social Justice, says.
Ramanayake’s career and health had been ruined because he fought against corruption, Jayasurya said, yesterda, addressing the media. “This is another example of how there is one law for the rich and the powerful, and another for others.”.
“In recent times, the government is harping on the ‘One Country, One Law’ policy. However, recent events have made it clear that one law exists to protect the powerful while another law exists to oppress the downtrodden. The majority of people today have come to understand this reality,” he said.
Jayasuriya said that the existing laws, rules, and regulations were sufficient to implement the government’s ‘One Country, One Law’ policy. “Justice and the rule of law can only prevail if the police, the public service and the legal sector are not politically influenced. If these are independent, democracy will be protected. People will be assured of their fundamental rights,” he said.
The government had failed to address any of the serious issues that were affecting the country, the former speaker said. The number of Covid-19 patients were rising and deaths had also occurred due to natural disasters such as floods and landslides, Jayasuriya said.
“People are being forced to queue for long hours to obtain essential items, such as food, gas, sugar and milk powder as a result of shortages directly linked to failures in management of the current government. Therefore, it is evident that the lives of the Sri Lankan people today are in complete disarray. They are disappointed and disillusioned as the government has failed to resolve these issues despite receiving unlimited powers through the 20th Amendment and securing a 2/3 majority in Parliament,” he said.
The former Speaker added that the government’s organic fertiliser policy had been a disaster. While organic agriculture was the future, it should be done following expert advice and consultation. It was obvious that the government had taken the decision to go green without any thinking or planning, he said.
“The government decided to ban the import of agrochemicals without talking to anyone. This should have been done differently and now the idea of organic agriculture is tainted. Because there has been no planning, the yield of many crops have drastically reduced not only due to the lack of fertiliser but also due to a decision made by farmers to halt cultivation until a solution is reached.
“Experts have already predicted that reduction of the yield by around 40 per cent is probable in the near future. There is also a significant price increase of vegetables. The lack of any relief on the rising cost of living in the recent Budget has also caused great concern among the public. It must be noted that the failure to compensate for the reduction in yields caused by the fertiliser crisis, and the effects of the human-elephant conflict in the Budget is a serious oversight,” he said.
Latest News
Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.
The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.
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.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.
Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.
Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.
In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.
Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.
The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.
The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.
He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.
According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.
Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.
However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.
-
Features6 days agoRuGoesWild: Taking science into the wild — and into the hearts of Sri Lankans
-
News5 days agoOrders under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruptions Act No. 9 of 2023 for concurrence of parliament
-
Features7 days agoNew species of Bronzeback snake, discovered in Sri Lanka
-
News5 days agoProf. Rambukwella passes away
-
Business20 hours agoPick My Pet wins Best Pet Boarding and Grooming Facilitator award
-
News7 days agoPhoto of Sacred tooth relic: CID launches probe
-
Opinion6 days agoSri Lanka’s Foreign Policy amid Geopolitical Transformations: 1990-2024 – Part IX
-
Features7 days agoSri Lanka’s Foreign Policy amid Geopolitical Transformations: 1990-2024 – Part VIII