News
Muruttetuwe Ananda lashes wrong advice-givers misleading President
by Chaminda Silva
Chief Incumbent of the Abhayaramaya and Chancellor of the Colombo University Ven Muruttetuwe Ananda thero says that without weaning President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from the charlatans and advisors feeding him with wrong ideas, the country cannot be saved.
Addressing a press conference held at the Abhayaramaya in Narahenpita on Thursday, Ven Ananda called the official advisors of President Rajapaksa a group of Kevattayas (wrong advise-giving Pundit from a Jataka story).
“The origin of all the problems the country is facing today could be traced these Kevattayas.
One of them resigned recently. The rest too should be removed if we are to save this country,” Ven Thero said.
He said there were some problems within the government but the president’s advisors were worsening the prevailing situation making it impossible for the government to run the country.
“One such Kevatta gave an advice on the use of organic fertilizers. Now the entire nation blames the government for the bungling over the fertilizer issue. The most urgent thing to do is not to run after dollars but to remove these Kevattas from their positions,” he said.
He said that the story doing the rounds that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is going to resign from his post was a total fabrication. “He will not go. If he’s to resign, he would do so only after informing us,” Ven Ananda thero said.
In terms of the provisions of the Establishments Code on payment of festival advance to government officers, there’s a possibility of obtaining rupees 10,000/- as an advance for celebrating festivals of Theipongal, Ramazan, Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Wesak, Deepavali, and Christmas as well as for pilgrimages (Sri Paada pilgrimage and Hajj pilgrimage).
Provisions have been given to recover the said advance in 08 installments or if required earlier without interest. It has been proposed by the Budget 2026 to increase the said festival advance up to rupees 15,000/-.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local governments to revise the relevant provisions so that the festival advance can be increased up to rupees 15,000/- .
As per the approval given by the cabinet meeting held on 02-06-2025, action is being taken at present to offer the underutilized lands/properties of the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Etate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation Company which are under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure which have been identified under stage one to suitable investors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure to provide following lands/properties on a lease basis to the suitable investors for optimal utilization following the prescribed procurement procedure.
• underutilized lands/properties identified under stage two owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Estate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation
Company,
• The Mawarala watte land and the Tea factory 40.48 hectares in extent, located in Matara District belonging to the Tea Shakthi Fund.
• The underutilized land of 1,541 hectares in extent of Kondachchi Estate is enjoyed by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
The drafting of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has commenced with the objective of equitable distribution of the benefits of the fisheries industry and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. This policy has been updated from time to time according to current requirements. However, steps have not been taken to obtain the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
According to the policy declaration of the present government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been redrafted, updating the aforementioned policy in line with the economic and development objectives of the government.
The recommendations of the Department of National Planning have been received for the drafted policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine
Resources to implement the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, integrating it with other relevant policies.
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Festival advance for government officers to be increased
Providing underutilized lands/properties to suitable investors for optimal utilization.
Implementation of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy
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