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‘Crises endemic, reflect overall failure of ministers’

Published

4 years ago

2022/01/1

Sahan Weerasooriya

Wijeyadasa, Vidura slam Cabinet

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Blaming the Cabinet of Ministers for a spate of serious crises, State Minister Vidura Wickremanayake says there is absolutely no point in a Cabinet reshuffle.

The Cabinet of Ministers has failed the country, the Kalutara District lawmaker said, urging the government to take tangible measures or face the consequences. The former SLFPer contested the last parliamentary election on the SLPP ticket.

The State Minister said so when The Island asked the outspoken Parliamentarian to explain his recent call for change of strategy due to the pathetic performance of the Cabinet of Ministers.

Responding to The Island queries, the only son of one-time Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said that the country wouldn’t have been in such a sorry state if cabinet ministers accomplished what was expected of them. Instead, the cabinet was the cause of turmoil today, MP Wickremanayake said, explaining how flawed decisions taken without proper consultations, advice in line with overall national policies weakened the government.

Asked whether his frank opinion as regards the performance of the cabinet of ministers received criticism from colleagues in the government, MP Wickremanayake said that how could anyone refuse to accept the truth. According to the State Minister, the cabinet was part of the executive therefore it was responsible for implementing decisions taken by the government.

In terms of the Constitution the President heads the cabinet.

State Minister Wickremanayake said that the failure on the part of the cabinet had caused irreparable damage to the two year old administration. “One or two more wrong decisions will be catastrophic,” MP Wickremanayake said.

State Minister Wickremanayake has questioned the standing of the cabinet of ministers at a time ministers Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila have challenged the integrity of the rest of the cabinet ministers over the controversial Yugadanavi deal. The case is now before the Supreme Court.

Former cabinet minister and SLPP Colombo District MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakse asserted that the current crisis should be examined against the backdrop of the enactment of the 20th Amendment in Oct 2020 at the expense of the 19th Amendment.

Acknowledging State Minister Wickremanayake’s strong criticism of the cabinet of ministers, lawmaker Rajapakse emphasized that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa couldn’t absolve himself of responsibility as he chaired the cabinet. The 20th Amendment was meant to strengthen the hands of the President, the former Justice Minister said, the cabinet couldn’t be faulted leaving the President out.

MP Rajapakse voted for the controversial amendment after having strongly criticized it. State Minister Wickremanayake, too, voted for the 20th Amendment.

Former BASL President Rajapakse said that the incumbent dispensation had caused so much turmoil in the administrative and political setups, every sector was in deepening turmoil. Ruination of the agro sector was a glaring case of an example, MP Rajapakse said, adding that the hasty decision regarding the abolition of agro-chemical use destroyed the farmer community.

Subsequent, corruption accusations both in and out of Parliament over both carbonic fertiliser imports from China that ended in disaster with the creation of a new controversy over payment of USD 6.7 mn to the supplier of allegedly contaminated fertiliser that had been rejected and liquid fertilizer imports from India placed the government in an extremely embarrassing situation, the MP said.

Yugadanavi was another crisis that has now ended up in the Supreme Court, the President’s Counsel said, while asserting that the government might not be able to overcome a spate of overwhelming challenges. “The new year is going to be tough. The people are experiencing an extremely difficult situation due to the sharp increase in the cost of living as a result of the continuing balance of payments crisis,” MP Rajapakse said.

Who would accept the responsibility for gas-related explosions in all parts of the country? the former minister asked. Who really believed the crises could be overcome by proroguing the Parliament or selling national assets to external powers through skullduggery.

MP Rajapakse said that nothing could be as important as the government undertaking a comprehensive examination of the ground situation. The executive, the legislature and the judiciary would have to undertake a total review, the former Minister said, warning that the government seemed to be running out of time.

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

Published

49 mins ago

2026/05/1

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 30 April 2026, valid for 01 May 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, Eastern, Sabaragamuwa, and North-western 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

USD 2.5 mn fraud probe: Interdicted MoF official found dead at home

Published

1 hour ago

2026/05/1

Thilina Walpola

An Assistant Director of the External Resources Department (ERD) of the Ministry of Finance, interdicted pending an investigation into the diversion of US$2.5 million in Treasury funds to a rogue account was found dead at his residence in Kuliyapitiya.

The deceased has been identified as Ranga Nishantha, 50.

Police said the officer had been found in the garden of his house and they believed that the officila had committed suicide. However, investigators have not ruled out other possibilities, and inquiries are continuing.

The official was interdicted along with three other senior Finance Ministry officials over a cyber-enabled financial fraud.

Those interdicted include a Director and an Assistant Director from the ERD, as well as a Director and an Additional Director General from the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO).

Police sources said that the CID had on two occasions asked Nishantha to make a statement in connection with the ongoing investigation, but he had failed to comply.

Police said the CID probe into the alleged cyber fraud is continuing, with investigators examining the circumstances surrounding the diversion of funds through compromised communication channels.Kuliyapitiya Police said further investigations were underway to establish the exact cause of death.

News

Alarm raised over plan to share Lanka’s biometric data with blacklisted Indian firm

Published

1 hour ago

2026/05/1

Thilina Walpola

FSP accuses govt. of reducing Sri Lanka to a puppet of India by giving away sensitive data

Jana Aragalaya Movement, affiliated to the Frontline Socialist Party, yesterday raised alarm over a move to hand over Sri Lankans’ fingerprint and iris biometric data to a blacklisted foreign company.

Speaking at a media briefing in front of the Ministry of Fisheries yesterday Jana Aragalaya Movement National Operational Committee Member Wasantha Mudalige alleged that India was seeking access to Sri Lanka’s sensitive national data systems in a bid to exert influence over the country.

He said that decision-making authority over the proposed biometric identity card system was being ceded to India.

Mudalige said the electronic identity card project, launched in 2012, had already cost Rs. 5.6 billion in software development, with a further Rs. 600 million needed for completion. However, he alleged that in 2021 the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration had moved to integrate the project

with India for biometric implementation, despite substantial local investment already made.

He said a government tender process had been initiated but later stalled after bidders failed to meet required qualifications.

He alleged that in 2023 the Ranil Wickremesinghe administration had attempted to award the project to Madras Security Printers, a company blacklisted over an excise-related fraud case, and that the move was halted following public opposition.

Mudalige added that after President Anura Kumara Dissanayake assumed office, Sri Lanka had signed an agreement with India in January 2025 under which tendering authority was also transferred.

He alleged that while five Indian companies were initially registered, a sixth company—Madras Security Printers—was later added by March 2026, raising further concerns.

Calling for urgent clarification, Mudalige warned that Sri Lanka risked undermining its sovereignty and national security, insisting the country must not be reduced to what he termed a foreign “puppet state.”

by Chaminda Silva