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Long lines of vehicles on congested roads worry Johnson

Published

4 years ago

2022/01/4

Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando hoisting the national flag to commence the work for the new year at his ministry yesterday.

‘People sent me pictures of traffic jams at entry and exit points on highways’

Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday vowed to make radical changes in his Ministry and the Road Development Authority to streamline their services to the general public.

Speaking at a ceremony held at his Ministry to commence operations for the New Year, the Minister said: “Today, I witnessed perhaps the longest lines of vehicles on our roads. Many have sent me pictures of traffic congestion this morning at expressways. Many towns have become chock-a-block. People suffering in traffic jams blame none but the government. There is no point in us being here if we cannot alleviate the sufferings of people. I have made a decision not to hesitate to make radical changes so that our Ministry and RDA could provide the services expected from them by people to their satisfaction.”

The Minister said that he would effect changes where necessary to increase efficiency and effectiveness of the services rendered to the public by the Ministry. “What I want is an expedited progress in our work this year. I want all my officials to cooperate with me for that goal. I am thankful to those who had dedicated themselves to serve continuously during lockdowns to prevent the spread of the pandemic. We all must strive to realise the goals set before us by the Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour programme of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa,” the Minister said.

Responding to questions by journalists at the end of the ceremony, the Minister said that President Rajapaksa could effect any changes to the Cabinet whenever he wanted. “It is his prerogative and he has the power to do so. People have given the powers to appoint the ministers and secretaries to the ministries. He will decide when to use those powers and to effect changes. He could do so at the beginning of the year or middle of the year or at midnight today,” the Minister said.

Asked whether a Cabinet reshuffle could bring about solutions for crises caused by the shortages of gas and dollars, the minister said: “Gas shortage is a crisis caused by officials including the Chairman of Litro gas. It is because of their inefficiency and dereliction of duties, a shortage of gas was created during the festive season. The officials should do their job, if not they should resign without letting the people and the government to be in difficulty.”

Asked whether the government would go to the IMF seeking a loan to find solutions for the forex reserve crisis, the minister said: “I am not the one who is to go to the IMF. That decision should be made by the Minister of Finance. If he thinks it is a necessity, then he will go there. It is not my place to comment on that issue.”

Responding to a journalist who said that Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa had equaled the government to a Maranadara Samithiya (death donation society) in Siyambalanduwa, the Minister said that Sajith Premadasa was the ideal Opposition leader for a government that expected no pressure from the Opposition. “He will go all around the country uttering whatever that comes to his mouth. He goes to Hambantota and Siyambalanduwa and laments about the plight of people in those areas and then comes home to drink wine and spends millions of rupees to host balls with his wife to his friends in Colombo. The one who weeps buckets in the morning for the cause of people suffering drinks and dances in the evening. It is good that we have an Opposition leader like him,” the minister said.

Asked for his comments on the possibility of joining of the SLFP teaming up with the JVP, the Minister said that the SLFP could do so. “Currently, the SLFP is with us. They can leave us anytime they want. They can even join Sajith Premadasa. Yet I still believe that the senior and capable lot in the SLFP are with us and won’t leave us.”

Among those present were Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure State Minister Nimal Lanza, Secretary to the Ministry of Highways R.W.R. Pemasiri, Secretary to the State Ministry of Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure, Prof Ranjith Dissanayake, Chairman of RDA Chaminda Athaluwage and RDA Director General Sardha Weerakoon.

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Development activities in schools within plantation areas should be carried out in coordination with District Coordinating Committees – PM

Published

1 hour ago

2026/02/20

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that development activities in schools within plantation areas should be carried out in coordination with District Coordinating Committees, and that further recruitments to the teaching service will be undertaken in the future according to existing vacancies.

The Prime Minister made these remarks at a meeting held on Thursday [19 February] at the Parliament of Sri Lanka, attended by officials of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education and the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, convened to identify solutions to issues affecting schools within plantation areas.

During the meeting, special attention was drawn to identifying schools in plantation areas; improving infrastructure, sanitary facilities and security within those schools; confirming lands of school premises; filling existing vacancies of teachers, principals and sports instructors; and providing transportation facilities of schools within the plantation areas.

Officials also drew the Prime Minister’s attention to challenges faced by students in Grade 13 in studying science and mathematics streams in estate schools, as well as issues related to language. The need for Tamil-medium support in teacher-training programmes was also emphasized during the meeting.

The Prime Minister stressed that resolving issues related to lands belonging to the schools in plantation areas require collection of data at district-level, and that the suitability of each school site should be considered when relocating or regularizing schools, taking into account the impacts caused by Cyclone Ditwah. She instructed officials to formulate an efficient mechanism to collect the necessary data.

She further noted that schools within plantation areas are government schools and that due consideration should be given to how these schools are identified and referred to in the future.

The Prime Minister instructed officials to keep District Coordinating Committees informed and to collaborate with them in carrying out development activities related to estate schools, emphasizing that this would enable closer monitoring of school development initiatives.

She also expressed confidence that the planned recruitment of 23,000 teachers would help address the existing teacher shortages to a considerable extent, and stated that further annual recruitment would be undertaken in the future to fill remaining vacancies.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Ramalingam Chandrasekar; Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Madhura Senevirathne; Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, Sundaralingam Pradeep; Members of Parliament; and officials of the relevant ministries.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

CEB trade unions hint at stringent industrial action after talks fail

Published

16 hours ago

2026/02/20

Thilina Walpola

Trade unions of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), backed by the powerful Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union, have warned of accelerated trade union action following the collapse of crucial discussions held on Monday (16) with the CEB Chairman, who also serves as Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy.

The issue is expected to take centre stage at today’s press conference, with unions signalling that a token strike, possibly a 12-hour countrywide action, could be staged next week unless authorities urgently intervene.

The meeting earlier this week ended without what union representatives described as any “positive or constructive outcome.”

Trade union leaders expressed disappointment that their key concerns had not been substantively addressed during discussions with the Chairman.

At the heart of the dispute is the unions’ demand for a collective agreement in accordance with Section 18(j) of the Sri Lanka Electricity Act No. 36 of 2024. Trade union representatives maintain that the law provides for structured engagement between management and employees and that a formal collective agreement is necessary to ensure transparency and industrial stability within the institution.

The unions also submitted what they termed a reasonable proposal to safeguard the CEB Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), voicing concerns over the long-term security of workers’ retirement benefits.

However, according to trade union sources, those proposals were not adequately taken up during the discussions.

A senior electrical engineer told The Island that further internal consultations were being held to decide the next course of action. “There is growing frustration among employees. The issues raised are fundamental and relate directly to statutory compliance and the financial security of staff,” he said.

The Island learns that unless there is meaningful engagement from the authorities, the proposed token strike could mark the beginning of more stringent industrial action.

Energy sector observers warn that any escalation of trade union unrest at the CEB could have serious implications for the country’s power sector stability at a critical time.Further developments are expected following today’s media briefing.

By Ifham Nizam

News

PM reveals allowances and perks available to MPs

Published

16 hours ago

2026/02/20

Thilina Walpola

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya yesterday (19) revealed allowances and benefits provided to Members of Parliament at present.She did so while responding to a question raised by Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Chaminda Wijesiri.

According to the disclosure:

An MP receives a monthly allowance of Rs. 54,285, with an entertainment allowance of Rs. 1,000 per month.

Driver allowance is Rs. 3,500 per month; however, if the MP is provided with a driver by the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, no driver allowance is paid.

Telephone allowance is Rs. 50,000, while transport allowance is Rs. 15,000 per month.

Office allowance amounts to Rs. 100,000.

MPs attending parliamentary sessions receive Rs. 2,500 per day, while Rs. 2,500 per day are given for MPs attending committee meetings on non-sitting days.

Meanwhile, Members of Parliament also receive a fuel allowance based on the distance from their elected district to Parliament.

For national list MPs, this is calculated as 419.76 liters of diesel per month, paid at the approved market rate on the first day of each month.Dr. Amarasuriya also emphasised that these allowances are structured to cover official duties and transportation costs.