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SJB wants Labour Minister summoned before COPE

Published

4 years ago

2023/01/10

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) has suggested that Labour and Foreign Employment Minister, Manusha Nanayakkara be summoned before the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) over his recent outburst against the Parliamentary Watchdog Committee and Auditor General W.P.C. Wickramaratne.

Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman made the suggestion on behalf of the main Opposition party at a special session of the all-party committee, chaired by its Chairman Prof. Ranjith Bandara, on 05 January.

The former UNPer has pointed out that unless tangible action was taken against Minister Nanayakkara other ministers, too, would start publicly attacking the COPE and the AG.

Having switched allegiance to Sajith Premadasa following a split in the UNP, both Rahuman and Nanayakkara contested the last general election in August 2020, on the SJB ticket.

COPE member Rahuman has told the committee Nanayakkara’s attack should be dealt with, also taking into consideration of his previous role as a member of the watchdog committee. MP Nanayakkara accepted a ministerial portfolio, in May last year, in spite of the SJB’s decision not to accept the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s invitation to join his government.

MP Rahuman has alleged that perhaps Nanayakkara’s attack was meant to tarnish the AG’s image. Had his Ministry, or an institution, under him, not done anything wrong, there was absolutely no need for him to go on the offensive, MP Rahuman said.

The top SJB spokesperson told The Island that Minister Nanayakkara challenged the COPE and the AG at the National Productivity Award ceremony, held on Dec. 15, at Temple Trees, under the auspices of Premier Dinesh Gunawardena. Actually, the Premier as the leader of the government parliamentary group should have pulled up the Minister, MP Rahuman said. Perhaps, Minister Nanayakkara’s angry response reflected the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government’s attitude towards, not only the COPE, but the Committee on Public Accounts and Committee on Public Finance.

Declaring that ministers couldn’t challenge COPE, under any circumstances, AG Wickramaratne has told the January 05 meeting that the controversial speech by Nanayakkara was made in the Premier’s presence.

MP Rahuman stressed the urgent need to clarify the status of watchdog committees, in the wake of Minister Nanayakkara’s declaration that the COPE didn’t have the authority to issue such directives.

The Auditor General, however has reminded COPE that in terms of the Standing Orders it could even make recommendations to Parliament. The intrepid official has stressed that Secretary to Labour and Foreign Employment Ministry R.P.A. Wimalaweera was yet to address their concerns.

“We have decided to summon Ministry Secretary, Wimalaweera, on January 17. Let us see whether Wimalaweera, in his capacity as the Chief Accounting Officer of the Labour and Foreign Employment Ministry, abides by COPE directive,” MP Rahuman said.

Responding to another query, MP Rahuman said that once the watchdog took up the matter with President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and the Cabinet-of-Ministers, the public could realise whether Minister Nanayakkara was pursuing an agenda.

Minister Nanayakkara is on record as having alleged, at the Temple Trees meeting, that the AG and COPE undermined measures taken by the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) to expedite sending workers to South Korea. The Minister questioned COPE and AG for finding fault with special payments made to employees to speed up the process.

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Flood warning issued to the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara

Published

31 mins ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

Due to heavy rainfall received in the upper catchment areas of the Mahaweli River over the past few hours, there is a risk of minor flooding in the low-lying areas surrounding the Mahaweli River within the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara.Residents living in the above mentioned areas and motorists using roads passing through these areas are urged to exercise extreme caution and remain highly vigilant regarding the prevailing situation.

Furthermore, residents living in close proximity to the Mahaweli River in these areas are advised to remain highly alert to the situation and take all necessary precautions to protect themselves from any potential flooding.The relevant disaster management authorities are requested to take all necessary measures in response to this situation.

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Landslide Red Alerts issued to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya

Published

38 mins ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

The National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide Red Alerts to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya effective from 14:00 hrs on 20.09.2026 To 14:00 hrs on 21.09.2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, Dehiowita, Aranayake, Deraniyagala, Mawanella and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district and Kothmale West, Kotmale East, Ambagamuwa and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district

LEVEL II [AMBER] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Padukka in the Colombo district, Nagoda, Thawalama and Neluwa in the Galle district, Bulathsinhala, Palindanuwara, Walallawita and Agalawatta in the Kalutara district, Ganga Ihala Korale in the Kandy district, Bulathkohupitiya and Kegalle in the Kegalle district, Akuressa and Pitabeddara in the Matara district, Thalawakele in the Nuwara Eliya district and Pelmadulla, Ratnapura, Ayagama, Kuruwita and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I [YELLOW] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka in the Colombo district, Niyagama and Baddegama in the Galle district, Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Ingiriya in the Kalutara district, Udapalatha and Yatinuwara in the Kandy district, Galigamuwa, Warakapola and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Kotapola, Pasgoda and Athuraliya in the Matara district, and Eheliyagoda, Kalawana and Elapatha in the Ratnapura district.

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Development projects can deliver results to the people more quickly when the political authority and the public service work together towards a common goal – PM

Published

3 hours ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that development projects can deliver results to the people more quickly when the political authority and the public service work together towards a common, people-oriented objective.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in a discussion held on Friday [September 18] at the Western Province Council Auditorium to review the progress of the development project to rehabilitate Rathmalana Kandawala Road and the drainage system on either side of the road, within the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council limits in the Colombo District.

The project, which commenced on September 10, 2026, is scheduled to be completed before June 30, 2027. Implemented by the Provincial Road Development Authority (PRDA), the project includes the construction of a bridge at a cost of Rs. 64 million, the rehabilitation of the drainage system at a cost of Rs. 930 million, and the rehabilitation of the road at a cost of Rs. 115 million.

The Prime Minister also paid special attention to the progress of the responsibilities assigned to the Western Province Council, the Irrigation Department and the Ratmalana Divisional Secretariat in accordance with decisions taken at the previous committee meeting. Attention was also given to the current status of the plans being carried out by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLRDC), as well as the construction and maintenance activities being undertaken by the Provincial Road Development Authority (PRDA).

Commending the expedite and commendable progress of the project, the Prime Minister particularly appreciated the commitment demonstrated by officials of the relevant government institutions to work in close coordination with one another and in collaboration with the political authority.

The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of taking measures well in advance to control flooding and minimise its impact on Colombo and several other districts in view of the rainy weather that may affect the Western Province during the latter part of this year.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Colombo District Coordinating Committee and Member of Parliament Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, Chairperson of the Ratmalana Divisional Coordinating Committee and Member of Parliament Samanmalee Gunasinghe, Chairman of the Roads Sub-Committee of the Colombo District Coordinating Committee Dewananda Suraweera, Mayor of the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council Parakum Shantha, Chief Secretary of the Western Province K.G. Pradeep Pushpakumara, along with a number of government officials.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]