News
Aktha pathra presented to Amarapura Maha Nayake Thera
A state ceremony to award Aktha Pathra to the new Mahanayake of Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya, the Most Venerable Dodampahala Chandasiri Nayaka Thera was held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Colombo yesterday afternoon (14) with the participation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The President presented the Sannas Pathra to the Mahanayake Thera and the Prime Minister presented the Vijini Patha. Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, former Member of Parliament Ruwan Wijewardene, Myanmar Ambassador to Sri Lanka U Han Thu, Amarapura Nikaya-abhivruddi Dayaka Sabha Chairman Ajitha de Zoysa and Deputy Chairman Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena offered Pirikara to the Thera.
The President launched the official website of the Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya while the Secretary of the Dayaka Sabha R. A. D. Sirisena presented the amended list of temples belonging to the Nikaya to the Mahanayake Thera.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa recalled how the Most Venerable Dodampahala
Chandasiri Nayaka Thera contributed to build libraries in temples damaged by the tsunami in 2004 and
how this helped the monks who worked for the advancement of the Sasana.
The government led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is playing a major role in the conservation and
reconstruction of temples. The Prime Minister said that Chandasiri Nayaka Thera continues to provide
necessary guidance and advice in implementing these measures.
The members of the Maha Sangha including Mahanayake and Anunayake Theras, Cabinet and State
Ministers, Governors, Members of Parliament and other People’s Representatives, Ambassadors, Public
Officials and members of the Nikaya Dayaka Sabha were also present.
The Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) has contributed LKR 25 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund.
The cheque was handed over to the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake by the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeyesekera, the Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike and Senior Vice Chairman Kusal Nissanka at the Presidential Secretariat.
News
Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56
Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.
In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.
He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.
Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.
He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.
Five suspects, including former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons, who were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), were further remanded until 30 January by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The former Minister’s , sons Johan Fernando and Jerome Kenneth Fernando, and two others, were arrested in connection with the alleged misuse of a Sathosa vehicle during Fernando’s tenure as Minister.
Investigations are currently underway into the alleged misuse of state property, including a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa, which reportedly caused a significant financial loss to the state.
In connection with the same incident, Indika Ratnamalala, who served as the Transport Manager of Sathosa during
Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, was arrested on 04 January.
After being produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, he was ordered to be remanded in custody until 09 January.The former Sathosa Transport Manager was remanded on charges of falsifying documents.
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