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CAC further politicises development activities with an eye on election

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Manjula Gajanayake

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The newly-established Community Advisory Committees (CAC), on a directive of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to monitor development projects and programmes implemented in rural areas, is aimed at further politicising development activities at the grassroots, says Executive Director of the Institute of Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Manjula Gajanayake.

Gajanayake said that the CAC would oversee the “Urumaya” Land Ownership Programme, the Urban Home Ownership Programme, the “Kandukara Dasakaya” Development Programme, the Agriculture Modernisation Programme and the Rice Distribution Programme.

“The government has been carrying out various projects at the grassroots and obviously these are aimed at the coming presidential election. However, government affiliated politicians feel that these are mostly implemented by officials who are not too keen on promoting the President. In fact, we saw a former Local Council member telling the President, at a public event, that they too need to have an official role in these initiatives to adequately boost the President,” he said.

The IRES Executive Director added that high levels of politicisation was one of the main reasons why grassroots development programmes had failed in the last five decades. It was likely that hundreds of billions of rupees had been wasted with little results to show, he said.

“The government appoints individuals who are only interested in bribing voters. Looking at how members to the CAC are appointed shows that this is no different than dozens of similar initiatives in the past.”

Gajanayake said that the key decisions of the CAC would be taken by the Provincial Governors appointed by the President. In recent months, the President had been establishing a number of structures that ran parallel to many existing institutions and the CAC was the latest, he said.

“The CAC is appointed for a year. The appointments are made by the Governor. Prior consent of the Prime Minister is necessary regarding the nominations to the CAC,” he said.

Gajanayake added that by involving the Prime Minister, who represented the SLPP, the President had also given SLPP a chance to bribe people ahead of election. Each CAC has been given 10 million rupees.

“Was the money allocated from the Budget last year? The answer is no. The government says it has no money for elections. But it has money to give over 3.4 billion rupees to the CAC. This institution also restricts the little power divisional secretaries had. The people must be told where the government got hold of the money,” Gajanayake said.



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Maintaining public trust is a fundamental responsibility of the Police Department – President

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Attending the passing out parade of the 82nd batch of the Special Task Force (STF) at the Katukurunda STF Training Camp in Kalutara on Monday (07), President Anura Kumara Disanayake emphasized the need for a progressive transformation within the Sri Lanka Police to ensure the rule of law, order and authority.

The President noted that the public places its trust in the Sri Lanka Police to uphold the supremacy of the law and maintaining that trust is a fundamental responsibility of the Police Department.

Addressing the newly commissioned officers, President Disanayake stated that how one serves and respects their profession is reflected in their career and urged the officers to embrace their professional duty in a way that contributes meaningfully to the transformative change the country requires.

Highlighting the current state of institutional breakdown in many sectors, the President pointed out that the people have already initiated change by altering the political authority, but reiterated that political transformation alone is insufficient. Instead, a comprehensive and positive transformation across all sectors is necessary for national progress.

The President further emphasized that new police officers carry the responsibility of meeting public expectations. He called on them to ensure public safety and security and to prevent the nation from falling prey to organized crime and drug-related issues.

He also stated that the younger generation must take responsibility for the motherland, bearing that duty on their shoulders and should strive to steer both their personal future and the future of the country in a positive direction.

President Disanayake concluded by saying that joining the regular service of the Sri Lanka Police today should be remembered by all as a significant and powerful step forward.

The President further noted that the service rendered by the Special Task Force (STF) on behalf of the public during times of emergency and disaster is highly commendable.

A total of 118 newly recruited Sub-Inspectors and 231 Probationary Police Constables who successfully completed their basic training graduated during the ceremony.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake awarded certificates and honours to officers who demonstrated exceptional performance during the training programme.

A commemorative token was also presented to President Disanayake, who attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest.

An operational demonstration by STF officers on a simulated battlefield was presented as part of the event.

Established in 1983 under the theme “Victory is Certain”, the Sri Lanka Police Special Task Force is currently recognized as a prestigious unit deployed for VIP protection, crime and organized crime suppression and narcotics control efforts aimed at building a drug-free nation.

The ceremony was attended by Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala, Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Deputy Minister of Public Security Sunil Watagala, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Ravi Seneviratne, Acting Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya, STF Commanding Officer Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Samantha de Silva, along with other senior police officers, the parents of graduating officers and other invitees.

[PMD]

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Submission of gazette notifications for the concurrence of the Parliament.

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The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to submit the following notification / order / rule published in the government gazette notification to the Parliament for its concurrence:

• Notification on the revision of tax limit of luxury on motor vehicles under the Finance Act No. 35 of 2018 published in the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2421 / 41 dated 31.01.2025.

• Rule issued under the Production Levy (Special Provisions) Act No. 13 of 1989 on revision of production levy rate for vehicles operated with electricity published in the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2421 / 42 dated 31.01.2025

• Order issued under the Finance Act No. 25 of 2003 on extension of the period on which the 50% relief is active which is given to the deviation levy published in the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2421 / 30 dated 31.01.2025

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Cabinet approval to prepare new Act for securing the rights of plant species

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Although there are legal provisions for the right to publish, technical planning, right of patent, trademarks and enterprises etc, in the Intellectual Property Act No. 36 of 2003, there are no provisions for securing the rights of plant species (relevant to breeders, researchers and farmers).

In addition, no patents can be issued for flora and fauna according to the provisions of the intellectual rights act. Therefore, approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 22.05.2024 to introduce a new act for securing the rights of plant species.

Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has pointed out that policy approval of the new Cabinet of Ministers should be taken to complete the drafting of the new flora species rights securing act.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposals submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation for the preparation of the said draft bill.

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