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Choice on Aug 5: Luxurious meals for Gota, Mahinda or three daily meals for the poor- Ranil

Published

6 years ago

2020/08/4

By Zacki Jabbar

Leader of the UNP Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Sunday (2) that the people were left with just two choices before casting their votes at the general election, scheduled for tomorrow.

Addressing the UNP’s final election rally amidst intermittent showers in Colombo Central, Wickremesinghe said that the people had to decide if they would continue to let President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, keep enjoying luxurious meals for life or obtain three meals a day for themselves, which most people were struggling to find.

Wickremesinghe, like many speakers before him, including Assistant Leader Ravi Karunanayake, stressed that Wednesday’s election was a contest between the UNP and the Podujana Peramuna.

The nine-month history of broken promises and suffering under the Gotabaya-Mahinda government was only too well known to require repetition, he noted, pointing out that the main issue to be addressed was uplifting the home economy, which the Rajapaksas had proved they were incapable of doing.

Wickremesinghe recalled that the UNP had time and again demonstrated since Independence, that it was the only party capable of reviving the economy, which its predecessors had ruined by implementing wrong short-sighted policies.

“We are once again left with the task of reviving the economy, which the Rajapaksas have destroyed within a short period of nine months. But we are equal to task of again freeing the people from the sufferings that has been heaped on them”, he underscored.

Wickremesinghe urged the people to vote for the historic “Elephant” symbol, which he described as a force still to be reckoned with and re-elect the UNP that had always been the party of the common masses, so that it could serve them better.

“Before casting your ballot, you have just one question to answer” he said – “Do I vote for the UNP and ensure that me and my family have three meals a day and savings in hand or allow only the Rajapaksas to enjoy luxurious meals and heaps of money for generations to come?”

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Members of the National Student Parliament meet PM

Published

5 hours ago

2026/02/3

Priyan

Members of the National Student Parliament met Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Monday [02nd of February] at Temple Trees.

The representatives of the National Student Parliament, representing schools from across the island, visited the Temple Trees following their visit to the Presidential Secretariat and the Parliament.

Expressing her views on the occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated,

“The new education reforms were recently initiated starting from Grade One. Discussions are currently underway to include students entering Grade Six this year into the new education reform process in the future. The education reforms will not be halted, and the government is committed to implementing them in a systematic manner without shortcomings”.

She further noted that the reforms are being carried out under five main pillars, with the government’s key objective being to reduce disparities and provide children with quality education, while also nurturing a socially responsible community enriched with human values such as compassion, love for the environment, and a strong sense of civic responsibility.

The occasion was attended by the Deputy Director of Education Kasun Gunarathne, along with officials from the Ministry of Education and representatives of the National Student Parliament.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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Mrs. I.J. Aberathne appointed Director General of the Department of Trade and Investment Policy

Published

6 hours ago

2026/02/3

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, to appoint Mrs. I.J. Aberathne to the post of Director General of the Department of Trade and Investment Policy with immediate effect.

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Cabinet gives green light to provide equipment for the promotion of Aesthetic Education in schools

Published

6 hours ago

2026/02/3

Priyan

Although the teaching of art subjects such as music, dance, art, and drama under aesthetic education continues in the Sri Lankan school system, it has been observed that there is a severe shortage of equipment required for this purpose in many schools. Furthermore, a situation concerning the lack of modern equipment suitable for the needs of the children has also arisen, and it has been reported that most equipment available at present is outdated and dilapidated. It has been observed that this condition has an adverse effect on the quality of the aesthetic education and overall personality development of the children.

Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the Prime Minister in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education to implement a project for supplying aesthetic equipment for the promotion of aesthetic education in schools under an estimated cost of Rs. 1,215 million during the period of 2026 to 2028.