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‘Free market Uncle’s’ policy framework egged

Published

3 years ago

2022/11/20

ECONOMYNEXT –President’s Ranil Wickremesinghe’s market economy has been shattered by price controls on eggs, which has led to empty shelves and progressive destruction of the layer chicken farms, opposition legislator Rohini Kumari Wijerathna said.

“The trade ministry has issued a gazette with a price control on eggs at 43 rupees,” Wijerathna told parliament.

“Now there are no eggs in shops. If you sell above 50 rupee they are caught. The Department of Animal Production says the production cost of eggs is 49 rupees.

“So the poultry industry is being destroyed. If this continues by next March the industry will be badly hit.”

Poultry farmers say they are already having problems with feed which is reducing the number of eggs hens are laying. With chicken meat prices around 1,400 rupees, farmers are killing layers for meat and are not keen on starting a new batch, industry officials have warned.

The Consumer Affairs Authority has created shortages and blackmarkets in several consumer products during the Coronavirus and currency crises as well as earlier and is a threat to the economy and small businesses, according to critics.

“People says Ranil Wickremesinghe is the Uncle of the Free Market (Nidahas aarthikaye baappa). The open economy is the policy of the country, but to put price controls on eggs there is a Trade Minister.

“Ranil Wickremesinghe and price controls do not mix. So there is no coherence.

“The economic policy articulated by the President cannot be comprehended by the Trade Ministry or the Agriculture Ministry.

“The are not at level where they can understand what the President is saying. I am asking according to what doctrine are these price controls being imposed?

“I have no dispute about the post 1977 open economy, but his budget policies have to implemented by the same people who took the country in the reverse direction.

Classical economists have pointed out that the control of business, and the loss of economic freedoms are part of an authoritarian system of government that seeks to control citizens at every turn, usually with disastrous consequences.

“It is true that the officeholders are no longer the servants of the citizenry but irresponsible and arbitrary masters and tyrants,” explained economist and philosopher Ludwig von Mises.

“But this is not the fault of bureaucracy. It is the outcome of the new system of government which restricts the individual’s freedom to manage his own affairs and assigns more and more tasks to the government.

“The culprit is not the bureaucrat but the political system. And the sovereign people is still free to discard this system.

“It is further true that bureaucracy is imbued with an implacable hatred of private business and free enterprise. But the supporters of the system consider precisely this the most laudable feature of their attitude.

“Far from being ashamed of their anti-business policies, they are proud of them. They aim at full control of business by the government and see in every businessman who wants to evade this control a public enemy.”

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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya extended

Published

1 hour ago

2026/02/14

Priyan

The landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya by the Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation have been extended till 0600 hrs on 15th February 2026.

Accordingly,
The Level II [AMBER] warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Walapane and Nildandahinna in the Nuwar Eliya district and the
Level I [YELLOW] warning issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Pathadumbara in the Kandy district have been extended.

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Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces and Badulla and Nuwara-Eliya districts

Published

2 hours ago

2026/02/14

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 11.30 a.m. 14 February 2026 valid for the period until 11.30 p.m. 14 February 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces and in Badulla and Nuwara-Eliya districts after 1.00 p.m. There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers.

The General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:

The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
 Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
 Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
 Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
 For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.

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Teacher recruitment examinations will be conducted in accordance with the relevant court decisions – PM

Published

12 hours ago

2026/02/14

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the forthcoming two teacher recruitment examinations will be conducted in accordance with the relevant court decisions pertaining to the ongoing legal proceedings and further noted that, taking into consideration the requests received, steps have been taken to make a request to Court’s approval to revise the conditions of the effective date of degree completion.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a meeting held at Monaragala Royal College to brief education authorities of the Monaragala District on the new education reforms.

Under the new education reforms, Smart Boards will be provided to 132 schools in the Monaragala District as part of the program to equip secondary schools with modern technology. As a symbolic step under this initiative, Smart Boards were presented to 10 secondary schools under the Prime Minister’s patronage. This program is being implemented with the intervention of the Digital Task Force operating under the Prime Minister’s Office. It was also emphasized that a new digital policy, formulated with special attention to child protection, will be introduced in April.

As part of her visit to the Monaragala District on the 13 th of February, the Prime Minister observed the implementation of the new learning methodologies introduced for Grade One under the new education reforms. She visited Kumbukkana Sri Shanmugam Tamil Maha Vidyalaya and Maduruketiya Maha Vidyalaya in Monaragala to observe the educational activities of Grade One students.

Considering the increase of student numbers and the development of infrastructure facilities, the Prime Minister also approved a proposal submitted by the School Development Society to rename Maduruketiya Maha Vidyalaya as Monaragala Dharmaraja Maha Vidyalaya.

Teachers briefed the Prime Minister that the new education system, supported by revised workbooks and activity-based learning methods, has proven to be effective, with students participating enthusiastically.

Addressing education officials further at the meeting held at Monaragala Royal College, the Prime Minister stated:

“Although this will not provide a complete solution to the existing teacher vacancies, these examinations can offer considerable relief. According to the Court’s previous determination, the effective date of degree completion had been set as 30.06.2025. However, considering numerous requests and following the cabinet approval we have sought Court’s consent to revise this date. We will act in accordance with the decision granted.

Funds allocated for school infrastructure must be utilized transparently and in line with proper planning, and progress must be reported accordingly. We cannot move forward by dividing ourselves along national, provincial, rural, or urban lines. As education authorities, you must make swift and accurate decisions based on correct data.

Further, discussions are already underway within the Piriven Committee of the Ministry of Education to develop Piriven education and to address the issues faced by Piriven teachers.”

The event was attended by the members of the Maha Sangha, Uva Province Governor Attorney-at-Law Kapila Jayasekara, Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce R.M. Jayawardhana, Member of Parliament Ajith Agalakada, Uva Provincial Education Secretary Nihal Gunarathne, and several officials from the education sector.