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GL assures Delhi-resident ambassadors that SL was engaging cordially with UN

Published

4 years ago

2021/12/26

“We oppose excessive interference and special mechanisms”

Sri Lanka would continue to engage purposefully and cordially with the UN but opposes excessive interference into the internal affairs of the country, Foreign Minister G. L Peiris last week told a group of 17 visiting ambassadors/high commissioners in Colombo but objected to the setting up of a ‘special mechanism’ by the UN whose sole purpose, he said, was to collect data to use against Sri Lanka.

There was no way of knowing what such data was and therefore we had no opportunity to test the truth in these allegations, he explained.

The meeting followed the presentation of credentials to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by the envoys, mostly non-resident Heads of Mission based in New Delhi and concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka, the Foreign Ministry said.

Prof Peiris welcomed them and stated that the Sri Lankan Government looked forward to strong and substantial relationships with them all.

During his previous tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs under the leadership of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government felt that there was insufficient representation in the African continent and deliberate efforts were made to strengthen relations with the African countries.

The present Government under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is also looking towards forming close bonds with the African nations as well as consolidating relations with the African Union, Peiris said.

He briefed the Ambassadors on the current situation and developments in Sri Lanka saying the country had achieved substantial successes even after its planned structural strategies, priorities and frameworks were disrupted by the Covid19 pandemic.

Ninety percent of people over 30 have been double vaccinated and the country is now providing booster shots, he said. We had an efficient health care and delivery system supported by the armed forces who made that sure vaccines reached even remote areas of the country.

The Ambassadors were briefed on the resilience of the private sector which adapted to post-covid needs. The apparel industry, for instance, began producing face masks and PPE kits to meet global demand ensuring that the country’s export income remained stable and jobs were not lost.

In the case of remittances, the minister acknowledged they were affected due to a large number of Lankans working abroad returning home due to the pandemic. He stated that the Government was in discussions with many countries since many now want to return to their jobs.

The Foreign Minister also explained that the country was ravaged by a 30-year conflict saying a conflict of such magnitude is bound to leave residues. It has taken other countries decades to recover and Sri Lanka has made every effort to deal with residual problems.

He listed mechanisms like the Office of Missing Persons, Commissions of Inquiry, ONUR, and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka saying that all these were working towards tackling the remnants of the conflict.

On commitment to gender empowerment and gender equality, Peiris said the Human Rights Commission is headed by a former female judge of the Supreme Court and that Sri Lanka is working towards more female representation in decision making.

He called for the empathy of the Ambassadors and High Commissioners present and their backing on international platforms stating that it was important for the UN to support the efforts made by a country to get back on its feet and not pull it down.

Local institutions must be given the space and time to find solutions that sustain the culture and ethics of an individual country Pieris concluded by inviting the mission heads to join the upcoming National Day celebrations in February 2022 and stated that Sri Lanka looks forward to stronger bilateral relations and cooperation in the UN arena.

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Advisory for Heavy Rain issued for the Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts

Published

6 mins ago

2026/02/22

Priyan

Advisory for Heavy Rain Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 08.30 a.m. on 22 February 2026 valid for the period until 08.30 a.m. 23 February 2026

Due to the influence of the low level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Therefore, general public is advised to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by heavy rain, strong winds and lightning during thundershowers

News

Matara Festival for the Arts’ inaugurated by the Prime Minister

Published

6 hours ago

2026/02/22

Priyan

The inaugural ceremony of the Matara Festival for the Arts, featuring a wide range of creations by local and international artists, was held on February 19 at the Old High Court premises of the Matara Fort, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The festival, centred around the Old High Court premises in Matara and the auditorium of the Matara District Secretariat, will be open to the public from 20 to 23 of February. The festival will be featured by visual art exhibitions, short film screenings, Kala Pola, and a series of workshops conducted by experts.

The inaugural event was attended by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Ms. Saroja Paulraj, along with artists, guests, and a large number of schoolchildren.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

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Only single MP refuses salary as Parliament details pays and allowances

Published

10 hours ago

2026/02/22

Thilina Walpola

SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilake is the only MP to forego salary and allowances, with all payments suspended following his written notification on August 20, 2025.

Only one Member of Parliament has chosen not to receive the salaries and allowances entitled to MPs, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya revealed in Parliament last Thursday, shedding light on the financial perks enjoyed by members of the Tenth Parliament.

Speaking on Thursday (Feb. 19) in response to a question from SJB Badulla District MP Chaminda Wijesiri, the Prime Minister outlined the full range of pay and allowances provided to parliamentarians.

According to Dr. Amarasuriya, MPs receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 54,285, an entertainment allowance of Rs. 1,000, and a driver’s allowance of Rs. 3,500—though MPs provided with a driver through the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs are not eligible for the driver’s allowance.

Additional benefits include a telephone allowance of Rs. 50,000, a transport allowance of Rs. 15,000, and an office allowance of Rs. 100,000. MPs are also paid a daily sitting allowance of Rs. 2,500 for attending parliamentary sessions, with an additional Rs. 2,500 per day for participation in parliamentary sittings and Rs. 2,500 per day as a committee allowance.

Committee meetings held on non-parliament sitting days also attract Rs. 2,500 per day.

Fuel allowances are provided based on the distance between an MP’s electoral district and Parliament. National List MPs are entitled to a monthly allocation equivalent to 419.76 litres of diesel at the market price on the first day of each month.

Despite the comprehensive benefits, only SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka has opted not to draw a salary or allowances. Dr. Amarasuriya said that in accordance with a written notification submitted by MP Wasalathilaka on August 20, 2025, payments have been suspended since that date.

The Prime Minister also confirmed that she, along with the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, committee chairs, ministers, deputy ministers, the Opposition Leader, and senior opposition whips, have all informed the Secretary-General of Parliament in writing that they will not claim the fuel allowance.

Challenging the ruling party’s voluntary pledge to forgo salaries, MP Wijesiri pointed out that all MPs except Wasalathilaka continue to receive their salaries and allowances. “On one hand you speak about the people’s mandate, which is good. But the mandate also included people who said they would voluntarily serve in this Parliament without salaries. Today we have been able to prove, Hon. Speaker, that except for one SJB MP, the other 224 Members are drawing parliamentary salaries,” he said.

The Prime Minister responded by defending the political culture and practice of allocating portions of MPs’ salaries to party funds. Referring to previous practices by the JVP and NPP, she said: “It is no secret to the country that the JVP has for a long time not personally taken MPs’ salaries or any allowances. I think the entire country knows that these go to a party fund. That is not new, nor is it something special to mention. The NPP operates in the same way. That too is not new; it is the culture of our political movement.”

When MP Wijesiri posed a supplementary question asking whether diverting salaries to party funds was an indirect method of taking care of MPs, Dr. Amarasuriya said: “There is no issue there. No question was raised; the Member made a statement. What we have seen throughout this week is an inability to understand our political culture and practice, and a clash with decisions taken by political movements that misused public funds. What is coming out is a certain mindset. That is why there is such an effort to find fault with the 159. None of these facts are new to people. He did not ask a question, so I have nothing to answer.”

The disclosures come days after the Government moved to abolish the parliamentary pension, a measure that has sparked renewed debate over MP compensation and the transparency of funds allocation.