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Godahewa says President by his erratic behavior has become misfit to run country

Published

2 years ago

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Dr. Nalaka Godahewa

Member of Parliament Dr. Nalaka Godahewa says that even in this budget, the President’s plan to break a part of the opposition has failed. He said so at a recent press conference held at the Nawala office of the Freedom Janata Sabha on the budget and the current political situation.

“We are in temporary relief like a debtor who hides until the police catch him for not paying back the debt to the creditors. To tell the truth, we are on top of a volcano. Even if the future is not planned properly, even if it happens in early 2022, this crisis is going to explode in a more terrifying way.

Therefore, basically, what we expected from the budget was:

* How can the government reactivate the economy and push for growth?

* How can the government bail us out of the debt trap?

Here are the answers to these problems.

But instead of a budget that will reduce the debt burden of the country and reactivate our economy, the President presented a budget that will increase the country’s expenses further. Instead of reducing the debt burden of the country, which consists of some kind of election gundu (handout) to please the people, it will greatly increase the debt burden. In short, this was presented not as a budget but as a series of loans.

The estimated expenditure of next year is 6978 billion rupees. Let’s say roughly Rs 7000 billion.

It was during the last year before we faced the crisis that is 2021. The actual annual expenditure was 3851 billion rupees. Let’s say approximately 4000 billion rupees.

So, the government is waiting to spend 3000 billion more than before the crisis. The cost increases by 75%.

But the country’s economy has not developed during this time. It has continuously contracted in these three years. We said that we increased taxes and increased government revenue, but we got that tax revenue by robbing the people and businesses of the country.

According to the government’s estimates, the income that can be earned this year is only 4000 billion. In that case, another 3000 billion will be added to our debt burden.

So in such a situation, can the government’s economic differentiation be justified?

That is why we voted against the budget.

During the presentation of the budget and afterwards, the President said several times that 2024 is an election year. He hinted that not only the presidential election but also the general election is likely to be held. I believe that when Chanda Gundu prepared the budget, he might have been waiting to do so. But the final result of the budget was not what the President was waiting for.

He waited and waited to see if a certain group of the opposition would be able to join the government during the budget poll. He also hoped that a large number of the opposition would be abstain from the vote. We have heard that some members of the opposition had discussed this with his agents. But in the end, the government received fewer votes than it received during the previous domestic debt restructuring. Many MPs from the opposition who did not participate at earlier votes came that day and voted against the budget.

This is a kind of personal defeat for the President. He hoped that this time SJB would split. In order to go to the polls without the Rajapakses in the future, it is essential for him to gather a certain group of MPs from opposition. But this final vote proved that it is still just a dream.

Now he cannot bear this. He can see that the SJB team is very strongly with the opposition leader today. He thinks that is because of the influence of the independent groups in the opposition. He thinks that the main opposition, which abstained from voting against the IMF agreement when it was first brought to parliament, is now continuously voting against his economic program because of our influence. That is why yesterday he insulted me and Mr. G.L. Peiris by name in the Parliament. As the opposition leader said, we understand the President’s mental discomfort. He is in a difficult situation. But we have nothing to do with it. We continue to advocate for the economic philosophy we believe in. Fortunately, it seems that the leader of the opposition also stands for the social democratic economy that we believe in. That is why his group has taken a strong stand against the budget without falling into the trap set by the President.

Recently, the President came and spoke twice in Parliament. The first time he got into an argument with the leader of the opposition and left the debate midway. He came to Parliament again yesterday and got into a long argument with the leader of the opposition. In my opinion, the President suffered a defeat on both occasions. So I wonder why this President comes to the parliament in this way and gets involved in debates demeaning his position.

Perhaps as the person who has continuously represented the Parliament for the longest time, he is bored without coming to the House. But I think that he misses a lot of work that needs his attention. As the President is also the Finance Minister and Defense Minister of the country, he has a lot of work to do on a daily basis. But what he is doing is enjoying himself like the retired presidents of America by giving lectures on all necessary and unnecessary topics inside and outside the parliament, traveling all over the world. If this is what he wants to do, then he must appoint a full-time finance minister.

The problem of this government is its inability to implement the policies, more than the fault of the policies.

On the one hand, the government is talking about the need to develop industries, while on the other hand, by increasing the electricity bills, it is making it difficult for industries to function.

On the one hand, the government is talking about the development of small and medium enterprises, while importing even eggs from abroad.

The people are not able to bear the cost of health, and at some time they are preparing to introduce the 18% VAT which will affect the health sector as well.

The left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. Look at the cricket board dispute. The minister says one thing, the president says another.

Now, this country needs an honest agenda.

What we need now is an integrated economic development plan. This country cannot be rebuilt with unrelated proposals like throwing stones at the mango tree, thinking that a mango will fall by some luck.

This country needs proper leadership. It is not a government that depends on a single person, but a unity of a group of skilled leaders is needed. We need an honest, skilled, and experienced group dedicated to rebuilding the country.

We need a team with an understanding of economics. We need a team that understands the ground reality. We need a team that understands the strengths and weaknesses of the government as well as the private sector.


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Construction and Concrete waste recycling centre opened in Ekala under the Clean Sri Lanka programme

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28 mins ago

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2026/05/8

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A recycling centre for the management of construction and demolition (C&D) waste, established in line with the Clean Sri Lanka national programme, was declared open this morning (08) at the Ekala Industrial Zone.

The Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat has allocated Rs. 200 million for this project. Established within the precast yard premises belonging to the State Engineering Corporation under the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, the project marks a significant step towards a sustainable environmental transformation in Sri Lanka’s construction sector.

Globally, the construction industry accounts for 40% of total waste generation and 25% of carbon emissions. In Sri Lanka, nearly 300 tonnes of such waste are collected daily from the Western Province alone.

Until now, the indiscriminate disposal of such debris has contributed to soil pollution, water contamination and increased flood risks. Under this project, however, such waste will be transformed into valuable raw materials through modern technology. This initiative is expected to minimise the depletion of natural resources while significantly reducing construction costs.

The centre, which is being operated with the full involvement of the State Engineering Corporation, has been provided with machinery and land valued at Rs. 350 million. In addition to the recycling plant, which has a capacity of 200 metric tonnes per hour, a modern laboratory and an administrative building have also been constructed. Under the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, Rs. 200 million has been allocated for the project, of which Rs. 150 million has already been released.

There are also plans to expand research activities in the future by engaging engineering faculties of State universities in the programme. The support and contribution of all construction contractors and stakeholders are expected in building a circular economy within the construction sector while safeguarding natural resources for future generations.

Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Dr Susil Ranasinghe, Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody, Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply T.B. Sarath, Deputy Minister of Labour Mahinda Jayasinghe, Member of Parliament Najith Indika, Additional Secretary to the President at the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, Additional Director General of the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat Kapila Senarath, Director (Environmental) of the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat Anjula Premarathna, Chairman of the State Engineering Corporation Engineer Neranjan Fernando and Deputy General Manager of the State Engineering Corporation Charuka Hettiarachchi, along with several others, were present at the occasion.

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President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam pays floral tribute to the Ho Chi Minh Statue

Published

32 mins ago

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2026/05/8

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President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, who is on a State visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, paid floral tribute this morning (08) to the statue of Ho Chi Minh situated within the premises of the Colombo Public Library.

Upon arriving at the Colombo Public Library, President To Lam was warmly received by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, while a group of children holding the national flags of both countries stood along the route to welcome the Vietnamese President.

Following the floral tribute to the Ho Chi Minh statue, President To Lam also viewed a collection of paintings created by schoolchildren.

Thereafter, the Vietnamese President attended the ceremony marking the commencement of the expansion of the “Vietnam–Ho Chi Minh Space” located at the Colombo Public Library, where he also viewed a collection of historical photographs on display.

On the occasion, Chief Librarian of the Public Library, Mrs Varuni Gangabadarachchi, briefed those present on the architectural plans prepared for the renovation and expansion project of the Ho Chi Minh Space. A donation of US$50,000 for the project was also presented to the Mayor of Colombo, Mrs Vraie Cally Balthazaar, by  Nguyen Huu Nghia, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Auditor General of the State Audit Office of Vietnam.

Minister of Environment, Dr Dhammika Patabendi, Mayor of Colombo Mrs Vraie Cally Balthazaar, Deputy Mayor Hemantha Werakoon and several others were also present at the occasion.

[PMD]

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Urgent reforms needed to eradicate drug menace, says President

Published

5 hours ago

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2026/05/8

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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to swiftly introduce all necessary reforms, including amendments to existing laws, in order to eliminate the drug menace from the country.

The President issued these instructions while attending the meeting of the “Ratama Ekata” National Steering Council convened on Thursday (07) morning at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss efforts aimed at eradicating the drug menace.

He also directed the relevant authorities to take all necessary steps to expedite the process of destroying seized narcotics as quickly as possible under proper legal procedures, thereby preventing them from re-entering society and to accelerate the process of punishing offenders.

The President emphasised the need to speed up this process in order to build public confidence, as well as the confidence of the teams engaged in operations, noting that the successful implementation of the “Ratama Ekata” national initiative would thereby be strengthened through collective participation.

The progress of anti-narcotics operations carried out under the “Ratama Ekata” national initiative, including raids and arrests, was extensively reviewed at the meeting. Officials pointed out that raids related to narcotics had increased by 80% since the launch of the programme.

Since the launch of the “Ratama Ekata” national operation on 30 October 2025, authorities have seized 5,437.457 kilogrammes of cannabis, 1,936.325 kilogrammes of heroin, 1,991.414 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine (“ice”), 271.724 kilogrammes of cocaine, 1,574,895 narcotic pills, and 629,988 illicit cigarettes. A total of 168,460 suspects have also been arrested in connection with these offences.

The current progress of the legal amendments required to eradicate the narcotics menace from the country was reviewed at the meeting, and it was noted that steps had been taken to submit the Rehabilitation (Amendment) Bill No. 54 of 2007 to the Cabinet in due course. Discussions were also held regarding the rehabilitation process, the strategies that could be adopted in that regard, and the measures taken to develop related facilities.

It was further revealed that, at Divisional Secretariat level, 25 families most severely affected by narcotics in each division had been selected for attitude development programmes. The President stressed the importance of implementing all such programmes through local religious centres.

The President also made clear that anti-drug awareness programmes should not merely be limited to conducting awareness campaigns, but should include continuous follow-up to assess whether the message had been properly communicated to society and to monitor progress. He highlighted the importance of maintaining this mechanism continuously with the involvement of religious leaders, including members of the Maha Sangha in the respective areas.

The President also inquired into measures being taken to establish a separate court for narcotics-related cases, expedite the receipt of Government Analyst reports, and accelerate the filing of cases.

He also stressed the urgent need for a rapid programme to expedite legal proceedings and rehabilitation processes concerning inmates imprisoned for narcotics-related offences, in order to ease prison overcrowding.

The Inspector General of Police also briefed the meeting on investigations and the current status relating to Buddhist monks who were recently arrested in connection with narcotics offences.

The President was further briefed on the progress of programmes jointly implemented by the Ministry of Education and the Women and Children’s Bureau to curb organised efforts to draw schoolchildren into narcotics use. He was also informed about community-based programmes planned in conjunction with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which falls on 26 June.

Among those present at the meeting were the Anunayaka Theros of the Malwathu and Asgiri Chapters, senior clergy representing several Buddhist Nikayas, Christian priests, Hindu Kurukkals, Muslim religious leaders, senior government officials including Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, ministry secretaries, senior tri-forces commanders, Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya, heads of relevant institutions, senior security officials, and representatives of the “Ratama Ekata” National Steering Council.

[PMD]

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