News

Government prepares to force the people to accept the economic burdens

Published

4 years ago

2022/10/30

by Prof.Tissa Vitarana

The people continue to suffer more and more due to inflation but the Government’s response is inadequate. The price of food keeps rising while there is no increase in income. The result is that a large mass of poor are facing a grave crisis. To my knowledge a large number of families have only one meal a day. Some of them with difficulty provide two meals to their children.

Stories of children fainting in school due to hunger are widespread. There are also reports that school attendance has dropped and the education of the children is suffering. Even among lower middle class families there has been an adverse impact. The reports coming from the Medical Research Institute (MRI) and other such institutions suggest that the nutritional value of the food consumed has also deteriorated.

The MRI states that the income of more than 60% of families is below the poverty line. The current data suggest that among them the level of malnutrition is approaching 20%. This means that among children under five years of age, one out of five is malnourished. Not only is their physical development affected but also their mental development. This will have an adverse effect on the future generation.

In the face of this food crisis I appeal to the Government to give priority to addressing this problem. About a year ago I mentioned this situation to the former prime minister but there doesn’t seem to be any positive response up to now. The government should identify the families that are at risk. This can be done easily through the midwives and the public health inspectors (PHIs). The families that are at risk should be provided with dry rations, at least once a week, ensuring that essential food items reach those affected.

Even among those consuming a sufficient amount of food there is concern among nutritionists that the quality of the food from a nutritional point of view is inadequate. The high price of food which is continuing to increase (food inflation) needs urgent corrective measures. While welcoming the fact that the price of flour has been reduced by Rs.24/-, it is distressing to see that the price of a loaf of bread remains unchanged. The government should insist that bakers pass on the price reduction to the consumer. As a result of a number of problems that have arisen in the agriculture sector, like the scarcity of chemical fertilizer, the production of food, both rice and vegetables, have also reduced. There is a shortage of food according to media reports and this should be looked into and corrected.

The Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) has cut down purchasing paddy due to a lack of funds. In this context there are reports that the five main private mill owners are purchasing the paddy at a low price so that the farmers suffer. It would appear that this paddy is being stored in order to raise the market price of both paddy and rice. I have been informed that the government rice mills are also not fully operative. This situation must not be allowed to continue. I call upon the ministers and officials concerned to see that the government stocks are release to the market so that the price can be brought down. Profiteering in the food sector must be prevented by urgent government action.

Another area of concern is the shortage and high price of medicines, specially essential ones. There is an acute shortage in the government hospitals, and statements have been made by doctors that as many as 90 medicines, including essential ones, are not available. This is a very serious situation which may lead to increasing illness and even more deaths.

The government must take urgent action to see that this situation does not continue and that normalcy is restored. It is sad to see that donations of medicine have to be obtained from both local and foreign sources from countries like India, China and Japan. Adequate funds must be provided by government for the purchase of the required medicine as a matter of urgency. I have been informed that shortage of a large number of essential medicines exists both in the government and the private sectors and needs urgent attention.

The government tax policy is also a cause for concern. While indirect taxes which affect the poor are raised, the direct taxation is limited and done in a unfair manner. The middle class is being targeted while the rich and super rich are hardly affected. It is disturbing to see that the government gives tax holidays and waivers to the rich. Not surprisingly government revenue has fallen and both capital and recurrent expenditure have to be curtailed, adversely affecting the development of the country and the lives of the people.

When Sri Lanka was faced with one of its most severe economic crises in 1972/73, Dr.N.M.Perera, who was then the Minister of Finance, put the main tax burden on the rich, raising the upper limit to 70%. In today’s context too the government should take similar action by placing the main tax burden on those who can afford to pay.

The cost of transport has also gone up steeply. This directly affects passengers, but it also affects the price of goods. The lack of dollars also affects industries due to the inability to purchase essential foreign requirements, and many private and public enterprises have had to curtail production. This in turn leads to increased unemployment. The economy as a whole is contracting due to the above changes with reduced incomes of a large section of the population who are also badly affected by inflation and the high prices.

The suffering people are being forced into a situation where they have to openly protest. It is distressing to see that the Ranil Wickremesinghe – led government is strengthening the armed forces and the police. It is clamping down on reasonable peaceful protests. Are we heading for Fascist rule? This must not be permitted under any circumstances. While warning the public of the possible dangers it is essential that the trade unions become more active and warn the working and middle classes and prepare them to resist any moves to suppress the people and force them to submit to the burdens that are being contemplated.

All News Advertisement

News

Fast Attack Craft P 4447 recovered in successful salvage operation

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/14

Priyan

The Sri Lanka Navy successfully recovered its Fast Attack Craft P 4447 following a successful salvage operation, bringing a multi-stage emergency response to a close.

The craft, which ran into distress during a routine patrol on 15th August 2026 off Angulana, was brought to the surface on 11th September, from a depth of approximately 80 feet. It was
subsequently towed to the Colombo Dockyard premises.
The initial phase of the operation immediately following the incident focused on search and rescue. A joint effort involving the Navy, Air Force, Police, and local fishermen from Angulana
resulted in the rescue of 11 crew members. The search and rescue phase drew to a close with the recovery of the remains of the Second in Command of the craft, on 4th September.

Following the search and rescue phase, specialized Navy diving and salvage teams launched a dedicated recovery phase against rough sea conditions and underwater challenges, adhering to
strict safety protocols. The Navy’s marine, hull, electrical, and electronic engineering teams utilized specialized technical know-how and equipment to raise the vessel in stages.

Thus, the salvage operation marked an outstanding achievement attained through the professionalism, technical expertise of Navy divers, and coordinated contribution of all
engineering and technical branches of the Sri Lanka Navy. Technical support and specialized expertise were also extended by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Colombo Dockyard PLC.

News

CIABOC member’s appointment: Controversy over Speaker under probe heading selection process

Published

11 hours ago

2026/09/14

Thilina Walpola

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Opposition should intensity its focus on the forthcoming selection of a member of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and remain vigilant as Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne, MP, the head of the Constitutional Council (CC) tasked with making the relevant recommendation, is under investigation by the CIABOC, sources familiar with the ongoing inquiry told The Island.

Chethiya Goonasekara, PC, is expected to complete his three-year term on Dec 31, 2026. Sources pointed out that CIABOC Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation made by the 10-member Constitutional Council.

The CIABOC initiated the investigation following a complaint lodged by suspended Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne in early February this year. Sources said that as Goonasekera is scheduled to complete his term toward the end of 2026, the CC would have to call applications soon to choose the successor.

Goonasekara received his appointment from President Ranil Wickremesinghe in January 2024. A Justice W. M. N. P. Iddawala was appointed Chairman of the CIABOC. The other commissioner is K. Bernard Rajapakse.

Asked whether Iddawala and Rajapakse, too, would complete their terms soon, sources said that in terms of the Anti-Corruption Act No 09 of 2023, the Chairman of CIABOC would hold office for a period of five years, second commissioner (K. Bernard Rajapakse) for four years and the third commissioner (Chethiya Goonasekara) for a period of three years.

Sources said that the Opposition as well as civil society representatives in the CC should take up the issue of Speaker facing an investigation by the CIABOC taking part in the forthcoming selection process. Responding to queries, sources emphasized that the issue was whether in terms of Section 107 of the Anti-Corruption Act the participation of the Speaker in the selection process amounted to a violation of the Act itself.

The current members of the CC are Dr Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker and Chairman of the Constitutional Council, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister, Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, Bimal Rathnayake, MP, Aboobucker Athambawa, MP, Ajith P. Perera, MP, Sivagnanam Shritharan, MP, Austin Fernando, Civil society representative, Prof. Wasantha Seneviratne, Civil society representative and Ranjith Ariyaratne, Civil society representative.

Sources pointed out that in spite of the sensitivity of the case, the CIABOC recorded Kularatne’s statement in the second week of August, six months after he lodged the complaint.

The CIABOC on 3, 8 and 10 Sept recorded the statements from the Transport Officer, Deputy Director, Administration and Assistant Director, Finance regarding the use of facilities by the Speaker, those assigned to his staff and other relevant matters.

The NPP named Dr. Wickramaratne as the Speaker after Asoka Ranwala resigned over controversy regarding his higher education qualifications.

SJB lawmaker Dayasiri Jayaskera has repeatedly raised the issues concerning the Speaker with the focus also on the Speaker using two government-managed residences, relevant staff in addition to expenditure on food, transport and fuel provided to the Speaker’s private secretary.

Political sources said that trouble erupted after the Parliamentary Staff Advisory Council in late January sacked Kularatne accusing him of providing false information to secure his appointment. Before being appointed as the Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament in 2023, Kularatne held several high-ranking positions, including Secretary to the Chief Government Whip, Additional Secretary to the President, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Additional Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition.

The SJB declared in Parliament that Ranwala should be brought back as the Speaker as they have no faith in Wickramaratne. MP Mujibur Rahuman jokingly told parliament that the Opposition wouldn’t raise Ranwala’s educational qualifications.

News

GMOA: Countrywide cadre revision not done since 2015

Published

11 hours ago

2026/09/14

Thilina Walpola

Dhammika

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has stressed the need to conduct a comprehensive countrywide cadre revision urgently.

GMOA spokesman Dr. Lasitha Dhammika told The Island that the failure on the part of successive governments to conduct cadre revision caused the deterioration of the public sector health services. Due to the absence of required statistics, they hadn’t been able to fully comprehend the situation on the ground and to ascertain the requirements of the public.

Dr. Dhammika pointed out the expansion of the services without supporting statistics and the need to initiate an immediate cadre revision. According to him, the GMOA had raised this issue with successive governments without success. The GMOA spokesman said that they also sought relevant information from the Health Ministry in terms of the Right to Information (RTI) Act two weeks ago but was yet to receive response.

(SF)