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Govt. MPs reaped what they had sown, says SF ‘IGP and Army Commander must not be blamed’

Published

4 years ago

2022/05/19

By Saman Indrajith

SJB Gampaha District MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka told Parliament, on Tuesday, that government MPs should not shed tears for their losses, using Parliament time, because the violent incidents were of their own making.

Field Marshal Fonseka said that people had taken to the streets against unending corruption and the government’s disregard for the rule of law. “You reap what you sow. People are agitating across the country because of unbearable hardships they have to undergo. The government did not try to find solutions for their problems, or to address the issues. Instead, they declared a state of Emergency as if it would help make fuel, food, medicine and fertilisers available.

“You do not seem to have learnt anything from what happened after the 09 May riots. You still try to blame others. The Galle Face protesters engaged in their agitation very peacefully. Thugs sent from Temple Trees set upon them. The Western Province Senior DIG was seen walking with an MP.

How could one expect police to protect the protesters when the Senior DIG himself was seen with the attackers? I heard someone blame the IGP for not preventing the attack on protesting youth. I do not approve that because what could the IGP do when the Senior DIG, deployed for the task, was working hand in glove with the law breakers? Some blamed the Army Commander. That is also wrong. Those officers know their duty, its limits, its honour and how to do their job. They did nothing wrong nor has there been any dereliction of duty, on their part. When a state of Emergency is declared, the Army is there on standby to provide assistance to the police. The Army is not there to rush whenever there is a clash. If the situation goes beyond the control of the police, then the IGP should call the Army Commander for assistance. The Army has to be called in. Therefore I ask you to refrain from blaming those officers.

“If people rise against their rulers, then let them sort it out between them. The security forces should not be involved in such affairs. Today, some of those who initiated the 09 May violence are now hiding on islets that had been used to detain LTTE terrorists during the times of war. They have to hide because they cheated the people and robbed the nation’s wealth.

“I call on the people to extend their fullest support to the Galle Face protest. Support those youth. They are on the right path. They have commenced the task of changing the political culture. We need that change. We must place our hopes on them and assist them in every possible way to achieve their objective,” Field Marshal Fonseka said, adding that it was the fourth time that he congratulated the youth on the ongoing protest for the achievements that they made during a very short period of time.

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CEYPETCO Fuel prices increased from midnight today (21)

Published

1 hour ago

2026/03/21

Priyan

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (Ceypetco) has announced a revision of fuel prices, effective from midnight today (21).

Accordingly,

Auto Diesel – Rs. 382 (increased by Rs. 79)

Super Diesel – Rs. 443 (increased by Rs. 90)

Petrol 92 Octane – Rs. 398 (increased by Rs. 81)

Kerosene – Rs. 255. (increased by Rs. 60)

Petrol 95 Octane – Rs. 455 (increased by Rs. 90)

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Advisory for Severe Lightning issued for Galle, Matara, Kaluthara and Rathnapura districts

Published

8 hours ago

2026/03/21

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre Issued at 12.30 p.m. 21 March 2026, valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 21 March 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Galle, Matara, Kaluthara and Rathnapura districts after 1.00 p.m.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. 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.

News

Sri Lanka says it denied US request to land two aircraft at Mattala airport

Published

13 hours ago

2026/03/21

Priyan

Sri Lanka’s president says his government turned down a request from the United States to land two US combat aircraft at a civilian airport earlier this month.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Sri Lanka’s parliament on Friday that Washington had requested permission for the aircraft to land at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in southern Sri Lanka from March 4 to 8.

The request was made on February 26, two days before the US and Israel launched their military offensive against Iran.

“They wanted to bring two warplanes armed with eight antiship missiles from a base in Djibouti”, Dissanayake told lawmakers. “We turned down the request to maintain Sri Lanka’s neutrality”, he added to applause.

The US-Israeli war on Iran has sparked widespread concern globally, as Iranian missile and drone attacks across the wider Middle East have sent energy prices soaring and fuelled fears of a widening conflict.

US President Donald Trump has also been pressuring Washington’s allies to show more support for the war, slamming NATO countries as “cowards” for refusing to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has essentially shuttered the critical Gulf waterway amid the war, forcing leaders around the world to scramble to try to offset the effects on their economies and energy supplies.

Amid the turmoil, many countries have refused to get directly involved in the war while calling for urgent de-escalation.

On Friday, Switzerland announced that it would halt any weapons exports to the US that could be used in military operations against Iran, citing its longstanding policy of neutrality.

“The export of war materiel to countries involved ⁠in the international armed conflict with Iran cannot be authorised for the duration of the conflict”, the Swiss government said.

Sri Lanka’s president also cited his country’s neutrality in the decision to deny the US request to land the two aircraft at Matalla airport earlier this month.

Dissanayake said he had received another request that same day, on February 26, from Iran to seek permission for three naval vessels to make a goodwill visit to Sri Lanka.

“With two requests before us, the decision was clear,” he said, noting that the government denied both to avoid taking sides as signs of escalating conflict emerged.

“Had we said ‘yes’ to Iran, we would have had to say ‘yes’ to the US, as well”, Dissanayake added.

In early March, Sri Lanka’s navy rescued 32 Iranian crew off IRIS Dena after it was torpedoed by a US submarine off the country’s coast, killing at least 84 people.

Days later, Sri Lanka evacuated more than 200 crew members from a second Iranian vessel, IRIS Bushehr, after the ship requested assistance from Colombo.

[Aljazeera]