News
Govt.’s economic mismanagement root cause of all crises – JVP
JVP MP Vijitha Herath told Parliament yesterday that the fuel prices would be increased again, soon.
The MP said that the economic mismanagement of the government had resulted in a crisis situation.
“Plantations Minister said that he hoped to develop tea cultivation and earn USD 500 million profit for the country. The question is whether the prevailing realities would permit the achievement of such objectives. Tea cultivators are facing unprecedented problems because they do not have fertiliser. The government failed to make available quality fertiliser. Tea production has decreased continuously as there is no fertiliser. From a cultivation where 500 kilos of tea leaves were plucked in the past, only around 200-300 kilos can be plucked at present. Tea cultivators in person forwarded their grievances to the President recently. You may have lofty aims and estimates but the reality is that the tea industry which fetched the highest amount of dollars as an agriculture product is in death throes now. Tea cultivators are facing a crisis. Some have started moving out of the industry. The situation in the rubber industry is quite the same. The government distribute rubber and cinnamon saplings from time to time according to a list given by the MPs of the government. Only those who have their names on the MP’s list benefit from this scheme.
“The Plantations Minister said a few minutes ago in this House that the government gave Rs 1,000 allowance to plantation workers. The reality is that not even the workers in state-managed plantations get that allowance. That the private plantation owners do not receive the allowance goes without saying. Will the private plantation owners pay their workers when the government is not paying theirs? The government is duty bound to implement its policy decision of giving that allowance to plantation workers. Since the government promised this allowance two years back, prices of sugar, dhal, flour and rice have increased. The plantation workers cannot even consume dhal and roti with that allowance. That allowance should be doubled.
We remember how the Minister of Agriculture vowed in this House that not a single grain of rice would be imported. He said that he would resign from the post if at least a single grain of rice was imported. For the past three months, 350 million kilos of rice have been imported. Today, rice imports have started but the Minister stays put. Rice imports have badly impacted the small and medium scale rice mill owners.
“The biggest problem in the country is the shortage of fuel. There are queues outside filling station. Without fuel there are power cuts. From this evening, there are going to be two-hour power cuts. There has been a fuel ship at the Colombo Port for the past three days but it cannot unload its cargo as bills have not been settled. Within a couple of days, the fuel prices will have to go up again.
Latest News
Heat index, is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 27 April 2025, valid for 28 April 2025
The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
Latest News
People have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans sans ethnic or religious divisions- PM
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that for the first time in history, mosques in Kandy had opened their doors to accommodate the needs of devotees visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and that people have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans beyond dividing into ethnicities and religions.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a public gathering held in the Paragahadeniya area in Kurunegala.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further stated:
“This country is undergoing a transformation we expected,so accordingly, we must operate in new ways. People are beginning to feel that we must work towards a new transformation. We can see this change even within our ministries. These days, sometimes when we visit ministries even after 5 PM, and ask if it is possible to have discussions, the officials are always open. Today, public officials are willing to work late into the night, until 9 or 10 PM. Officials have now started working without fear.
Remarkably, for the first time in history, Muslim mosques in Kandy remained open throughout the night to accommodate pilgrims visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. They even provided space for devotees to rest. There were no ethnic or religious tensions. What we saw was respect for other ethnicities and religions. This is happening because there is now a sense of a government that represents all Sri Lankan people, not just Sinhalese, Muslims, or Tamils”.
The event was attended by the candidates for the local government election including the residents of the area.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) has urged the NPP government to prevent Japan’s Onomichi Dockyard Company from selling its 51% ownership stake in the Colombo Dockyard Limited (CDL) to Indian government-owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai, a leading shipbuilder.
FSP spokesman Pubudu Jayagoda told The Island yesterday (27) that the move seemed to be in line with the overall India-Sri Lanka understanding on the basis of the recently signed memorandum on defence cooperation.
Against the backdrop of deteriorating financial situation, the Japanese company has informed the board of directors of CDL of its plans to divest its 51 percent ownership stake in the international shipbuilding and repair company. The Japanese shipbuilder made the announcement in early Dec last year.
Alleging that an agreement has been reached on the sale of Onomichi’s controlling ownership stake to the Indian ship builder, Jayagoda questioned
the move as Mazagon primarily built a range of warships and attack submarines. Jayagoda pointed out that according to Mazagon’s profile, the Indian government-owned business undertaking was involved with European companies engaged in ship and submarine construction.
Addressing a Local Government election meeting at Weeraketiya, Pallekanda, in support of those contesting the May 6 election on the ticket of Jana Aragala Sandhanaya (JAS), the executive committee member of JAS Jayagoda emphasized that in terms of the agreement between Sri Lanka and Japan, Onomichi couldn’t sell its stake without the Sri Lankan government’s approval. Therefore, the NPP government should intervene to halt the Japanese-Indian move, the FSP spokesman said while urging the parliamentary opposition to publicly oppose the planned sale of the Japanese stake.
Among other stakeholders are Sri Lanka Insurance, Sri Lanka Ports Authority and EPF.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Heat index, is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts
People have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans sans ethnic or religious divisions- PM
Heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Vavuniya, Mullaittivu and Kurunegala districts.
-
News6 days agoOrders under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruptions Act No. 9 of 2023 for concurrence of parliament
-
Features6 days agoRuGoesWild: Taking science into the wild — and into the hearts of Sri Lankans
-
Business1 day agoPick My Pet wins Best Pet Boarding and Grooming Facilitator award
-
News5 days agoProf. Rambukwella passes away
-
Opinion6 days agoSri Lanka’s Foreign Policy amid Geopolitical Transformations: 1990-2024 – Part IX
-
Features1 day agoKing Donald and the executive presidency
-
Business1 day agoACHE Honoured as best institute for American-standard education
-
Features3 days agoThe Truth will set us free – I