News

Harsha won’t join govt. but ready to spearhead all-party economic revival plan

Published

3 years ago

2022/05/18

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) is ready to support newly elected Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s efforts to build an all-party consensus on an ambitious economic revival plan, but it will not accept any minsterial positions.

The SJB secured 54 seats, including one National List slot, at the last parliamentary election in August 2020. Its National List member Diana Gamage later switched her allegiance to the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), but for some reason they were not able to kick her out of that seat.

SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday (17) said that he was ready to provide leadership to the parliamentary watchdog, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF). The Colombo District lawmaker said he intended to give the leadership for the preparation of an economic revival plan to address the current issues at hand.

Dr. de Silva said so when The Island asked whether he would accept the repeated requests made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe for the Opposition MPs to join the government.

Asked whether he was confident of receiving the SLPP’s blessings for the plan, Dr. de Silva said that the SJB informed PM Wickremesinghe of their offer. He assured that if he was given the opportunity, measures would be taken to prepare a blue print for the economic revival.

Dr. de Silva said that an all-party government could have been formulated with the participation of the SJB, too, if President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had resigned, as demanded by the people.

Dr. de Silva emphasised that he wouldn’t under any circumstance, betray the party and the ongoing public protest campaign by declaring allegiance to the government.

‘Gota Go Gama’ campaign has launched a poster campaign in Colombo and its suburbs declaring opposition to what it called ‘Gota-Ranil’ unholy alliance.

Dr. de Silva said that the SJB would propose him as the new Chairman of the COPF. Pointing out that Parliament couldn’t pass any Financial Bill without the approval of the COPF, Dr. de Silva said that the outfit could provide the much needed leadership as the country struggled to cope with the forex crisis.

Currently, SLPP’s Anura Priyadrashana Yapa heads the COPF. Kurunegala District lawmaker Yapa yesterday told The Island that the COPF was scheduled to meet later this week. MP Yapa said that he was aware of the offer made by Dr. de Silva in the wake of him being increasingly coming under pressure to accept the finance portfolio. In addition to the COPF, SLPP lawmakers, Prof. Charitha Ratwatte and Prof. Tissa Vitharana, head the COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises) and COPA (Committee on Public Accounts), respectively.

Commenting on how the SLPP had thwarted SJB’s nominee, lawmaker Rohini Kaviratna’s bid for the post of Deputy Speaker on Tuesday (17), Dr. de Silva said that a divided SLPP seemed to be pulling in different directions.

The former UNP lawmaker de Silva said that he was ready to take up the challenge. The MP expressed the view that as COPF Chairman he could play a role as important as that of a minister.

Dr. de Silva said that the plan worked out by the COPF could be cleared by Parliament through an all-party consensus for implementation.

The top SJB spokesman said as pointed out by Premier Wickremesinghe, in his address to the nation on Monday (16) the economy was in bad shape urgent action was required to revive it.

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Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts

Published

7 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 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 Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala 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

Minister of Foreign Affairs pays his last respects to Pope Francis

Published

7 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]

News

RW to visit CIABOC on Monday

Published

8 hours ago

2025/04/27

Thilina Walpola

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.

Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.

Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.

In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.

Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.

The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.

The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.

He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.

According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.

Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.

However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.