News

Johnston appeals to people to bear with the government for few more days

Published

4 years ago

2022/04/3

Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando on Thursday called on people to keep their faith and trust in the government just a couple of days more without falling for opposition led propaganda.

“Problems of shortages and prospects of a meagre new year would be solved within a few more days. Actions have been taken to replenish stocks of essential items and to bring down the prices that have been jacked up by traders recently. We are well aware of the suffering of people due to shortages in the market and disruption of services. All we ask from people is to keep their trust in us for few more days till we deliver solutions to these problems,” the Minister said addressing a ceremony held at Temple Trees in Colombo to mark the inauguration of the Second phase of the Vari Saubhagya (irrigation prosperity –a two-year accelerated programme to revitalize 5,000 small rural irrigation systems).

Minister Fernando said that some sections of the media engaged in a campaign to depict the President and the Government as a failed lot and incapable of providing for the people with their needs. “If you watch TV you’ll see lines and queues for gas, petrol and diesel. The fuel shortage is only a part of a colossal plan to get this government ousted. It is a constructed shortage and we are saddened by the finding that those within our camp too had supported the master plan against this government. The problem is amplified by the fears and panic created by lies. The media knowingly or unknowingly supported the propagation of the lies of shortages and people started panic buying which finally brought the actual result of shortages. It is not that the government did nothing in the face of these problems. For example, there was a fertilizer problem. We addressed that issue and that problem is no longer in existence. Similarly we are addressing all other problems and issues. We would not give up our progress and the task of realizing the promises made to the people.”

Minister Fernando called on the media to see the truth behind the façade of problems created by the conspirators against the government. “For example, today we are starting the restoration and rehabilitation of hundred rural tanks that have lost their water retention capacity owing to centuries of siltation and sedimentation. For TV channels it is lacklustre news. Suppose a group of opposition MPs go near the same tanks and blame the government or allege that there is massive fraud behind this project, TV channels will find that news item more worthy. In the same way, the media either knowingly or unknowingly have served the conspirators’ agenda. We call on the media to see beyond the façade of problems and help the government’s objective of serving the people in these trying times,” the Minister said.

He said that the government consisted of persons who were tempered enough to stand up against any odds. “We did the same while we were in the last months of the war against the LTTE. How many of those advised and professed against the elimination of the terrorist outfit? Only a few had the faith in the government and the security forces and that faith later on snowballed into a massive force that could not be prevented achieving its objective of liberating the motherland. We are confident that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa would steer the country through present problems because they have the strength to do so. All we ask people is to have their faith and trust in the government till we solve these problems,” the Minister said.

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News

Implementation of water supply projects in small town and rural areas.

Published

6 hours ago

2026/06/3

Priyan

Access to safe drinking water for populations residing in small towns and rural areas of Sri Lanka has not yet been fully ensured, and this continues to pose a major challenge to the country’s social and economic development.

With a view to overcome this situation, a programme has been planned to provide clean drinking water to approximately 600,000 families living in semi-urban and rural areas through the implementation of 300 projects covering 50 small towns and rural areas.

The projects are aimed at establishing safe, reliable and sustainable drinking water supply systems, with water to be treated through modern purification technologies, including chlorination and filtration systems, in conformity with national and international drinking water standards.

Accordingly, having considered the resolution furnished by the Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the implementation of the proposed programme by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board and the National Community Water Supply Department during the period 2027–2029, subject to the conduct of a feasibility study on the proposed programme and inclusion in the Public Investment Programme based on its outcome.

News

Cabinet nod to submit Import and Export (Control) Regulations No. 04 of 2026 to Parliament for its concurrence

Published

6 hours ago

2026/06/3

Priyan

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which are chemical compounds widely used in refrigerators and air conditioning units, are being globally phased out under the Montreal Protocol due to their high potential for ozone layer depletion and global warming.

Sri Lanka has likewise committed to phasing out these chemical substances by the year 2030 in a stepwise manner. Accordingly,
regulations under the Import and Export (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969, namely the Import and Export (Control) Regulations No. 04 of 2026, published in Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2487/29 dated 2026-05-07, have been issued, prohibiting, with effect from 2026-06-06, the importation of equipment and appliances that operate solely on hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and prohibiting, with effect from 2028-01-01, the importation of compressors used as components in refrigeration systems of equipment and appliances that operate solely on hydrochlorofluorocarbons.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as
the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to submit the aforementioned Regulations to Parliament for its concurrence.

News

Declaration of Elephant Migratory Corridors to minimize HEC in Monaragala and Hambantota districts

Published

7 hours ago

2026/06/3

Priyan

Wild elephants inhabit approximately two-thirds of the land area of Sri Lanka, and it has been identified that the rapid obstruction of elephant habitats and migratory corridors due to various development projects and human activities has directly contributed to the escalation of human–elephant conflict.

It has been recognised that, in order to mitigate such conflict to a certain extent, the protection of wild elephant habitats and migratory corridors must be undertaken as a matter of urgency.

The Department of Wildlife Conservation is currently engaged in identifying wild elephant migratory corridors in collaboration with relevant Divisional Secretaries, stakeholder agencies, and organisations.

Under the Wild Elephant Migratory Corridor Identification Programme in Monaragala District, the Wild Elephant Migratory Corridor from Handapanagala to Demodara
across Menik Ganga (River Menik) up to Yala National Park has been identified, and approval has been granted by the Monaragala District Coordinating Committee for that.

The Elephant Migratory Corridor from Yala National Park’s Zone VI -Lunugamvehera National Park to Udawalawe National Park has already been declared as the Wetahira Kanda Nature Reserve in 2002.

Within this area, five (05) licensed land plots have been identified, and these lands have not yet been developed.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to take the following measures:

To declare, under the provisions of the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance, the elephant migratory corridor from Handapanagala in Monaragala District to Demodara across Menik Ganga up to Yala National Park as a sanctuary.

To provide alternative land outside the wildlife reserve area in lieu of the five (05) licensed land plots located within the Wetahira Kanda Nature Reserve area, and to re-declare the Wetahira Kanda Nature Reserve as an elephant migratory corridor.

To acquire, upon payment of compensation, land parcels containing buildings constructed in a manner that obstruct the Koholankala elephant corridor in the Hambantota District, and to declare the relevant area of the Hambantota Wild Elephant Management Reserve as a sanctuary.