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Johnston says govt will plod on with development drive whatever the obstacles thrown by enemies

Published

4 years ago

2021/10/31

Dogs might bark but the caravan would move on and in the same way the government would go forward despite obstacles created by the opposition, Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said.

The minister said so during a ceremony at the commencement of the work of the first section of 3,279 precast concrete sections of the Port Access Elevated Highway from Ingurukade Junction to the Colombo Port City, using the precast concrete bridge technology for the first time in the country.

He said: I am so happy and proud that with this project our engineers will have hands-on experience with the latest technology in the world because it is the first time in this country a pre-cast bridge is being constructed as an elevated highway. This project would have been completed several years back had it not been for the 2015 regime change which deprived the people of this country the opportunity to enter an expressway from Hambantota and exit at Galle Face within a couple of hours. This project had been planned and was designed after consultation with the Asian Development Bank in 2014 by then President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the minister of Ports and Highways. If there was no regime change this expressway would have been in use by the people for years. The Yahapalana regime suspended many projects commenced by President Mahinda Rajapaksa because of their jealousy and hatred towards him. If they did not do so the port city would have been fully functional today. If you can recall the very same machinery which is running the fertilizer issue campaign today was working full time then against the port city project. JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake calculated and convinced people using figures that the sea could not be reclaimed to build the port city even if we use crushed stones from all the rocks in the country. That government suspended the port city project but had to resume its constructions later after giving more acres away from this country’s hold.

“This is a mega development project which includes not only the elevated highway but also a six lane tunnel route at a cost of Rs 28 billion. We continued to work despite there being many challenges. In the face of covid-19 pandemic this government continued its development work while protecting the lives of people. We are thankful to the port authority men and women who rendered a yeoman service in maintaining supplies of essential items. We never forget the services by the health workers, labourers as well as police and tri-forces who shouldered the task of keeping development going amidst the pandemic by providing their services without disruption. It was those who did nothing and kept criticising the government like Sajith Premadasa and his men who peddled conspiracy theories. They spent their time finding fault with the President and the government instead of acting as a responsible opposition to help the government to save the lives of the people.

Among those present at the launching ceremony were Ports and Shipping Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure State Minister Nimal Lanza, Secretary to the Ministry of Highways R.W.R. Pemasiri, Project Director of the Port Access Elevated Highway project and other ministry officials.

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Royal Navy of Oman Vessel “SADH” arrives at Port of Colombo

Published

13 hours ago

2026/02/10

Priyan

The Royal Navy of Oman Vessel “SADH” arrived at the Port of Colombo on a logistics replenishment visit on Tuesday (10 Feb 26). The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in
compliance with naval traditions.

The 75m – long ship is commanded by Lieutenant Commander Shaheen Saud Abdul Rahman AI Balushi.

The port call will facilitate professional interaction and goodwill exchanges between the two navies.

During the stay in Colombo, crew members of the ship are expected to visit some tourist attractions in the city of Colombo.

News

NPP: Speaker won’t step down, CIABOC can investigate him

Published

22 hours ago

2026/02/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

Nihal

* New Auditor General should not have been sworn in before Speaker – Opp.

* Suspended House Dy. Sec. Gen. Chaminda Kularatne takes his case to CA today

General Secretary of the National People’s Power (NPP) Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe yesterday said that there was no need for Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne to step down in view of the complaint lodged against him with the CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption).

NPP General Secretary said so in response to The Island query whether the parliamentary group of the ruling party discussed the growing Opposition calls for the Speaker, who is also the Chairman of the Constitutional Council, to step down to facilitate the investigation.

The NPP parliamentary group consists of 159 MPs, including 18 National List (NL) members.

NL member Dr. Abeysinghe asked whether any other person, who had been investigated by the CIABOC, stepped down from his or her position to facilitate the inquiry.

The top official emphasised that the CIABOC could go ahead with its investigation without any hindrance.

Chamindra and Dr. Jagath

Opposition sources said that there hadn’t been a similar situation before and the CIABOC investigation into Speaker Dr. Wickramaratne is unprecedented as he heads the 10-member CC responsible and directly involved in all key appointments, including that of members to the CIABOC.

Sources pointed out that the newly appointed Auditor General, Ms. Samudrika Jayaratne, took the oath of secrecy before the Speaker on 5 February in Parliament after suspended Deputy General Secretary of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne complained to CIABOC.

In accordance with Section 9 of the National Audit Act, No. 19 of 2018, Jayaratne took the oath of secrecy in her capacity as the Auditor General of the National Audit Office and Chairperson of the Audit Service Commission.

Sources said that Kularatne would move the Court of Appeal today (10) against his removal at the behest of the Staff Advisory Committee, headed by the Speaker.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

News

Trinco Buddha statue case: All suspects, including 4 monks re-remanded till 11 Feb.

Published

22 hours ago

2026/02/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

One of the monks being brought to the Magistrate’s Court

The Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court yesterday (09) further remanded 10 persons, including four Buddhist monks, arrested on 19 January, 2026, for allegedly placing a Buddha statue in the coastal reservation, on 16 January.

The Buddhist monks, including Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera, and six other individuals, were further remanded until 11 February.

They have been accused of violating the Coast Conservation Act by placing a Buddha statue on a block of land belonging to the Trincomalee Bodhiraja Temple.

Of the four monks, Ven Balangoda Kassapa Thera and Ven Trincomalee Kalyanawansa Tissa Thera moved the Court of Appeal against the Magistrate’s Court decision. The case was heard on 22 January before a Bench comprising the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya, and Justice K. Priyantha Fernando.

Manohara de Silva, PC, and President’s Counsel Uditha Igalahewa, PC, appearing for the petitioners, urged the Court to take up the matter urgently, describing it as a case of exceptional importance.

However, the Court of Appeal on 3 February dismissed the petitions against the remanding of Ven Balangoda Kassapa Thera and Ven Trincomalee Kalyanawansa Tissa Thera.

The order was issued by the Court of Appeal bench consisting of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abesuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando.