News
JVP: Govt. using brawn, not brains
By Saman Indrajith
The incumbent government is headed by those who use their brawn instead of brains to solve problems, says the JVP.
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, addressing the media at the party headquarters, in Pelawatte yesterday said that problems confronted by the people and their grievances could not be solved by muscle power, but the rulers needed to put their heads together to work out solutions.
“The ministers try to solve people’s problems using their muscle power. The best example was the recent raids carried out against rice millers. The government vowed to break down the so-called rice mafia and got its men to raid warehouses and stores and showed those raids on TV with drama and suspense. The raids could recover only eight hundred kilos of rice. The amount recovered had no significance because the country’s daily consumption of rice was at six million kilos a day. The show of coercive power has not yielded significant results,” Dissanayake said.
“In purchasing paddy the government introduced a controlled price instead of a certified price. If the government had introduced a certified price, the farmers could have made use of that price as the bottom price and could have sold their harvest to a higher price. As a result of controlled prices, they had to sell their paddy at 50 rupees a kilo. After the farmers have sold their paddy, a new price of 55 rupees a kilo has been introduced. Farmers lost five rupees from each kilo because of that jumbling of prices.
“Tea industry is now in its last legs because the plantations could not get chemical input. Tea smallholders have found that they could not yield their normal produce using organic fertilisers. Similarly the maize cultivations too are on the verge of collapse because maize seeds need chemical inputs. Usually, this country imports 1,500 metric tonnes of maize seed. Owing to uncertainty this year the imports decreased to 600 metric tonnes. Of that only around 150 metric tonnes have been sold for cultivation. This shows the uncertainty in the minds of farmers to cultivate maize. This will have direct repercussions on agriculture-output.
“The government promised to help 200,000 farmers, using organic fertilisers. They promised to give each farmer Rs 210,000 to start with. The government put up advertisements promising that. It revised the number of 200,000 farmers to 100,000. Thereafter it announced that each farmer would be paid Rs 150,000. Thereafter the number of farmers to receive the government incentive was reduced from 100,000 to 10,000 and the amount of funds promised decreased to Rs 110,000. Finally the government revised its numbers again and said that one farmer from each Agrarian Service Centre would be given the incentive. There are around 560 such centres in the country. That was how the number of farmers using organic fertiliser was brought down from 200,000 to 560. The senior ministers should have had their heads examined before launching such projects.”
The Commissioner General of Elections, Saman Sri Rathnayhake issuing a media release says that 26 incidents of election related violence were among the 3998 election complaints the Election Commission had received between 20th March 2025 and 01st May 2025.
170 complaints including two incidents of election related violence had been reported in the 24 hours ending 01st May2025
Latest News
Heat index likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern, Northern, North-western, and North-central provinces and Monaragala district
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 01 May 2025, valid for 02 May 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, Northern, North-western, and North-central provinces and Monaragala district
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.
Opposition Leader and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday said President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was merely following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, rather than fulfilling the promises made during the previous elections.
Speaking at the SJB’s May Day rally at the Lindula Municipal Council Grounds, Talawakele, Premadasa said that the President had given in to demands of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), just like his predecessor.
“President Dissanayake has capitulated to the IMF and agreed to increase electricity tariffs. We have received reliable information that the tariff hike will come into effect after May 6,” he said.
“We are living in an era when the rights of working people are suppressed. The previous government and the incumbent one have targeted the EPF and the ETF in the name of debt restructuring. But we have always stood up for workers’ rights—and we always will.”This government has come to power by deceiving the public.
Premadasa expressed confidence that the SJB would win commanding majorities in local government bodies and called on President Dissanayake not to think the people would continue to be misled by the NPP’s lies.
The Opposition Leader accused the government of misleading the public about energy prices. Despite its promise of a 33% reduction in electricity tariffs, the government was planning to increase them.
“Why does the President continue to lie to the people? We urge the public to vote for the SJB and send a clear message to this government.
By Kamal Bogoda and Akitha Perera
-
News5 days agoLankan ‘snow-white’ monkeys become a magnet for tourists
-
News5 days agoNew Lankan HC to Australia assumes duties
-
Business5 days agoPick My Pet wins Best Pet Boarding and Grooming Facilitator award
-
News3 days agoJapan-funded anti-corruption project launched again
-
Features5 days agoKing Donald and the executive presidency
-
Business5 days agoACHE Honoured as best institute for American-standard education
-
Business3 days agoNational Savings Bank appoints Ajith Akmeemana,Chief Financial Officer
-
News3 days agoSethmi Premadasa youngest Sri Lankan to perform at world-renowned Musikverein in Vienna