News
JVP/NPP claims credit for mobilising support for war
By HIMAL KOTELAWALA
ECONOMYNEXT —JVP/NPP which promotes progressive left politics has taken credit for mobilising ideological and political support for the last phase of the government forces’ war with the separatist Tamil Tigers.
K D Lal Kantha, a senior leader of the Marxist-Leninist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuan (JVP),which controls the NPP, said that only the JVP and the nationalist Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) had successfully argued for a military response to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) in the late 2000s.
Lal Kantha was addressing a group of military veterans at an event in Ratnapura. The NPP has been canvassing the ex-military community in the run-up to Sri Lanka’s upcoming presidential elections.
“Only two political parties in Sri Lanka said that this must be fought to a finish. Name them if you can? Only two parties. It was not the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) or the United National Party (UNP) or the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). It was the JVP and the JHU that said war is the only answer and there is no other solution,” he said.
“You fought the war, and we mobilised support for it,” he said, reiterating that only the JVP and the JHU had normalised the idea that “separatist terrorism can only be defeated militarily. No one else.”
Lal Kantha told the veterans that, in politics, the enemy changes from time to time.
“Back then, the enemy was clear. We carried out an ideological struggle. You took up arms and carried out that struggle,” he said.
The NPP, which presents itself as a progressive leftist political formation that promotes egalitarianism and coexistence, has been courting the military vote since the eruption of mass protests in 2022 that unseated then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.The NPP has also yet to reveal its position on the island nation’s ethnic issue and has remained largely silent on ongoing discussions on the 13th amendment to the constitution.
News
Colombo Metropolitan Region, Eastern Development Plan and the Greater Hambantota Project discussed in detail
A meeting between Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake and relevant ministry officials was held on Tuesday (08) at the Presidential Secretariat regarding the development plans to be implemented in Sri Lanka under three zones, in collaboration with the Surbana Jurong Institute of Singapore and 18 Ministries.
During the meeting it was discussed in detail regarding the plans for the Colombo Metropolitan Region, Eastern Development Plan and the Greater Hambantota Project. The officials from Singapore-based urban planning and infrastructure consultancy Surbana Jurong also joined the discussion virtually.
Progress reports on the three projects were reviewed in detail and Dr. Kumanayake instructed the officials to identify any deficiencies and finalize the necessary actions within the next two weeks.
The discussion also addressed delays in securing necessary approvals for investments under the existing regulatory framework, as well as the urgent need to revise certain legislative instruments to better facilitate national development.
The meeting was attended by Secretary to the Prime Minister G.P. Saputhanthri, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Russel Aponsu, Secretary to the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing U.G. Ranjith Ariyaratne, and several senior officials from the respective ministries.
News
Heat index at ‘Caution level’ in Northern, North-central, Eastern, North-western, Western provinces and Monaragala district today [09]
The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology has issued a Warm Weather Advisory for 09 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 Northern, North-central, Eastern, North-western, and Western provinces and in 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 below 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.
Prof. Jayasumana raises possibility of Lanka ending up with “Quad’
Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has said it is the responsibility of the NPP government to submit the MoUs/agreements that were recently signed with India to the respective Sectoral Oversight Committees (SOCs).
Premadasa said so when The Island raised the issue with him. He said that during his meeting with Premier Modi his focus had been on opening the Indian market for Sri Lankan garment exports.
The seven MoUs/agreements signed on 05 April included defence cooperation, energy, Eastern Province development and digitalisation.
Meanwhile, the Vice President of Sarvajana Balaya and former lawmaker Prof. Channa Jayasumana said that the government owed an explanation whether the recently signed MoU on defence cooperation directly or indirectly attached Sri Lanka to the Quad security alliance, consisting of the US, Australia, Japan and India.
The former SLPPer raised the issue at a meeting held at Boralesgamuwa on Monday (07) in support of Sarvajana Balaya candidates contesting the May 6 LG polls.
Prof. Jayasumana urged that the MoU on Defence Cooperation be placed before Parliament, and the people, without further delay. The academic who served as State Health Minister during President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s foreign policy direction should be dealt with.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Colombo Metropolitan Region, Eastern Development Plan and the Greater Hambantota Project discussed in detail
IPL 2025: Sensational Priyansh Arya condemns Chennai Super Kings to another loss
Heat index at ‘Caution level’ in Northern, North-central, Eastern, North-western, Western provinces and Monaragala district today [09]
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