News
March 09 poll in the balance: Opp slams Govt. Printer, Treasury Secy. for not cooperating with EC
Nidahas Janatha Sandhanaya spokesman Prof G. L. Peiris, MP, yesterday (15) urged the Election Commission (EC) to summon Government Printer Gangani Liyanage over her refusal to cooperate with the independent commission.
Alleging that the Government Printer had deliberately undermined the conduct of Local Government polls on March 09, the former External Affairs Minister stressed that Liyanage owed an explanation. Prof. Peiris said so addressing the media at Nawala.
Prof. Peiris said that the Government Printer’s sudden declaration that she wouldn’t undertake printing until her department received the full payment should be examined against the backdrop of the assurance given by the EC to the Supreme Court that Local Government poll would be held as scheduled.
The former minister lambasted Finance Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana for depriving the EC of funds required to conduct the election. Stressing the responsibility on the part of relevant government officials to cooperate with the EC, Prof. Peiris questioned the rationale in Secretary to the Treasury refusing to release funds in spite of this year’s budget allocating Rs 10 bn for the EC.
Referring to earlier attempt made by Public Administration Secretary Neil Bandara Hapuhinna to interfere with electoral process, Prof. Peiris pointed out that SJB Mayoral candidate for Colombo Municipal Council Mujibur Rahuman recently moved court against Hapuhinna.
Meanwhile, at the meeting convened by the EC on Tuesday (14 February) morning to inform secretaries of political parties contesting LG poll, EC Chairman Nimal Punchihewa expressed concerns relating to holding the election as expected due to financial constraints. Punchihewa has said that the Government Printer has informed him in writing she was unable to continue printing of the ballot papers due to the lack of funds. Most of the participants present expressed their displeasure over the attempts made by the government to disrupt the election.
It was pointed out by many party leaders that the Election Commission has the necessary powers to conduct the election even if the government tries to stop the election by influencing various agencies that come under it, namely, the Finance Ministry, Government Printing Department and Police. It was even suggested that the finance secretary and the government printer be summoned by the Commission and questioned as to their lackadaisical approach and even to take legal action against them.
When the possibility of utilising the deposits made by the political parties towards the conduct of election was raised, it was revealed that 186 million rupees was collected as deposits and that has been dispatched to the treasury.
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Food Policy and Security Committee recommends importation of rice to ensure an uninterrupted supply
The Food Policy and Security Committee has recommended the importation of rice in the near future to ensure an uninterrupted supply for consumers.
A notable increase in rice prices has been observed in the market, along with reports of shortages of certain rice varieties, despite the current harvest season.
Given this situation, discussions were held regarding the need for the Cabinet to prioritize the maintenance of sufficient stock, through rice imports.
The Committee, chaired by Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha and Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Vasantha Samarasinghe, convened for the fifth time at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday (01). The meeting aimed to formulate policy decisions to ensure food security.
During the discussions, it was revealed that due to excessive rainfall this year, crop damage occurred on two occasions, leading to a significant reduction in the expected harvest.
Furthermore, during the meeting it was stated that the improper use of rice for animal feed is another major reason contributing to the rice shortage. As a result, the Committee also focused on the importation of broken rice for animal feed and the use of alternative feeds to mitigate the impact on livestock production.
Accordingly, the Food Policy and Security Committee approved the formation of a Committee, led by the Director General of Agriculture, to oversee the importation of the required quantity of broken rice through proper mechanisms.
Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara, and other members of the Food Policy and Security Committee, including Ministry Secretaries, participated in the discussions.
The People of Myanmar are facing immense hardships caused by the devastating earthquake on 28th March and as reported by the international media reports the death toll is over 2,700. Furthermore, it has been reported that many people are missing while, a large number of individuals have been injured and are receiving treatment.
Considering the long – term close relationship between the two nations as two Buddhist states, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to provide,
• A sum of United States Dollars One Million
• Transportation for the dry rations collected by Buddhist clergy and other donors
• To have a group of medical officers and health staff on standby for immediate departure to Myanmar if necessary
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Cabinet appoints ministerial committee to submit report on sanctions imposed on 04 Sri Lankans by the United Kingdom
Attention of the Cabinet of Ministers have been drawn on the decisions taken by the United Kingdom to impose sanctions on four Sri Lankan individuals recently, and have decided to appoint a committee comprised of three ministers to submit a report with recommendations on the further measures to be taken after studying the facts in the regard and to empower the committee to obtain the service of any officer/intellect deemed to have subject expertise in the relevant field and considered essential.
The committee will comprise of :
– Vijitha Herath Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism
– Attorney – at – Law Harshana Nanayakkara Minister of Justice and National Integrity
– Aruna Jayasekara Deputy Minister of Defence
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Cabinet approves providing relief to the people of Myanmar
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