News
May 09 mayhem: Bandula blames media for promoting violent protests
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Media Minister Bandula Gunawardena yesterday (03) faulted the media for having promoted a protest campaign that led to the killing of an MP and his police bodyguard on May 09, 2022 and the destruction of houses belonging to 72 MPs within 12 hours.
Gunawardena, who also holds the transport and highways portfolio, alleged that the media over a period of time had deliberately created an environment conducive for the unprecedented attacks on the MPs. He said properties belonging to altogether 800 people’s representatives at different levels had come under attack.
The Minister said so at the inauguration of the second day of a UNDP funded workshop on media capacity building held at the Shangri-La, Colombo. Media Secretary Anusha Palpita was also present.
On behalf of the UNDP Marlin Herwig, Deputy Resident Representative addressed the gathering. In a barred attack on the media, the Colombo District lawmaker said that those who incited people should accept the responsibility for losses caused to politicians.
Minister Gunawardena said that his house atJambugasmulla road, Nugegoda as well as an adjacent building belonging to his son had been set ablaze. Gunawardena claimed that those who entered his unguarded house included about 50 women.
Referring to the eruption of a public protest campaign outside the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence at Pangiriwatte, Mirihana on the night of March 31, 2022, Minister Gunawardena said that on that day a group of protesters had gathered outside his residence. The minister said that the protesters referred to him as the one who had claimed a person could survive with just Rs 2,500. The MP said that those who attacked his house and the adjoining building, too, recalled how he had justified one person could live with Rs 2,500.
MP Gunawardena alleged that the people reacted to totally wrong reportage of a statement made by him during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second term.
Alleging that the media brazenly exploited statements made in and outside Parliament, the minister expressed concern over the conduct of the media. The minister said that the internationally acclaimed movie ‘The Newspaper’ produced by him dealt with irresponsible journalism and how such conduct affected the lives of ordinary people.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to award the contract for printing and supplying vehicle number plates for the Department of Motor Traffic for a period of five (5) years to M/s South Asian Technologies based on the recommendations of the High-Level Standing Procurement Committee and the Procurement Appeal Board.
The National Lotteries board has been established subject to the Finance Act No. 11 of 1963. Having identified the requirement of amending that act which was imposed around 62 years to cater the current requirements of the lottery market, the Cabinet of Mnisters at their meeting held on 14.02.2017 granted approval to draft a new bill for the purpose.
Accordingly, the National Lotteries Board has recognized further amendments to be performed to the fundamental draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsmen.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the
resolution furnished by the President in his office as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to direct the Legal Draftsmen to finalize the formulation of the draft bill for the National Lotteries Board as soon as possible including the proposed new amendments as well.
The Werahara office of the Department of Motor Traffic performs issuance of temporary driving licenses in this country based on the driving licenses issued overseas, and measures have been initiated to render the service from a service window of the Department of Motor Traffic established at the Bandaranayake International Airport from 03.08.2025.
The fees charged for issuing temporary driving licenses have been published in Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 prepared under the provisions of the Motor Traffic (Authority 203) Act.
But, as the fee of Rupees 2,000/- charged for the service is not sufficient, the requirement of amending the regulations has been recognized.
The regulations for introducing the revised fees have been published in the government extraordinary gazette
notification No. 2463/04 dated 17.11.2025. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to
submit the regulations to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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Mrs. P. K. L. S. Panduwawala appointed to the post of Surveyor General
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