News
New skink species found in SL
By Ifham Nizam
A team of Lankan scientists has decided to name a newly discovered a skink species from the central hills of the country after US herpetologist, Alan Resetar in honour of his contribution to the conservation of herpetofauna.
This species had previously been confused with two other species known in their binominal names Eutropis carinata and Eutropis beddomei, head of the team Lankan research team, Sudesh Batuwita told The Island yesterday.
The new species had been recorded from the highest elevations from about 1,000 metres to 1,600 metres in the Central Hills, Batuwita said. “We have decided to name it as Rutropis resetarii in recognition of the services rendered by US herpetologist Resetar to the field of herpetofauna studies,” said Batuwita, a taxonomist of the Society of Biodiversity Conservation committed to inventoring fauna (fish, reptiles and amphibians) and to provide baseline information to conserve species and their habitats.
Batuwita said Resetar of the Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, Field Museum of Natural History is known for his life long dedication to herpetology and his behind the scenes contributions to homalopsid snake research.
The team headed by Batuwita comprises scientists Sampath Udugampala and Udeni Edirisinghe.
The team was grateful to Prof. Aaron M. Bauer, Prof. Indraneil Das, Dr. Ali Gholamifard and Dr. Frank Tillack for their enormous support for the work, Batuwita added.
Members of the Civil Security Department have donated a day’s salary to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by cyclone Ditwah.
Accordingly, a cheque amounting to Rs. 40,870,686 was handed over on Thursday (22) at the Presidential Secretariat by the District Officer of the Civil Security Department G.Y.B. Perera to Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Ravi Seneviratne and Director General of the Civil Security Department, Major General Palitha Fernando (Retired), were also present on the occasion.
The Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) has contributed LKR 25 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund.
The cheque was handed over to the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake by the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeyesekera, the Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike and Senior Vice Chairman Kusal Nissanka at the Presidential Secretariat.
News
Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56
Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.
In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.
He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.
Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.
He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.
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