News

Opp. asks why waste money while people are starving

Published

6 years ago

2020/12/11

Sahan Weerasooriya

Speaker to consider SJB request to cancel traditional lunch after budget

By Saman Indrajith

SJB MPs called on Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to cancel the traditional Speaker’s Luncheon for MPs at the end of the budget debate and utilise the funds so saved for provide relief to pandemic-hit people.

Matara District SJB MP Buddhika Pathirana said that all MPs had been invited to the luncheon to be hosted by the speaker at the end of the budget debate.

Badulla District SJB MP Chaminda Wijesiri said that an enormous amount of funds would be spent on the luncheon. “All 225 MPs are invited and a large number of other invitees too are expected. Expenditure of this nature at a time when people have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and some of them are skipping meals. Following the Easter Sunday carnage, the then speaker Karu Jayasuriya cancelled the Speaker’s Luncheon. I propose that the money to be spent on the luncheon be used to provide relief to people affected by the pandemic.”

Speaker Abeywardena said that he would think about it.

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Establishment of an Institutional Framework to Inagurate Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority

Published

1 hour ago

2026/10/6

Priyan

Policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 08.06.2026 to establish the Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority for identification and
execution of a formal and long – lasting remedy to secure the central hills including the upper hydro catchment areas enabling them to sustain amidst extreme weather conditions
due to natural calamities and human activities as well as to be used for the sustainable development of the country.

Accordingly, a concept paper has been prepared including
institutional structure, activities, powers, active subject area as well as administrative and coordination mechanism for the proposed authority by an expert technical committee appointed by the Secretary to the President.

Based on the said concept paper, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill including legal provisions required for the establishment of Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority.

News

Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations

Published

3 hours ago

2026/10/6

Priyan

With the objective of securing the traditional livelihood and the eco system of the indigenous community, it has been recognized the necessity of introducing a formal regulation methodology to secure their engagement in livelihood activities by being more sensitive to the existing laws.

Thereby, the Fauna and Flora (regularizing) regulations under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (Authority 469) have been prepared so that nominated activities within the prescribed area to a member of the indigenous community
who has been registered for securing the rights acquired from law or custom or usage or traditional stance to execute an act within a certain state land that is fundamental to the survival of the indigenous community permission can be granted

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the said regulations in the government gazette notification and thereby submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.

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M. M. D. J. Senarathne, appointed Director General of the Department of National Botanical Gardens

Published

3 hours ago

2026/10/6

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to appoint M. M. D. J. Senarathne, who is the senior most officer in Grade I of Sri Lanka Scientific Service se