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Opposition claims Speaker remote-controlled by Bimal

Published

1 year ago

2025/03/3

Thilina Walpola

… Parliament erupts over fuel distribution dispute

by Saman Indrajith

A heated argument between government MPs and their Opposition counterpart over disruptions to the fuel supply threw Parliament into turmoil on Saturday. The government claimed there was a sinister attempt to create a fuel scarcity, and the Opposition accused Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne of preventing them from expressing their concerns about a matter of national importance.

The Petroleum Dealers’ Association said on Friday that it would stop placing new fuel orders in protest against revised commission rates.

Deputy Finance Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando dismissed claims of a fuel crisis, assuring Parliament that there were enough fuel stocks available. “There is no question of a shortage. People have begun panic buying,” he said.

The Opposition MPs alleged that Speaker Wickremaratne of being remote-controlled by the Leader of the House, Bimal Rathnayake to silence the opposition.

“The Speaker is being remotely controlled by the Leader of the House, Bimal Rathnayake, who was trying to stifle the opposition’s voice,” the opposition MPs charged.

Ruling party members, including Minister Rathnayake, argued that there was no basis for the claim of a fuel shortage. They explained that the three percent mark-up on fuel prices should be calculated based on the price at the time the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) received its stocks, and not on the net price as demanded by the distributors.

“The issue is that the distributors want the mark-up to be applied to the net price, which cannot be allowed under the court’s ruling,” Minister Rathnayake said.

Deputy Minister Jayantha also emphasized that social media had triggered panic buying. “We assure you that there will not be any shortage of fuel,” he stated.

However, Opposition MPs, including Gayantha Karunathilaka, D.V. Chanaka, and Dayasiri Jayasekara, insisted that the government must intervene to prevent a shortage. “There will be a shortage after Sunday if the government fails to resolve the situation,” MP Chanaka warned.

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Minister of Health of the Russian Federation attends the Sri Lanka–Russia Medical Forum

Published

2 hours ago

2026/05/5

Priyan

Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Health of the Russian Federation, officially visited the Russian House in Colombo to attend the Sri Lanka–Russia Medical Forum, where members of the Sri Lanka Russia Business Council and graduates from the Association of Sri Lankan Graduates from Socialist countries (ASLGSC) attended.

This historic gathering was graced by rectors and representatives from several world-class Russian medical institutions, including Kursk State Medical University, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, and Tver State Medical University, among others.

The forum commenced with an address by Minister Murashko, during which Russian medical graduates in attendance raised pertinent questions regarding medical and pharmaceutical sector opportunities in Sri Lanka.

Levan Dzhagaryan, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, together with Madam Maria L. Popova, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka & the Maldives and Director of the Russian House in Colombo, graced the occasion. Both officials expressed strong support for continued collaboration and future initiatives between the two nations.

News

Members of Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee Officially Appointed

Published

10 hours ago

2026/05/5

Priyan

The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:

Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage

The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.

The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.