News
PM tells the whole truth
The media could bring a political party into power but it could not keep it in power, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday at Temple Trees at the inauguration ceremony of the ‘Esi Disi’ insurance scheme for journalists.
“Only those who govern can protect its popularity. If the media tries to prop up unpopular governments, people will be angry. Then, you will need a better life insurance scheme. Although journalists know this, it seems that our people have not understood this,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that he had always been close to journalists and had maintained cordial relations with them. He said that when he was a minister, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike called him a reporter at a parliamentary group meeting.
“I told her I was not a reporter, but an editor. That I only gave information to journalists after editing them so that the party was not harmed,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that when governments tried to suppress information, the public would grow curious. “This leads to the dissemination of fake news. Now, parliament debates are telecast live and no one is interested. The only place not open is the Cabinet and that is why there are many speculative stories about what happens there,” the PM said.
Rajapaksa said that the government would have to make tough decisions and that they were ready to implement them although that might cost them politically.
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) has announced a reduction in the prices of Petrol 92 and Petrol 95, effective from midnight today (30).
The price of Petrol 92 has been reduced by Rs. 15 per litre, from Rs. 414 to Rs. 399 while the price of Petrol 95 Octane has been reduced by Rs. 20 per litre, from Rs. 495 to Rs. 475
There will be no change in the prices of diesel, Super Diesel and kerosene under the latest revision.
The book “Rathuwewi Mihimadala”, written based on the life story of Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Leader of the Democratic Left Front, was launched on Friday [August 28] at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.
Speaking to the media afterwards about Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:
“Vasudeva Nanayakkara is a prominent figure in Sri Lankan politics, particularly within the left-wing political movement. There were several influential figures within the left movement, and that left-wing influence also contributed to bringing the country to where it is today. Politically, there were areas where we agreed and areas where we did not. However, I have great respect for the contribution made by Vasudeva Nanayakkara to left-wing politics. When I entered Parliament in 2020, Vasudeva Nanayakkara was also in Parliament. We sat in the same row, and we spoke about many important as well as interesting moments in his political career. I believe some of these experiences have also been included in this book.”
The event was attended by members of the Maha Sangha, Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara, former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Speakers Karu Jayasuriya and Chamal Rajapaksa, as well as party members, family members and friends.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Latest News
Sun directly overhead Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon today (30)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (30) are Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and
Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon.
Petrol to cost less from midnight today (30)
Head teacher evacuated 900 children minutes before school washed away by Nepal floods
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