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Prof. Udagama condemns Peradeniya Uni ban on IMF austerity programme lecture
Former Chairperson of Human Rights Commission Prof. Deepika Udagama yesterday (05) strongly condemned the cancellation of a lecture, titled ‘How to fight against the IMF austerity programme,’ at the Peradeniya University.
Responding to The Island query in this regard, Prof. Udagama said: “This reported move to censor a programme, within a university, is surprising and is extremely problematic to say the least. It sets a chilling precedent. Universities are critically important sites of free speech as sharing of thoughts and ideas on any subject, however disagreeable or unsavoury to the authorities or anyone else, is essential for the generation of ideas. If academia is gagged, the democratic spirit in the country, too, suffers. If academia is sent the message that it cannot enjoy academic freedom, then what is the guarantee to the citizens of the right to free expression? “
She added: “One hopes that this intervention will be withdrawn and confidence restored. If the government, indeed, has not prevailed upon the university to interfere with the programme, it should give assurances to the public. “
Earlier, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE-Sri Lanka) strongly condemned the cancellation by the Vice Chancellor of Peradeniya University. The lecture, sponsored by the Political Science Students’ Association (PSSA) of the Department of Political Science, was scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on January 04. The PSSA had obtained prior approval from the Department head, Professor Upul Abeyratne, and arranged for the lecture to be held in Room 86 of the Political Science Department.
Senior Treasurer of the PSSA, Senior Lecturer Sumudu Walakulu, has informed the IYSSE convener of the cancellation. Walakulu explained: “I have received a message from the Acting Vice Chancellor, through the Dean, Faculty of Arts and the Head Political Science, to revise the topic of the speech and advertise accordingly so as not to appear that the meeting challenges the government policies or else consider hereby that the above meeting be suspended immediately.”
The Vice Chancellor’s actions are a blatant violation of the democratic rights of the PSSA, university students as a whole, and the IYSSE.
Walakulu further said that “due to the severity of the message” from senior university officials, he advised the PSSA President to cancel the event. He pointed out, however, that changing the meeting topic was at odds with PSSA’s objective of making “various insights” on Sri Lanka’s economic crisis available to “the university community.”
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Concessionary priced food packages for new ‘Aswesuma’ applicants from 01st to 13th April
In keeping with the proposal by the President in his 2025 budget, for the provision of a package essential goods at a concessionary price during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival season, it has been planned to provide a food package containing essential food items valued at Rs. 5000/- for only Rs. 2,500/-.
It is expected to select appropriate beneficiaries from among the 812,753 candidates who have submitted new applications for Aswesuma benefits.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development jointly with the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to take necessary steps to provide the food package to the beneficiaries through the Lanka Sathosa outlet network and COOPFED outlets from 01.04.2025 to 13.04.2025
The Cabinet of Ministers have decided as follows considering the resolutions submitted by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development along with the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments on payment of salaries according to the revised salary scales with effect from 01.04.2025 based on the resolution furnished by the President for revising the salaries of government service by the budget 2025;
• To empower the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments to issue circular instructions to the the secretaries of all the Ministries, Local Government Secretaries and Heads of Departments in regard to salary revisions of the government service.
• To empower the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to issue circular instructions for state corporations, statutory boards and fully government owned companies and other institutions.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted to amend the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007 for remedying the shortcomings related to the transparency according to the international standards for prevention of money laundering, financing terrorism and other illegal activities.
Accordingly, the draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman has been revised as per instructions provided by the Attorney General subject to the special decision of the Supreme Court No. SC/SD/92/2024 and clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the final draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Safety and Cooperative Development to publish the aforementioned draft bill in the government gazette notification and subsequently submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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