News
Ranil’s demand leads to heated exchange between govt. and Opposition
by Saman Indrajith
A heated argument ensued in Parliament yesterday following a demand by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe that the government table the Yugadanavi agreement and the report of the Glasgow Summit attended by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The UNP leader said Sinhala and Tamil translations of the documents should be made available.
“Several parties have not yet seen the Yugadanavi agreement and we want to study it prior to making our observations,” he said.
Leader of the House and Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena: “The COP20 summit held in Glasgow is a very important event and the President not only participated in it but also carried out part of the responsibility as the co-lead. However, as it was issued in English, we will first table the English document in Parliament and thereafter the two translations.”
Minister Gunawardena said that the relevant minister would table the Yugadanavi agreement in Parliament in the near future.
Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella said that the subject minister had given an incomplete answer. “In fact, it was said in public by several ministers that the Yugadanavi agreement had not been presented to the Cabinet. A government minister himself has said so.”
Minister Gunawardena said that as the subject minister had given a response, there was no need to drag the matter further as 50 questions remained to be answered.
UNP leader Wickremesinghe said that as several parties needed to make decisions based on the contents of those reports, they had to be tabled in Parliament.
Minister Gunawardena: “If these documents were required urgently, a meeting of the Consultative Committee could be summoned and the Speaker could then issue an order under standing orders to make them available to you within 48 hours.”
The second day of the “Vesak Bhakti Gee Saraniya”, held in parallel with the “Buddha Rashmi Vesak Kalapaya” jointly organized by the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple, the Presidential Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office, commenced on Tuesday (13) at 6:30 p.m. under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, at the Presidential Secretariat premises.
The evening featured musical performances by renowned vocalist Ilyas Beg and the Sri Lanka Air Force Bhakti Gee Troup, accompanied by the Air Force Band. A Vesak lantern exhibition was also held at the venue. The event was attended by the Chief Incumbent of Gangaramaya Temple Venerable Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thero, along with several senior officials of the Presidential Secretariat.
This Bhakthi Gee programme will continue today [May 14] and tomorrow at the same location. Additionally, a short-eats dansala is being held near the Presidential Secretariat for the benefit of the public visiting Colombo for Vesak, and will continue until May 16.
Meanwhile, a ‘Buth Dansala’ organized jointly by the Presidential Secretariat and the Sri Lanka Army was inaugurated yesterday near the Presidential Secretariat, with the participation of senior military officers. A large number of devotees from across the country attended the event.
In line with the ‘Buddha Rashmi’ and ‘Bauddhaloka Vesak Kalapya’, several Vesak programmes have been organized in the vicinity with the support of the Presidential Secretariat. These include the illumination of nearby government buildings and roads with decorative lights, and the display of Vesak lanterns, with the active participation of the Presidential Secretariat staff.
[PMD]
The French Navy Ship ‘BEAUTEMPS BEAUPRE’ which arrived in Sri Lanka on a goodwill visit (09 May 25), departed the island on Tuesday (13 May).
The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the ship’s stay in Colombo, crew members of ‘BEAUTEMPS BEAUPRE’ visited some tourist attractions in the country. In addition, the Commanding Officer and a group of
crew members of the ship called on senior officers of the Sri Lanka National Hydrographic Office (SLNHO) to discuss key hydrographic matters of bilateral importance.
News
“Clean Sri Lanka” joins hands to Improve facilities and sanitation at Kotmale Regional Hospital
Following the bus accident in the Garandiella area of Kotmale, a large number of injured individuals were admitted to the Kotmale Regional Hospital for treatment. In response, the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme has collaborated to improve the facilities and sanitation of the hospital.
Accordingly, the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme actively worked to clean the hospital ward complex and the hospital premises, aiming to create a comfortable environment for the patients’ treatment and to enhance other facilities.
A notable aspect was the voluntary participation of the local community in this effort. The “Clean Sri Lanka” secretariat appreciates the dedication shown by the doctors and hospital staff of the Kotmale Regional Hospital, who provided emergency treatment to those injured in this unexpected incident despite having access to limited resources.
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