News
Rebel ministers expected to present alternative plan
Economic crisis:
Gammanpila says Cabinet ignored warning given on 15 Feb. last year
by Shamindra Ferdinando
A section of the SLPP-led ruling coalition is planning to unveil an alternative plan on 02 March spelling out how to overcome the current financial crisis.
Among the 11 parties that have pledged to join the group are the SLFP with 14 members in Parliament, the National Freedom Front (NFF) and the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) with six and one member, respectively. The grouping comprises about 25 lawmakers.
Political sources said that those who backed Ministers Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila resorting to legal action against the Yugadanavi deal now before the Supreme Court, were behind the latest move as well. They are in the process of finalising the set of proposals against the backdrop of simmering disagreements with the SLPP leadership.
The SLFP backed the court action but refrained from joining the dissident ministers in filing fundamental rights violation petitions against the agreement with the US-based New Fortress Energy.
Addressing the PHU gathering at Avissawella on Sunday (20), Energy Minister Gammanpila said that they were ready to present a strategy. The former JHU stalwart said that the country wouldn’t have been in this mess if the cabinet of ministers took his advice serious. According to him, the warning was issued over a year ago on Feb 15 as regards the impending fuel shortages. The Minister said that he subsequently announced the imminent crisis when deficit in USD was announced on June 12, 2021 in response to SLPP General Secretary and Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam’s criticism in the wake of him announcing the revision of fuel prices.
“Instead of taking remedial measures, a section of the SLPP lambasted me”, Minister Gammanpila said, squarely placing the blame on the SLPP for the unprecedented crisis.
Minister Gammanpila revealed that again he and Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena warned the government parliamentary group of the extremely dicey situation on July 17, 2021 at a meeting held at the President’s House. The Colombo District lawmaker said that when they pointed out the urgent need to take the public into confidence, a minister declared that the issue would be settled in just weeks. Refusing to name the minister concerned under any circumstances, Gammanpila quoted his ministerial colleague as having declared that the USD crisis was due to fraud committed by officers of two major state-owned banks. The parliamentary group cheered the minister thereby the issues raised by him and Minister Gunawardena were suppressed, MP Gammanpila said.
Minister Gammanpila said that the banking setup lacked the financial strength to meet the USD demand to procure fuel. The minister disclosed that recently a ship that had been compelled to wait 11 days in local waters to discharge fuel threatened to leave unless the government made the payment.
Minister Gammanpila said that the crisis hadn’t been caused by the current dispensation. Successive governments that had spent extravagantly much more than the foreign earnings should take the blame for the current turmoil.
The country was paying a huge price for uncontrolled expenditure over the past several decades and their group within the government would strive to change the direction of the government.
News
Law will be enforced against all those who acquire assets illegally- State Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe
State Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship, Chathuranga Abeysinghe, while addressing a public gathering held at the Raffles Hotel in Kotte on Tuesday [April 22] said that the law will be enforced against all those who acquire assets illegally.
He said that , if someone joins a municipal council receiving a modest salary and, within two to three years, builds a luxury house and acquires a vehicle, we will question how such wealth was amassed. If a satisfactory explanation cannot be provided, the law will be enforced and the measures will be taken to confiscate any illegally acquired assets.
The opposition frequently levels accusations against us, but we have not engaged in any wrongdoing. We have not misappropriated public funds, used undue influence to secure school admissions for our children, or interfered with law enforcement. We are dedicated to serving the people by upholding an ethical and responsible political culture.
If you wish to develop your community, I respectfully urge you to elect individuals of integrity who will not misuse public funds.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
It has been reported that prison officials and the police have brought the unrest among the 500 plus inmates of the Matara prison which commenced on Tuesday [22] under control by this morning (23)
It has been reported that the inmates had broken out of their wards after which the officials were compelled to fire in the air and use tear gas to bring the situation under control.
The inmates are being temporarily transferred to the Angunkolapelessa prison in groups to enable authorities to repair the the damage caused to the wards and cells within the premises.
The prison officials who were injured during the conflict are receiving treatment at the Matara hospital. 
Latest News
Local government authorities and Municipal Councils are the nursery of corrupt politics. – Prime Minister
The Prime Minister stated that the President has challenged all ministers to transparently and efficiently spend the funds allocated to each ministry through the national budget for the benefit of the people, and that the local governments and municipal councils have historically been the nursery grounds of corrupt politics.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a public gathering held at the Raffles Hotel in Kotte on Tuesday [April 22].
The Prime Minister further stated:
“All 159 of us in Parliament today did not enter through family or financial influence. We are ordinary citizens just like you and individuals who stand among you. Unlike in the past, our members do not behave disruptively in Parliament. When school children visit, there is no need for the Speaker to request their removal that our parliamentary members conduct themselves with dignity, adherence to the law, and political maturity.
This is the kind of Parliament we have always aspired to have. Today, it is you who has made this transformation possible. For a long time, we have not experienced the advantages of an efficient and properly functioning local government. You now have the opportunity to elect representatives who are truly committed to serving you and improving your local institutions.
The event was attended by Arosh Athapaththu, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Municipal Council candidate representing the National People’s Power, along with several other candidates and a large number of local residents.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
-
Business5 days agoDIMO pioneers major fleet expansion with Tata SIGNA Prime Movers for ILM
-
News4 days agoFamily discovers rare species thought to be extinct for over a century in home garden
-
Features7 days agoNipping the two leaves and the bud
-
Features6 days agoProf. Lal Tennekoon: An illustrious but utterly unpretentious and much -loved academic
-
Features7 days agoAvurudu celebrations … galore
-
Foreign News4 days agoChina races robots against humans in Beijing half marathon
-
News7 days agoCounsel for Pilleyan alleges govt. bid to force confession
-
Editorial5 days agoSelective use of PTA