News

Rebel ministers expected to present alternative plan

Published

4 years ago

2022/02/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

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.

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Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and Galle and Matara districts

Published

6 hours ago

2026/03/12

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 12.30 noon 12 March 2026 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 12 March 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts after 2.00 p.m.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
 Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
 Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
 Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
 For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.

Latest News

Nasa spacecraft weighing 1,300lb due to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere

Published

7 hours ago

2026/03/12

Priyan

The two Van Allen Probes were launched in 2012 [BBC]

A Van Allen Probe spacecraft weighing more than 1,300lb (600kg) is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere almost 14 years after its launch, Nasa says.

The spacecraft is projected to re-enter around 19:45 EDT (23:45 GMT) on Tuesday the US Space Force predicted, according to Nasa, though there is a 24-hour margin of “uncertainty” in the timing.

The Van Allen Probe A, which launched in 2012, is expected mostly to burn up as it travels through the atmosphere, though some components may survive.

The space agency said there is a one in 4,200 chance of being harmed by a piece of the probe, which it characterised as “low” risk.

The spacecraft and its twin, Van Allen Probe B, were on a mission to gather unprecedented data on Earth’s two permanent radiation belts.

It was not immediately clear where in Earth’s atmosphere the satellite is projected to re-enter. The BBC has contacted Nasa for further detail.

Nasa and the US Space Force have said they will monitor the re-entry and update any predictions.

The mission, which was originally designed to last two years, went on for almost seven. It ended after the spacecrafts ran out of fuel and were no longer able to orient themselves toward the Sun.

The probes flew through rings of charged particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field from 2012 to 2019, in order to study how particles were gained and lost, per Nasa.

Those rings, called the Van Allen belts, shield Earth from cosmic radiation, solar storms and streaming solar wind, which are harmful to humans and can damage technology.

The mission made significant discoveries, including the first data that show the existence of a transient third radiation belt, which can form during times of intense solar activity, Nasa said.

Van Allen Probe B is not expected to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere before 2030.

[BBC]

News

PM Visits the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

Published

9 hours ago

2026/03/12

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, on 11 March 2026, and held bilateral discussions with Yvonne Pinto, Director General of IRRI, focusing on strengthening cooperation in the field of rice research and sustainable agricultural development.

During the meeting, discussions centered on rice cultivation in Sri Lanka, including the key challenges faced by Sri Lankan paddy farmers. The Prime Minister highlighted issues affecting the sector such as productivity constraints, climate-related impacts, and the need to support farmers through improved agricultural practices and technological innovations.

Both sides also discussed the importance of introducing modern techniques and research-driven approaches to rice cultivation in order to enhance productivity and ensure long-term food security. In this regard, IRRI shared insights on ongoing global research initiatives aimed at improving rice varieties, strengthening climate resilience, and promoting sustainable farming practices.

The discussion further focused on the potential for expanded collaboration between Sri Lanka and IRRI, particularly in areas such as research partnerships, knowledge sharing, and capacity building for Sri Lankan agricultural institutions and farmers. The Prime Minister emphasized Sri Lanka’s interest in strengthening cooperation with IRRI to support the development of the country’s rice sector and to improve the livelihoods of paddy farmers.

The visit reaffirmed the importance of science-based agricultural innovation and international collaboration in addressing food security challenges and enhancing sustainable rice production in Sri Lanka.