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Sajith deserves Tamil votes – GL

Published

2 years ago

2024/06/17

Thilina Walpola

Prof. G. L. Peiris

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Dissident SLPP MP and former External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris has said in Jaffna that SJB leader Sajith Premadasa does not make promises he cannot keep.Prof. Peiris emphasized that the SJB leader made pledges only after careful consideration. He was in Jaffna to promote Premadasa’s candidature at the forthcoming Presidential Poll expected to be conducted in Sept/Oct this year.

Premadasa recently declared in Kilinochchi that he would fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. Subsequently, Premadasa also held talks with a top TNA delegation and reiterated his assurance. President Ranil Wickremesinghe and NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, too, have made similar promises.

Premadasa won all polling divisions in the North at the last presidential election conducted in Nov. 2019, though he lost the election by a substantial margin to SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Declaring that Premadasa was the candidate who could address the grievances of the Northerners and grant them their aspirations, Prof. Peiris said that in addition to credibility, the electorate should pay attention to his assurance to tackle waste, corruption and mismanagement and two major initiatives-Sakwala (in aid of schools) and Husma (in support of hospitals) conducted for the benefit of the masses.

Prof. Peiris said that the SJB leader was determined to hold the Provincial Council elections as soon as possible. He reiterated Premadasa’s commitment to conduct the PC polls within six months following the presidential election.

Prof. Peiris said: “Sajith Premadasa has been very pragmatic, very practical in identifying his priorities. He regards the whole country as one. And diversity in ethnicity, religion, in culture to him is a great source of strength. It adds to the vitality of our nation. It is not a source of weakness. It is not a source of problems. But it is a resource to be exploited in full in carrying our country forward at a challenging time.”

Underscoring the responsibility on the part of the government, PCs and Local Government institutions all act in unison for the benefit of the people, Prof. Peiris said that approximately 40% of the funds that had been allocated to PCs weren’t utilised and returned to the Treasury due to the failure on the part of PCs to use those allocations for the benefit of people. “The money was allocated. Money was physically there. But the PCs didn’t have the capability and the capacity to spend those resources for the wellbeing of the people. So, there is a dire need to strengthen these structures. And this will be one of our priority objectives of the Sajith Premadasa administration.”

Recollecting his role in the late Ranasinghe Premadasa’s Presidential Commission on Youth, Prof. Peiris said that the new administration would address the issue of unemployment earnestly.

The former minister also dealt with the agricultural sector and Sajith Premadasa’s plans to give it a mega boost.

Prof. Peiris said that the Opposition had submitted to the Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera a comprehensive piece of legislation to combat corruption and bring back Sri Lanka’s stolen assets stashed away oveseas.

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UPDATE: Flash flood on Nepal-Tibet border kills more than 100, with hundreds of tourists missing

Published

5 hours ago

2026/08/26

Priyan

More than 100 people have been killed in Nepal and Tibet, and hundreds of tourists are missing, after a massive flash flood and mudslide

The missing tourists include more than 100 from India, 54 from the US, and 33 from the UK, as well as more than 100 from Nepal itself, according to Nepal’s tourist board. The area is popular with pilgrims and trekker.

Dozens of police officers and army prtxonnel are also missing, as well as power workers. My family was swept away in front of me, one woman tells us – she and her son survived by climbing to a rooftop

In Tibet, Chinese state media report three dead and 265 missing, CCTV from Tibet shows a wall of water and mud hitting buildings at a border crossing.

Authorities initially thought an earthquake may have triggered a landslide – the US Geological Survey now says the sesimic energy was instead generated by a landslide.

(BBC)

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Advisory for High Waves for the sea areas extending from Colombo to Pottuvil via Galle, Matara and Hambantota

Published

10 hours ago

2026/08/26

Priyan

Advisory for High Waves
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre Issued at 03.30 p.m. on 26 August 2026 Valid for the period until 03.30 p.m. 27 August 2026

An advisory for high waves has been issued for the sea areas extending from Colombo to Pottuvil via Galle, Matara and Hambantota and naval and fishing communities engaged in activities in the aforementioned sea areas, as well as coastal communities living in the aforementioned nearshore areas, are advised to remain vigilant in this regard

The swell waves (about 2.0 m – 3.0 m) height (This is not for land area) may increase in the sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Pottuvil via Galle, Matara and Hambantota. There is a possibility that near shore sea areas off the coast extending from Beruwala to Matara via Galle, may experience surges due to swell waves.

News

We must create social awareness to ensure the physical and mental well-being of children with disabilities – PM

Published

12 hours ago

2026/08/26

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that, given their particular vulnerability children with disabilities require protection, and stressed the need to foster social awareness to protect them from negative social influences while promoting their physical and mental well-being. She emphasized the need to implement awareness programmes for parents, teachers and other members of society towards this end.

The Prime Minister made these remarks on Tuesday [August 25] while visiting and observing the National Institute of Special and Inclusive Education – Shishyodaya, located in Veniwelkola.

The purpose of the Prime Minister’s visit was to observe the institutional structure and gain an understanding of the areas that require further development.

The Prime Minister emphasized that a systematic mechanism should be established to transform the institution, which was established in 2019 outside the basic standards and plans for Inclusive Education, into an institution that provides quality education to children and fulfills the targeted objectives of inclusive education. She also proposed appointing a special committee to make the necessary recommendations in this regard.

The Prime Minister further stated that steps would be taken in coordination with the Ministry of Health to address the shortage of therapists and medical professionals required to provide clinical services to students at the institution. She also stressed that the maintenance of equipment and buildings should be carried out properly using the financial allocations provided for such purposes.

The Prime Minister further noted that finding sustainable solutions to the issues faced by the institution is essential, while immediate interventions should be made to address issues that can be resolved without delay. The welfare of the teachers serving at the institution was also discussed during the visit.

Member of Parliament Anura Panagoda, Chairman of the Homagama Pradeshiya Sabha Kasun Rathnayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, ministry officials, parents and students were present.