News
Sajith: Govt. planning to control judiciary
Those who promised an unprecedented system change in the run-up to the 2024 national elections are now seeking to take charge of the judiciary, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has said.
Premadasa said so recently at the Diploma Awarding ceremony of the D.S. Senanayake Political Education Academy (DSSPA), a political training institute, affiliated with the SJB.
Comparing the post-Aragalaya administration (2022 to 2024) with the incumbent government, MP Premadasa said that the previous government, too, squeezed public life and compressed democracy. The SJB leader alleged that the NPP’s performance had been so pathetic it even neglected the farming community who exercised their franchise in support of the NPP.
Contrary to often repeated assurances to restore public confidence in governance, the NPP has ended up an utterly undemocratic establishment promoting the interests of the super-rich cohabitating with it.
Declaring that the country gradually achieved economic targets since receiving independence in 1948, MP Premadasa said no one could deny accomplishments made during this period, though questions remained with regard to the speed at which we achieved them.
The Opposition Leader stressed the difficulties, Sri Lanka currently experienced, should be examined, taking into consideration the much talked about Singapore achieving developed status while Sri Lanka deteriorated over the past decades. Premadasa called the NPP administration the worst in the post-independence era while declaring development couldn’t be achieved through a socialist system.
Commenting on the economic model suitable for the country, MP Premadasa said that former Presidents JRJ and Ranasinghe Premadasa followed the middle path. Referring to the Mahaweli Development Programme and Gam Udawa, implemented by Jayawardene and Premadasa, respectively, the Opposition Leader underscored the importance of right and leftwing policies to suit the times.
The SJB leader said that the Chapter on Fundamental Rights, in the 1978 Constitution, should be altered to accommodate economic, social, cultural, education and health rights, in addition to enshrined civil and political rights. The lawmaker pointed out that the world, after the end of World War II, in 1945, focused on civil and political rights. Premadasa said that the Chapter on Fundamental Rights should be amended to grant the public the right to challenge violation of economic, social, cultural, education and health rights. (SF)
News
Cabinet nod to increase the number of new automated passenger clearance gates at the Bandaranayake International Airport to 12
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 19.05.2025 to purchase four (04) automated passenger clearance gates for Bandaranayake International Airport.
In addition, it is expected to extend the automated passenger clearance gates facility so far given only to the Sri Lankans
parallel to the e – passport issuance system to be introduced in the year 2027 also to the foreigners who travel to and from this country.
Furthermore, considering also the number of air passengers rapidly increasing with the fast – forwarding business and tourism field, the appropriateness to increase the total automated passenger clearance gates up to twelve (12) in number has been recognized.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers, approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs to initiate the procurement and installation of 12
automated passenger clearance gates altogether with the already approved four (04) and another eight (08) automated passenger clearance gates adhering to the formal procurement procedure
Based on the observations submitted by the Task Force on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing for Terrorism, approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 18.12.2024 to amend the Trust Ordinance No. 9 of 1917 including amendments proposed by the Financial
Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the Trust (Amendment) Draft Bill formulated by the Legal Draftsman.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Justice and National Integration
to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby, submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Action was taken to provide a fuel relief for the fuel consumers during the months of April, May and June of 2026 to redress by minimizing the impact caused to the day today life of the citizens of this country as well as the entire economy due to the price hike of petroleum fuel in the global market resulting from the war situation in the Middle East.
Government mediation is essential for minimizing the impact on the day to today life of citizens in this country due to that war situation not being ended further. Therefore, it has been planned to redress on the sale price for Auto Diesel and Industrial Diesel for a period of 03 months by the Government to provide relief to the public as well as to maintain the prices at a bearable level to the consumers without escalating the fuel prices in this country compared to the escalation of fuel prices
in the international market.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to
allocate provisions subject to the monthly limitations respectively as rupees 15 billion for the month of October, rupees 13.5 billion for the month of November and rupees 12.15 billion for the month of December to provide the said relief
Cabinet nod to increase the number of new automated passenger clearance gates at the Bandaranayake International Airport to 12
Draft Bill for amending the Trust Ordinance
Implementing further relief programme to Public sffected by the Middle East conflict situation
Establishment of a Spectrum Management and Monitoring System and a Quality of Service and Quality of Experience System for the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka
Appointment of a Committee for the Restitution of Sri Lankan Cultural Heritage Held Abroad
Ten-Year National Action Plan on the Social Protection Sector (2026–2035)
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News7 days agoMastermind Naufer Moulavi among 15 found guilty
-
Midweek Review7 days agoThileepan’s fast unto death: An authentic narrative that many missed
-
Latest News6 days agoShowers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara Districts
-
Editorial7 days agoBig Bad Bills
-
Editorial6 days ago
Crimes punished and unpunished
-
Features5 days agoBeyond traditional jobs: Why Sri Lanka needs to facilitate the gig economy
-
News7 days agoOne clause in Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill requires referendu: SC
-
News7 days agoNo referendum needed for passage of 22 A: SC