News

Sajith requests govt to increase Rs 5000 relief allowance

Published

6 years ago

2020/11/25

By Saman Indrajith

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday (24) requested the government to increase the Rs. 5,000 relief allowance given to people in lockdown areas. He pointed out that the amount was not sufficient to cover monthly expenses of a family.

Making a special statement, Opposition Leader Premadasa said: “There are delays in distributing the Rs. 5,000 allowance to the low income families in lockeddown and isolated areas in Colombo. A Grama Niladhari can distribute the money only to 100 people a day because they do not have enough resources to do that. It is also said that the government would provide a basket of goods worth Rs. 10,000 worth each to the families under quarantine. But people in some areas allege that they have not yet received it. That is why the people in several areas staged protests on roads during the past few days.”

“Even in my election speeches I said that Rs. 5000 was not enough for a family and a family should be given at least Rs. 20,000 a month. Even for a family of two, at least Rs. 15,000 should be spent on meeting basic needs. Now, many people in locked down and isolated areas do not have any income. They have lost their jobs. So the government should grant them relief.”

Premadasa demanded to know whether the government was planning to enhance monetary relief. “How many families live in the locked down and isolated areas in Colombo? Does the government have a plan to provide reliefs to these people without any delay? How many families have got the monetary relief and essential goods packages at the moment? What are the steps you are planning to provide reliefs for people suffering from COVID-19 lockdowns in other Districts in the country?”

In response state Minister Shehan Semasinghe said that a detailed answer to Premadasa’s questions would be provided on Friday (27). “We will provide detailed answers for these questions on Friday. Our government will never let the people down. Until the answers are provided, I request Premadasa not to instigate the people.”

Opposition Leader Premadasa: “I do not instigate anyone. These are the real problems people are facing at the moment. It is sad that the government thinks that speaking about these things instigate the people.”

MP Semasinghe: “You were speaking about giving Rs. 20,000 to a family even during the election time. But people rejected you.”

Opposition Leader Premadasa: “I am glad that Semasinghe accepted that the government has no intention to increase the monetary relief. Thank you for that.”

MP Semasinghe: “Now, you are twisting what I said to mislead the people. I did not say that we would not increase relief. Ours is a responsible government. People voted for us because they believe we can protect them. We will not let them down.”

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News

Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

21 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

News

Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

21 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

21 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.