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SJB accuses govt. of trying to find scapegoats for X-Press Pearl disaster case folly

Published

3 years ago

2023/05/13

By Saman Indrajith

The government has no hope of winning the case to claim damages from the X-press Pearl’s owners and operators in Singapore, says the SJB.

Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament yesterday that the government had realised that its chances of winning the case were remote and it was now in a process of trying to find a scapegoat for its failure.

“Now, the government says that we would lose this case because we conducted this debate in Parliament. The government holds the Speaker and the Opposition accountable for the loss that they have foreseen. This shows that it is not confident of winning the case and obtaining compensation.

“The Speaker, who permitted the debate and the Opposition, which demanded it are now to be held responsible for the forthcoming loss!” he said.

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Related Topics:disaster Lakshman Kiriella SJB X-Press Pearl

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Cabinet nod to accept Japanese government grant of 08 used low floorboard buses

Published

3 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to accept 08 used low floorboard buses offered as a grant by the Government of Japan.

News

Payment of the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Yala season 2026.

Published

3 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

While approval has been granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 18.08.2025 to pay the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Maha season 2025/26, the programme is planned to be continued for the Yala season 2026 as well.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to pay a financial subsidy of Rupees 25,000/- per hectare and for a maximum of 02 hectares per farmer for paddy cultivation and to pay Rupees 15,000/- per hectare for field crops cultivated in paddy lands[maximum of 02 hectares per farmer]

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Ministerial Committee appointed to submit recommendations on proposed program to mitigate loss of crops to wild animals

Published

3 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

The rural agricultural livelihood and food security have been severely impacted due to the damage caused by wild animals such as elephants, wild boars, monkeys, toque macaque, squirrels, and peacocks roaming around human habitats and cultivated lands.

Animal-human conflicts and property destruction have mostly been reported around these areas, and serious social and economic issues have also arisen.

Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation has prepared a comprehensive program based on the opinions of all stakeholders, including the public, university community, farmers’ organizations, environmentalists, non-governmental organizations which work for environmental issues, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian Development, and other relevant organizations.

Taking into consideration the report submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to appoint a ministerial committee with the participation of other relevant ministers, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, to submit appropriate recommendations on how the aforementioned program should be implemented by further reviewing the proposals included in the said program and incorporating new proposals.