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SJB chair criticises Wickremesinghe’s campaign, highlights dangers of two-thirds majority

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Imthiaz Bakeer Markar

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s presidential campaign had been akin to a suicide mission, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Chairman Imthiaz Bakeer Markar said on Thursday (17) while addressing journalists after receiving blessings from the Mahanayakes of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters.

“Ranil wanted to destroy himself and take us down with him,” Markar said.

Discussing the removal of former MP Ajith Mannapperuma as Gampaha District Organiser, Markar said that the decision was made following a review of the presidential election results. However, he noted that the party has no objections to Mannapperuma contesting the Parliamentary Elections on 14 November. Mannapperuma has been replaced by Harshana Rajakaruna.

Markar said that discontent during the nomination process is common across all parties.

Speaking on the SJB’s parliamentary election campaign, he emphasised that their manifesto is grounded in democratic socialist principles. “We broke away from the United National Party (UNP) because it shifted towards extreme right-wing policies, abandoning its traditional values. Our aim is to build a progressive force,” he said.

He urged the public to consult their manifesto, asserting that no other party has a policy statement with the same intellectual rigour.

Markar also reflected on past administrations, such as those of Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and President J.R. Jayewardene, which, he claimed, became corrupt and autocratic due to holding a two-thirds supermajority. “Our history, as well as global history, shows that a two-thirds majority paves the way for authoritarianism and corruption,” he said.



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Cabinet nod to increase the number of new automated passenger clearance gates at the Bandaranayake International Airport to 12

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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

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Draft Bill for amending the Trust Ordinance

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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.

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Implementing further relief programme to Public sffected by the Middle East conflict situation

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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

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