News

SLFPer praises Prez for making country third most suitable destination for tourists

Published

4 years ago

2022/01/20

By Ifham Nizam

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa deserves credit for the success of the ongoing vaccination programme countrywide, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said yesterday, adding that even international organisations had declared that Sri Lanka was currently the third most suitable destination for travel in the world.

“Therefore, I am confident that the tourism industry in our country will grow further. I believe that the growth of the tourism industry is a very good sign that the country is recovering from the current economic downturn,” he said.

Due to the success of the Covid-19 vaccination programme, Sri Lanka was being recognized internationally as one of the best countries in the world for tourism and the increase in tourist arrivals here is a positive sign for the economic development, the SLFP Minister in the government said.

Minister Amaraweera said so at an event held at the Beliatta Vocational Training Centre to provide the equipment required for CFC free Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Course conducted by the National Ozone Unit of the Ministry of Environment.

Speaking of the economic downturn, Amaraweera said every government sinc 1948 had been responsible for this situation. In fact, the real economic collapse of our country took place only after 1977. It was only after 1977 that the productive economic system of our country was ruined,” he added.

“When Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike took over the country in 1970, the dollar cost only nine rupees. When she handed over the country in 1977 the value of rupee was so high, the dollar was reduced to seven rupees. But by 1985 the value of the dollar roe to 116 rupees.

“Every government since 1977 has run the economy on foreign borrowings. Today, we have to face the result of the deactivation of the National Production Programme introduced by Former PM Mrs. Bandaranaike.

Now we are in a position to pay off debts and obtain loans. Although no foreign loans were taken during the tenure of the current President, every government that came to power after 1977 borrowed heavily from foreign sources,” he noted.

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Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) donates LKR 25 million to the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund

Published

11 hours ago

2026/01/24

Priyan

The Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) has contributed LKR 25 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund.

The cheque was handed over to the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake by the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeyesekera, the Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike and Senior Vice Chairman Kusal Nissanka at the Presidential Secretariat.

News

Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56

Published

20 hours ago

2026/01/24

Thilina Walpola

Karu Jayasuriya

Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.

In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.

He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.

Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.

He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.

News

Johnston, two sons and two others further remanded over alleged misuse of vehicle

Published

20 hours ago

2026/01/24

Thilina Walpola

Former Minister Johnston Fernando and others being escorted out of the Wattala Magistrate Court premises yesterday

Five suspects, including former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons, who were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), were further remanded until 30 January by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

The former Minister’s , sons Johan Fernando and Jerome Kenneth Fernando, and two others, were arrested in connection with the alleged misuse of a Sathosa vehicle during Fernando’s tenure as Minister.

Investigations are currently underway into the alleged misuse of state property, including a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa, which reportedly caused a significant financial loss to the state.

In connection with the same incident, Indika Ratnamalala, who served as the Transport Manager of Sathosa during

Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, was arrested on 04 January.

After being produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, he was ordered to be remanded in custody until 09 January.The former Sathosa Transport Manager was remanded on charges of falsifying documents.