News
SLPP scrapes through;Prez’s plan to accommodate Opposition in Cabinet fails
Sabry gives up finance portfolio, ready to quit NL seat
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday managed to retain a simply majority in Parliament. It has 114 MPs on its side, including those who previously crossed over to the government.
In the wake of the swift rejection of the President’s proposal by the SJB, TNA and the JJB, comprising 67 members, government sources said that they hadn’t been able to reach a consensus on how to deal with the issues at hand.
Forty-two government members belonging to different political parties represented in SLPP coalition, declared they would function independently, from yesterday. The SLPP parliamentary group initially consisted of 145 elected and appointed MPs. Several other MPs crossed over to it subsequently.
Except Jaffna District MP Angajan Ramanathan, all SLPP MPs contested the last general election on the SLPP ticket or were appointed via the National List.
Dissident lawmaker of the Communist Party Weerasumana Weerasinghe said that the SLPP led government on 22 Oct. 2020 have proved it had a 2/3 majority in Parliament. The 20th Amendment to the Constitution received 156 votes in favour whereas 65 opposed, Matara District Communist Party MP Weerasinghe told The Island. The Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill that received 149 votes in favour on May 20, last year, too, proved The government suffered another setback when Ali Sabry, PC, resigned within 24 hours after accepting the finance portfolio. Sabry told The Island that he had informed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of his readiness to give up the National List slot if the President desired to bring in a person from outside to fill that vacancy. However, Bandula Gunawardena was immediately sworn in as Sabry’s replacement as the government discussed ways and means of overcoming the crisis.
MP Weeerasinghe said that the dissidents believed the government should reach consensus on an interim arrangement with all political parties and sacrifices were inevitable.
INS Sindhukesari, a submarine serving in the Indian Navy, arrived at the port of Colombo on 03 May 26 to undertake Operational Turnarounds.
The visiting submarine was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in precision with naval traditions.
Throughout its stay in the island, the submarine’s crew is scheduled to participate in a variety of programmes organized by the Sri Lanka Navy, including visits to several tourist attractions in Sri Lanka.
Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Health of the Russian Federation, officially visited the Russian House in Colombo to attend the Sri Lanka–Russia Medical Forum, where members of the Sri Lanka Russia Business Council and graduates from the Association of Sri Lankan Graduates from Socialist countries (ASLGSC) attended.
This historic gathering was graced by rectors and representatives from several world-class Russian medical institutions, including Kursk State Medical University, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, and Tver State Medical University, among others.
The forum commenced with an address by Minister Murashko, during which Russian medical graduates in attendance raised pertinent questions regarding medical and pharmaceutical sector opportunities in Sri Lanka.
Levan Dzhagaryan, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, together with Madam Maria L. Popova, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka & the Maldives and Director of the Russian House in Colombo, graced the occasion. Both officials expressed strong support for continued collaboration and future initiatives between the two nations.
The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.
The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:
Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage
The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.
The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.
INS Sindhukesari arrives in Colombo
Minister of Health of the Russian Federation attends the Sri Lanka–Russia Medical Forum
Members of Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee Officially Appointed
Three prison guards arrested following the death of an inmate
Showers or thundershowers will occur at most places of the island after 1.00 pm.
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‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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