News
SP asks govt. to address burning issues
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, addressing Parliament yesterday, raised several critical issues affecting various sectors, urging the government to take immediate action to resolve them.
Speaking during the debate on the government’s ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ project, Premadasa highlighted pressing concerns, ranging from the law and order situation, to unemployment and public services.
Premadasa pointed to the alarming increase in homicides, citing Police Department data that revealed 101 shooting incidents and 60 deaths in 2024 alone. He emphasised the need for the government to prioritise law and order to curb these rising threats.
Despite the introduction of an online system, passport issuance remained a significant issue, with long delays persisting, Premadasa said, calling for effective solutions to streamline the process and reduce the burden on citizens.
The Opposition Leader highlighted a loss of approximately five billion rupees due to uncollected VAT and social security taxes on coconut oil imports since January 2023. He urged the government to address this issue promptly to prevent further financial losses.
Premadasa raised concerns about port congestion, with over 4,000 uncleared containers causing delays and forcing ships to bypass the Colombo Port. He stressed the need for quick solutions to ensure smooth operations and maintain Sri Lanka’s competitiveness as a regional shipping hub.
The elderly community has been adversely affected by reduced interest rates on savings, which have dropped from 15% to 7-8%, and an increase in withholding tax from 5% to 10%. Premadasa urged the government to reinstate fair interest rates for senior citizens.
The jeep safari industry, a vital part of Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, faces potential threats that could harm livelihoods and the broader tourism economy. Premadasa called on the government to protect these operators and ensure their continued contribution to the industry.
With 35,000 to 40,000 unemployed graduates and 22,000 Development Officers awaiting proper job opportunities, Premadasa emphasized the need for job creation and fulfillment of government promises. He also highlighted delays in recruiting teachers and student nurses, urging expedited action to address these gaps.
Premadasa called for improved allowances, service conditions, and retirement programmes for Grama Niladhari officers, who play a crucial role in local governance.
Despite promises to reduce electricity bills by one-third, recent statements suggest potential increases. Premadasa urged the government to honour its commitment and reduce tariffs, especially given the Ceylon Electricity Board reported excessive profits, the Opposition leader said.
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) has announced a revision of fuel prices, effective from midnight on Saturday (May 30).
Accordingly,
the price of Auto Diesel has been increased by Rs. 15 to Rs.407 per liter,
the price of Super Diesel has been increased by Rs. 20 to Rs. 478 per liter.
the price of Petrol 92 Octane has been increased by Rs. 24 to Rs. 434 per liter
the price of Petrol 95 Octane up by Rs. 25 to Rs. 495 per liter
the price of kerosene by Rs. 20 to Rs. 285 per liter.
Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has called for a comprehensive reform programme within Sri Lanka’s Buddhist clergy, warning that repeated efforts to strengthen the Sasana have in the past been derailed by opposition from within sections of the Sangha itself.
In a statement addressed to the Mahanayake Theras of the three Buddhist chapters, Kumaratunga stressed that the long-term preservation of Buddhism depends on safeguarding both the Dhamma and Vinaya, or disciplinary code, and urged urgent internal reform to address what she described as deep-rooted structural weaknesses.
She noted that Buddhist history has consistently demonstrated that periods of institutional crisis were addressed through reform processes, citing precedents from the First Buddhist Council to reforms during the Kandyan era under Welivita Sri Saranankara Thera.
Referring to post-independence efforts, Kumaratunga said initiatives taken during the 1956 Bandaranaike administration to strengthen Buddhism were left incomplete following the assassination of former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike.
She further stated that during her own presidency, plans to convene a Buddhist Council under the guidance of the late Madihe Pannasiha Mahanayake Thera had received government backing but were ultimately abandoned due to resistance from certain sections within the clergy.
The former President alleged that, on both occasions, vested interests benefiting from existing weaknesses within the Buddhist establishment had worked to obstruct meaningful reform efforts.
Warning that Buddhism in Sri Lanka is currently facing serious challenges, she called for a broad internal dialogue within the Sangha to identify root causes and implement both short- and long-term corrective measures.
Kumaratunga urged the Mahanayake Theras to take the lead in convening a Dharma Sanghayana, or Buddhist Council, and said she was prepared to work with senior lay Buddhist leaders to support such an initiative.
The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on Friday ordered the arrest of former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Bhashwara Gunaratne, Managing Director Rumi Jauffer and several others over the alleged misuse of Rs. 7.8 million belonging to the Tourism Promotion Authority during the 2014 Uva Provincial Council election campaign.
Magistrate Pasan Amarasena directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to arrest and produce the suspects before court, after it was informed that they would be named under the Public Property Act on the advice of the Attorney General.
The CID told court that attempts to take the suspects into custody from their residences had been unsuccessful as they were not present.
The Magistrate also imposed an overseas travel ban on the suspects and ordered that the Controller of Immigration and Emigration be notified.
Investigations have reportedly revealed that the funds were used to print 12,000 T-shirts bearing an image of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on one side and the name of a political party on the other.
According to the CID, the T-shirts were later distributed at a political event held in the Monaragala District.
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