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Sri Lanka can take high road with cannabis instead of IMF to solve debt crisis: Diana Gamage
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka can stand straight and solve the debt crisis by exporting cannabis oil instead of bending in two before the International Monetary Fund and other creditors, legislator Diana Gamage appointed to parliament on the SJB National List but now backing the ruling party told parliament last week during the budget debate..
“We do not have to beg and bend in two – inga kanna, dekata nemenna – before the IMF or other lenders,” Gamage now in court trying to block the SJB from expelling her, told parliament.
“We can earn billions from the export of CBD oil (Cannabidiol) if we throw out British era legislation, and allow cannabis to be grown commercially. This country has now been an independent for 73 years and we need not be under colonial laws.”
It was a practical solution to the debt crisis and no zonking out (being under influence of drugs and alcohol) was intended.
“I am not saying to allow cannabis to be used as an intoxicating substance,” she said. “Those laws can stay. But we need to throw out legislation banning this crop.”
Gamage said IMF was not needed when Sri Lanka joined the cannabis bandwagon.
If the British era law was junked under Section 08 of the Ayurveda Act, the Commissioner of Ayurveda can allow the crop to be grown commercially for medicinal purposes.
“Our gods and nature has given us a cash crop,” Gamage said. “The European Investment Bank has said global trade in Cannabis will grow 1000 percent in 10 years.
“In 2018 it was worth four to five billion US dollars. By 2027 cannabis trade will be worth 140 billion rupees. It is now mostly confined to North America and Europe.
She said CBD oil was being approved for treating several diseases already. These included multiple sclerosis, post-trauma and also Dravet Syndrome for children.
“We can earn billions of dollars from the export of Cannabis (CBD oil),” she said. “I hope this house will throw out this 19th-century British ordinance.”
The Department of Education has announced that the results of the 2024 General Certificate of Education Advanced Level Examination have been released online, and can be viewed on : www.doenets.lk
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the training of teachers required for the new education reforms will commence in May, and that contracts granted to political cronies in local government institutions will be brought to an end following the upcoming local government elections.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing public gatherings held in the areas of Mirigama, Minuwangoda, and Katana in the Gampaha District.
Addressing the gatherings, Prime Minister stated:
“From birth to death, all the aspects of life of a person are handled by local government institutions. However, to this day, these institutions lack proper systems even to provide the people with basic facilities.
We are committed to working with a proper system, free of fraud and corruption, and managing every rupee carefully and attentively. We are identifying the needs of people and implementing projects under a systematic plan to develop rural sectors.
You elect fellow members who stand firmly against fraud and corruption through two decisive elections. First, you elect Anura Kumara as President, a leader committed to fighting corruption. Then, in the parliamentary election, you choose a group of qualified individuals who are equally dedicated to this cause to represent you in Parliament.
To ensure that the funds allocated for rural development reach the people, the local government institutions which are the closest to the villagers must also be clean and transparent. That is why this election is so important to us.
The people and the villages come to experience our corruption-free political culture through local government institutions. These institutions must properly implement, monitor, and evaluate the development projects allocated to the rural sector. The era of awarding contracts for such projects to political cronies must end.
Although early childhood development is a crucial part of education, there has never been a proper system for it. We are now establishing such a system. Starting in May, teacher training for the modern education which is being introduced will begin. We have a comprehensive plan for development across all sectors.
The Ministry of Education has received billions worth of projects, but there is no proper implementation process. For example, 1,500 smart boards were brought for smart classrooms, but the Secretary to the Ministry has not implemented a system to distribute them to schools. Teachers have not been trained to use them. Teacher training institutes still follow outdated curriculum. This will be corrected through the new education reforms,
In order to deliver all these benefits to the rural sector efficiently, it is essential to elect the right people for the right purposes. Therefore, in the upcoming local government elections, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya urged the public to vote for the candidates who are free from fraud and corruption presented by the National People’s Power (NPP).”
The event was attended by Parliament Chief Organizer of the ruling party Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, Members of Parliament Ruwanthilaka Jayakody and Chaminda Lalith Kumara, along with several local government candidates and the residents of the area.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath will represent Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican City, the Ministry said.
The funeral is scheduled for today.
About 50,000 people came to pay their respects to the late Pope on Thursday, the Vatican news service said.
“Pope Francis’ funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 AM in St. Peter’s Square, marking the beginning of the Novemdiales, an ancient tradition of nine days of mourning and Masses for the repose of the late Pope’s soul,” according to the Vatican news service.
“The Novemdiales Masses will be held each day at 5:00 PM (GMT +2) in St. Peter’s Basilica, except for the Mass on Divine Mercy on Sunday, April 27, which will take place at 10:30 AM in St. Peter’s Square.”
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