News

State Minister fires broadside at SLPP

Published

4 years ago

2021/12/30

Sahan Weerasooriya

‘Yugadanavi is one among many contentious issues’

By Shamindra Ferdinando

State Minister Jayantha Samaraweera says the country wouldn’t have been in such turmoil today if the top political leadership consulted constituents of the ruling coalition.

Kalutara District National Freedom Front (NFF) lawmaker Samaraweera said that a simmering dispute over Yugadanavi deal that ended up in the apex court was one among many contentious and questionable issues.

NFF is a breakaway group from the JVP and has six members in Parliament as opposed to three seats held by the latter.

MP Samaraweera said that the SLPP had conveniently turned a blind eye to concerns expressed by constituents not only in respect of Yugadanavi betrayal, but a number of other issues as well. The MP said that the SLPP couldn’t act in an arrogant manner on the basis of superiority in numbers. Of the 145-member government parliamentary group, 117 represents the SLPP.

Asked to elaborate, lawmaker Samaraweera pointed out how the government had allowed importers to fleece those struggling to make ends meet by doing away with price controls.

“What is the point in granting duty concessions to various importers unless the government ensures the consumers benefit by them,” the former JVPer asked.

Referring to the reduction of duty on white sugar by issuing a gazette dated Oct 13, 2020, MP Samaraweera alleged that the whole exercise was meant to give sugar importers an opportunity to make a killing.

The garlic scam, massive fraud in liquid fertilizer imports from India, controversy surrounding opening of Letter of Credit for import of Chinese carbonic fertiliser before receiving approval from the National Quarantine Centre and the pathetic failure to prevent gas-related explosions much to the embarrassment of the entire government caused a debilitating setback. “We begin the new year on the back foot,” the State Minister said.

State Minister Samaraweera admitted that they hadn’t been successful in convincing the SLPP to review its policies. The parliamentarian said that the NFF recently called a special media briefing to pressure the government to re-impose price controls immediately or face the consequences. Alleging that the government ignored their request made on behalf of the people, MP Samaraweera said that the ruinous move that did away with agro-chemicals overnight without a proper study of ground realities was perhaps the single worst decision taken by the current dispensation since the last presidential election.

The bankrupt Opposition exploited the situation to the hilt, the MP said, urging the government to address the grievances of the public and rectify mistakes. There was no point in denying the fact the country never experienced such turmoil even during the war against the LTTE, the State Minister said.

The MP also questioned the prorogation of Parliament under controversial circumstances. The State Minister said that some speculated the government wanted to reconstitute parliamentary watchdog committees, the COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises), COPA (Committee on Public Accounts) and COPF (Committee on Public Finance) as some sections of the government felt the revelations made therein caused difficulties.

Responding to another query, MP Samaraweera said that as a member of the dissolved COPE chaired by Prof. Charitha Herath he was aware of the importance of the work undertaken by the watchdog committee.

Perhaps the government couldn’t stomach what was taking place there, the NFF senior said, pointing out it was COPF Chairman Anura Priyadarshana Yapa who fired the first salvo against the fraud in sugar duty. The MP pointed out that if none of the heads of three committees received the top position again the public would realize what was going on.

The Kalutara District MP recalled how the COPE pulled up Litro for blocking a government audit. For two years, Litro, in spite of being owned by Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) , managed to deprive the Auditor General, the MP said, adding that the government suffered due to the actions of those who believed they could manipulate everything. The Yugadanavi fiasco was a case in point, he said.

State Minister Samaraweera pointed out the absurdity in faulting Ministers Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila over so-called collective responsibility of the cabinet in respect of the decision on agreement with US-based New Fortress Energy when the cabinet of ministers never took that decision.

MP Samaraweera said that they had faith in the judiciary. The MP noted the Supreme Court would resume the hearing on January 10, a week before new parliamentary sessions begin.

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Level III landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale extended

Published

18 mins ago

2025/12/10

Priyan

The landslide early warning center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has extended the Level III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale until 1600hrs on 11th December 2025.

Accordingly,
The LEVEL III RED landslide warnings issued to the the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Kundasale, Pasbage Korale, Medadumbara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Pathadumbara, Doluwa, Panvila, Gangawata Korale, Ududumbara, Akurana, Yatinuwara, Harispattuwa, Deltota, Thumpane, Poojapitiya, Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Minipe and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Aranayaka, Yatiyanthota, Rambukkana, Bulathkohupitiya and Mawanella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Mawathagama and Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, and Rattota, Laggala Pallegama, Ukuwela, Matale, Wilgamuwa, Pallepola, Naula, Yatawatta and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district have been extended.

LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Haldummulla and Passara in the Badulla district, Warakapola, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Dehiowita, Ruwanwella and Deraniyagala in the Kegalle district, Polgahawela and Alawwa in the Kurunegala district, Kothmale East, Walapane, Thalawakele, Nuwara Eliya, Kothmale West, Nildandahinna, Mathurata, Ambagamuwa Korale, Hanguranketha and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district. and Kolonna, Godakawela and Kahawaththa in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Divulapitiya, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, and Kiriella, Eheliyagoda, Balangoda, Kaltota, Openayake, Nivithigala, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Elapatha, Pelmadulla and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.

News

“We cannot allow flooding to become a part of the daily lives of the people in the Colombo District” – PM

Published

55 mins ago

2025/12/10

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that unauthorized constructions within the Colombo District, nor any form of residential developments that endanger the public carried out under the guise of development agenda will not be allowed.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the media at the conclusion of the Colombo District Disaster Management Committee meeting held on Tuesday [December 09] at the Colombo District Secretariat.

Addressing further, the Prime Minister stated:

“The Colombo District has become vulnerable to this extent due to the constructions carried out without any proper planning or understanding of regulations, along with personal and politically motivated decisions that have placed both the district and its people at risk.

Compared to the districts that suffered severe loss of life and property due to the recent cyclone, the damage to the Colombo District has been relatively lower. However, special intervention is being carried out together with the relevant institutions to manage the potential future flood risks in the district.

This matter was also given special attention during today’s District Disaster Management Committee meeting. We cannot allow the flooding to become a regular part of the lives of the people in Colombo. All relevant institutions will come together to put forward a common plan for flood control in the district.”

The Prime Minister further stated that discussions are already underway to provide sustainable solutions for the people living in high-risk areas within the Colombo District.

The discussion was attended by the Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, Deputy Minister of Mass Media Kaushalya Ariyaratne, and Colombo District Members of Parliament Aruna Panagoda and Chandana Suriyarachchi.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

Russia gifts 35 tonnes of Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka

Published

1 hour ago

2025/12/10

Priyan

The handover of 35 tonnes of Russian Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka, recently affected by the cyclone «Ditwah», took place at Katunayake today (10th December)

The shipment was welcomed at the Katunayake airport by Ambassador of Russia Levan Dzhagaryan, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka and Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd).

Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan: said “This delivery is a reflection of long-term friendly relations between Russia and Sri Lanka and reaffirms Moscow’s commitment to support countries in a difficult humanitarian situation.”

The supplies brought by the EMERCOM (Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations) aircraft comprised a movable 60 kW electric power station, Pumping equipment for water drainage, Summer tents (10-person capacity) and Food supplies (sugar, vegetable oil, rice)

The total cargo weight is 35 metric tonnes. The aid will be distributed among the most affected regions.