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The upcoming election is an opportunity to ensure that the allocations of public funds reach rural communities -PM
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that while the opposition views the upcoming election as just another attempt to gain power, for the government, it is an opportunity to ensure that the allocations of public funds to reach rural communities without corruption.
The Prime Minister made these remarks on Monday (April 21) afternoon while addressing a public gathering held in the Maligawatte division of the Colombo Central electorate.
Speaking at the public gathering, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further noted:
“Our government has already commenced it’s work. We presented our first budget, which covers the next eight months. Our goal is to bring some relief and development to the people who have suffered for years, and to develop the rural economy.
Those who are seeking to criticize the current government do not initiate in addressing the extensive financial mismanagement of previous governments.
We are managing public finances with the utmost prudence and are committed to undertaking development projects in the best interest of the people. To ensure these initiatives are successfully implemented at the grassroots level, we require clean and capable local leadership.
Therefore, this election is extremely decisive. This election has been delayed for so long. Our foremost task is to resume and complete development projects that were abandoned by previous administrations, and to rectify the errors they have left behind.
The current government considers and conscious about every rupee it spends. If there are thieves at the local level when sending allocated public funds to villages, how can we develop them? Let us treat the people’s decision to steer the country in the right direction as the third major challenge, and on May 6, achieve a victory similar to past elections.
Two separate political cultures cannot exist, one at the top and another at the grassroots. If we are to operate at the highest levels without waste, corruption, or fraud, the same standard must be upheld locally. Only the National People’s Power (NPP) has presented candidates who reflect this integrity.
The nominee of NPP for the position of Mayor of Colombo is not an individual elevated by political lineage, but someone who has walked the streets of Colombo, understands its people, and is deeply aware of their issues. Ms. Vraie Cally Balthazaar, who during her office as my private secretary, has consistently demonstrated the capacity to respond sensitively and competently to complex matters that makes her best suited for the mayoral position.
An individual who favours a single platform, segment, or locality cannot represent Colombo as a whole. We need someone who can serve all of Colombo with empathy and dedication. The NPP has put forward its candidates with the sole purpose of serving the people and working in their best interest.
The annual revenue of the Colombo Municipal Council is Rs. 30 billion. Had this sum truly been utilised for the benefit of the public, the city would not be in its current state. Despite this revenue, Colombo has schools such as Ananda, Nalanda, and Royal and also the schools that lack even the adequate teaching staff, access to clean water, and basic sanitation facilities. How did we reach this point?
Greater responsibility for addressing local issues lies with provincial councils and local government institutions. If these institutions cannot fulfil their mandates, how can we hope to build a new nation?
Under the guidance of present administration, the national economy has begun to recover. Tourist arrivals are increasing, and the country is embarking on a path of development. Yet, there remains much to be done. In order to transform national development plans into practical results at the community level, strong and principled leadership within local and municipal councils is essential.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya urged the public to exercise their vote with careful consideration in order to liberate the nation from corrupt politics and to resolve longstanding challenges.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of National Integration Mohamed Muneer, Colombo mayoral candidate Ms. Vraie Cally Balthazaar, local council candidates, and party members.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
European leaders, including in France and Germany, have announced they are working on a plan in the event the United States follows through on its threat to take over Greenland as tensions soar.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told France Inter radio on Wednesday that while nations want to act if the US moves to seize Greenland from an ally, Denmark, they want to do so “together with our European partners”.
“I myself was on the phone with the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio yesterday. He discarded the idea that what just happened in Venezuela could happen in Greenland,” Barrot said.
On Saturday, the United States – using fighter jets, attack helicopters, and special forces – abducted Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, bringing him to New York City to be tried for alleged drug trafficking.
US President Donald Trump’s decision to greenlight the abduction of Maduro led to widespread condemnation and fear that Greenland, which the president has previously said should be part of Washington’s security apparatus, could be forcibly taken.
But since then, European allies have rallied behind Greenland’s sovereignty, saying the country belongs to its people.
Johannes Koskinen, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Finland’s parliament, called for the issue to be raised within NATO.
“[Allies should] address whether something needs to be done and whether the United States should be brought into line in the sense that it cannot disregard jointly agreed plans in order to pursue its own power ambitions,” he said.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and his Greenlandic counterpart, Vivian Motzfeldt, requested an urgent meeting with Rubio to discuss the situation.
“We would like to add some nuance to the conversation,” Rasmussen wrote in a social media post. “The shouting match must be replaced by a more sensible dialogue. Now.”
Denmark has warned that any move to take Greenland by force would mean “everything would stop”, including NATO and 80 years of close security links.
Greenland’s government will join a meeting between Rubio and Danish officials next week following renewed US claims on the Arctic island, its foreign minister said on Wednesday.
The European Union will support Greenland and Denmark when needed and will not accept violations of international law no matter where they occur, European Council President Antonio Costa said.
“On Greenland, allow me to be clear: Greenland belongs to its people. Nothing can be decided about Denmark and about Greenland without Denmark or without Greenland,” Costa said in a speech.
“The European Union cannot accept violations of international law – whether in Cyprus, Latin America, Greenland, Ukraine, or Gaza. Europe will remain a firm and unwavering champion of international law and multilateralism.”
Greenland – the world’s largest island, with a population of 57,000 people – is located between Europe and North America. Since 2019, during Trump’s first term, the president has raised the idea of controlling Greenland, saying it would benifit US security.
So far, Trump has not ruled out using force to take the island.
Rubio told reporters on Wednesday that Trump’s intention is to buy Greenland. “That’s always been the president’s intent from the very beginning.”
House US House Speaker Mike Johnson said he hasn’t heard talk of sending the military into Greenland and the US is “looking at diplomatic channels”.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump and his national security team have “actively discussed” the option of buying Greenland.
“He views it in the best interest of the United States to deter Russian and Chinese aggression in the Arctic region. And so that’s why his team is currently talking about what a potential purchase would look like,” Leavitt told reporters.
Neither Leavitt nor Rubio ruled out the use of force. But Leavitt said, “The president’s first option, always, has been diplomacy.”
[Aljazeera]
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Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya
The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya for the next 24 hours commencing at 1200hrs today [08]
Accordingly
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Ududumbara in the Kandy District, Wilgamuwa in the Matale District, and Nildandahinna and Walapane in the Nuwara Eliya District.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Meegahakiwula, Welimada, Kandaketiya, Lunugala, Badulla, Passara, Uva Paranagama and Hali_Ela in the Badulla District, Ambanganga Korale in the Matale District, and Mathurata and Hanguranketha in the Nuwara Eliya District.
Greenland allies vow action if Trump moves to seize world’s largest island
Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya
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