News
UNP Deputy Leader demands to know whose words are to be believed as Minister Lokuge and CEB issue contradictory statements
UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene yesterday said Power Minister Gamini Lokuge went around giving voice cuts that there would be an uninterrupted power supply, but the CEB was implementing scheduled power cuts.
Speaking at a ceremony after opening a children’s park at the Siymbalapewatte in Biyagama, the UNP deputy leader demanded to know whose words should people believe. “Should we believe the words of the Minister or the CEB? Since the day the Minister was making that promise, power cuts are effected throughout the country, regionwise. People are now in the queues to buy candles. The government is ushering this nation towards the stone age it seems,” the UNP Deputy Leader said.
“There are shortages of all food items. We have gas, milk powder and kerosene oil queues. The latest is going to be the queue for candles.
“The CEB has obtained the permission of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) for power cuts until July this year.
The CEB General Manager has told the media that they have obtained permission but they would not implement power cuts strictly. In the meantime the Minister says that there would be no power cuts. However, there had been many instances of power cuts during the day time and night time. How can a country go forward in this manner? Will the investors come to a country with scheduled power cuts?” Wijewardene queried.
Chief Incumbent of the Sri Sambodhi Vihara of Siyambalapewatte, Ven Hambegamuwe Sashanasiri Nayaka Thera, Asanka Wijayalath of Siyambalapewatte Rural Development Society, Biyagama Electorate Manager Indrasiri Jayasinghe, Opposition leader of the Biyagama Pradeshiya Sabha Prasanna Sampath, Biyagama PS member Mali Algama were also present.
The Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) has contributed LKR 25 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund.
The cheque was handed over to the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake by the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeyesekera, the Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike and Senior Vice Chairman Kusal Nissanka at the Presidential Secretariat.
News
Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56
Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.
In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.
He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.
Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.
He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.
Five suspects, including former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons, who were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), were further remanded until 30 January by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The former Minister’s , sons Johan Fernando and Jerome Kenneth Fernando, and two others, were arrested in connection with the alleged misuse of a Sathosa vehicle during Fernando’s tenure as Minister.
Investigations are currently underway into the alleged misuse of state property, including a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa, which reportedly caused a significant financial loss to the state.
In connection with the same incident, Indika Ratnamalala, who served as the Transport Manager of Sathosa during
Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, was arrested on 04 January.
After being produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, he was ordered to be remanded in custody until 09 January.The former Sathosa Transport Manager was remanded on charges of falsifying documents.
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