News

Vasudeva says whatever differences within the govt. will be finally managed through progress than discontent

Published

5 years ago

2021/05/2

Sahan Weerasooriya

Welcomes scrapping ECT deal with India

by Suresh Perera

Whatever differences coalition partners have within the government of the alliance will be managed through discussion. They will all be finally managed on the basis of progress rather than discontent, says Minister of Water Supply, Vasudeva Nanayakkara.

“I think seeing eye to eye is not an easy expectation even in personal relationships. So in complex politics, it should be more than that. The difficulties of managing different points of view, what we do is to bring all dissension within a framework. We are working within a larger framework of a people-centered development program, a national development program, a national economy and further to keep the welfare state going within the democratic framework”, he said in an email interview with The Sunday Island.

“So within this larger framework there can be hundreds of points on which we can have different positions and different points of view”, the veteran left-wing politician and firebrand trade unionist said in response to a question on coalition partners within the SLPP fold not seeing eye to eye on certain issues, which has led to discontent.

On the Port City project, which critics have labeled as a “Chinese colony”, and whether he agrees or dismiss fears that over-dependence on the Chinese could spell disastrous consequences in the long term, the Minister said: Firstly, the description that the Port City is a ‘Chinese Colony’ is a canard, to say the minimum. Secondly, the people who have money to invest have invested in order that we may develop an area which will be a zone where restrictions don’t apply and free investments and investors can prevail to develop our country’s foreign investment situation.

“It is mainly a financial and banking District. The others are servicing financial and banking activities. I believe the Port City will help us in many ways in resolving our employment for the literate, digitally literate and middle level management employment and also mainly junior level workers. I don’t think there are no problems, there will be problems which we will all bring within the sovereignty of our country. The President will be able to do it on behalf of our people and in their best interest. That’s how I see the Port City”, he continued.

Q: The proposed handing over of the East Container Terminal (ECT) of the Colombo Port to an Indian company as an “investment project” (the term used by the government) was scrapped following heavy resistance by port workers. Do you think Sri Lanka should have pushed ahead with the move, as planned, to develop the ECT with Indian involvement?

The workers in the port, the trade unions, the left leaning members of the cabinet, the Parliamentary Group of the SLPP and National Political Forces came together in opposing to the east container terminal, which has been nearly completed, being given away to an Indian company. Therefore, the matter of it becoming a source of major revenue to the port was not very far and therefore the alienation of east container terminal on the basis of a lease was not acceptable because it was inimical to our interest and the interest of the port revenue. I believe that we, as a nation, was right in standing up to support the scrapping of the ECT proposal with the Indian Company.

Q: What are your views on selling or leasing national assets to foreign interests in the name of “investments”? Do you think that, as a country, we have overstepped the mark, though it’s a fact that foreign direct investments that generate a foreign exchange inflow are important for economic progress?

The policy of our Government is not to alienate any of our assets, that policy stands intact. I don’t know why this question should have been raised; it has always been the policy to rent out or lease our lands for different projects; which ends up finally with the lands returned to the fold of the country. This is not a new practice. FDIs come on the basis of their equality that they bring into the country instead of having to depend on loans that does not have tradeoff between our national assets and foreign direct investments.

Q: As a coalition partner of the SLPP, are you happy with the performance of the government at a time people are complaining of the soaring cost of living?

The cost of living was checked during the festival season very reasonably by measures taken by the Minister of Trade, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, and this we want to extend. We decided in the cabinet to extend the period to the post-festive in the coming days and thus keep the cost of living at bay. I personally think, and am optimistic about the future performance of the Government.

Q: As a veteran firebrand politician, you have always championed the just cause of the workers in Sri Lanka. In this context, are you happy with the contribution made so far by the government towards the welfare of the workers?

I see a very positive approach on the part of the Government regarding the working people. In fact, the development program is known as the people-centered development program. There have been a number of decisions made to alleviate the difficulties of the working class and the working people. Therefore, I feel confident more than any other regime, this Government is going forward towards welfare of the workers and consolidation of their rights.

Q: For the third consecutive year, May Day celebrations have been called off due to the prevailing pandemic situation. Under the circumstances, what’s your message to the workers?

The workers must respect and understand the health regulations that prevail in the country which is in the interest in the whole country. Anybody who violates it, knowingly or unintentionally will be acting anti-socially. But as a worker of this country, we look up to the media and internet to extend our solidarity and greetings among our workers and their leaders. Therefore, it’s not only the May Day that we have not had. For three consecutive years, even our New Year and Vesak celebrations were curbed on that account. But May Day, being an internationally significant day for workers all over the world, the restraints on this celebration has to be undertaken and will be acceptable to all workers. As soon as the constrains are removed, the worker solidarity, unionization and the alliances will spring back into activity.

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News

Govt. urged to take action against deputy minister

Published

13 hours ago

2025/12/15

Sahan Weerasooriya

Ajith / Eranga

Allegation of doing business with state:

Civil society activist Oshala Herath has said that regardless of the political party one represents, all members of Parliament should abide by the law of the land. Herath said so when The Island sought his response to a report that he was planning to move court against Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, accused of holding the top positions at Omobio (Pvt.) and Eimsky Business Solutions (Pvt.) Ltd., at the time of the nominations, and took oaths as a National List MP of the NPP government.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is the Minister of Digital Economy, in addition to being Minister of Defence and Finance.

Herath is the Chairman of Abhinawa Niwahal Peramuna. Herath, whose legal challenge to SJB MP Diana Gamage over her citizenship issue, led to her removal from Parliament by the Supreme Court on 08 May, last year. He said the latest case underscored the responsibility on the part of political parties to ensure transparency in the nomination process as well as in the finalisation of National List.

Herath pointed out that the court rulings on petitions filed by him against two serving MPs were pending. He moved court against Jaffna District Independent MP Ramanathan Archchuna for handing over nominations to contest the 2024 November parliamentary elections without resigning from his post as a government medical officer. He also moved court against Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Dr. Upali Pannilage, alleging that he had been an employee of the University of Ruhuna at the time he was declared an MP and subsequently appointed as a Cabinet Minister.

Our efforts to contact Deputy Minister Weeraratne were in vain. Our calls went unanswered.

Pointing out that there were many attorneys-at-law in the current Parliament, Herath emphasised the responsibility on their part to take up the issue. The Speaker should, on his own, inquire into such allegations in addition to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee stepping in, Herath said. Responding to another query, Herath said that such violations as well as cases of conflict of interests were far more serious than the recent controversy over NPP National List MP Asoka Ranwala’s educational qualifications.

SJB MP Ajith P. Perera told The Island that the Deputy Minister concerned admitted in Parliament that he had held top posts in the companies mentioned at the time he took oaths as an MP. Therefore, there couldn’t be any ambiguity with regard to his fault. Perera said that the conflict of interest issue involving NPPer was far more serious.

Referring to the issue at hand that had been first raised by SJB lawmaker Amila Prasad Siriwardena in Parliament during committee stage of the debate on the 2026 Budget, Attorney-at-Law Perera said that Weeraratne’s companies were engaged in mega business deals with the government. Declaring that they had secured contracts for government projects since 2019, Perera said that one of the companies Weeraratne was involved in had recently won a major contract from the incumbent government regarding the electronic ticketing system.

Kalutara District MP called for a comprehensive inquiry into the issue as the NPP had come to power, accusing all other political parties of waste, corruption, irregularities and mismanagement of state funds. MP Perera queried whether the current dispensation followed proper procedures in selecting Weeraratne’s company for the ticketing project

Both Herath and Perera urged the JVP and NPP to look into what they called the Weeraratne affair.

Over the years, several MPs had been disqualified to hold parliamentary seats. Dr. Rajitha Senaratne is one of them. When the Court of Appeal dismissed Dr. Senaratne from Parliament for being a supplier to the government, Ranil Wickremesinghe brought him back to Parliament, through the National List.

MP Perera said that since the last parliamentary election, the NPP had been embroiled in many controversies, including the release of 323 containers from the Colombo Port, in January this year, followed by signing of seven Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs)/agreements with India in April.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

News

India sends stock of life-saving medicines

Published

13 hours ago

2025/12/15

Sahan Weerasooriya

Misri with Colonne

The government has appealed to India for immediate help to overcome the serious shortage of life-saving drugs and injections.

The Sri Lankan High Commission in New Delhi confirmed the appeal made by the government. The following is the text of statement issued by the Sri Lankan mission in New Delhi: “The Foreign Secretary of India, Vikram Misri, over the weekend handed over a consignment of urgently required essential medicines to Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Mahishini Colonne, in New Delhi. The assistance, extended in response to a request from the Government of Sri Lanka, forms part of Operation Sagar Bandhu, India’s humanitarian mission supporting Sri Lanka’s relief, recovery, and reconstruction efforts following the devastating Cyclone Ditwah.

The consignment consists of over 400 boxes of life-saving medicines and injections, which will be airlifted to Colombo by an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft, alongside further additional relief assistance from India.

Deputy Indian High Commissioner Pandey shaking hands with Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa

Foreign Secretary Misri reiterated the condolences of the Government and people of India for the tragic loss of lives and the extensive damage to infrastructure caused by the Cyclone. He reaffirmed India’s steadfast commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s immediate humanitarian needs as well as rebuilding and reconstruction efforts. He also highlighted India’s readiness to work with Sri Lanka on a mix of initiatives tailored to the needs of affected communities.

High Commissioner Colonne conveyed the sincere appreciation of the President, Government, and people of Sri Lanka for India’s timely, continuous, and sustained support, and handed over to the Foreign Secretary, a letter of gratitude from the President of Sri Lanka to the Prime Minister of India.

Describing the extensive nature of the damage, the High Commissioner appreciated the ongoing and consistent engagement of the Indian High Commission in Colombo, in collaboration with government officials and local authorities in coordinating relief, rescue, and recovery efforts.

SLAF personnel unloading medicine from IAF transport plane

The High Commissioner also requested India’s support in sharing its expertise and leadership in enhancing disaster-response capabilities and disaster-resilience frameworks, especially lessons from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, both globally recognized for their advanced disaster resilience frameworks. Apart from this support that is under discussion, the New Delhi-based Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) has also been requested to undertake a visit to Sri Lanka to explore avenues for strengthening Sri Lanka’s disaster resilient infrastructure capacities. Noting the importance of having an effective and real-time warning system, efforts are being made to deploy a team to explore the establishment of an early warning system that would provide real-time geo-targeted alerts to citizens.

The High Commissioner reiterated Sri Lanka’s gratitude to the Government and people of India for their continued solidarity under Operational Sagar Bandhu, reaffirming the strength of the longstanding partnership between the two nations.”

News

George Keyt Foundation contributes to national disaster relief efforts

Published

13 hours ago

2025/12/15

Sahan Weerasooriya

(L-R): The donation was handed to Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya by Professor Jagath Weerasinghe (Trustee), Suresh Dominic (Treasurer), Malaka Talwatte (Chairman) and Abbas Esufally (Trustee) of the George Keyt Foundation.

The George Keyt Foundation (GKF) has extended meaningful support to the Government of Sri Lanka’s disaster relief efforts following the severe devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

The text of the press release issued by the GKF: “In 2023, the Foundation undertook its first major fundraiser in recent years by issuing 30 numbered limited edition prints of Kangodi Rangi, a painting by George Keyt entrusted to the Foundation. Twenty-eight prints were acquired by donors to support charitable causes, while another was gifted to the President’s collection. Print Number 1 of 30 was retained to support the Foundation’s long-term priorities.

In light of the unprecedented impact of Cyclone Ditwah and the urgent national need for disaster assistance, the trustees unanimously resolved to seek a donor for Print Number 1 of 30, with clear disclosure that the proceeds would be channeled directly to the Government’s disaster relief programme. This appeal received an immediate response, resulting in a private donation of Rs. 3 million.

The contribution was formally handed over to Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya for utilisation in the Government’s ongoing relief and recovery efforts.

The George Keyt Foundation is honoured to support the people of Sri Lanka at this critical moment and reaffirms its commitment to serving national needs while preserving and promoting the artistic legacy of George Keyt.