News
What goes on in House appalls former Prime Minister
By Saman Indrajith
UNP leader and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday that he did not have much regrets about not getting elected to the House at the last general election, but was sad to observe what was being done by those who had been elected. He said so during an argument between the government and the Opposition on the matter of allocating time for the latter’s MPs to ask questions directly from the Prime Minister and on the suspension of sectoral oversight committees.
The UNP leader said that there were bright MPs in the back benches on both sides and they should be given more opportunities to be involved in parliamentary affairs. With such exposure and experience they would have a better future in politics and that would ultimately help change the prevailing political culture in the country, Wickremesinghe said, adding that there was a need for reintroducing the oversight system.
Leader of the House Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in an equally terse rebuttal said: “Wickremesinghe wouldn’t have had to go home if he had implemented the proposals he made today during the time of his tenure as the Prime Minister. He had to go home because he failed to do what he proposed.”
The UNP leader: “I don’t regret going home, but I feel sad when looking at what the sitting MPs are doing today.”
The issue over the Prime Minister’s question session and suspension of the sectoral oversight committee was raised by SJB Matara District MP Buddhika Pathirana, who demanded to know why the PM’s question session was not held.
Minister Gunawardena assured that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was always ready to answer the questions raised by the MPs
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to accept 08 used low floorboard buses offered as a grant by the Government of Japan.
News
Payment of the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Yala season 2026.
While approval has been granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 18.08.2025 to pay the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Maha season 2025/26, the programme is planned to be continued for the Yala season 2026 as well.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to pay a financial subsidy of Rupees 25,000/- per hectare and for a maximum of 02 hectares per farmer for paddy cultivation and to pay Rupees 15,000/- per hectare for field crops cultivated in paddy lands[maximum of 02 hectares per farmer]
News
Ministerial Committee appointed to submit recommendations on proposed program to mitigate loss of crops to wild animals
The rural agricultural livelihood and food security have been severely impacted due to the damage caused by wild animals such as elephants, wild boars, monkeys, toque macaque, squirrels, and peacocks roaming around human habitats and cultivated lands.
Animal-human conflicts and property destruction have mostly been reported around these areas, and serious social and economic issues have also arisen.
Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation has prepared a comprehensive program based on the opinions of all stakeholders, including the public, university community, farmers’ organizations, environmentalists, non-governmental organizations which work for environmental issues, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian Development, and other relevant organizations.
Taking into consideration the report submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to appoint a ministerial committee with the participation of other relevant ministers, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, to submit appropriate recommendations on how the aforementioned program should be implemented by further reviewing the proposals included in the said program and incorporating new proposals.
Cabinet nod to accept Japanese government grant of 08 used low floorboard buses
Payment of the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Yala season 2026.
Ministerial Committee appointed to submit recommendations on proposed program to mitigate loss of crops to wild animals
New Zealand elect to bowl first at Eden Gardens
Cabinet approves import of Maize to meet shortfall
Cabinet nod for the removal of Cess tax imposed on imported good
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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