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20 July election in House: NPC asks for consensus among political parties
The National Peace Council has said that it was the duty and responsibility of the leaders of the political parties, in Parliament, to decide on the new President by consensus until such time as national elections are called and a new mandate is obtained directly from the people. Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe, SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, SLPP representative Dullas Alahapperuma and JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake are in the fray at the July 20 election.
The following is the text of the NPC statement issued on Saturday (16): “The focus of attention at the present time is the presidential election to take place in Parliament following the confirmed resignation from office of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. This election is not a routine process but is an outcome of an unprecedented public uprising, known as the Aragalaya, which forced the resignations of the President, Prime Minister and Cabinet of Ministers and effectively nullified the electoral mandates obtained by them, three years ago. After all, it is the power of the people that is vested to the government by the Constitution (Article 4).
The National Peace Council is deeply perturbed by the canvassing, lobbying and rhetoric that ignores the ground realities of a people’s uprising against the individuals and systems that have led to national ruin, economically, morally and socially. We also note that the parliamentarians who are taking part in the election of the new President do so with a mandate that has been effectively nullified by the public uprising. This applies in particular to the members of the ruling party and former government who have lost their moral legitimacy to govern the country which led to their resignations.
In this context we believe that it is the duty of the leaders of the political parties, in Parliament, to decide on the new President by consensus until such time as national elections are called and a new mandate is obtained directly from the people. We believe that the new President should be able to work with all parties and also be able to work with expertise in the country and institutions, locally and internationally, and, most of all, be acceptable to the people of the country.
Governance is not merely the exercise of power but the safeguard of the rights of each individual and the welfare of all. The President needs to sustain the confidence of all citizens, especially the youth whose future has been undermined. The immediate duties of the President would be to enact the 21st Amendment and also fix dates for election of parliamentary and provincial elections as early as possible.”
USS Canberra of the United States Navy departed the island on 14 Jun 26, following a successful replenishment port call. The Sri Lanka Navy extended a traditional naval farewell to the departing vessel at the Port of Colombo.
During the ship’s stay, the Commanding Officer of USS Canberra called on the Commander Western Naval Area at the Western Naval Command Headquarters
News
The use of local organic Agricultural products in the Bakery Industry will strengthen both local farmers and the tourism industry – PM
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the use of local organic agricultural products in bakery production would provide significant support to both local farmers and the growth of the tourism industry.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the Annual meeting of the All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association, held at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo, on Friday (12 June).
The Prime Minister stated,
“At a decisive moment when the country is moving towards a new phase of economic transformation, I believe that the bakery industry has the potential to become a key driver of the national economy, rather than remaining limited to flour-based products alone.
The food production must be mainly considered the quality and safety of food. Therefore, instead of focusing solely on taste, we should introduce nutritious and healthy products to the market that are free from artificial flavourings and colourings.
By using ingredients such as rice flour, finger millet, foxtail millet, green gram, and indigenous tubers to create value-added products, the bakery industry has the opportunity to capitalize on the growing global trend towards health-conscious diets.
The use of local organic agricultural products in food prepared for foreign tourists will provide substantial benefits to local farmers while also contributing to the growth of the tourism industry. At the same time, the government remains committed to strengthening local entrepreneurs by reducing challenges related to the importation of raw materials, providing concessionary loans for new technologies, and offering the technical assistance required to meet international standards.
The government has already launched programmes through the Ministry of Industries to provide the necessary training and market linkages to help small and medium-scale bakery owners develop and expand their businesses”.
The occasion was attended by the Deputy Minister of Industries Chathuranga Abeysinghe, President of the All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association N.K. Jayawardana, and a number of members of the Association were also present at the event.
Prime Minister’s Media Division
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with a delegation from the UNICEF on Friday (June 12) at Temple Trees to discuss ongoing efforts to support the recovery of the education sector following the impact of Cyclone Ditwah.
Discussions focused on the implementation of activities outlined in the report titled “Cyclone Ditwah Education Emergency Response Plan: Phase 1 Progress Updates (January–April 2026).” The meeting provided an opportunity to review the progress achieved during the initial phase of the response and to discuss future interventions aimed at supporting children and schools affected by the disaster.
The Prime Minister and the UNICEF delegation also exchanged views on strengthening collaboration to ensure the continuity of education and the well-being of affected children.
The UNICEF delegation included Emma Brigham, UNICEF Representative, Begona Arellano, Deputy Representative, and other UNICEF officials.
(Prime Minister’s Media Division)
USS Canberra departs Colombo
The use of local organic Agricultural products in the Bakery Industry will strengthen both local farmers and the tourism industry – PM
Prime Minister meets with UNICEF delegation
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