News
Absence of Muslim representation in Cabinet raised
JVP-NSC powwow:
JVP Secretary Tilva Silva has assured the National Shoora Council (NSC) that the NPP government has zero tolerance for racism and recent arrests of individuals involved in inciting racial hatred proved the government’s progressive stance. Silva has emphasized that the government respects the religious, linguistic, and cultural identities of all communities.
A senior delegation from NSC recently met the JVP Secretary at the JVP headquarters at Battaramulla for a discussion.
Silva has underscored the significance of support received by the NPP from all communities in the last general election.
The meeting was facilitated by Deputy Minister Sheikh Muneer Mulaffer at the request of the NSC.
The delegation comprised the President of the National Shoora Council, Ash Sheikh S. H. M. Faleel, NSC General Secretary Attorney-at-Law Rasheed M. Imthiyaz, President’s Counsel and former MP M. M. Zuhair, former President of NSC, Attorney-at-Law T.K. Azoor and NSC Vice President, former Ambassador, Senior Attorney-at-Law Javid Yusuf, NPP’s National Executive and steering committee member Ash Sheikh I. N. Ikram also participated in the meeting.
The following issues were taken up for discussions:
The NSC delegation assured the community’s support for addressing on a priority basis the economic hardships suffered by the Sri Lankan people and stressed the need for prioritising solutions as recommended in the 27-point requests the NSC had made in its memorandum submitted to notable presidential candidates, including the NPP.
The delegation underscored the presence of skilled professionals, business leaders and experienced intellectuals within the Muslim community who could serve the country in all fields including, education, economics, and politics. They expressed the Council’s willingness to facilitate consultations with vital segments and organisations within the community for the country’s progress as well as to resolve the specific concerns of the community.
The delegation highlighted the concerns in the Muslim community regarding the absence of Muslim representation in the key national decision-making body, the Cabinet. They pointed out that it had become the subject of critical evaluation within the community and needed to be addressed.
Noting that over two million Sri Lankans are employed in Arab and Islamic countries, contributing more than 85% of LKR 6 billion annually in foreign remittances, the delegation stressed the importance of maintaining strong relationships with these nations. They called for efforts to attract investment from these countries to support Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.
The delegation reaffirmed the Muslim community’s unwavering commitment to national unity and territorial integrity. They highlighted the suffering endured by Muslims in the Northern and Eastern provinces due to ethnic conflicts and noted that Muslims have never supported separatist movements. They emphasized the importance of addressing issues affecting displaced Muslims still living in camps.
The delegation noted the government’s concerns in tackling racism and pointed out that these issues must be resolved through education, dialogue and reconciliation and not by introducing tougher laws.
The Council outlined its objectives, structure, and past activities, recalling a 27-point proposal submitted to the NPP before the presidential election. They expressed readiness for further dialogue on these proposals. A file containing a copy of the proposal, together with a congratulatory message sent to Anura Kumara Dissanayake upon his election as President and an introductory document about the National Shoora Council was handed over to Tilvin Silva.
The delegation highlighted their past peace-building efforts, particularly the close collaboration of Deputy Minister Sheikh Muneer Mulaffer with the National Shoora Council on interfaith harmony projects. They reiterated their willingness to continue such initiatives in the future.
Lanka Sathosa has reduced the price of the following food items with effect from today.
Accordingly the new retail price (per kilogram) of the items are
Peanuts Rs 995.00
Brown Sugar Rs 300.00
Potatoes (Imported) Rs 180.00
Red Cowpea Rs 765.00
Sprats Rs 940.00
Dried Chillies Rs 830.00
Basmathi Rice (Premier) Rs 645.00
Big Onions (Imported) Rs 230.00
Lentils Rs 288.00
White Sugar Rs 240.00
Latest News
This year’s budget will be presented with the aim of decentralizing the concentrated economy by involving every segment of the population – President
President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that this year’s budget will be prepared with the objective of involving every segment of the population in the country’s economic processes.
The President expressed these views during a preliminary discussion held on Tuesday (21) at the Presidential Secretariat with officials from the Ministry of Finance regarding the formulation of the 2025 budget.
The discussion focused on the importance of establishing an efficient and productive economic system, emphasizing the necessity of strengthening public transportation and optimizing the utilization of decentralized funds allocated to Members of Parliament (MP).
The meeting explored government intervention and the steps needed to improve public transportation by providing essential facilities.
It was noted that in previous administrations, significant amounts of money were allocated to decentralized funds, but these funds were not directed toward productive projects. Attention was drawn to the need for allocating these resources toward national projects to ensure their effective utilization.
Discussions were also held on regulating the rice stocks held by producers and ensuring that loans provided to rice millers for purchasing paddy are repaid within a year.
The President emphasized the importance of extending the benefits of urban-centered economic activities to the grassroots level and actively involving them in the process, highlighting the need for an economic plan that ensures equitable distribution across all provinces.
He also pointed out deficiencies in the existing welfare distribution mechanisms, stressing the need to identify the genuinely deserving communities and expedite the delivery process to ensure timely support.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando; Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, . Mahinda Siriwardana; Senior Additional Secretary to the President, . Russell Aponsu; and Deputy Secretary to the Treasury, . A.K. Seneviratne, along with other officials.
“Don’t seek to capitalise on our achievements’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila said that he was delighted that the National People’s Power (NPP) government had decided to go ahead with the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm development project agreement inked during President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency.
The former Energy Minister said so in response to The Island query regarding President Anura Kumara Dissanyake’s declaration at a public rally held at Katukurunda that 61 out of the 99 oil storage tanks would be jointly developed. The President sought credit for the project implying that his recent state visit to New Delhi facilitated it, former lawmaker Gammanpila said.
Declaring that the agreement on the Trincomalee oil tank farm had been signed on January 06, 2022, Attorney-at-Law Gammanpila emphasized that it was tabled in Parliament on Feb 08, 2022. The signatories to the agreement were Sri Lanka, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Lanka IOC and the subsidiary company Trinco Petroleum Terminal Pvt. Ltd., of which CPC retained 51% and Lanka IOC 49%. President Dissanayake, who had been the leader of a three-member NPP ministerial delegation that made a state visit to India last month, couldn’t be unaware of the agreement that was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on January 03, 2022, in the run-up to the eruption of public protest campaign demanding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ouster, the PHU leader said.
Having been severely critical of the then government’s plans, it would be unfair of the NPP leader ,who is also the leader of the JVP, to take credit for this strategically important Trinco project.
The ex-MP stressed that Lanka IOC is a subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation which is under the ownership of that country’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Alleging that the NPP has nothing to do with the Trinco project, the ex-Energy Minister said that in terms of the agreement that covered lower and upper sections of the oil tank farm – consisting of 99 tanks – 14 tanks were further leased to Lanka IOC, 24 tanks to the CPC and the rest to be jointly developed by India and Sri Lanka.
Of the 24 tanks allocated to CPC, five had been already renovated, the PHU chief said, adding that Sri Lanka and India first covered the Trinco oil tank farm in an agreement at the time of the Indo-Lanka Accord that was forced on President J.R. Jayewardene. Since then there had been a couple of agreements that dealt with the British built Trinco oil tank farm targeted by a Japanese naval task force during the Second World War. Of the 100-tank facility, only one was hit.
The PHU leader said that President Dissanayake also claimed credit for securing, what his media division dubbed, the single largest foreign direct investment worth USD 3.7 bn on a state-of-the-art oil refinery at Mirijjawila, Hambantota, whereas the actual agreement was finalized in Nov. 2023 during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s presidency. SLPP’s Kanchana Wijesekera served as the Energy Minister at that time.
The former Minister urged the NPP to accept the truth. Having repeatedly accusing the previous governments of selling national assets to India, the NPP now pursued the same policy, Gammanpila said, declaring the NPP took the electorate for a mega ride. The NPP had been badly exposed and humiliated in the eyes of the public who really believed their catchy and often touted vow to change the system.
The former Minister said that President Dissanayake’s state visits to New Delhi and Beijing advanced the agendas that had been previously agreed. “That is the truth the NPP is reluctant to accept. The NPP claims on Trinco oil tank farm and Mirijjiwila oil refinery proved beyond doubt that previously agreed projects were continuing,” ex-lawmaker Gammanpila said.
Contrary to routine criticism of the IMF, the NPP leadership faithfully followed the IMF agenda as agreed during the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa administration, the lawyer said, reminding the NPP conveniently refrained from opposing the Economic Transformation Bill that received parliamentary approval during Wickremesinghe’s presidency.
Gammanpila said that essentially the NPP’s overall policies were the same. There couldn’t be better examples than the continuation of the Trinco project inked before Aragalaya and the Mirijjawila project finalised a year after Aragalaya to highlight the NPP’s duplicity, he said.
Cat makes three flights in 24 hours after being left on plane
England’s new era begins with heavy India defeat
Lanka Sathosa reduces price of some food items
-
News7 days agoLatest tax hike yields Rs. 7 bn profit windfall for tobacco companies
-
Features4 days agoIS THIS THE FINISH OF THE SRI LANKAN ELEPHANT?
-
Features7 days agoMyth of Free Education: A global perspective for Sri Lanka
-
News4 days agoElectricity tariff reduction: 20% inadequate says consumers
-
Editorial5 days agoGovt. taken for a ride again ?
-
Editorial6 days agoLies and mandates
-
Editorial7 days agoLurking danger and ‘NATO’ officials
-
Sports7 days agoCDB crush Fairfirst Insuarance by five wickets