News
After requesting govt. to scrap Speaker’s traditional budget dinner, SJB has grand five-star do same night
By Norman Palihawadane
The main opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya that demanded the scrapping of the traditional dinner hosted by the Speaker at the conclusion of the budget debate on grounds that funds spent thereon could be channeled to provide relief to pandemic hit people had had their own party the same night in a five-star hotel in Colombo, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said.
“There was no additional cost involving the dinner except the amount stipulated by Parliament for the purpose of maintaining the tradition. As a tradition at the end of every budget debate the Speaker is expected to host all MPs to a dinner at the Speaker’s residence. This year, too, we adhered to the tradition but the SJB boycotted it. During the debate its MPs talked of the need to change the tradition in view of the COVID-19 and asked us to save funds and send them to the COVID-19 relief projects. They however after boycotting the traditional dinner had a dinner at a five star hotel in Colombo.”
He said that both the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Opposition Whip had been at that party. “It is pertinent that they should tell people what happened to their intention of channeling funds meant for tamashas to COVID-19 relief fund,” the Speaker said.
State Minister John Seneviratne said that the tradition of the Speaker’s dinner at the end of a budget debate was an event the country had inherited from the Westminster system. “There are so many traditions that came with that system and those traditions are there for a purpose. It is not prudent for senior MPs such as the Opposition Leader and the chief Opposition whip to lead their newcomer MPs to break the tradition. It is worse when they host their own party in a luxury banquet hall,.”
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
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Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
AKD: Govt. agenda on track despite Ditwah disaster
SL to receive 10 helicopters from US
Foreign couple held over alleged biopiracy at Horton Plains
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