News
Ambassador Chung congrats graduating students of Embassy-funded English Language access programme
U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung presented certificates to 56 secondary students from Kalutara and Puttalam for their successful completion of the English Access Microscholarship Programme last week (Dec 13) in Galle.
An Embassy release said: Sponsored by the U.S. Embassy, English Access is a fully funded two-year program designed to improve English language comprehension and speaking ability, build communication and leadership skills, and increase understanding of American society and culture. The program is available at no cost to Sri Lankans secondary school students at five locations around the country, implemented by local Sri Lankan educators.
At the ceremony, students demonstrated their English fluency by acting as Masters of Ceremony, giving speeches, performing a humorous skit, and singing “We are the World.”
Ambassador Chung congratulated the students and thanked the parents, teachers, and the implementing organization Smart International for completing the two-year program despite the global pandemic. She said: “We know that English language proficiency can open doors to more opportunities for young adults. It’s a pathway to higher education, to studying science, and to conducting business on national, regional, and global market levels. English is key to helping build a stronger rapport with other countries around the world.”
Currently the English Access Microscholarship Program is training 150 Sri Lankan secondary school students. The two-year program has been offered in Sri Lanka since 2005 and provides a foundation of English language skills. This year’s graduates join the over 1000 Sri Lankan Alumni of the U.S. Access Microscholarship program.
The Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) has contributed LKR 25 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund.
The cheque was handed over to the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake by the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeyesekera, the Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike and Senior Vice Chairman Kusal Nissanka at the Presidential Secretariat.
News
Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56
Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.
In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.
He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.
Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.
He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.
Five suspects, including former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons, who were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), were further remanded until 30 January by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The former Minister’s , sons Johan Fernando and Jerome Kenneth Fernando, and two others, were arrested in connection with the alleged misuse of a Sathosa vehicle during Fernando’s tenure as Minister.
Investigations are currently underway into the alleged misuse of state property, including a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa, which reportedly caused a significant financial loss to the state.
In connection with the same incident, Indika Ratnamalala, who served as the Transport Manager of Sathosa during
Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, was arrested on 04 January.
After being produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, he was ordered to be remanded in custody until 09 January.The former Sathosa Transport Manager was remanded on charges of falsifying documents.
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