News
Cardinal will be consulted – GL

* ‘National security threat to all Sri Lankans’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
SLPP Chairman and Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday (22) stressed the responsibility on the part of the government to consult Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith as regards action to be taken on the basis of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (P CoI) report on the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide attacks.
About 270 perished in six suicide attacks and one accidental blast caused by the National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) in Colombo, Katana, Batticaloa and Dehiwala. Over 500 persons received injuries.
Prof. Peiris said that the Cardinal’s views on the matter as well as his proposals would be of pivotal importance. The SLPP Chairman said so at the weekly media briefing at Nelum Mawatha party office. The minister acknowledged that there could be some turmoil due to government actions. Therefore, the issues at hand had to be discussed with Maha Sangha and leaders of other faiths as well, the minister said, underscoring the resultant threat to national security.
Former President Maithripala Sirisena appointed the P CoI soon after the then Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri led Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) handed over its report on 2019 Easter Sunday carnage to the parliament.
Sirisena’s successor, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa gave the go ahead for the P CoI to continue the inquiry in the wake of the Archbishop of Colombo accepting it.
The SLPP Chairman pointed out that the PCoI inquired into various aspects, including who provided the wherewithal to the attackers. However, the government would have to take necessary measures to thwart similar attacks in the future, the minister said.
One-time External Affairs Minister said that the counter measures would have to be discussed and adopted on the basis the post-Easter Sunday situation affected the entire population not only the Catholics.
Minister Peiris said that the timely intervention made by the Cardinal prevented a bloodbath in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks. The country would have been plunged into crisis, the minister said, acknowledging the need for consultations among all stakeholders before the government acted on the P CoI report. Prof. Peiris explained that actions taken by the government to prevent recurrence of such attacks wouldn’t infringe on the P CoI report.
The SLPP Chairman on behalf of the government offered to discuss the P CoI report with the Cardinal subsequent to the Catholic leader flaying the government over the appointment of a six-member ministerial committee to study the report. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith over the weekend declared that the Church didn’t recognize the ministerial committee. The Catholic leader, having participated at a protest organized at Katuwapitiya church, the scene of the worst Easter Sunday suicide attack, bitterly complained that he was yet to receive a copy of the P CoI report though he asked for one. The Cardinal declared that he wouldn’t meet lawmakers until the matter was resolved.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference the supreme decision making body of the Catholic Church, Sri Lanka is yet to make its position known on the issue at hand.
Prof. Peiris told The Island that the issue at hand had to be settled amicably. Sources said that the UNP and its breakaway faction, the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) responded as if their government hadn’t anything to do with grave security/intelligence lapses that led to Easter attacks.
The minister dismissed accusations that the government wanted to hide sections of the report and exploit the dossier for political advantage. The minister alleged that those who had created an ideal environment for NTJ to strike by causing instability in every sector now played politics with the issue.
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President invites exporters to rise again from the economic setback

President Anura Kumar Disanayake invited Sri Lankan exporters to rebuild and thrive on a robust economic foundation.
The President emphasized that our country faces the challenge of capturing market share from a position of relative weakness. He pointed out that, to overcome this, external support had to be sought. In this regard, he highlighted that the government is prepared to provide assistance for recovery based on the current economic stability.
President Anura Kumar Disanayake made these remarks at the 26th Presidential Export Awards Ceremony.
The 26th Presidential Export Awards, organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), was held on Friday (07) at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) under the patronage of President Anura Kumar Disanayake.
The main objective of the awards ceremony is to recognize exporters who have made significant contributions to the economic development of Sri Lanka.
The Presidential Export Award, presented by the President, is the highest honour for Sri Lankan exporters who have made significant contributions to the export sector and economic development.
The Presidential Export Awards program, initiated by the EDB in 1981, has been held annually to recognize Sri Lanka’s top exporters. The awards ceremony for the 2023/24 financial year took place this year.
A total of 14 major awards and 51 awards in the categories of production and services were presented, with recipients gaining the opportunity to use the Presidential Export Award logo as a marketing tool for three years.
President Anura Kumar Disanayake further emphasized the critical importance of the trust placed in Sri Lanka by international economic stakeholders to stabilize the country’s economy. He noted that the global market economy is interconnected, not entirely independent.
He further pointed out that the primary challenge facing Sri Lanka is securing a substantial share of the market amidst the current global division of markets and the ongoing competition to reclaim market shares.
President Anura Kumar Disanayake noted that the global market has become an interconnected network. He emphasized that in order for the country to become a key participant in this market, it must engage in trade agreements that are beneficial to Sri Lanka. He cautioned that aggressive, reckless approaches to market penetration would not be successful, stressing the need for strategic, thoughtful engagement.
The President further stated that the government is already taking steps to provide the necessary technical support for Sri Lankan exporters to enter the market with high-quality products. He highlighted the government’s focus on supplying new goods and services in response to global changes, in line with international market trends.
Regarding the reduction of electricity bills, the President mentioned that the government is prioritizing renewable energy sources to maintain long-term stability in energy costs. He added that efforts are underway to lower costs and ensure stable pricing over the next few years.
President Disanayake also emphasized that the government is committed to playing a pivotal role in advancing the nation’s economy to new heights. He noted that even small or misguided decisions can have significant negative impacts on the economy, and therefore, decisions regarding the economy must be made with great caution and foresight.
In his remarks, the President assured that the government is fully committed to fulfilling exporters’ requests, which are vital to strengthening the nation’s economy and maintaining a strong economic foundation.
Finally, the President invited Sri Lankan exporters to unite in strengthening the economy, stressing the importance of collaboration and mutual understanding to navigate the challenges of economic recovery and growth effectively.
The ceremony was attended by several distinguished individuals, including Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Thilaka Jayasundara, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Duminda Hulangamuwa, along with various Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Parliamentarians, foreign diplomats, Secretaries to the Ministries, and members of the EDB.
[PMD]
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