News
Catholic Bishops awaken govt. to disaster facing many Lankans unable to buy basics for survival
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CBCSL) in Sri Lanka yesterday appealed to the government to grant relief to the poor. CBCSL in a statement signed by its President Rt. Rev. Dr. Harold Anthony Perera and Secretary Rt. Rev. Dr. J.D. Anthony Jayakody said that many people were on the brink of starvation while there seemd to be no clear vision to resolve the immediate basic needs of the people.
Text of the CBCSL statement: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka gathered in Plenary Session in August wishes to express its deep concern about the socio-economic and political situation of Sri Lanka and its impact upon the day-to-day lives of the ordinary masses, for, there is the ever increasing and unbearable cost of living affecting them.
Many parents find it difficult to provide their children with their daily food. Many families with difficulty have only one meal a day. Many hospitals are not in a position to care for people’s health needs and there is a severe shortage of medicines. We are seriously concerned about the increasing number of qualified medical personnel who are leaving the country and many people, particularly the poor, who cannot attend to their medical needs, as often, government hospitals are inadequately supplied with medicines and other medical equipment.
Education, too, appears to be in jeopardy. Children attend schools without proper nourishment, clothing and the stationery they require. Parents are not in a position to attend to these basic needs.
There is a serious break-down of law and order. Increasing violence seems to be prevailing in the country. Murders are taking place almost on a daily basis and the number of fatal accidents on the roads due to drunken and reckless driving are on the increase.
Besides, there seems to be no clear vision to resolve the immediate basic needs of the people. There is no control of prices of essential items. Many people are on the brink of starvation. The immediate need should be to promote agriculture and other local production to sustain the people. It is shocking to hear that still many food items are being imported, including rice, eggs, palm oil. etc., which can be produced locally, if incentives are given to local farmers.
In this dire situation, we, the members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka, earnestly appeal to those in authority to consider the plight of the people seriously before their rhetoric and enacting political dramas, so that the poor and the marginalized could at least sustain their lives with their basic needs.
Sri Lanka is a blessed country and its citizenry talented, and its youth, educated and keen to be participants in its progress. Therefore, we need to create a society where each one’s dignity is valued and appreciated, and peace, harmony and the true manifestation of democracy such as the independence of the Judiciary and the participation of people in the political life of the nation is safeguarded through the holding of free and fair elections. We appeal to our political leadership to be the instruments of such a political and social renewal and the safeguarding of the dignity and rights of all components of our society.
We call upon all our Catholic faithful to pray and work actively for a social transformation of our society in this manner.
News
Presidential secretariat launches initiative to install sanitation facilities at fuel stations under “Clean Sri Lanka”
In a landmark move to promote public hygiene and accessibility, the Government on Wednesday (14) launched a national-level initiative to install modern sanitation facilities at fuel stations across the country under the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme.
The official launch was held at the Presidential Secretariat, with the participation of top government officials and key industry stakeholders.
The initiative aims to transform fuel stations into clean, safe and inclusive spaces by providing essential sanitation infrastructure accessible to all segments of the public, particularly women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities.
An MoU was signed between the Presidential Task Force on Clean Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Energy and the island’s four major fuel providers: Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Lanka IOC PLC (LIOC), Sinopec Energy Lanka (Pvt) Ltd and RM Parks (Pvt) Ltd.
Under the three-year programme, 540 modern public sanitation facilities will be established at selected fuel stations islandwide. The timeline for rollout is as follows:
| Company | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | 25 | 50 | 50 |
| LIOC | 25 | 50 | 40 |
| Sinopec | 25 | 50 | 75 |
| RM Parks | 25 | 50 | 75 |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 240 |
By the end of 2025, at least 100 of these facilities are expected to be operational, providing clean and user-friendly amenities to travellers across the country.
Speaking at the event, Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake stated, “This is not just a policy commitment but a promise to build a healthier, cleaner and more dignified Sri Lanka. The Clean Sri Lanka initiative seeks to deliver long-term public services that meet modern hygiene standards.” He also highlighted that this partnership between the public and private sectors sets an example for delivering effective and sustainable services. Plans are in place to encourage further participation from large-scale private sector entities, such as retail chains, to extend the reach and impact of the programme.
The event was attended by Secretary to the Ministry of Energy, Prof. Udayanga Hemapala; Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Russell Aponsu; senior executives from the four fuel providers; and officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Presidential Task Force.
News
Financial assistance from the President’s Fund for next of kin of victims of the Kotmale bus accident disbursed through Divisional Secretariats
On the instructions of President Anura Kumara Disanayake, the funds allocated from the President’s Fund for those who lost their lives in the recent bus accident in the Garandiella area, Kotmale have now been forwarded to the relevant Divisional Secretariats.
Accordingly, a sum of Rs. 1 million will be provided to the next of kin of each individual whose life was lost in the accident, and the funds will be handed over to their respective family members.
These funds have been released to the Divisional Secretariats of the following areas—Tissamaharama, Lunugamvehera, Welimada, Haldummulla, Ella, Kundasale, Bamunakotuwa, Paduwasnuwara West, Polpithigama, Wanathawilluwa, Chilaw, Buttala, Thanamalwila, Wellawaya, Kanthale and Rambewa where the 22 individuals who lost their lives in the accident were residents.
Shasheendra, too, is to be questioned soon
Former Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has filed an anticipatory bail application in the Fort Magistrate’s court in a bid to prevent the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) from taking him into custody in connection with the ongoing investigation into the importation of a stock of allegedly substandard organic fertiliser from China during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali has asked the CIABOCt to present its position regarding the issue at hand to the court on May 19.
The CIABOC has asserted that the transaction caused Sri Lanka a loss of USD 6.9 mn.
The CIABOC arrested former Additional Secretary (Development) to the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mahesh Gammanpila on April 28, 2025, over his role in the deal with China’s Qingdao Seawin Biotech in 2021.
At the time Mahesh Gammanpila served as the Secretary to the State Ministry of Agriculture, Shasheendra Rajapaksa had been its Minister. Gammanpila is the current Chief Secretary of the Uva Provincial Council.
Aluthgamage had been the Cabinet Minister at the time the government finalised the questionable deal with the Chinese company.
CIABOC, on May 5, told court that the investigations were continuing and the ministers who decided on the importation of fertiliser from China, too, would be arrested and produced in court.
According to the CIABOC website, Mahesh Gammanpila has caused approximately USD 6.9 million loss to the government by issuing orders to open the suspended Letters of Credit to import the substandard organic fertiliser consignment from Qingdao Seawin Biotech, China, in 2021.
Although Fort Magistrate granted bail to Gammanpila on May 5, he continued to be in remand as he couldn’t meet the bail conditions. The court has also imposed a travel ban on him. (SF)
NOC issue, fixture clash put Mustafizur’s IPL participation in doubt
Presidential secretariat launches initiative to install sanitation facilities at fuel stations under “Clean Sri Lanka”
Financial assistance from the President’s Fund for next of kin of victims of the Kotmale bus accident disbursed through Divisional Secretariats
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