News
DEW warns govt. hasn’t really taken into consideration global or domestic situations into consideration
Budget 2023: mixed reactions
Jathika Jana Balavegaya (JJB) MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya yesterday (14) said that the maiden Budget presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Finance Minister didn’t address the daunting challenges faced by the country in the wake of unprecedented post-independence economic crisis.
Dr. Amarasuriya asserted that President Wickremesinghe had failed to respond to the growing political-economic-social crisis. The JJB parliamentary group, affiliated to the JVP, consists of three lawmakers.
Former Minister and ex-General Secretary of the Communist Party DEW Gunasekera said that he was thoroughly disappointed and quite surprised.
The veteran politician said that the UNP leader, in his capacity as the Finance Minister, should have used the opportunity to analyze, discuss and recommend remedial measures against the backdrop of the world economic crisis. The Communist Party is represented in Parliament by Matara District MP Weerasumana Weerasinghe.
Unfortunately, no serious effort had been made at all to redirect the bankrupt country towards the correct path, Gunasekera, a one-time Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), said.
He said that the public should keep in mind that Wickremesinghe was elected President in late July this year to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s 5-year term. The former MP stressed that the Budget proposals didn’t meet the expectations of those who really comprehended the developing crisis.
The outspoken Marxist politician said that the worst problem was nothing but the refusal of those in the government and the Opposition to acknowledge the crisis the country was in.
Chief Government Whip and Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, in a statement issued yesterday, however, praised the Budget. The Gampaha District SLPP strongman declared that Budget proposals meant to rebuild the country, hence the decision to adopt a new approach.
Minister Ranatunga said: “This Budget was presented under extremely difficult conditions. The proposals were based on discussions the government had with the International Monetary Fund and other lending agencies.” According to him, the public weren’t further burdened and necessary steps taken to consolidate the economy. Ranatunga represents the SLPP, the largest party in Parliament that backed Wickremesinghe at the presidential contest on July 20
Dismissing Opposition criticism of the 2023 Budget proposals as irrelevant, lawmaker Ranatunga said that the government required public support to overcome the current crisis.
SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said that as he would open the debate on the Budget on Tuesday (15) he wouldn’t comment. (SF)
Representatives from the ’The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce’ met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Wednesday [24th of June] at the Parliament premises.
During the meeting, discussions focused on the Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit 2026 (SLEIS 2026), which is scheduled to be held on 12 and 13 October 2026. Attention was also given to digitalization initiatives, the introduction of digital technologies in schools under new education reforms, and the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Sri Lanka’s education sector.
Representatives of the Chamber noted that the summit would serve as an important platform for encouraging both local and foreign investment, while also contributing to the shaping of the country’s future economic policies.
The meeting was attended by Krishan Balendra, Chairman of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce; Vinod Hirdaramani, Deputy Vice Chairman; Shiran Fernando, Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer; Aliki Perera, Deputy Secretary General and Chief Operating Officer; and Anagi Rodrigo-Weerasekera, Chief Economist and Head of Economic Intelligence, along with several other representatives.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
A discussion to review the progress of the housing project under which 4,700 houses are being constructed for the Malayagam community with Indian assistance was held this afternoon (24) at the Presidential Secretariat under the chairmanship of the Chief of Staff to the President, Prabath Chandrakeerthi.
Under this housing programme, 2,026 houses are to be provided to families identified by the National Building Research Institute (NBRI) as being at disaster risk. The remaining houses are expected to be allocated to eligible workers residing in the plantation sector.
Accordingly, the houses will be provided to Malayagam community families living on estates belonging to 22 Regional Plantation Companies, as well as estates under the State Plantations Corporation, Janawasama and Elkaduwa Plantations.
For the construction of each house, the Government of India has allocated Rs. 2.8 million, while the Government of Sri Lanka has contributed Rs. 400,000.
During the discussion, Chandrakeerthi instructed officials to ensure that the housing project is completed before the end of this year. He further directed that land identified for the construction of houses be released without delay and that the National Building Research Institute provide the necessary reports to identify suitable land for the project.
The housing project is being implemented jointly by the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, the National Housing Development Authority, the State Engineering Corporation and the Plantation Human Development Trust.
Among those present were Additional Secretary (Development) of the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, K. S. Wijayakeerthi; Director General (Engineering), N. D. N. Pushpakumara; Director General (Planning), W. A. K. S. Damayanthi; the Secretary General of the Planters’ Association; and officials from the National Housing Development Authority, the State Engineering Corporation, relevant institutions and plantation companies.
(PMD)
It has been reported that Attorney at Law Rakitha Rajapakshe, the son of former Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over alleged links with the underworld.
Venezuela earthquakes: At least 164 dead, 971 injured as toll rises
Representatives from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce meet PM
Progress of Housing Project for Malayagam Community families funded by India reviewed
South Africa stun South Korea to reach World Cup knockouts for the first time
Tremors of 7.5, 7.2 kill 32, injure hundreds in Venezuela
Former Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s son arrested by CIABOC
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News7 days agoCreditor receives USD 2.5 mn as Lankan public bears loss from theft of Treasury funds
-
News6 days agoCreditor not yet paid
-
News6 days agoConsumers bearing 22% tax burden despite 18% VAT claim: Dr. Harsha de Silva
-
Features5 days agoNanda Pethiyagoda Wanasundara as three generations of family saw her
-
Features4 days agoSri Lanka developing independent hydrographic capabilities
-
Opinion7 days agoSriLankan Airbus struck by lightning
-
Editorial5 days agoFuel crisis: Beyond price debate
-
Latest News4 days agoSooryavanshi thumps fastest List A fifty as India A win tri-series