News
Ex-President Sirisena blames open economic policies introduced in late 1970s for present ills
By Saman Indrajith
Polonnaruwa District MP and former President Maithripala Sirisena told Parliament yesterday the national economy had been adversely affected by open-economic policies introduced in the late 1970s.
Participating in the second reading debate on budget 2021, the former President said: “Local industries that had received a boost under the then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Finance Minister Dr N. M. Perera collapsed after the introduction of open economic policies that depended on goods from overseas. The opening-up of the economy led to the country being flooded with imports, overwhelming local industries, local agriculture and some infrastructural mechanisms such as Regional Development Boards. As a result of those policies we have a sluggish economy today. The situation has been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have chosen to promote local production as far as possible. I have faith in the incumbent President, who has understood the need of promoting the local industries, agriculture and national economy. I appreciate his policy of promoting local over international. I am sure that we can produce 99 percent of our food here. Therefore, I approve the limitations the president has imposed on some food imports to promote the local products. This government upholds the concept that we must solve our problem ourselves.
“I view these budget proposals as an attempt to reduce poverty by implementing as many programmes as possible to achieve self-sufficiency. The budget contains many progressive proposals. We should welcome the proposal to allocate funds for drinking water projects of rural areas. We must appreciate the decision to allocate Rs. 7,000 million to for improving rural road network because rural economy cannot be uplifted without access roads enabling connectivity between the farm and the market. We should be thankful to the Prime Minister, who has, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, included a proposal to allocate Rs 5000 million for developing rural dispensaries and maternity homes. In addition to the allocations made to the health sector, Rs 7,000 million is to be allotted to for the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.”
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
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
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
‘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
-
Business3 days agoDialog and UnionPay International Join Forces to Elevate Sri Lanka’s Digital Payment Landscape
-
News3 days agoSajith: Ashoka Chakra replaces Dharmachakra in Buddhism textbook
-
Features3 days agoThe Paradox of Trump Power: Contested Authoritarian at Home, Uncontested Bully Abroad
-
Features3 days agoSubject:Whatever happened to (my) three million dollars?
-
News3 days agoLevel I landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended
-
News3 days agoNational Communication Programme for Child Health Promotion (SBCC) has been launched. – PM
-
News3 days ago65 withdrawn cases re-filed by Govt, PM tells Parliament
-
Opinion5 days agoThe minstrel monk and Rafiki, the old mandrill in The Lion King – II