News
Fonseka calls for radical change in political culture

By Saman Indrajith
Sri Lanka could not move forward without changing its political culture, SJB MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka told Parliament on Thursday.
Participating in the adjournment debate on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s policy statement, Fonseka said that what people now needed was not political rhetoric but a radical change in the political culture that had been prevailing since Independence.
“What is prevailing is so pathetic; every politician is trying either to come to power or to cling onto power. Helping people has never been a top priority. Since Independence the primary concern of the political leaders has been power. It is my belief that political leaders will not do anything to change that culture. All governments and political leaders should be held responsible for not leading the country in the right direction. The challenge before the younger generation today is to change this political culture without leaving it to the next generation. I call on the youth of this country never to fall for the promises given by the political leaders. Whenever they promise this and that, please ask yourself whether those promises are realistic and what those making such promises had been doing so far. Please, take into consideration the past of those promise-makers and assess their capabilities. If you choose to do otherwise, you’ll continue to suffer. It is the paramount duty of the youth to give value to their votes. Never vote for those who give liquor and 1000-rupee notes and never expect those who give such bribes to develop this country. At the last election, I neither served liquor nor stayed at any place where the candidates served liquor. I did not give meals to get votes. I am proud of my conduct.
“This culture could not be changed by amending the Constitution which has been reduced to a mere booklet. Great Britain has the fifth largest economy in the world. Democracy and people’s rights are ensured and the rule of law is upheld there. It is a country without a written Constitution.. Take the recent incident of removing Prince Andrew from the royal family. He was a four-star admiral but when his name was sullied by a sex scandal the Queen removed all his posts and positions even before the hearing of the case started.”
Business
Cabinet nod to celebrate centenary of Tea Research Institute from 9th November to 14th November 2025

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Facilities to hold the 26th Session of the Intergovernmental Group on Tea of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the 4th Annual Meeting of the Asian Tea Alliance to commemorate the Centenary Anniversary of the Tea Research Institute in Colombo from 9th November to 14th November in 2025 and to take necessary steps in that respect.
Latest News
Cabinet green light to establish the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of Sri Lanka (AAIBSL)

The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports ad Civil Aviation to prepare the relevant draft bill to establish the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of Sri Lanka (AAIBSL) in accordance with the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka Act No. 34 of 2002
News
Protection of Rights of Elders Act No. 9 of 2000 to be amended

The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment to instruct the Legal Draftsmen to prepare a draft bill to amend the Protection of Rights of Elders Act No. 9 of 2000
-
Features5 days ago
They came, they won, they returned to Jaffna isles
-
News7 days ago
UK confirms ongoing war crimes investigation into British mercenaries in Sri Lanka
-
News5 days ago
ITAK candidate elected B’caloa Mayor as NPP seeks alliance with Pillayan
-
Opinion6 days ago
Prof. Dissanayake honoured for oustanding contribution to Sinhala literature
-
Features3 days ago
As I remember, from 50 years ago: the 75-80 Katubedda Engineering Batch
-
News6 days ago
Enhanced security for Israelis in Sri Lanka
-
Midweek Review7 days ago
‘Aragalaya’ could have been thwarted and GR’s presidency saved: Mahinda Siriwardana
-
Business7 days ago
Beyond the Numbers: The real costs and benefits of migration for migrant mothers