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Fuel at concessionary price: Johnston questions Sajith over his claim

Published

4 years ago

2022/03/24

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa was welcome to extend his assistance to the government, to save the people from the prevailing shortage crises, and there was nothing wrong with him claiming credit for that, Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando told Parliament yesterday.

“The Opposition Leader is welcome if he can assist the government. He has said at a recent rally three countries have offered to send fuel to Sri Lanka if he makes a request. We ask him to contact those countries and get the fuel delivered. You can claim the credit for that, too. People will say that the Opposition Leader is a great person who put the country above politics. All you have to do is to take that offer and help the Sri Lankan public,” Minister Fernando said.

Minister Fernando said so after Opposition Leader Premadasa raised questions on the government’s plans to purchase oil.

Minister Fernando said that there had been instances where the Opposition extended its support to the government. “Madam Sirimavo Bandaranaike extended the Opposition’s support to the government when JR Jayewardene’s government and your father’s government were in crisis because of the JVP uprising. So, you can do the same. There is an All-Party Conference. You can attend it and inform the Conference of the three countries that have pledged to send fuel.

Opposition Leader Premadasa: Those countries do not like to work with your government because yours is a racist government that spreads racism. Those countries like to work with us.

Minister Fernando: First you have to come to power for them to work with you. We do not know whether such a thing will ever happen. People have shown twice, in two elections, whom they trusted. An opportunity has presented itself for you to emerge as a national leader; you should bring in oil if possible so that people will start supporting you.

Opposition Leader Premadasa: It seems that the officials who control the microphones in the House are not well. Are they suffering from an illness? My microphone is switched off before I finish my speech. It seems that they have not got the third jab.

Minister Fernando: The microphone is not under the control of the officials. It is under the control of the Chair. Therefore it is no use of blaming the officials.

Opposition Leader Premadasa: I challenge the Chief Government Whip to go out and tell whatever he has to the people in queues. He should know that when transactions are done at state levels it is done on government to government basis, not on government to Opposition basis.

Minister Fernando: For you to obtain their help, you have to first form a government. This oil shortage will last only a couple more weeks. There would be no oil shortage problem in this country in the future. So, even if you succeeded in forming a government by any chance, there would be no fuel shortage. I can meet people and speak to them. Even the day before yesterday I went to Galle and spoke to the people.

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PM on inspection tour of newly renovated Colombo Central Bus Stand

Published

14 hours ago

2026/04/10

Priyan

The Colombo Central Bus Stand, which has a history of over six decades and had remained without a proper maintenance for many years, has now been renovated under the current government’s development programme and vested to the public. Following that, the Prime Minister undertook an inspection tour of the newly renovated Colombo Central Bus Stand.

Originally constructed in 1964, the bus stand was refurbished with modern facilities to meet current needs and was officially reopened to the public on April 8. The primary objective of this initiative is to provide passengers with a higher-quality and more comfortable transportation service.

During the renovation process, special attention has been given to the comfort and safety of women, which was commended by the Prime Minister. In particular, a modern rest area designed to ensure privacy for nursing mothers travelling from distant areas received special praise.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the newly introduced passenger seat reservation system and information services established to assist commuters. In addition, the modern surveillance unit and other security measures installed within the premises to ensure passenger safety were also inspected.

During the visit, the Prime Minister engaged in conversations with passengers at the bus stand and inquired about their views on the newly renovated facilities and the quality of transport services.

It was emphasized that the government’s objective is to transform public transportation into a safe, technologically advanced service that can be used with convenience by all citizens.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

Latest News

Sun directly overhead Nagawilluwa, Galgamuwa, Sigiriya, Palugasdamana and Mankerni about 12:11 noon today (10)

Published

14 hours ago

2026/04/10

Priyan

On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from the 05th to 15th of April in this year.

The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (10th) are Nagawilluwa, Galgamuwa, Sigiriya, Palugasdamana and Mankerni about 12:11 noon.

News

Opposition tells Minister Kumara Jayakody to resign

Published

15 hours ago

2026/04/10

Thilina Walpola

Prof. Peiris

No-faith motion to be taken up today

Former Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday (9) said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake should remove Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody unless the minister stepped down on his own.Prof. Peiris, addressing a press conference called by the Opposition, said that Jayakody couldn’t under any circumstance continue to serve as a minister after the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) moved the Colombo High Court against the government member over a previous financial scandal.

Pointing out that Minister Jayakody had been indicted of a corrupt deal struck during the yahapalana regime, Prof. Peiris said it was wrong for the NPP to retain him as a minister, claiming that the offence was not committed during his tenure as a Cabinet minister in the current government.

Prof. Peiris and several other Opposition members dealt with the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Jayakody that would be taken up today (10) with the academic calling the vote an acid test for the NPP. Having campaigned on an anti-corruption platform at presidential and parliamentary polls, the NPP couldn’t protect Jayakody though he was widely believed to be close to President Dissanayake.

As the Manager of the Procurement and Import Division of the Ceylon Fertilizer Company, Jayakody is alleged to have committed the offence of corruption, according to CIABOC.

Jayakody has been accused of causing a loss of Rs. 8,859,708 to the State by influencing and exploiting the procurement process.

Following the serving of indictments on 27 March, the judge ordered Jayakody’s release on two personal bail bonds of Rs. 1 million each. The court directed that the defendant’s fingerprints be obtained and a formal report be submitted. The case has been scheduled for a pre-trial conference on 6 May.

Prof. Peiris stressed that the CIABOC action against Jayakody is central to the NCM primarily moved over the irregularities ridden coal procurement process launched in 2025 that caused severe disruption to the power generation. Responding to The Island query after the media briefing, Prof Peiris expressed surprise that the JVP/NPP accommodated a person under investigation by the CIABOC. Having taken an utterly irresponsible decision, the JVP/NPP were now playing down the developing issue, prof. Peiris said.

The entire government parliamentary group faced the prospect of having its image tarnished by defending Jayakody, the former lawmaker said.

Prof. Peiris said that they intended to build a campaign around the issues involving the energy minister to expose the government. With yet another electricity tariff hike in the offing due to the growing demand for thermal generation as a result of coal-fired Lakvijaya power plant’s failure to meet the requirement[RA1] , the energy minister and ministry’s performances have to be examined, Prof. Peiris said.The timely release of the Auditor General’s report on controversial coal procurement should compel the government to decide on the energy minister’s fate or be prepared to face the fallout.

By Shamindra Ferdinando