News
Gevindu cites China as unwavering friend that Sri Lanka can never forget
By Saman Indrajith
China and its people had been unwavering friends of this nation since time immemorial and Sri Lankan people would never forget the role played by China as a true and genuine friend to help us to defeat the LTTE terrorism, SLPP MP Gevindu Cumaratunga told Parliament on Wednesday.
Participating in the debate on the Colombo Port City Economic Commission bill, Cumaratunge said the people of this country could learn from their counterparts in China on how a nation could sacrifice and work for a common goal to achieve victories for its people. “We can make use of such lessons to build our future. We must emulate the Chinese people’s ways and traditions of respecting their language, family and culture and the way they inculcate their heritage to build a future for them. We must be efficient in developing and improving our skills and efficiency the way the Chinese people did dedicatedly in order to stand up on their own feet.
“Our hope is that the Colombo Port city would be beneficial not only for China and Sri Lanka but also for the entire Asia. The port city would optimize the strategic geo location of this country in international trade in the future.
“We must be thankful to the President and the Ministers of the Cabinet for their action to rectify certain errors and some provisions in the draft bill which are not favourable to our national interests. One such shortcomings was that there was no sufficient outlining of minimum standards for the members to be appointed to the Colombo Port City Economic Commission. We appreciate the decision made by the Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday (18) to ensure that the president of the commission shall be a Sri Lankan and the majority of the composition of the commission shall be Sri Lankan nationals,” the MP said.
The Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) has contributed LKR 25 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund.
The cheque was handed over to the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake by the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeyesekera, the Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike and Senior Vice Chairman Kusal Nissanka at the Presidential Secretariat.
News
Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56
Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.
In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.
He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.
Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.
He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.
Five suspects, including former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons, who were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), were further remanded until 30 January by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The former Minister’s , sons Johan Fernando and Jerome Kenneth Fernando, and two others, were arrested in connection with the alleged misuse of a Sathosa vehicle during Fernando’s tenure as Minister.
Investigations are currently underway into the alleged misuse of state property, including a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa, which reportedly caused a significant financial loss to the state.
In connection with the same incident, Indika Ratnamalala, who served as the Transport Manager of Sathosa during
Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, was arrested on 04 January.
After being produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, he was ordered to be remanded in custody until 09 January.The former Sathosa Transport Manager was remanded on charges of falsifying documents.
T20 World Cup 2026: ICC replace Bangladesh with Scotland
Indonesia landslide kills 7, dozens more missing
Ukraine condemns ‘brutal’ Russian strikes ahead of second day of peace talks
Sri Lanka bat first in second ODI
Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) donates LKR 25 million to the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund
Tanzid Hasan’s ton, Binura Fernando’s four-for power Rajshahi Warriors to BPL title
‘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
-
Editorial7 days agoIllusory rule of law
-
Features7 days agoDaydreams on a winter’s day
-
Features7 days agoSurprise move of both the Minister and myself from Agriculture to Education
-
Features6 days agoExtended mind thesis:A Buddhist perspective
-
Features7 days agoThe Story of Furniture in Sri Lanka
-
Opinion5 days agoAmerican rulers’ hatred for Venezuela and its leaders
-
Features7 days agoWriting a Sunday Column for the Island in the Sun
-
Business3 days agoCORALL Conservation Trust Fund – a historic first for SL