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GL questions Sajith’s common sense

Published

4 years ago

2021/02/12

By Saman Indrajith

Any person with common sense would not expect a government to provide an optimal education amidst a killer pandemic such as COVID-19, Education Minister Prof GL Peiris told Parliament yesterday.

The Minister said so responding to a series of questions by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who accused the government of failing to distribute free school uniform material and textbooks among children attending state schools for the academic year 2021.

Prof Peiris said: “We are certain and fully convinced that none of the parents, teachers and children would believe the allegations of the Opposition. They understand why we have not been able to restore the country’s education system in the face of the threats of the pandemic. It is not the fault of the government but of the pandemic. People of this country do not share your views as they have an enormous appreciation of the government and its officials, who made it possible to reopen the schools and continue the education of children. People would not agree with you for taking an isolated incident of a school where a child could not get uniforms and trying to amplify it into a national issue. Do you know that 72 percent of children and 88 percent of teachers countrywide attend schools now? That is achieved by officials who work tirelessly to ensure that schools can start. Anyone with an iota of common sense in the world would not expect a government to perform its 100 percent amidst the pandemic.”

Opposition Leader Premadasa said that during his father’s presidency the free school uniform material for the children had been introduced and today most children had not yet been able to get their uniform material for the current academic year.

Premadasa said: “There are queues to purchase textbooks. Parents complain that they have to send their children without textbooks as the ministry has not been able to distribute them on time. You can inquire from government MPs who know the pulse of the grassroots whether there is a problem or not. Parents come to me and complain that uniforms are not given yet. You have told this House that the government would distribute the uniforms and textbooks.”

The Minister said that he had never said that the process of distributing text books and uniforms was finished. The distribution was ongoing and that many instances of queues, protests and demonstrations took place under any government.

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Senior Journalist Victor Ivan passes away

Published

9 hours ago

2025/01/19

Priyan

Victor Ivan, former editor of the Raavaya newspaper has passed away . He was 75 at the time of his demise.

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Landslide early warnings issued to the district of Badulla , Kandy , Kurunegala and Matale

Published

18 hours ago

2025/01/19

Priyan

The National Building Research Organization [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala and Matale at 0800 hrs today valid until 0800hrs on Monday 20th January 2025.

Accordingly,

Level II [Amber] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Ududumbara in the Kandy district and Rattota, Yatawatta, Ukuwela and Wilgamuwa in the Matale district.

Level I [Yellow] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Badulla, Passara and Hali Ela in the Badulla district, Meda Dumbara, Phatha Dumbara and Doluwa in the Kandy district and Laggala Pallegama, Ambanganga Korale, Pallepola, Naula and Matale in the Matale district

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It is the Government’s intention to provide justice to the grieving people – Prime Minister

Published

19 hours ago

2025/01/19

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said that it is the Government’s intention to provide justice to the people who are deprived of the same due to rewards and sponsorships.

The Premier made this statement at the occasion of handing over the renovated Court of Appeal building to the public on Saturday (18). The renovations was a donation from the People’s Republic of China.

Further she mentioned that the investment made in a country’s judicial system and in the provision of facilities for the delivery of justice to the people is a reflection of the commitment made towards the country and its people. “This is not just a building, but a symbol of the delivery of justice, fairness of law, equality and dignity. Our country has suffered for decades because many were denied justice under systems of rewards and sponsorships. Our intention is to resolve those deficiencies, bring forth fairness and ensure that everyone has access to justice”, she added.

“The people must be able to keep trust and rely on the judicial system by exemplifying that the legal powers granted to judges by the Constitution are exercised fairly and providing independent and fair judgment to the parties concerned. Everyone, including women, children and the disabled community, expects justice. Their aspiration is that such a system will ensure that no one faces hardships, an attention will be paid to their mental conditions, protection from the consequences they may face when seeking justice for them or defending their rights. All actors in this process must be treated with respect. There are people who have faced hardships for years in the pursuit of justice. We ensure that they are treated fairly. They should not be subjected to intimidation, harassment or threat in the pursuit of justice”, the Premier highlighted.

The Prime Minister further expressed her gratitude to the People’s Republic of China for their generosity and support.

A group of invitees including the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, Chief Justice Murdu Fernando and many others participated in this event.