News
Government is committed to strengthen youth organizations in the country – President
President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed his commitment to strengthening youth organizations, including the Girl Guide Association, Scout Association, Cadet Corps, and Youth Corps, in every aspect with an objective to foster substantial contributions from young people towards the country’s future.
The President highlighted that the government has already allocated the necessary funds for youth programs and as the country’s economy strengthens, the government would allocate any remaining funds towards further supporting the youth.
President Wickremesinghe made these remarks during the President’s Guide Award Ceremony 2022/2023 held today (31) at the Bandaranaike International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, where he presented the President’s Awards to the members of the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association.
President Wickremesinghe further stated,
“I have a strong understanding of Guiding, with several family members who have been actively involved in the Association. We need to continue developing the Girl Guides Association. A request has been made for a new building for the Girl Guide Association, and steps will be taken to address this need. The government has allocated funds for the Girl Guide Association, Scout Association, the Cadet Corps and Youth Corps, and additional funding for other organizations is anticipated. It is hoped that the government will allocate separate funds for the implementation of various associations.
The government’s ability to allocate funds comes from the improved financial situation of the government. When I took office, the government had no money. We have now overcome those difficult times. We have stopped funding loss-making state corporations and have also halted taking foreign loans. The debt we owe has decreased significantly, leaving the government with some extra funds which I intend to use to support the youth.
Currently, a comprehensive education program is being developed, which will require significant funding in the coming years. We also plan to allocate the necessary resources and funding for the health sector.
Education should not be limited to textbooks. Children need new opportunities to advance, and we will invest in those opportunities. We aim to popularize the Girl Guide movement in all aspects, and to double its membership from 75,000 to 150,000.
These organizations can achieve great things. Discussions with the anti-narcotics committee highlighted the need for more scouting and guiding associations and cadet corps in schools, which can greatly contribute to the anti-narcotics program.
Furthermore, the government is prepared to provide support to establish scout and Guides camps at the district and national levels. I urge you to collaborate with the Ministry of Education to implement these programs.”
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.
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