News
Govt. extends largesse to 10,000 destitute families in Hambantota District
By Ifham Nizam
Presidential Task Force Chairman Basil Rajapaksa had given the green light for the provision of drinking water and electricity free of charge to 10,000 destitute families in the Hambantota District, the Environment Ministry said.
Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that he had raised the matter at a recent meeting under the chairmanship of Basil Rajapaksa at Temple Trees.
“As far as I know, there are about 10,000 families in the Hambantota district alone without proper sanitary facilities. I pointed out that there were a large number of families all over the country who did not have access to pipe-borne water, and electricity. What was the reason? Basil Rajapaksa asked me. I told him that those people had no money. Accordingly, it was decided to launch a programme to provide free electricity, drinking water and proper toilet facilities to all those families before the Sinhala New Year this year.”
Amaraweera said that the government had decided to conduct another sand survey and a water related electronic survey on the rivers in the country.
“There are 103 rivers in our natural drainage system, fulfilling the drinking and agricultural water needs of the people. Among them, several major rivers meet the drinking water needs of the urban population.”
The Minister said that although well water was used for drinking in some areas, the vast majority of the urban population could not do so..
Citing examples, he said people living in and around Colombo were prohibited from using groundwater for drinking purposes as it was polluted.
The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau in 2019 conducted electronic surveys of water and sand.
“At present, sand mining in rivers has increased. Therefore, I have instructed the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau to commence fresh surveys immediately to find out the possible damage to those rivers”, Amaraweera said.
He said that if the river bottom was deepened too much due to excessive sand mining, seawater would begin to seep into the river. Then the public would have to face a serious drinking water problem.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Showery condition over the island is expected to reduce from tomorrow (15th)
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Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
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Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
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