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Harini criticises govt.’s handling of international agreements
NPP set to unveil election manifesto in third week of August
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The JVP-led National People’s Power (NPP) will unveil its election manifesto in the third week of August, likely on 20 or 21 August, according to NPP MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.The NPP has already introduced several policy frameworks focusing on various sectors, including the Science and Technology policy framework and Engineering Policy Concept Papers.
Dr. Amarasuriya mentioned that over the past three years, the NPP has actively engaged with communities in rural areas to broaden its voter base. Initially, the typical NPP voter was a city-dwelling professional, but their outreach efforts aim to diversify their support. However, they now have significant support in the villages, she said.
She stated that the current formation of political alliances is opportunistic and often driven by the parliamentary election that follows the presidential election.
“This is what motivates most MPs. They support various presidential candidates because they believe that aligning with the winner on 21 September will secure them a seat in Parliament. However, I don’t think this approach is effective anymore,” she said.
Dr. Amarasuriya highlighted that a significant danger of the Ranil Wickremesinghe administration is its tendency to enter agreements with international actors without sufficient consideration. Once these agreements are in place, extricating oneself from them becomes extremely complex.
“We have signed an unfavourable deal with the IMF, and renegotiating it is intricate. We have always been honest with the public. However, it is also incorrect to claim that these agreements are non-negotiable. The government needs to be astute and patient to amend what is necessary and secure the best possible deal,” she said.
Amarasuriya said another agreement regarding the establishment of a wind farm with Adani in Mannar. There are two agreements: one with Adani and another between the two nations. “The Supreme Court is currently reviewing the agreement with Adani, but the agreement we signed with India on renewable energy remains in place. Two influential Ministers claimed that the agreement with Adani was a government-to-government deal. Kanchana Wijesekera stated this in Parliament, while Ali Sabry mentioned it during a press conference in India. The specifics of the deal are unclear, as we only know what the government has disclosed,” she said.
The NPP stated that the party must demonstrate its capability to govern the country and engage in diplomacy. “We must show the people that we possess the necessary maturity, and I believe we are doing so during the election process. We must also be principled and show respect to people. Our opponents cannot compete with our policies or our leadership. Now they are trying to scare people. Our opponents no longer claim we are losing; instead, they say we will be dangerous in power,” she said.
She noted that there has been a significant brain drain over the past two years, which must be stopped and reversed. The solution, she suggested, is to create an environment where people can work with dignity and contentment.
“Most professionals are simply unhappy. People are leaving not because of salaries and taxes. Professionals are discontented. They cannot work while maintaining the dignity of their profession. This issue affects teachers the most, whether they teach at a university or a school. Instead of teaching or conducting research, much of our time is spent filling out forms. Those who teach postgraduate students have not been paid, and the government expects these institutions to finance themselves. Rather than improving courses, we have become marketers,” she said.
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Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre has issued an Advisory for Severe Lightning for the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district.
The advisory issued at 02.00 p.m. today [07 April 2025] is valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 07 April 2025
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district. There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
The report of the “Census of Population and Housing 2024,” conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics, was officially handed over to President Anura Kumara Disanayake this morning (07) at the Presidential Secretariat.
This preliminary report has been prepared based on island wide data collected between October and December 2024.
The report provides details on Sri Lanka’s population, its growth and the distribution of the population across districts.
The information gathered through the census is vital not only for the government but also for other institutions in formulating policies and development plans essential for the country’s progress. Significantly, for the first time in the history of census-collecting in Sri Lanka, data collection was carried out using tablet computers and user-friendly mobile devices.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Finance & Planning, Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana, Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics D.D.G.A. Senevirathne and several other officials.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka today (07) presented its flagship publication, the Annual Economic Review for 2024 (AER 2024), to President and Minister of Finance, Anura Kumara Disanayake, highlighting the steady progress of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery following the country’s most severe downturn in recent history.
The report was officially handed over by Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank, during a special ceremony held at the Presidential Secretariat.
AER 2024 comprises four main chapters: Macroeconomic Developments, Conditions of the Financial System, Review of Central Bank’s Policies and Macroeconomic Outlook.
According to the Review, the Sri Lankan economy showed significant signs of recovery in 2024, following the deep economic crisis experienced two years ago. The recovery trajectory, though challenging, has been notably faster than that of many other debt-distressed countries.
Improvements in economic activity, a partial resurgence in purchasing power and reduced uncertainty are among the key positive indicators noted in the report.
The event was attended by Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, K. M. Mahinda Siriwardena, Secretary to the Treasury, Mrs. K. M. A. N. Daulagala, Senior Deputy Governor, Dr. C. Amarasekara, Assistant Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) S. Jegajeevan, Director of Economic Research and Dr. L. R. C. Pathberiya and Additional Director of Economic Research at the Central Bank Dr. V. D. Wickramarachchi.
[PMD]
Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
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