News
Harsha won’t join govt. but ready to spearhead all-party economic revival plan
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) is ready to support newly elected Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s efforts to build an all-party consensus on an ambitious economic revival plan, but it will not accept any minsterial positions.
The SJB secured 54 seats, including one National List slot, at the last parliamentary election in August 2020. Its National List member Diana Gamage later switched her allegiance to the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), but for some reason they were not able to kick her out of that seat.
SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday (17) said that he was ready to provide leadership to the parliamentary watchdog, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF). The Colombo District lawmaker said he intended to give the leadership for the preparation of an economic revival plan to address the current issues at hand.
Dr. de Silva said so when The Island asked whether he would accept the repeated requests made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe for the Opposition MPs to join the government.
Asked whether he was confident of receiving the SLPP’s blessings for the plan, Dr. de Silva said that the SJB informed PM Wickremesinghe of their offer. He assured that if he was given the opportunity, measures would be taken to prepare a blue print for the economic revival.
Dr. de Silva said that an all-party government could have been formulated with the participation of the SJB, too, if President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had resigned, as demanded by the people.
Dr. de Silva emphasised that he wouldn’t under any circumstance, betray the party and the ongoing public protest campaign by declaring allegiance to the government.
‘Gota Go Gama’ campaign has launched a poster campaign in Colombo and its suburbs declaring opposition to what it called ‘Gota-Ranil’ unholy alliance.
Dr. de Silva said that the SJB would propose him as the new Chairman of the COPF. Pointing out that Parliament couldn’t pass any Financial Bill without the approval of the COPF, Dr. de Silva said that the outfit could provide the much needed leadership as the country struggled to cope with the forex crisis.
Currently, SLPP’s Anura Priyadrashana Yapa heads the COPF. Kurunegala District lawmaker Yapa yesterday told The Island that the COPF was scheduled to meet later this week. MP Yapa said that he was aware of the offer made by Dr. de Silva in the wake of him being increasingly coming under pressure to accept the finance portfolio. In addition to the COPF, SLPP lawmakers, Prof. Charitha Ratwatte and Prof. Tissa Vitharana, head the COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises) and COPA (Committee on Public Accounts), respectively.
Commenting on how the SLPP had thwarted SJB’s nominee, lawmaker Rohini Kaviratna’s bid for the post of Deputy Speaker on Tuesday (17), Dr. de Silva said that a divided SLPP seemed to be pulling in different directions.
The former UNP lawmaker de Silva said that he was ready to take up the challenge. The MP expressed the view that as COPF Chairman he could play a role as important as that of a minister.
Dr. de Silva said that the plan worked out by the COPF could be cleared by Parliament through an all-party consensus for implementation.
The top SJB spokesman said as pointed out by Premier Wickremesinghe, in his address to the nation on Monday (16) the economy was in bad shape urgent action was required to revive it.
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.
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