News
Johnston: Opposition’s plan to get people to boo govt. politicians failed
The Opposition plan to get people to hoot at government politicians in their electorates had failed, Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said yesterday.
“Their plan was to organise people to boo ministers and MPs when we visit our electorates and villages. That did not work because they have no strength or organisational power to work out a campaign of such level. Today their plan went awry and was proven to be another flop. We have come to the village and provinces, but there is none to enact the Opposition’s plan,” Minister Fernando said at Chenkalady, on Tuesday, after commissioning the newly restored 86.7 km Bibile-Chenkalady road.
The Minister said that Opposition members’ wishful thinking that the electorate would reject government political leaders was shattered because they were not capable of engineering such a plot successfully. “It is so weak and that was why people did not vote for them. They think that just because they promote such ideas on social media people would listen to them. Their conduct is so pathetic that they cannot even utter a lie convincingly. On the other hand, people are more intelligent than the Opposition members’ assessment of them. They know we are for real and we will develop this country. We have ensured security in all parts and provinces of this country and brought about a situation where Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Malay and Burgher communities live as a single nation. They know that we could transform the next three years to be the most successful period in our country’s history.
“We have been working to develop and upgrade the country’s road network system into a modernised network of connectivity as we have promised in the Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour programme of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. We have started developing around 800 roads in the Eastern Province alone. The Opposition had once tried to create an opinion that we do not have funds because Islamic countries refuse to help us. Today that too has failed. This road has been modernised with the funds from Saudi Fund for Development. The Fund has allocated more funds for the development of roads. In addition, the World Bank gave us 500 million dollars to develop roads in rural areas.
“There is no disharmony among communities. There is no such problem for the Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Malay and Burgher communities. It is the Opposition’s plots to create rifts among those communities thinking of taking political advantage of such clashes and disharmony.
Our relationships with Islamic countries are intact and thriving. It was Mahinda Rajapaksa who started those diplomatic relations by supporting the cause of Palestine.
People would not fall for the cheap politics of the Sajith Premadasa gang and the Anura Kuamra Dissanayake clique because they know that it was during the times of governments under Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa these provinces recorded the highest development. People know that during the yahapalana time these provinces had nothing but misery and stagnation,” the Minister said.
Upgrading the 86.7 km road from Bibile to Chenkalady cost Rs 7,200 million. The Saudi Fund for Development assisted the Lankan government in covering the cost. The project is considered a major booster to the economy as it provides people easy access to markets and social infrastructure such as schools and hospitals and reduces the travel time due to the reduction of traffic congestion and ultimately reducing the travel cost benefiting passengers and industries.
The countrywide dengue outbreak has intensified, with the death toll rising to 50, by July 16, as the number of reported infections surpassed 73,000, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).
The country has recorded 73,455 dengue cases so far this year, with the case fatality rate standing at 0.07 percent, highlighting the severity of the ongoing outbreak.
The Western Province continues to remain the worst affected region, accounting for more than half of the total cases, with 38,700 infections. The Gampaha District has recorded the highest number of cases in the province with 15,341, followed closely by Colombo with 14,625.
The Southern Province has reported 11,382 cases, while the Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces have each recorded more than 6,000 infections.
Dengue cases have shown a sharp increase in recent months, with June recording the highest monthly total of 21,538 cases, while July has already reported 18,076 infections. In comparison, 8,590 cases were reported in May, and 5,651 in April.
Health authorities have identified 175 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas as high-risk locations during the 27th epidemiological week. An average of 2,677 new dengue cases are being reported daily, prompting authorities to intensify prevention and mosquito control measures.
The Colombo High Court yesterday (17) resumed hearing the money laundering case filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The proceedings were held before High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga, where evidence was recorded from prosecution witnesses, under the direction of Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara.
President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing for Yoshitha Rajapaksa, cross-examined the witnesses during the hearing.
After recording evidence, the court ordered that further examination of evidence be postponed until July 24.
The Attorney General has filed indictments, alleging that Yoshitha Rajapaksa committed an offence, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, by purchasing five plots of land in Dehiwala and Ratmalana, valued at more than Rs. 73 million.
Former IGP Chandana Deepal Wickramaratne died after sustaining a gunshot injury at his residence, in Thalangama, yesterday (17), with police saying preliminary investigations indicate that the incident was a suspected suicide.
Kaduwela Magistrate Aruna Indrajith Buddhadasa, on Friday, ordered the Officer-in-Charge of the Malabe Police Station, Police Inspector Pradeep Ranasinghe, to conduct a formal investigation into the death and submit a report to court on its progress.
The order was issued after the Malabe Police Station presented facts before court regarding the incident.
According to police, the Malabe Police Station received information from the Police Unit of the Colombo East Base Hospital, in Mulleriyawa, that Wickramaratne, who resided in the Thalahena area, within the Malabe Police division, had died after being admitted to hospital, with gunshot injuries.
Police Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler said Wickramaratne had allegedly used the firearm of his personal security officer and shot himself at his residence.
Police said the shooting had taken place at his residence on Parakum Road, Thalangama, on Thursday morning, before he was due to leave for his regular exercise routine. He was rushed to the Colombo East Base Hospital, in Mulleriyawa, with serious injuries but was pronounced dead upon admission, police said.
The deceased’s remains were placed at the Colombo East Base Hospital, where a post-mortem examination was scheduled to be conducted.
ASP Wootler said three police teams have been appointed to investigate the incident. Further investigations are being conducted by the Crime Division of the Western Province South Range and the Malabe Police Station.
Wickramaratne, 63, served as the 35th Inspector General of Police of Sri Lanka from November 27, 2020, to November 23, 2023.
He joined the Sri Lanka Police in 1986 as a Probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police and later served in several senior positions.
A graduate of the University of Colombo and the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, he also served as Acting IGP for more than a year, from April 28, 2019, before being appointed IGP, in November 2020.
He retired from the post of Inspector General of Police, in November 2023.
by Norman Palihawadane ✍️
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