News
Johnston pleads with JVP leader not to involve school children in street protests
By Saman Indrajith
Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando in Parliament yesterday pleaded with JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake to abandon his plans to involve schoolchildren in street protests as such a move would worsen the prevailing crisis.
“We know that crisis and perpetuating crises is your long suit. You and your party cadres are happy only when the country is in turmoil. Your desire is to see more people suffering in queues. You love to see blood. You should stage rallies and protests. It is your political right. But do not drag innocent schoolchildren into this mess. Your party tried to bring all schoolchildren to the streets on Wednesday. Thankfully, that plan failed. We call on you not to do so again. Do not push the country back to the 1988-89 period again.”Fernando said.
“We have just recovered from the pandemic. We got all people vaccinated in record time and the economy showed signs of recovery when you launched street protests.
“Do not take the youth and children to the streets. Instead of thinking how to grab power through protests, engage in democratic politics. It may be hard for you to abandon your old habits. Now, people are realising that your party cadres are behind the protests. They would not fall for your tricks again.
“President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will not resign just because Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his men shout slogans. The president is elected by the people and he will not step down. Even Madam Sirimavo Bandaranaike faced a similar crisis in 1971. Thousands of youth were killed because of the JVP uprising. Then another 60,000 youth perished in the 1988-89 period. Do not push the country back to that situation again.
“I am thankful to Opposition MPs who expressed their suggestions to solve the crisis. We must understand that there should be a country for all of us to live in. We could do politics only if there is a country.
“There are shortages but they will not last forever. We are taking every possible measure to solve these problems. But the issue of shortages is not a political crisis. Both government and opposition MPs except the JVP respect the principles of democracy. We do our politics within the constitutional provisions. It is the JVP that encourages people to violate the Constitution. Anura Kumara Dissanayake said at a recent rally in Nugegoda that the Constitution was not needed and people should go beyond the constitutional provisions. He should understand that people will no longer fall for the JVP’s tricks. Those who fell for their tricks and believed their stories are now resting in peace,” the Minister said.
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.
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
AKD: Govt. agenda on track despite Ditwah disaster
SL to receive 10 helicopters from US
Foreign couple held over alleged biopiracy at Horton Plains
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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