News
JVP leader blames Lanka’s plight on racism of political leaders
JVP-led NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said on Saturday that post-Independent Sri Lanka was led astray by politicians playing the ethnic card to muster votes.
Anura Kumara
Addressing the NPP Women’s Convention in Matara, Dissanayake said: “We have no other option but to rise as a single nation. We never had a national movement comprising all communities thinking as a single nation. Prior to its Independence India had a very strong national movement.
It is that national identity built by the likes of Nehru, Gandhi, Chandra Bose and Patel overarching communal differences that has helped India to attain its development goals in engaging in space exploration.
“Japan, which was flattened during World War II, could rise to become an economic super power because its people thought of it as a single nation. The US made use of nationalism in its struggle against the British and has become a world superpower. In Sri Lanka, there has been no such movement. When we speak of nationalism we still have to talk of our forefathers in the times of 1818 and 1848 rebellions. We have had no national heroes since then. We have no Nehrus, Gandhis and Patels. When India produced such national leaders, we had Stevens, Junius Richards, Ridgeways and Solomon Diases.
“We never had an independence struggle to awaken the Sri Lankan nation. Instead our leaders thought only of self-interest and they opted to the strategy of setting ethnic communities against one another. That was the political culture they nurtured because it helped them stay in power for short periods. They never wanted to create a national identity – a pan Sri Lankan identity overarching communal and religious differences. This is where we got it wrong and it is the mistake that we should rectify because without that thinking as a single nation, we would never be able to march forward from the present crisis to develop this nation.”
NPP MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, NPP National Executive member Sunil Handunnetti, NPP National Executive member and Women for Rights Chairperson Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Socialist Youth Union and Matara District leader Malsha Amasha also addressed the rally.
In terms of the provisions of the Establishments Code on payment of festival advance to government officers, there’s a possibility of obtaining rupees 10,000/- as an advance for celebrating festivals of Theipongal, Ramazan, Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Wesak, Deepavali, and Christmas as well as for pilgrimages (Sri Paada pilgrimage and Hajj pilgrimage).
Provisions have been given to recover the said advance in 08 installments or if required earlier without interest. It has been proposed by the Budget 2026 to increase the said festival advance up to rupees 15,000/-.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local governments to revise the relevant provisions so that the festival advance can be increased up to rupees 15,000/- .
As per the approval given by the cabinet meeting held on 02-06-2025, action is being taken at present to offer the underutilized lands/properties of the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Etate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation Company which are under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure which have been identified under stage one to suitable investors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure to provide following lands/properties on a lease basis to the suitable investors for optimal utilization following the prescribed procurement procedure.
• underutilized lands/properties identified under stage two owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Estate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation
Company,
• The Mawarala watte land and the Tea factory 40.48 hectares in extent, located in Matara District belonging to the Tea Shakthi Fund.
• The underutilized land of 1,541 hectares in extent of Kondachchi Estate is enjoyed by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
The drafting of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has commenced with the objective of equitable distribution of the benefits of the fisheries industry and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. This policy has been updated from time to time according to current requirements. However, steps have not been taken to obtain the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
According to the policy declaration of the present government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been redrafted, updating the aforementioned policy in line with the economic and development objectives of the government.
The recommendations of the Department of National Planning have been received for the drafted policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine
Resources to implement the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, integrating it with other relevant policies.
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Festival advance for government officers to be increased
Providing underutilized lands/properties to suitable investors for optimal utilization.
Implementation of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy
Expressions of Interest called to develop selected locations within the Pelawatte Sugar Factory premises
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