News
JVP leader says President fears elections
By Saman Indrajith
The JVP says President Ranil Wickremesinghe fears elections, given the UNP’s pathetic performance at the last general election (2020), where it failed to have at least a single MP elected by the people.
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, addressing the JVP-led NPP’s Kesbewa electoral organisation meeting on Saturday, said that the country needed an election to get rid of the dredges of an old system but the government was afraid of elections. “The government is hell-bent on finding an excuse to postpone local government elections. Wickremesinghe could not muster enough votes to enter Parliament. He came through the backdoor. Therefore, it is only natural for him to fear elections. He knows that if he suffers another electoral loss, he will not be able to hold onto the presidency. So, he is doing everything in his power to postpone elections. People ousted the SLPP regime and the makeshift government now ruling the country does so without a mandate.”
Dissanayake said Wickremesinghe had recently visited Trincomalee and there stated that Sri Lanka would have had fuel at present if we had sold the oil tank farms in the past. “We have a fuel shortage not because we failed to sell the oil tank farm but because we do not have dollars,” Dissanayake said.
“People would not put up with this repressive regime any longer. When the people fought for their rights, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had to flee the country. Mahinda Rajapaksa had to take flight from Temple Trees to go into hiding in a Navy camp in Trincomalee. Basil Rajapaksa could not board a plane. That is people power. So, we warn the incumbent regime to expect the next uprising of people and see the consequences if they further delay elections,” he said. NPP National Exco members former MP Lakshman Nipunarachchi and Vraîe Cally Balthazaar aslo addressed the gathering.
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
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