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JVP urges youth not to leave country, but to stay and fight

Published

2 years ago

2022/11/11

By Saman Indrajith

JVP has called on youth to join its campaign to make Sri Lanka a better place to live in.Addressing the JVP-led NPP’s electorate organisation at Ambalantota recently, party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the youth had to fight for their righst instead of leaving the country.

“It could be done. You should not live as second class citizens in other countries. Instead, you must make this country a liveable place. For that purpose we must launch a struggle to change this system.

Once this political culture is changed, this country could be taken up to the level on par with other developed nations. None of those countries in the developed world had rulers similar to the thieves that we had been putting up with for the past 74 years. We must get rid of them and work to save this nation,” Dissanayake said.

He said that system changes should be introduced to all sectors to make them assets rather than liabilities on people. “One such is the state sector that should be made more efficient. Over the years, politicians have used the state sector to provide employment to their supporters. Out of every Rs. 100 coming into the treasury, Rs. 58 is spent on salaries and pensions of State sector employees. Every election application is accepted to provide employment opportunities,” he said recalling the manner the SLPP asked its supporters to fill out application forms for jobs at the Hambantota Port during the election period.

The state sector institutions are not organisations existing to merely provide employment to supporters of a particular political party. “Take the University of Sri Jayewardenepura for example. Political party supporters have been provided employment in excess of the requirement for entry-level jobs. There are 600 academic staff members at the university while it has over 4000 non-academic staff. Another example is Colombo Harbour. Five buses leave Matara daily with workers bound for the Colombo harbour after they have been employed by a politician who was from Matara while he was the Ports Minister,” Dissanayake said.

As it has been seen during the recent protests and agitations, people are demanding a system change. “However, nothing has really changed as far as the Government is concerned. The Government was still following the same old policies and corruption was rampant as before. Therefore the government should be sent home as a precursor of all other changes,” Dissanayake said.

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We aspire to build a nation where all citizens coexist in peace and resilience for the future generation -PM

Published

1 hour ago

2025/04/21

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the government is ready to listen to the people and aspire to ensure a peaceful and united nation for future generations.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing public gatherings on April 20 at the Manik Farm Community Development Centre in Settikulam and the Ukkulankulam Ground in the Vanni electoral district.

The current Parliament has the highest number of female representation in its history. Previously, women constituted less than 5% of Parliament out of the total number of 225 However, 52% of the country’s population are women.

Women play a significant role in sustaining the economy, maintaining family structures, and upholding society yet their representation in decision-making bodies has been limited. Therefore, we urge you to elect not only male representation to Parliament but also more female representatives from the Vanni district.

Vavuniya is currently developing into a thriving city. Therefore, essential services expected from provincial councils must be effectively delivered. Local government bodies should actively participate in the development of the rural sector.

We recognize that education holds significant value for the people of the North. You place great importance on education. However, the country’s education system has deteriorated and weakened. Specifically, the lack of necessary attention to the education sector in the North has made it more challenging compared to other regions. Moreover, I have learned of a more alarming issue that the diminishing value placed on education by young men and women. Clandestine Drug Distribution and alcohol are now readily visible in everywhere. There are no avenues for youth to find joy while avoiding these substances. The underdevelopment of fields such as science, arts, and drama has left them without means to find happiness. Therefore, significant interventions must be necessary.

If you elect a group that is free from corruption and fraud, we can allocate funds without hesitation, ensuring they reach the appropriate hands. These funds can then be directed towards the development of your village. That is why your choice is important.

The events were attended by Deputy Minister of Co-operative Development, Upali Samarasinghe, Vavuniya District MPs S. Thileepan and M. Jegatheeswaran, along with the local government candidates and residents.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

Exposition of sacred tooth relic extended by an hour –

Published

2 hours ago

2025/04/21

Priyan

[file pic]

The Sri Dalada Maligawa has announced that due to the large number of devotees coming to Kandy to venerate the sacred tooth relic, the time of exposition of the sacred tooth relic has been extended by an hour.

Accordingly the public can pay homage from 11.30am upto 05.30pm from today [21]

News

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, Vatican says

Published

2 hours ago

2025/04/21

Priyan

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, the Vatican has announced.

His Eminence, Cardinal Farrell, announced with sorrow the death of Pope Francis, with these words: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning (local time), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.” “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.”

Farrell adds: “With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

Francis’s papacy heralded many firsts and while he never stopped introducing reforms to the Catholic Church, he remained popular among traditionalists.

He was the first Pope from the Americas or the southern hemisphere. Not since Syrian-born Gregory III died in 741 had there been a non-European Bishop of Rome.

He was also the first Jesuit to be elected to the throne of St Peter – Jesuits were historically looked on with suspicion by Rome.

Francis’s predecessor, Benedict XVI, was the first Pope to retire voluntarily in almost 600 years and for almost a decade the Vatican Gardens hosted two popes.

As Cardinal Bergoglio of Argentina, he was already in his seventies when he became Pope in 2013.

[BBC]