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Kiriella asks President to apologise to people for the mess

Published

4 years ago

2022/04/8

By saman Indrajith

Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella yesterday speaking in parliament called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to learn from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and tender an apology to the public for the mess he created by driving people to stage street protests.

“The present crisis has been created by none other but by President Rajapaksa. He should take a cue from Indian Prime Minister Modi. Modi introduced an Act in Parliament to give farmers’ lands to companies. Farmers with the support of people held protests all over India. That resulted in Modi losing four provincial states. Thereafter he withdrew the particular Act and apologized to farmers. President Rajapaksa should do the same.

“We have been trying for three days to find solutions for the crises. This is not a crisis of our making. The Speaker warns of a looming food crisis. The reason for the food crisis is nothing but an arbitrary decision made by the President to go organic and banning chemical fertilisers that resulted in 50 per cent loss of harvest.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena: I said that there would be a food shortage if action was not taken to prevent it. The government has decided to permit import of chemical fertiliser.

Chief Opposition Whip: What I am asking is whether Parliament was consulted before making that decision. It is an arbitrary decision. As per the Article 27 of the Constitution the President is bound by the responsibility to provide people with sufficient food, clothing and housing. There is a list of such needs. When the President took the oath, he pledged to uphold and protect the constitution. Now, he has violated that. People have no food, clothing and housing. A bag of cement now costs more than Rs. 3,000. Prices of clothes have increased by 300 per cent.

“Soon after he assumed office as President he amassed all the powers given to the Prime Minister, the Speaker and Parliament by the 20th Amendment to the Constitution. He weakened the powers of parliament. Now, he is asking for solutions from parliament that has been rendered invalid. Suppose we found a solution for these crises, this president can decide not to implement them.

“It is not us in this parliament who should be held responsible for the crises. It was not us who conducted talks with India on Trinco oil tank farm. Parliament was not informed of those talks and agreements. A section of the port was given to China. We still do not know what exactly had been given to them. We boast that parliament has supremacy over all public finances, yet the finance minister has not spoken a word to parliament since Dec 10,” Kiriella said.

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Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya

Published

8 hours ago

2026/01/8

Priyan

The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya for the next 24 hours commencing at 1200hrs today [08]

Accordingly
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Ududumbara in the Kandy District, Wilgamuwa in the Matale District, and Nildandahinna and Walapane in the Nuwara Eliya District.

LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Meegahakiwula, Welimada, Kandaketiya, Lunugala, Badulla, Passara, Uva Paranagama and Hali_Ela in the Badulla District, Ambanganga Korale in the Matale District, and Mathurata and Hanguranketha in the Nuwara Eliya District.

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Warning for deep depression over South-east Bay of Bengal Sea area

Published

13 hours ago

2026/01/8

Priyan

Deep depression Track. [Source: RSMC]

Warning for deep depression over South-east Bay of Bengal Sea area.
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre, Department of Meteorology at 10.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 for the period until 10.30 a.m. 09 January 2026

The depression in the Bay of Bengal to the southeast of Sri Lanka has intensified into a deep depression and is centered near latitude 5.4°N and longitude 85.3°E, about 420 km southeast of Pottuvil at 05.30 a.m. today (08th). The above system is currently (10:00 a.m.) located about 300 km southeast of Pottuvil.

It is very likely to move west-northwestwards across the southwest Bay of Bengal and cross the Sri Lanka coast between Hambantota and Kalmunai between 5.30 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. on Friday [9th January 2026].

Hence, showery, and windy condition over the island, particularly in the Northern, NorthCentral, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces is expected to enhance from today (08th).

For the Land area:

DAMAGE EXPECTED:
• Damage to huts, temporary shelters and light structures
• Destroy the roof tops/ sheets etc.
• Damage to power and communication lines.
• Breaking of tree branches and uprooting of large avenue trees.
• Damage to paddy crops, banana, papaya trees and orchards.
• Damage to harbor yachts
• Flash flood
• Sea water inundation in low lying areas in the near coast.

Action suggested for the Land area:
• Coastal hutment dwellers are advised to move to safer places. Other people in the affected areas to remain indoors.
• People living in hilly areas (particularly landslide prone areas) and low lying areas in river basins are requested to be vigilant.
• Drivers and people using roads in the hilly areas are requested to be vigilant.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• General public is requested to be vigilant regarding impending extreme weather situation.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
• Requested to be attentive about future advisories issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.

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Showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces and showers about 50-75 mm in other areas

Published

19 hours ago

2026/01/8

Priyan

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 08 JANUARY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

The depression over the Bay of Bengal, located to the southeast of Sri Lanka, was centered near latitude 5.3°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 490 km southeast of Pottuvil, at 11:30 p.m. yesterday (07). It is expected to move west-northwestwards and towards the eastern coast of the island during next 24 hours. This system is likely to intensify further into a deep depression during the next 12 hours.

Cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva, Central and Southern provinces. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere in the Island after 1.00 p.m. Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces. Fairly Heavy showers about (50 – 75) mm are likely at some places in the other areas of the island.

Strong winds about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over the Eastern slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota, Gampaha, Colombo and Monaragala districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.