News
Kiriella says govt. lacks dollars to buy vaccines
Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella yesterday said the government had no funds to buy vaccines for the people as the dollar reserves were extremely low.
Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo, MP Kiriella said that the pandemic had been ravaging the nations all over the world for more than one and a half years. “The vaccine against the virus was produced in May last year. The manufacturing companies obtained orders from that time, but the SLPP government has not been able to place an order for enough jabs the past one year. The government could get funds approved in the Cabinet meeting but it does not have money. Although the Cabinet passes funds, there are no dollars in the Central Bank. That was the reason that the government was dragging its feet on ordering vaccines for one year. The government should either go for vaccination or impose strict travel restrictions.
“The government now has obtained a loan of USD 80.5 million. This has vindicated our position that it was without funds. It was only after receiving the World Bank loan that the government started placing orders for the vaccines. It could have obtained the vaccines from India, which exports 40 percent of its vaccine production. We missed that chance because the government antagonised India.
“We must first save the lives of the people. We can salvage and rebuild the economy later.
“No one has been vaccinated in my area. PCR tests are conducted in Kandy and the Central Province. There is only one PCR machine for the entire Central Province.
“At the party leaders’ meeting, we urged the government to postpone the Port City Commission Bill debate considering the prevailing situation in the country, but the government did not listen to us. They want to pass the Bill, come what may.”
MP Kiriella said that the government is considering treating the Covid patients at home because the hospitals were overflowing. “There is not enough oxygen in hospitals. We need pressure-type ventilators to treat Covid patients gasping for oxygen. The entire Central Province has only one such machine.”
News
Establishment of an Institutional Framework to Inagurate Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority
Policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 08.06.2026 to establish the Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority for identification and
execution of a formal and long – lasting remedy to secure the central hills including the upper hydro catchment areas enabling them to sustain amidst extreme weather conditions
due to natural calamities and human activities as well as to be used for the sustainable development of the country.
Accordingly, a concept paper has been prepared including
institutional structure, activities, powers, active subject area as well as administrative and coordination mechanism for the proposed authority by an expert technical committee appointed by the Secretary to the President.
Based on the said concept paper, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill including legal provisions required for the establishment of Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority.
News
Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
With the objective of securing the traditional livelihood and the eco system of the indigenous community, it has been recognized the necessity of introducing a formal regulation methodology to secure their engagement in livelihood activities by being more sensitive to the existing laws.
Thereby, the Fauna and Flora (regularizing) regulations under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (Authority 469) have been prepared so that nominated activities within the prescribed area to a member of the indigenous community
who has been registered for securing the rights acquired from law or custom or usage or traditional stance to execute an act within a certain state land that is fundamental to the survival of the indigenous community permission can be granted
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the said regulations in the government gazette notification and thereby submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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M. M. D. J. Senarathne, appointed Director General of the Department of National Botanical Gardens
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to appoint M. M. D. J. Senarathne, who is the senior most officer in Grade I of Sri Lanka Scientific Service se
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