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Lanza threatens to resign against Govt. take over of Muthurajawela
Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure State Minister Nimal Lanza has threatened to resign from his post if the government does not withdraw the gazette notification empowering the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to acquire hundreds of hectares from the Muthurajawela wetlands.
Speaking at a ceremony held in Negombo on Saturday, the Minister said that he believed in people’s allegation that a certain party was trying to reverse the decision to withdraw the gazette intended to acquire the Muthurajawela wetlands.
“A committee comprising Environment Minister, Wildlife Minister, Urban Development Minister and Finance Minister decided to conserve the 1,447 hectares which had been gazetted as a wildlife and forest conservation zone in 2006 and 2008 instead of the new gazette. They decided to withdraw the new gazette. Gampaha District leader Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, Minister Dr Sudarshini Fernandopulle and MP Nalin Fernando too have demanded the withdrawal of the gazette. It has not yet been done. The Divisional Secretaries tell us that the gazette is still in force. Therefore, I clearly state that I am not going to hold this post unless our demand is met.”
The Minister said the new gazette proposed to declare some 4,400 hectares of land in addition to the 1,447 hectares as the Muthurajawela Environment Sensitive Zone.
“We request the government to conserve at least the area of 1,447 hectares as gazetted earlier. According to the new gazette, lands used by temples, churches, and people for about 200 years will be acquired by the UDA,” he said.
Minister Lanza said that Wattala, Ja Ela, Katana and Negombo electoral development coordinating committees had passed resolutions that the gazette should be rescinded.
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Russian Embassy, Russian House, unveil plaque at Public Library in honour of 80th anniversary of victory day
The Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Russian House in Colombo unveiled a plaque at the public library Colombo today (29th April) in honour of the 80th anniversary of victory day.
Victory Day is celebrated on the 9th of May, the day Nazi Germany was defeated in World War II. It is an important date in the Russian calendar and an integral part of Russian culture.
The plaque was jointly unveiled by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka Lenav Dzhagaryan and Ms Maria Popova Counsellor of the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka and Director of the Russian House in Colombo
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Ministerial committee appointed to review and further enhance ‘State Commercial Enterprises Management draft bill’
It has been recognized that the state enterprises should be re – structured and maintained with proper administration with the assistance of local or foreign investments without being a continuous burden to the General Treasury and the country’s economy. Therefore, it is the policy of the new government to introduce an efficient and accountable mechanism in the regard. An initial draft named “State Commercial Enterprises Management Draft Bill” has been already prepared to introduce a new legal framework required for maintaining after performing necessary restructuring and with proper management of government owned business companies. Thereon, it will be possible to totally free the state entrepreneurship establishments from political influences and appoint professionals with proficiency for its board of directors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to grant policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for the said initial draft and appoint a special committee with the following composition to submit appropriate proposals for further enhancing after reviewing the initial draft:
• Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour and the Deputy Minister of Economic Development – (Chairman)
• Hon. Sunil Handunneththi Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship
• Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co – operative Development
• Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Sooriyapperuma Deputy Minister of Finance Plan Implementation
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to appoint Thilak Nandana Hettiarachchi, a special grade officer in Sri Lanka Administrative Service who served in the post of Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Buddha Shasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, to the post of Commissioner General of Official Languages with immediate effect.
Russian Embassy, Russian House, unveil plaque at Public Library in honour of 80th anniversary of victory day
Ministerial committee appointed to review and further enhance ‘State Commercial Enterprises Management draft bill’
Thilak Nandana Hettiarachchi appointed Commissioner General of Official Languages
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