News
NPP will defeat no-faith motion against Deputy Defence Minister – Chandrasekeran
Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekaran yesterday (21) said the government would definitely defeat the no-confidence motion submitted against a member of its parliamentary group.
The NPP National List MP said so at a press conference held at his ministry. Although, a press release issued by the ministry refrained from mentioning the no confidence motion, the JVPer was obviously referring to the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) action against the Deputy Defence Minister Maj. Gen. (retd.) Aruna Jayasekera over his alleged culpability in failing to thwart 2019 Easter Sunday attacks as he served a Security Forces Commander, East at the time.
The ministry quoted Chandrasekaran as having said: “Our 159-member parliamentary group is like a family in parliament. We wouldn’t abandon ministers or MPs whom we consider as family. Those who had been fighting earlier are now united and are conspiring against the government. We are strongly moving forward. No one can cause our fall. In spite of claims that the NPPers are divided, we are working together.”
Top SJB spokesman Mujibur Rahuman appreciated that the Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Minister has taken a clear stand on the issue.
Views expressed by Minister Chandrasekeran meant that the government had discussed the SJB challenge and decided to allow the process to take place contrary to position taken up by some others.
The Colombo District lawmaker said that however the declaration made by Minister Chandrasekaran seemed to be at odds with the government parliamentary group. Responding to The Island queries, the former UNPer who had been a member of the yahapalana government at the time of devastating terror attacks said that various interested parties put forth the view that no-confidence motion couldn’t be moved against a deputy minister. “Why not.” asked Rahuman while pointing out Maj. Gen. Jayasekera acted as the Defence Minister on six occasions when President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was out of the country.
The SJBer said that the Catholic Church may have taken up the issue with President Dissanayake when the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, including Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith met the NPP leader at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday (20).
MP Rahuman reiterated that an impartial investigation promised by President Dissanayake couldn’t be conducted unless the government at least temporarily moved Maj. Gen. Jayasekera out of the Defence Ministry. The retired senior army officer shouldn’t be granted special status on the basis of him being a member of the NPP ex-military grouping that backed the party at the presidential and parliamentary polls last year.
“We are waiting for official announcement from the Speaker’s Office in this regard,” the MP said.
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.
Lanka Premier League draft set to take place on March 22
Trump to meet Venezuelan opposition leader Machado at the White House
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
Expressions of Interest called to develop selected locations within the Pelawatte Sugar Factory premises
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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