News
PM won’t be replaced, SLPP agreeable to National Government- Chief Govt. Whip
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Chief Govt. Whip, Prasanna Ranatunga, yesterday (23) said the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) wouldn’t replace incumbent Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.Responding to media queries, after paying a floral tribute at the Reggie Ranatunga memorial at Udugampola, Gampaha, the Urban Development and Housing Minister alleged that canard was spread by the Opposition. Gunawardena is the leader of the MEP, a constituent of the SLPP. The MEP group in Parliament, including the Premier, consists of three MPs.
Minister Ranatunga said that some interested parties propagated the lie that Mahinda Rajapaksa was to be appointed Prime Minister again. When that was denied, the same lpersons speculated that Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa was to be appointed the Prime Minister.
The Minister alleged that the Opposition was working overtime to undermine government efforts to stabilize the country.Minister Ranatunga dismissed the SLPP had been divided and was struggling to cope up with political developments.
Commenting on the proposed expansion of the Cabinet of Ministers, lawmaker Ranatunga declared his support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s call for the formation of a National Government. Minister Ranatunga said that there had been occasions when the number of Cabinet Ministers passed 100. The proposed National Government was meant to accommodate all political parties, Minister Ranatunga said, declaring that Cabinet appointments would be made by President Wickremesinghe in consultation with Premier Gunawardena.
The formation of a National Government would enable the government to overcome constitutional restriction on the number of Cabinet Ministers. The 19th Amendment restricted the number of Cabinet Ministers to 30 and non-Cabinet Ministers to 40. However, in case the government reached consensus with Opposition political parties, regarding the National Government, constitutional provision regarding the number of ministers didn’t matter.
Recently, SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said that his party submitted a list of members to President Wickremesinghe whom the party felt should be appointed as ministers. The disclosure was made in response to a media query though he declined to name the SLPP’s nominees.
The report of the “Census of Population and Housing 2024,” conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics, was officially handed over to President Anura Kumara Disanayake this morning (07) at the Presidential Secretariat.
This preliminary report has been prepared based on island wide data collected between October and December 2024.
The report provides details on Sri Lanka’s population, its growth and the distribution of the population across districts.
The information gathered through the census is vital not only for the government but also for other institutions in formulating policies and development plans essential for the country’s progress. Significantly, for the first time in the history of census-collecting in Sri Lanka, data collection was carried out using tablet computers and user-friendly mobile devices.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Finance & Planning, Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana, Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics D.D.G.A. Senevirathne and several other officials.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka today (07) presented its flagship publication, the Annual Economic Review for 2024 (AER 2024), to President and Minister of Finance, Anura Kumara Disanayake, highlighting the steady progress of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery following the country’s most severe downturn in recent history.
The report was officially handed over by Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank, during a special ceremony held at the Presidential Secretariat.
AER 2024 comprises four main chapters: Macroeconomic Developments, Conditions of the Financial System, Review of Central Bank’s Policies and Macroeconomic Outlook.
According to the Review, the Sri Lankan economy showed significant signs of recovery in 2024, following the deep economic crisis experienced two years ago. The recovery trajectory, though challenging, has been notably faster than that of many other debt-distressed countries.
Improvements in economic activity, a partial resurgence in purchasing power and reduced uncertainty are among the key positive indicators noted in the report.
The event was attended by Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, K. M. Mahinda Siriwardena, Secretary to the Treasury, Mrs. K. M. A. N. Daulagala, Senior Deputy Governor, Dr. C. Amarasekara, Assistant Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) S. Jegajeevan, Director of Economic Research and Dr. L. R. C. Pathberiya and Additional Director of Economic Research at the Central Bank Dr. V. D. Wickramarachchi.
[PMD]
Latest News
The sun will be directly overhead Colombo, Awissawella, Talawakelle, Dimbula, Galakumbura and Dambagalla at about 12:12 noon today [07]
On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka during 05th to 14th of April in this year.
The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (07th) are Colombo, Awissawella, Talawakelle, Dimbula, Galakumbura and Dambagalla at about 12:12 noon.
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