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Probe X-Press Pearl disaster against backdrop of Port City and Selendiva projects – Church spokesperson

Published

5 years ago

2021/06/7

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Catholic Church was quite concerned about the long-term impact of the sinking of the container carrier X-Press Pearl off the Colombo port, Rev. Father Cyril Gamini Fernando said yesterday.

The ecological disaster the ill-fated ship had caused couldn’t be compensated for with a one-off payment, Rev Father Fernando said, urging the government to set the record straight.

Responding to The Island queries, the parish priest of Kurana St Anne’s Church said that he had raised the possibility of a conspiracy to deprive the fishing community of their livelihood when he addressed the media last week at the Archbishop’s House alongside the Archbishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith.

The arrival of the ill-fated vessel in Sri Lankan waters on May 19 and its sinking two weeks later underscored the need for a comprehensive inquiry, Rev Fernando said.

According to the former Spokesperson for the Catholic Church, the X-Press Pearl disaster should be examined, also taking into consideration the recent passage of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill in Parliament and the Cabinet approval for Selendiva Investments Ltd. to facilitate foreign investments in Colombo and its suburbs.

Noting the concerns raised by the Opposition and the government’s assurance that properties wouldn’t be sold to external parties, Rev Fernando said that the people should watch the direction the SLPP government was moving in. Government intervention in Muthurajawela wetlands, too, was a matter of serious concern, Rev Fernando said, calling for a public discussion on high profile government projects.

Selendiva has taken over three ventures—Hotel Developers (Lanka) PLC, which is the owning company of Hilton Colombo, Canwill Holdings Ltd., owners of the proposed Grand Hyatt Colombo and residences that are under construction and Grand Oriental Hotel (GOH). Accordingly, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the Minister of Urban Development and Housing has secured cabinet approval to move ahead with three investment portfolios—’Colombo Fort Heritage Square’, ‘Immovable Property Development’, and ‘The Government — Owned Hospitality Sector’, under Selendiva Investments. Former UDA Chairman Nimal Perera heads Selendiva Investments.

Successive governments had advanced their own agendas at the expense of national interest, Rev Fernando said, urging the proponents of such current projects to explain whether the previous exercises had benefited the country. “The Covid-19 prevention programme is obviously in turmoil,” Rev Fernando said, dismissing claims that the Church caused unnecessary friction by taking a public stand on the issues at hand.

Rev Fernando said that the Church couldn’t keep quiet when the livelihood of thousands of fisher families already struggling to make ends meet due to Covid-19 fallout were deprived of an opportunity to resume fishing. Inclement weather had affected more people with over 200,000 displaced and caused over a dozen deaths, Rev Fernando said.

He said the public appreciated the stand taken up by the Church as regards several contentious issues ranging from inordinate delay in punishing those who masterminded the Easter Sunday massacre and denial of the sole livelihood of fisher families.

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Advisory for Heavy Rain issued for the Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts

Published

5 hours ago

2026/02/22

Priyan

Advisory for Heavy Rain Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 08.30 a.m. on 22 February 2026 valid for the period until 08.30 a.m. 23 February 2026

Due to the influence of the low level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Therefore, general public is advised to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by heavy rain, strong winds and lightning during thundershowers

News

Matara Festival for the Arts’ inaugurated by the Prime Minister

Published

11 hours ago

2026/02/22

Priyan

The inaugural ceremony of the Matara Festival for the Arts, featuring a wide range of creations by local and international artists, was held on February 19 at the Old High Court premises of the Matara Fort, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The festival, centred around the Old High Court premises in Matara and the auditorium of the Matara District Secretariat, will be open to the public from 20 to 23 of February. The festival will be featured by visual art exhibitions, short film screenings, Kala Pola, and a series of workshops conducted by experts.

The inaugural event was attended by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Ms. Saroja Paulraj, along with artists, guests, and a large number of schoolchildren.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

News

Only single MP refuses salary as Parliament details pays and allowances

Published

15 hours ago

2026/02/22

Thilina Walpola

SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilake is the only MP to forego salary and allowances, with all payments suspended following his written notification on August 20, 2025.

Only one Member of Parliament has chosen not to receive the salaries and allowances entitled to MPs, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya revealed in Parliament last Thursday, shedding light on the financial perks enjoyed by members of the Tenth Parliament.

Speaking on Thursday (Feb. 19) in response to a question from SJB Badulla District MP Chaminda Wijesiri, the Prime Minister outlined the full range of pay and allowances provided to parliamentarians.

According to Dr. Amarasuriya, MPs receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 54,285, an entertainment allowance of Rs. 1,000, and a driver’s allowance of Rs. 3,500—though MPs provided with a driver through the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs are not eligible for the driver’s allowance.

Additional benefits include a telephone allowance of Rs. 50,000, a transport allowance of Rs. 15,000, and an office allowance of Rs. 100,000. MPs are also paid a daily sitting allowance of Rs. 2,500 for attending parliamentary sessions, with an additional Rs. 2,500 per day for participation in parliamentary sittings and Rs. 2,500 per day as a committee allowance.

Committee meetings held on non-parliament sitting days also attract Rs. 2,500 per day.

Fuel allowances are provided based on the distance between an MP’s electoral district and Parliament. National List MPs are entitled to a monthly allocation equivalent to 419.76 litres of diesel at the market price on the first day of each month.

Despite the comprehensive benefits, only SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka has opted not to draw a salary or allowances. Dr. Amarasuriya said that in accordance with a written notification submitted by MP Wasalathilaka on August 20, 2025, payments have been suspended since that date.

The Prime Minister also confirmed that she, along with the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, committee chairs, ministers, deputy ministers, the Opposition Leader, and senior opposition whips, have all informed the Secretary-General of Parliament in writing that they will not claim the fuel allowance.

Challenging the ruling party’s voluntary pledge to forgo salaries, MP Wijesiri pointed out that all MPs except Wasalathilaka continue to receive their salaries and allowances. “On one hand you speak about the people’s mandate, which is good. But the mandate also included people who said they would voluntarily serve in this Parliament without salaries. Today we have been able to prove, Hon. Speaker, that except for one SJB MP, the other 224 Members are drawing parliamentary salaries,” he said.

The Prime Minister responded by defending the political culture and practice of allocating portions of MPs’ salaries to party funds. Referring to previous practices by the JVP and NPP, she said: “It is no secret to the country that the JVP has for a long time not personally taken MPs’ salaries or any allowances. I think the entire country knows that these go to a party fund. That is not new, nor is it something special to mention. The NPP operates in the same way. That too is not new; it is the culture of our political movement.”

When MP Wijesiri posed a supplementary question asking whether diverting salaries to party funds was an indirect method of taking care of MPs, Dr. Amarasuriya said: “There is no issue there. No question was raised; the Member made a statement. What we have seen throughout this week is an inability to understand our political culture and practice, and a clash with decisions taken by political movements that misused public funds. What is coming out is a certain mindset. That is why there is such an effort to find fault with the 159. None of these facts are new to people. He did not ask a question, so I have nothing to answer.”

The disclosures come days after the Government moved to abolish the parliamentary pension, a measure that has sparked renewed debate over MP compensation and the transparency of funds allocation.