News

Ramanathan denies Devananda’s accusations, warns infighting within govt. may be exploited by enemies

Published

5 years ago

2021/03/11

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Jaffna District Development Council co-chairperson Angajan Ramanathan yesterday (10) denied accusations regarding his coordinating officers threatening the Jaffna-based public servants. Northern Province Governor Sarojini Manmatharajah Charles is the other co-chairperson of the Jaffna DDC.

SLFP MP Ramanathan, who is also the Deputy Chairman of Committees, emphasised that he had never resorted to threats.

SLFP MP Ramanathan said so when The Island sought an explanation regarding fellow Jaffna District lawmaker and Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda accusations directed at his coordinating officers.

Nelson Edirisinghe, Media Secretary to Minister Devananda in a statement issued on Tuesday (9) quoted EPDP leader Devananda as having said that public servants should properly discharge their responsibilities. Public servants shouldn’t give into dictates of politicians’ associates, Minister Devananda said, adding that public servants appreciated the stand taken by him.

Alleging that Jaffna District Development Council co-chairperson’s coordinating officers had threatened public servants on several occasions, Minister Devananda said that such conduct wouldn’t be tolerated. Demanding an immediate end to such practices, Minister Devananda assured those who took correct decisions would be protected.

The Fisheries Ministry statement also claimed that several Tamil lawmakers representing the Northern Province, including M.A. Sumanthiran, called for Devananda’s participation in Jaffna DDC proceedings.

Minister Devananda is the co-chairperson of the Kilinochchi DDC with Charles being the other, in her capacity as the Northern Province Governor.

Pointing out that EPDP leader Devananda had accused him of routinely bullying public servants; The Island asked lawmaker Ramanathan whether he accepted responsibility for the conduct of his coordinating officers. The Deputy Chairman of Committees said that the issue at hand was political. “Both of us represent the government though we entered Parliament from two different parties. We represent the Jaffna electoral district in spite of being co-chairpersons of Jaffna and Kilinochchi DDCs because the Jaffna electoral district consists of two administrative districts,” MP Ramanathan said.

Ramanathan first entered Parliament in 2015 when the UPFA accommodated him on its National List. Ramanathan successfully contested the Jaffna district on the SLFP ticket at the last general election in August 2020. He is the only SLFP MP in Parliament whereas the SLFP contested on the SLPP ticket and won 13 other seats.

The EPDP won two seats at the last general election.

Responding to another query, MP Ramanathan said that recently Minister Devananda wanted to organize an event for Samurdhi recipients in the Jaffna district. As Minister Devananda represented Kilinochchi DDC, he sought Jaffna DDC approval to conduct a programme in the Jaffna district, MP Ramanathan said.

Subsequently, Minister Devananda held his event at Nallur, the SLFPer said, alleging when he sought Kilinochchi DDC’s permission to conduct a similar event there he wasn’t permitted to do so.

Lawmaker Ramanathan said that a dispute between government members would be exploited by rival political parties. The last general election changed the political environment in the northern and eastern provinces, MP Ramanathan said, underscoring the pivotal importance in the government taking advantage of the ground situation to improve living standards of the people. “Unfortunately, various interested parties are causing unnecessary issues,” MP Ramanathan said.

The SLFP MP said that the country would have to do away with destructive communal politics. The significant national level victories achieved by the SLPP at the 2019 and 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections, respectively, should be strong platform for the government to go ahead with a countrywide development drive. Although the second Covid-19 eruption caused quite a disruption, the government could achieve a lot if petty party politics were discarded.

If those who had secured power at the 2013 Northern Provincial Council polls pursued a result-oriented strategy instead of playing politics, the Northern Province could have gained a lot, MP Ramanathan said. They squandered an opportunity to develop the Northern and Eastern Provinces in the wake of the end of the war in 2009, the MP said, urging all political parties to review their strategies.

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Level III landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale extended

Published

1 hour ago

2025/12/10

Priyan

The landslide early warning center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has extended the Level III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale until 1600hrs on 11th December 2025.

Accordingly,
The LEVEL III RED landslide warnings issued to the the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Kundasale, Pasbage Korale, Medadumbara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Pathadumbara, Doluwa, Panvila, Gangawata Korale, Ududumbara, Akurana, Yatinuwara, Harispattuwa, Deltota, Thumpane, Poojapitiya, Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Minipe and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Aranayaka, Yatiyanthota, Rambukkana, Bulathkohupitiya and Mawanella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Mawathagama and Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, and Rattota, Laggala Pallegama, Ukuwela, Matale, Wilgamuwa, Pallepola, Naula, Yatawatta and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district have been extended.

LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Haldummulla and Passara in the Badulla district, Warakapola, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Dehiowita, Ruwanwella and Deraniyagala in the Kegalle district, Polgahawela and Alawwa in the Kurunegala district, Kothmale East, Walapane, Thalawakele, Nuwara Eliya, Kothmale West, Nildandahinna, Mathurata, Ambagamuwa Korale, Hanguranketha and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district. and Kolonna, Godakawela and Kahawaththa in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Divulapitiya, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, and Kiriella, Eheliyagoda, Balangoda, Kaltota, Openayake, Nivithigala, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Elapatha, Pelmadulla and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.

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“We cannot allow flooding to become a part of the daily lives of the people in the Colombo District” – PM

Published

2 hours ago

2025/12/10

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that unauthorized constructions within the Colombo District, nor any form of residential developments that endanger the public carried out under the guise of development agenda will not be allowed.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the media at the conclusion of the Colombo District Disaster Management Committee meeting held on Tuesday [December 09] at the Colombo District Secretariat.

Addressing further, the Prime Minister stated:

“The Colombo District has become vulnerable to this extent due to the constructions carried out without any proper planning or understanding of regulations, along with personal and politically motivated decisions that have placed both the district and its people at risk.

Compared to the districts that suffered severe loss of life and property due to the recent cyclone, the damage to the Colombo District has been relatively lower. However, special intervention is being carried out together with the relevant institutions to manage the potential future flood risks in the district.

This matter was also given special attention during today’s District Disaster Management Committee meeting. We cannot allow the flooding to become a regular part of the lives of the people in Colombo. All relevant institutions will come together to put forward a common plan for flood control in the district.”

The Prime Minister further stated that discussions are already underway to provide sustainable solutions for the people living in high-risk areas within the Colombo District.

The discussion was attended by the Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, Deputy Minister of Mass Media Kaushalya Ariyaratne, and Colombo District Members of Parliament Aruna Panagoda and Chandana Suriyarachchi.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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Russia gifts 35 tonnes of Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka

Published

3 hours ago

2025/12/10

Priyan

The handover of 35 tonnes of Russian Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka, recently affected by the cyclone «Ditwah», took place at Katunayake today (10th December)

The shipment was welcomed at the Katunayake airport by Ambassador of Russia Levan Dzhagaryan, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka and Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd).

Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan: said “This delivery is a reflection of long-term friendly relations between Russia and Sri Lanka and reaffirms Moscow’s commitment to support countries in a difficult humanitarian situation.”

The supplies brought by the EMERCOM (Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations) aircraft comprised a movable 60 kW electric power station, Pumping equipment for water drainage, Summer tents (10-person capacity) and Food supplies (sugar, vegetable oil, rice)

The total cargo weight is 35 metric tonnes. The aid will be distributed among the most affected regions.