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Ranil exposes presidential advisor’s background, offers to teach PM

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Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Pannala on Tuesday showing documents carrying the name and signature of incumbent President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s advisor Duminda Hulangamuwa as a member of the Udaya Seneviratne Committee, which recommended a salary hike for the public servants during the previous regime. Pic by Nishan S Priyantha

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday said an advisor to current President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had been a member of the Udaya Seneviratne Committee, which recommended a salary hike for the public servants during the previous regime.

Addressing a rally held at Pannala in support of NDF members contesting under the ‘gas cylinder’ symbol, the former President said that President Dissanayake’s advisor Duminda Hulangamuwa had served on the Udaya Seneviratne Committee, which had recommended a salary hike for the public servants during the previous government.

Former President Wickremesinghe said: “The decision to increase salaries for public servants was made after consulting all members of the Udaya Seneviratne Committee. All its members approved the salary hike. There is a possibility of increasing salaries and it should be implemented immediately.”

Responding to Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, who claimed that the previous Cabinet decision to increase public servant salaries had not followed the necessary procedure, Wickremesinghe displayed documents with the signatures of officials, including that of Hulangamuwa.

“Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has said it was necessary to obtain the approval of officials for the Cabinet to make a decision.  It looks as if she is not aware of the Constitution. I can give her lessons on the Constitution if she is willing to learn,” he also said.

Wickremesinghe also questioned what had become of the NPP-led trade unions who fought for the rights of public servants during the past years.

The NPP had forgotten the public servants after their votes were secured. The NDF, however, would continue to fight until they got the salary increment meant for them, Wickremesinghe said, adding that a group of experienced candidates should not be voted in at the forthcoming parliamentary election.



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Chinese funds for Disaster Relief and Monitoring project transferred to General Treasury

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The People’s Republic of China has provided financial assistance totaling approximately Rs. 30 million to compensate for damage to houses and properties caused by natural disasters from January 1 to October 30, 2024. This amount has been transfered to the Treasury.

In addition, the Department of National Budget has allocated further financial provisions to the Ministry of Defence for the reconstruction of homes affected by the disasters. The Department of Treasury Operations has promptly released these funds to the Ministry of Defence.

These additional provisions were necessary because the 2024 budget did not include adequate funds to address the needs of disaster victims.

Furthermore, material assistance worth 10 million Yuan is expected from the People’s Republic of China under the Emergency Humanitarian Assistance Program. The goods will be properly accounted for and distributed once received.

Finally, steps have been taken to ensure the timely disbursement of compensation for damaged homes and properties, as well as the swift completion of reconstruction and renovation efforts, through the Disaster Relief and Monitoring Project.

[PMD]

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Chairman and Vice Chairman appointed

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Names of Chairman and Vice Chairman, who are declared appointed in terms of section 66 B (1) of the Local authorities elections Ordinance, for the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha situated in the administrative District of Galle

Accordingly, Kolamba Thanthreege Nishantha Perera has been appointed Chairman and Wagoda Pathirage Sumith chandana has been appointed Vice Chairman.

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Candidates who campaign during cooling-off period will face legal action: EC

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Saman Sri Ratnayake

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The period of silence prior to the 14 November general election commences from midnight on 11 November, Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake has said, warning that any candidate who violates it will have to face legal action.

“I urge all candidates and their supporters not to campaign during the silent period. We have observed during recent elections that some candidates and their family members continued campaigning during the period of silence. Such candidates run the risk of losing their seats in case of being prosecuted for election law violations.

The Election Commission has also teamed up with social media platforms, which will remove election propaganda material during the cooling-off period, Ratnayake said.

“This was successfully implemented during the previous presidential election,” he added.

Police spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said that they had arrested 11 candidates for illegal distribution of handbills and posters and unruly behaviour inside police stations.

“The police have arrested 353 people for violating election laws,” he added.

Executive Director – Institute of Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES), Manjula Gajanayake said that serious cases of election law violations and election related violence had decreased drastically this year.

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