News
Sajith claims MS offered him premiership on 71 occasions
By Lalith Chaminda, S.K. Kaluarachchi and Ravindra Chandralal
Former President Maithripala Sirisena asked him 71 times to take up the post of Prime Minister during the Yahapalana administration, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said at Nagoda on Monday.
“He approached me 10 times before 26 October 2018. He asked me 61 times the following year. I couldn’t oppose then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe because he had the support of the majority of MPs. Even President Gotabaya Rajapaksa asked me to take up the post. However, I don’t want to secure posts that way,” he said.
Premadasa said that only a person without scruples could take up posts in a Rajapaksa administration after supporting ‘Gota Go Home’ protests.
“You know there were such people in our party. Now, they can’t even mingle with people without heavy security. We will never welcome them again to the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB),” he said.
The Opposition Leader added that there was a lot of pressure on him to become Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Prime Minister. However, if he had taken up that post, he would not be able to step out of the house, Premadasa said.
“I take decisions thinking ahead. Two of the SJB MPs insisted that I become PM. The two MPs wanted to make money,” he said.
Premadasa said that the decision to withdraw the Gazette, declaring new High Security Zones in Colombo, was the right thing to do.
“The government must stop this witch-hunt against anti-government protesters. Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) Convenor, Wasantha Mudalige’s life is in danger. He should be freed at once,” he 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.
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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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