News
Sajith complains of many a broken promise of govt. made to the House
By Saman Indrajith
Ministers’ promises in response to the question raised by Opposition MPs were not implemented, Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday.
Premadasa said that the government ministers made various promises. “However, these promises are not fulfilled.”
Premadasa pointed out that the government had pledged to increase the interest rate on the senior citizens’ fixed deposits in response to many questions raised by Opposition MPs and himself. “The government promised to this House that the interest rate would be increased to 15 percent. It currently stands at around 7.5 percent.
“I have raised issues pertaining to the Grama Niladhari profession many times in this House. I have pointed out that issues pertaining to their service minute and salaries should be sorted out. Nothing has been done.”
Leader of the House Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said the government had agreed to increase the interest rates of the senior citizens’ deposits. “We have decided to pay a R 3,000 monthly allowance to pensioners. It was found that some pensioners were not entitled to this payment and therefore the Cabinet has decided to pay an allowance of Rs 2,500 to those pensioners.
Following the drop of the rupee against the dollar, interest rates of bank deposits were revised. Yet, the government has decided that the Treasury should absorb the burden of this and pay 2.5 percent interest on each senior citizen’s fixed deposit. We have also attended to the Grama Niladhari service minute and allowances issue and found that there is a salary anomaly. We have appointed a committee to inquire into the matter. We are awaiting a report on it,” Minister Premajayantha said.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
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Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
AKD: Govt. agenda on track despite Ditwah disaster
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