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SJB asks Mahinda why he protects Ranil if SLPP plans to go it alone at next election
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Samagi Jana Balawegaya spokesperson Mujibur Rahuman yesterday (27) said that ruling SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa owed an explanation why his party continued to protect President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The SLPP conveniently ignored an opportunity to force an early parliamentary election by defeating President Wickrtemesinghe’s Budget for 2024.
The former Colombo District parliamentarian said so in response to lawmaker Mahinda Rajapaksa’s declaration at a public event at Kirindiwela, Gampaha, that his intention was to regain power at the next national election.
Pointing out that both the ex-President and all Cabinet ministers, including Premier Dinesh Gunawardena, elected on the SLPP ticket, and those appointed on its National List, voted for UNP leader Wickremesinghe’s Budget, Rahuman emphasised the SLPP was the engine of the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government.
The final vote on the 2024 Budget received 122 votes in favour and was passed by a majority of 41 votes.
The SJB’s Mayoral candidate for the Colombo Municipal Council said that except for two, namely Manusha Nanayakkara and Harin Fernando of the SJB, the rest of the ministers were all SLPPers.
Rahuman said: “The former President cannot deceive the public by such meaningless utterances.” The ex-MP reminded that some of those in the Cabinet already had publicly declared their support for President Wickremesinghe at the next presidential poll.
Addressing a gathering at a trade exhibition and carnival at Kirindiwella, organised by the Urban Development and Housing Ministry, MP Rajapaksa said on Tuesday (26) his intention was to gain power and not to serve as the Opposition Leader.
Responding to media queries as he left the venue, MP Rajapaksa ruled out the possibility of changing electoral organizers. However, new appointments have been made in place of those who left the party, the ex-President said.
After having endorsed Wickremesinghe revenue proposals that would cause steep increase in taxes, with effect from next week, the former President ironically called for a reasonable tax regime, Rahuman said.
Obviously, the SLPP leader has quite conveniently forgotten the Supreme Court ruling in respect of the fundamental rights applications delivered on Nov 14.
Regardless of various public declarations, the SLPP seemed comfortable in retaining the UNP leader as the President, ex-MP Rahuman said. Responding to another query, Rahuman alleged that President Wickremesinghe put off Local Government polls indefinitely with the blessings of the SLPP. The Premier played a significant role in Wickremesinghe strategy, the former parliamentarian said, urging the public to be wary of the incumbent government’s machinations.
According to Rahuman, the SLPP’s decision to appoint Wickremesinghe as the eighth President to complete the re remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term was a strategic move meant to build an alliance.
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Our government has reaffirmed its commitment to breaking barriers that limit women’s full participation in the economy, recognizing their vital role in national development. – Dr. Harini Amarasuriya
The Prime Minister made this statement while addressing the launching the She Trades Sri Lanka Hub funded by the UK’s She Trades Commonwealth+ Program held at Galle face Hotel in Colombo on March 14 organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) and the International Trade Centre (ITC).
While addressing the audience, the Prime minister stated, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to breaking barriers that limit women’s full participation in the economy, recognizing their vital role in national development. Emphasizing gender-inclusive policies, financial inclusion, and access to global markets, authorities are prioritizing support for women-led businesses in key sectors such as ICT, agribusiness, and engineering.
A new initiative will establish 200 women-led cooperatives, fostering supportive environments for female entrepreneurs. Additionally, efforts to strengthen childcare, elderly care, and disability services aim to reduce the burdens that limit women’s economic participation.
A dedicated platform has been launched to provide women entrepreneurs with knowledge, networking, and international trade opportunities. Strengthening public-private partnerships and expanding global market access are key strategies to create an inclusive and sustainable trade ecosystem.
By equipping women with the necessary skills, financial resources, and digital trade access, the government aims to ensure that women entrepreneurs become key drivers of economic growth, aligning with broader policies for inclusive and sustainable development.
The event was attended by Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of the International Trade Center, His Excellency Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Officials from the International Trade Center and the British High Commission in Sri Lanka, Chairman of the Export Development Board Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe and Officials from Export Development Board and International Trade Centre and woman Entrepreneurs.
(Prime Minister’s Media Division)
by Saman Indrajith
TheBatalanda Presidential Co-mission report was tabled in Parliament yesterday (14) by the Leader of the House and Transport Minister, Bimal Ratnayake.
Minister Ratnayake announced that the government has decided to forward the report to the Attorney General for legal advice. Additionally, a Presidential Committee will be appointed to provide guidance and recommendations on how to proceed with the findings of the report.
Ratnayake said that the Cabinet-of-Ministers, along with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has made a policy decision to take necessary action in response to the report. He reassured the public that steps are being taken to ensure that such a dark chapter in the country’s history is never repeated.
Minister Ratnayake said that a two-day debate on the Batalanda Commission report will be scheduled in Parliament at an appropriate time, allowing for a detailed discussion on the report’s findings and recommendations.
The report, which will be printed in all three official languages—Sinhala, Tamil, and English—will be made available to the public in the near future. Ratnayake confirmed that printed copies would be provided to Members of Parliament, as well as the general public, for review.
The Leader of the House revealed that there are 28 evidence volumes associated with the Commission’s work, which will be submitted to Parliament at a later date for further scrutiny.
Ratnayake said that as the entire country is concerned about the findings of the Batalanda Commission, the government’s commitment to addressing the issues raised, and preventing future atrocities, stands clear. The next steps, including legal action and policy recommendations, will be shaped by expert advice and informed parliamentary discussions, he said.
The Parliamentary watchdog Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has found that there were fake documents regarding the importing of medicines under the emergency procurement system in 2022 and 2023.
This was revealed during a COPE meeting held at Parliament probing the transactions of the National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA).
NMRA CEO Saveen Semage told the Committee that several fake documents have been found due to the lack of registration of medicines.
Stating that six such fake documents were found last year alone, Saveen Semage said he had recorded statements regarding each of the documents with the Financial Crimes Investigation Division.
He revealed that, however, no investigations have been conducted yet into the incidents.
“We have documents with confessions from a woman accepting that fake documents had been made. However, a statement has not even been recorded from that woman yet,” he said.
Meanwhile, COPE member MP Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana also revealed that the highest number of waive-off registrations (WOR) for medicines had been obtained in 2022 and 2023.
He said 656 waive-off registrations (WOR) had been obtained in 2022 and 261 in 2023, adding that this proves that discrepancies have taken place during the emergency procurement of medicines during these periods.
Furthermore, Deputy Director General of the Medical Supplies Division of the Health Ministry, Dr. G. Wijesuriya, said discussions are underway on allowing the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) to directly import essential medicines.He pointed out that it was essential to take a policy decision in this regard as a solution to mitigate such discrepancies.
Our government has reaffirmed its commitment to breaking barriers that limit women’s full participation in the economy, recognizing their vital role in national development. – Dr. Harini Amarasuriya
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