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SJB blames delay in covid vaccine supplies on govt. antagonising India

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By Saman Indrajith

Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella, on Wednesday, told Parliament that if the incumbent government had not antagonised India by allowing China to consolidate its power here, there would not have been delays in obtaining Indian Covid vaccines.

Participating in an adjournment debate on the prevailing pandemic situation in the country, MP Kiriella said that the government had created problems with neighbouring India without giving thought to the possible repercussions. The government had allowed China to expand its power base here. That action upset India and her concerns. India has problems with China, Nepal and Pakistan, but did not have problems with us. Now, this government paved the way for that. If we had been on good terms with India, we could have obtained the vaccine easily. Now we have missed that chance.

“The government is asking for our support. We are ready to support the government to implement health related policies and decisions but not going to support them in implementing their political plans. The government is now in a difficult position. That is why it is asking for our support. If they go for a lockdown there would be an economic disaster. If they do not go for a lockdown, then there would be a health disaster. What do we want to choose – the health disaster or the economic disaster?

“Before extending our support to the government we must bring to its notice the way it treats the Opposition MPs. The government has arrested MP Rishad Bathiudeen. He is being used as a crowbar to be thrown out of the house whenever there is lightning. Whenever the government is in a tight spot, it gets Bathiudeen arrested. This time the government could not face the public opposition for its failure to arrest the mastermind of the Easter Sunday attacks. When pressure mounted, the government arrested Bathiudeen. Our MPs are harassed. You have appointed committees to deprive our leaders of their civic rights. Now, you are asking for our support. I like to tell the government if you are serious about securing our support then you should do it nicely and properly as a responsible government. When the government had 148 seats in parliament, it thought that it was all powerful and it could do anything. Now, it cannot do without out support.”



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SF claims thousands of police and military personnel leaving

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By Saman Indrajith

Thousands of police and military personnel had left the services recently as they did not want to carry out illegal orders, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka told Parliament yesterday. According to the war-winning army commander 200 policemen have resigned during the past two months and 25,000 soldiers have left the army during the last two years.

“We urged the law enforcement and military officials not to follow illegal orders. We will reinstate them with back pay,” he said.

Fonseka also urged the President and the government MPs not to take people for fools.

“Sri Lanka owes 55 billion dollars to the world. Ranil’s plan is to borrow another seven billion during the next four years. So, in four years we will owe 62 billion to the world.

Ranil and his ministers ask us what the alternative to borrowing is. These are the people who destroyed the economy and society. They must leave. Then, we will find an alternative and develop the country,” he said, adding that the IMF loans had made crises in other nations worse.

“Ranil says that by 2025, we will have a budget surplus as in Japan, Germany and South Korea. These countries are economic power houses, and this comparison is ludicrous.”

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CEB hit by exodus of technical staff

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By Shiran Ranasinghe

At least five technical personnel of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) resigned daily for overseas employment, a senior CEB official said.They included electrical engineers, electricians and foremen, he added.

“Most of them are quitting due to the economic crisis while others are simply disillusioned. Trained and experienced technical staff are in high demand in many countries,” he said.

CEB United Trade Union Alliance President Ranjan Jayalal said that the CEB had lost about 2,000 employees in recent times due to the above reasons.

“We had about 24,000 such personnel a few months ago. Now the number has come down to 22,000. A number of people had to retire on 31 December, 2022.

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Sajith questions sudden decision to charge Rs. 225,000 from students following NDES

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By Saman Indrajith

The government had decided to charge Rs 225,000 from those enrolling at the Institute of Engineering Technology, Katunayake under the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA), Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said yesterday in Parliament.

Premadasa said that the institute awards the National Diploma in Engineering Sciences (NDES) and no fee was charged from students until 2023.The IET awards the National Diploma in Engineering Sciences under the three major fields of civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, and eight sub-fields.

“This is an institute that has created over ten thousand tier two engineers. NDES is a four year programme,” he said.

The opposition leader said that the sudden decision to charge 225,000 rupees from students at a time when the average Sri Lankan family is facing significant economic challenges is unfair.

“This institute offered free tuition. We should continue this tradition. A large number of engineers are leaving the country and we need to ensure that we have a continuous supply of engineers to ensure we can maintain our essential technical services,” he said.

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