News
SJB claims entire world is waiting for Gotabaya to resign
By Saman Indrajith
The SJB told Parliament on Tuesday the Ranil Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government would not receive any international assistance and there would be no solution to the present crisis.
Participating in a debate on the country’s current economic crisis, Chief Opposition Whip, Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella, said: “Lankan expatriates publish advertisements in newspapers in foreign countries calling on the international community not to grant aid to Sri Lanka as long as Gotabaya Rajapaksa remained the President.
“They say that the person who caused this crisis is still there and no solution will work out as long as he is the President. As long as he remains the President we will not receive international assistance. The international community is of the strong opinion that political reforms, demanded by the people should be brought in immediately. There should be either abolition of the Executive Presidency or to transfer its powers to Parliament. Without that we would not have any meaningful assistance to solve the crisis. We all have to suffer more. The President on Monday said that he wants to complete his term.
“The so-called government could not get any meaningful assistance from the international community. They asked help from the US and the European countries who in response said that they would seek to talk to the IMF to provide assistance to Sri Lanka. None is giving any serious commitment as long as the present ad-hoc system of governance prevails,” Kiriella said.
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman said that the international community was well aware that Parliament was playing the fool to help the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government to prevail and not engaged in finding meaningful solutions for the people’s problems.
He said: “It is only the Prime Minister who is new there. Rest of the government has the same faces led by the same president. Except for the Prime Minister the rest are directly responsible for the present crisis. How can one expect solutions from them? People know that their opinion no longer is represented in this House. Most of those who caused the present crisis are still in this House. The new PM has to work with the same set. Whatever he says and does, the PM has to work with the Rajapaksas and their cronies. It is the very same people who put up their hands for Gotabaya Rajapaksa are now in the Cabinet. How can you expect foreign countries to give any assistance to the creators of this crisis? They will not do so just because the new PM is there.
“Entire world is calling on Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign, but he says that he will not leave as a failed President and remain there to better his position. This country cannot be saved without him going home. All people in this country are calling for his resignation. If he is not going to listen to that, we people have nothing to do but pray God help us,” MP Rahuman said.
The situation report issued by the Disaster Management Centre at 1800hrs today (5th December) confirms that 607 persons have died due to the adverse weather conditions while the number of missing persons has reduced to 214.
The number of persons affected topped the 2 million mark (2,082,195).
The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) formally took delivery of the EX- United States Coast Guard Cutter, USCGC DECISIVE, provided by the United States to SLN, at a ceremony held at the United
States Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore on 02 Dec 25. The event was also attended by the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda.
The ship formally joined the SLN fleet on 02 December under the pennant number P 628 and the main mast of the ship will fly the National Flag effective from that date.
Aiming to strengthen and develop partnerships to overcome common challenges in the maritime domain, the U.S. Coast Guard has previously provided 03 ships to SLN and they are currently patrolling island waters under the names of ‘Samudura’ (P 621), ‘Gajabahu’(P 626), and ‘Vijayabahu’ (P 627).
As an extension of partnership ties that bring value to each other’s services, Ex-USCGC DECISIVE was transferred as the fourth ship to be handed to SLN.
Ex-USCGC DECISIVE, a ‘B-Type Reliance Class 210-foot Cutter’, measures 64m in length, and having endurance of 6000 NM at cruising speed. Further, she has been designed for a
crew of 100 and is equipped with weapons and machinery.
The ship which was used by the U.S. Coast Guard has rendered exceptional service during her tenure by curbing illegal activities, including smuggling of narcotics in U.S. waters.
Sri Lanka inherits an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that is seven times larger than the landmass. In such a backdrop, the Navy is determined to deploy this vessel in wide-ranging
operations that include the conservation of marine resources in the region and the search and rescue of naval and fishing communities in distress. Thereby, the Navy will be able to utilize
this vessel efficiently in the future to achieve the national aspiration, while ensuring safe and secure seas for all economic affairs.
The formal handing over – taking over ceremony was also distinguished by the presence of the Deputy Chief Acquisition Officer and Director of Domain & Integration Services U.S. Coast
Guard, James L. Knight, Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for South and Southeast Asia, Dr. Andrew Byers, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the United States, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Commanding Officer designate of P 628, Captain Gayan Wickramasuriya as well as a group of officials from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in United States and the State Department
of the United State
The situation report issued by the Disaster Management Center at 0600hrs today [5th December] confirms that 486 persons have died and another 341 persons are missing after the devastating weather conditions in the past week.
171,778 persons have been displaced and have taken refuge at 1,231 safety centers established by the government.
Death toll rises to 607, missing persons reduce to 214 at 1800hrs today (5)
Sri Lanka Navy takes delivery of Ex-USCGC DECISIVE
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486 dead, 341 missing, 171,778 displaced as at 0600hrs today [05]
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