News
SJB: JVP’s call for RW’s participation in proposed debate diversionary tactic
By Saman Indrajith
The SJB yesterday said the JVP-led NPP’s call for the participation of President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the proposed debate on the economy was a diversionary tactic.
The SJB has challenged the NPP’s economic council members to a debate on how to resolve the economic crisis. The NPP has challenged SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa to a debate with its leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the economy.
National Executive Committee Member and MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, on Monday, said a debate between presidential candidates would not be complete without the participation of President Wickremesinghe, who is the presidential candidate of the UNP.
Addressing the media at the party headquarters on Monday, Dr Amarasuriya said that the country would face a presidential election and the candidates of main parties should take part in a debate and reveal their plans to resolve the economic crisis.
“In response to a call by SJB to field a team of economic council members from our party, we pointed out that the most prudent thing to do was to have a debate between the presidential candidates of both parties – Anurua Kumara Dissanayake and Sajith Premadasa. This would not be complete if the UNP candidate is not there. As such President Ranil Wickremesinghe, too, should participate in this debate with the other two candidates,” Dr Amarasuriya said.
“If the SJB is not willing to field their leader, then we can consider the second option of holding the debate between the economic council members of the two parties. For that also we can invite their counterparts in the Pohottuwa and the UNP. The best option is to have the debate among Anura, Sajith and Ranil.”
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.
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Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
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