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SJB should have moved no-faith motion against Finance Minister – Dayasiri

Published

2 years ago

2021/06/21

By Shamindra Ferdinando

State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera says the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) should have moved its no-faith motion against Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also the Prime Minister. over the recent fuel price increase.

Kurunegala District MP told The Island that SJB could not be unaware that in terms of the Constitution, the Finance Ministry was responsible for the revision of fuel prices. The SLFP General Secretary questioned the motives behind the SJB planning to hand over a no-faith motion against Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader and Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila.

Perhaps the SJB felt it could exploit a dicey situation by moving a no-confidence motion against the PHU leader, lawmaker Jayasekera said. According to MP Jayasekera, SJB leader Sajith Premadasa followed a flawed strategy believing a major rift among SLPP constituents could be caused.

Asked whether he addressed the issue at hand as the General Secretary of the SLFP, MP Jayasekera said that he dealt with the developments as a lawmaker.

The MP said that he realized severe difficulties experienced by the state banking sector in raising USD required for oil imports.

MP Jayasekera, who had held several cabinet portfolios during previous administrations, said that the government could not ignore ground realities. The lawmaker said that the Energy Minister faced a daunting task in securing banking sector support amidst dwindling foreign reserves.

Minister Gammanpila, too, told The Island that the government would have to take the public into confidence. There was no pointing in denying the fact that the country was experiencing severe financial difficulties due to a mixture of reasons, including the unprecedented crisis caused by the raging Covid-19 epidemic. The PHU leader pointed out several other parliamentarians, including Minister Bandula Gunawardena and State Minister Dr. Nalaka Godahewa recently lucidly explained the precarious financial situation the country was faced with.

Responding to our questions, Minister Gammanpila revealed the recent difficulty in raising funds required for fuel imports. Some unpopular decisions would have to be taken as the country struggled to come to terms with the much-deteriorated financial situation.

Both Jayasekera and Gammanpila said that SJB’s no-faith motion was nothing but a joke. The SJB simply did not have required numbers at least to challenge the government let alone defeat the government at a vote.

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South Korean airline bans emergency seats after plane door opens

Published

5 hours ago

2023/05/28

Priyan

South Korea’s Asiana Airlines has stopped selling some emergency exit row seats following an accident in which a passenger opened an emergency exit door midair causing panic on board.

The incident took place on an A321-200 plane, which was carrying nearly 200 passengers, as it approached the runway at Daegu International Airport, about 240km (150 miles) southeast of Seoul. The plane landed safely but several passengers were hospitalised. There were no serious injuries or damage.

The airline told the AFP news agency on Sunday the emergency exit seats – 31A and 26A – on its 14 A321-200 jets would no longer be offered for sale. “As a safety precaution, this measure will apply even if the flights are full,” it added. It is however unclear how the move might stop passengers seated elsewhere on the plane from attempting to open the emergency door.

The man, in his 30s, was arrested by authorities in Daegu for allegedly breaking aviation security laws. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. He told Daegu police that he had been under a lot of stress after losing his job recently and that he opened the door because he wanted to get off quickly after feeling suffocated, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported on Saturday.

Video footage apparently taken by a person on board and posted on social media showed passengers’ hair being whipped about by air rushing into the cabin when the emergency door opened.

It is still unclear how Lee was able to open the emergency exit door mid-flight.

Jin Seong-hyun, a former Korean Air cabin safety official, said as far as he knew, this case was unprecedented, although passengers have opened emergency exits without authorisation while planes were on the ground.

A South Korean transport ministry official said it was possible to open emergency exits at or near ground level because the pressures inside and outside the cabin were similar.

(Aljazeera)

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Heat Index at Caution level in Northern, North-Central, North-western and Eastern provinces and Monaragala and Hambanthota districts

Published

8 hours ago

2023/05/28

Priyan

Heat index Advisory Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre At 07.30 a.m. 28 May 2023, valid for 28 May 2023

Heat index, the temperature felt on the human body is expected to increase up to ‘Caution’ level at some places in Northern, North-Central, North-western and Eastern provinces and Monaragala and Hambanthota districts.