News
SLFP mark 70th anniversary with blood donation programmes countrywide
By Ifham Nizam
The Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has launched countrywide blood donation programmes with over 10,000 donors to mark its 70th anniversary.
The first programme commenced on Friday at Ranna Maha Vidyalaya in the Hambantota District with the participation of the Minister of Environment and the Senior Vice President of SLFP Mahinda Amaraweera.
It was carried out following strict health guidelines due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.
Amaraweera said the past 70 years in politics was not a trivial period. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party was still a party respected by the majority of the people in the country.
Although some immature politicians criticised the SLFP, there was no other party that had produced as many respected political leaders as the SLFP.
“Our founder the late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was a great erudite leader of international standing. After him, it was the Sri Lanka Freedom Party that also created the world’s first woman Prime Minister Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who also shone on the world stage. She became the leader of SLFP after the assassination of her husband S.W.R.D Bandaranaike. Today, we as a country are indebted to the whole world. The foundation to become a debt-ridden country was laid after 1977.”
The programme of building the country through the development of the local economy initiated by Mrs. Bandaranaike in the period 70-77 if continued, Sri Lanka would have been the most developed country in South Asia today, Amaraweera said.
He said: “It was she who introduced the brand name Made in Sri Lanka to the world. Kelani tyres, Oruwala steel, Pulmudai minerals that invaded the entire world market”.
In 1977, she handed over the country without debt to J.R. Jayewardene. “But the UNP destroyed our local economic upliftment programme. We came to import everything that could be produced and cultivated in our country. The people of the country were turned into lazy people. Today we are suffering as a result.
With the Covid-19 pandemic the national outputs of the whole world has been disrupted. Therefore, we have to wait for food items to be imported. But what happens if those countries do not sell their products. The leaders of our party saw this situation then,” he added.
The second blood donation programme took place yesterday at Lunugamvehera.
Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) MURASAME arrived at the Port of Colombo on a replenishment visit this morning (22 Mar 25).
The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.
JMSDF MURASAME is a 151m long Destroyer commanded by Commander HAYAKAWA Masahiro. Meanwhile, she is manned by a crew of 200.
During her stay in Colombo, crew members of the ship are expected to visit some tourist attractions in the city of Colombo and the ship is scheduled to depart the island on 25 Mar 25.
It has been reported that two persons riding a motorcycle were killed in a shooting incident that took place around 11.45pm on Friday [21] night , in front of the southern entrance of the Devundara Sri Vishnu Devalaya, on Sinhasana Road.
The unidentified gunmen, who arrived in a van, opened fire using a T-56 assault rifle and 9 mm firearms before fleeing the scene. The police have recovered 39 T-56 bullet casings, two T-56 rounds of live ammunition, a T-56 magazine, three 9 mm bullet casings, and one 9mm live ammunition.
The van suspected to have been used by the shooters was found abandoned and set on fire on a side road about 800 meters from the crime scene.
The two deceased victims have been identified as Tikira Hennedige Yomesh Nadishan and Marakkala Manage Pasidu Tharuka, both residents of Sinhasana Road, Devinuwara.
Matale Dirstrict SJB MP Rohini Kumari Wijerathna yesterday tabled a list in Parliament naming 1,300 members, leaders, trade unionists, and activists of the UNP, who were allegedly assassinated by the JVP. The list was submitted during a parliamentary session as part of the government’s ongoing effort to document victims of political violence.
Along with the names of the victims, MP Wijerathna also introduced over 900 family members of the alleged victims, providing further context to the extent of the violence.
Speaking during the session, MP Wijerathna stated, “Child soldiers were recruited by the JVP even before the LTTE. ‘Kantale Bonikki,’ a 13-year-old child was used to murder a 70-year-old female UNP supporter.” She accused the JVP of using children to kill numerous UNP members during the JVP’s second insurgency.
The MP said that names not included in the current list would be submitted during the upcoming “Batalanda Debate” in April.
MP Wijerathna invited the public, via her Facebook page to submit further details on family members affected by political violence to ensure their inclusion in the extended record.
Trump revokes security clearance for Harris, Clinton and others
London Heathrow Airport restarts flights after closure causes travel chaos
JMSDF MURASAME calls Port of Colombo
-
Foreign News7 days agoSearch continues in Dominican Republic for missing student Sudiksha Konanki
-
Business1 day agoCargoserv Shipping partners Prima Ceylon & onboards Nestlé Lanka for landmark rail logistics initiative
-
Sports4 days agoSri Lanka to compete against USA, Jamaica in relay finals
-
Features6 days agoThe Royal-Thomian and its Timeless Charm
-
Features6 days ago‘Thomia’: Richard Simon’s Masterpiece
-
Business1 day agoSri Lankans Vote Dialog as the Telecommunication Brand and Service Brand of the Year
-
Features1 day agoThe Vaping Veil: Unmasking the dangers of E-Cigarettes
-
Business4 days agoAffairs of SriLankan Airlines could be turned around using local expertise – former CAA chair