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SLPP beset by contentious issues: Gevindu too strikes discordant note

Published

5 years ago

2021/10/30

Sahan Weerasooriya

‘Govt. cannot turn blind eye to corruption allegations’

By Shamindra Ferdinando

SLPP National List lawmaker Gevindu Cumaratunga says the incumbent government cannot under any circumstances turn a blind eye to continuing accusations directed at the administration as regards waste, corruption and irregularities.

In an interview with Manjula Batugedara of Asian Mirror website, Chairman of the Yuthukama civil society organisation Cumaratunga acknowledged that such accusations were quite a formidable political challenge and needed to be addressed, expeditiously.

The outspoken MP made reference to the growing controversy over the People’s Bank making a payment to the tune of USD 1.275 mn on behalf of the government to the United Farmers Trust Limited, the local agent of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) under controversial circumstances. The government recently announced 3.1 litres of liquid nano-nitrogen fertiliser would be procured from IFFCO.

The MP questioned the rationale in transferring the funds to the Town Hall branch of the People’s Bank instead of the Indian supplier. Declaring that in spite of change of governments, the contentious issue of public sector corruption hadn’t been addressed at all, the civil society activist described the current political environment as an utterly tragic situation.

Reference was also made to the government being denied ownership of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) through fraudulent means.

MP Cumaratunga said that they were deeply disappointed and flabbergasted over the developments.

The MP told The Island that there was a spate of issues the government should tackle without delay or face the consequences. The MP underscored the urgent need to have a dialogue among constituents of the SLPP to reach a consensus on matters of public importance.

He also underscored the responsibility on the part of the government to examine whether its current strategies were geared to achieve much touted political objectives in the run-up to presidential and parliamentary polls, in Nov 2019 and Aug 2020, respectively. “What should be our response as people’s representatives if the government pursued policies contrary to the promises made to the public?” he asked.

Nothing could be as important as introducing a new Constitution as repeatedly promised during the campaign, MP Cumaratunga said, pointing out a two-thirds majority in Parliament was sought to bring in a new Constitution after having ensured the passage of 20 Amendment as a temporary measure.

Lawmaker dealt with the UPFA’s failure to manage what he called the mandate received at the 2010 presidential and parliamentary elections. That catastrophic failure led to the 2015 change of government, MP Cumaratunga said, recalling the Yuthukama efforts among the overall campaign against the yahapalana lot.

Commenting on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s faith in the war winning armed forces, MP Cumaratunga said that a new Constitution was required to ensure the protection of Sri Lanka’s unitary status.

Declaring that the 13 Amendment had been enacted under Indian pressure in the late 80s and remained a threat, lawmaker Cumaratunga said that constitutional safeguards were needed regardless of a section of those who represented in Parliament taking a contrary stand.

The Yuthukama Chief emphasized that having Provincial Council polls under the old system that had been discarded by the yahapalana administration and its allies, at a time the government was in the process of formulating constitutional and electoral arrangements couldn’t be accepted.

MP Cumaratunga declared that conducting Provincial Council polls would be nothing but betrayal of the very ideals the SLPP and its constituents stood for. Much touted slogan ‘One Country-One Law ‘would be a joke unless the government through constitutional means ensured that only the Parliament had the right to introduce laws.

MP Cumaratunga questioned the appointment of highly controversial Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera as the Chairman of the 13-member Presidential Task Force (PTF) assigned to make recommendations on how to make ‘One Country – One Law’ a reality.

Cumaratunga raised the issue at hand at a meeting some lawmakers had with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on Thursday night to discuss a gamut of issues. Yuthukama leader said that the suitability of the PTF Chairperson was questionable.

Lawmaker Cumaratunga said that the government should reappraise its strategies and response to the ongoing wave of countrywide protests. Pointing out that they should be concerned over protesting farmers’ declarations they would quit cultivation. Whatever the issues and politics behind such declarations, the government couldn’t turn a Nelsonoan eye to the obvious deterioration.

Pointing out that the 2019 presidential election was held amidst a spate of controversies, including SAITM, controversial foreign trade agreements, national security, Geneva betrayal and the 99-year-leasing of the Hambantota port, MP Cumaratunga said that the incumbent government seemed bent on causing itself harm by pursuing personal agendas. The MP recalled the leadership given by Dinesh Gunawardena, Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila and Vasudeva Nanayakkara that enabled the then Rajapaksa Camp to hit back soon after the 2015 humiliating shock defeat Mahinda Rajapaksa suffered.

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Developing the human resources needed for construction projects remains a key challenge before us – PM

Published

10 hours ago

2026/06/20

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Government has already allocated substantial funds for future development activities, including the restoration of areas damaged by the recent cyclone Ditwah, and that one of the key challenges currently faced is securing the necessary human resources, particularly technical personnel, required to carry out the construction and development projects.

The Prime Minister made these remarks on Friday [June 19] in Kandy while paying a visit on the Mahanayaka Theros of the Malwathu and Asgiri Chapters.

During her visit to the Malwathu Maha Viharaya in Kandy, the Prime Minister met with the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayaka Thero, Mahanayaka of the Malwathu Chapter, as well as the Anunayaka Theros of the Chapter, the Most Venerable Niyangoda Vijithasiri Thero and the Most Venerable Dimbulkumbure Wimaladhamma Thero. The Prime Minister also engaged in a discussion with the Mahanayaka Thero.

Subsequently, the Prime Minister paid a visit to the Most Venerable Warakagoda Gnanarathana Mahanayaka Thero, Mahanayaka of the Asgiri Chapter of the Siam Maha Nikaya of Sri Lanka, and the Anunayaka of the Asgiri Chapter, the Most Venerable Narampanawa Ananda Thero.

During the discussions, the Prime Minister briefed the Mahanayaka Thero on the current progress of the new education reforms. She also stated that measures would be taken to recruit teachers in the near future to address the existing teacher shortage. She further noted that the evaluation of answer scripts from the recently held teacher recruitment examination is currently underway and that successful candidates will be recruited expeditiously following a practical assessment.

The occasion was attended by the Members of Parliament, the Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa, and several other officials.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

Children should gain experience through activities such as aesthetics and sports from the primary education stage – PM

Published

11 hours ago

2026/06/20

Priyan

Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, stated that if Sri Lanka is to nurture the future leaders, children must be exposed from the primary education itself to the experiences and values gained through fields such as aesthetics and sports.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in the “Punchi Hapannu 2026” occasion to recognize and appreciate the winners of the Primary Literary Skills, held on Thursday [8 June]at Polpithigama National School during an educational inspection tour in the Kurunegala District.

The event was organized to recognize the winners of the “Punchi Hapannu 2026” Language and Literary Skills Competition, which was conducted with the participation of students from 49 primary schools in the Polpithigama Education Division, based on a concept initiated by the Divisional Director of Education. The occasion was further featured by aesthetic performances presented by students who had won across 17 different competition categories.

During the event, certificates were awarded to the winners by the Prime Minister.

Addressing the occasion, the Prime Minister further stated:

“The initiative undertaken within the Polpithigama Education Division is an example for the entire country. Primary education is a broad and multifaceted field. The foundation provided through primary education is important in guiding a child along the right path. A child has only one opportunity in life to experience primary education, and it is our responsibility to ensure that this opportunity is provided in the most appropriate way.

Today, we witnessed how effectively the children of the Polpithigama Education Division utilized the opportunity given to them to creatively showcase their aesthetic talents. Likewise, we are striving to build an education system that provides opportunities for children across Sri Lanka to develop their hidden talents”.

Following the ceremony, the Prime Minister visited Makulpotha Maha Vidyalaya in the Polpithigama Education Division and layed the foundation-stone for a new two-storey school building.

The construction project, implemented with an investment of Rs. 45 million, is scheduled to be completed in 2026 and handed over for students in January 2027.

The event was graced by the presence of members of the Maha Sangha, and attended by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne, Kurunegala District Member of Parliament Attorney-at-Law Geetha Herath, education officials of the North Western Province, parents, principals, and several other invitees.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

Inaugural session of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya Student Parliament held at the Presidential Secretariat

Published

12 hours ago

2026/06/20

Priyan

The inaugural session of the Student Parliament of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Colombo, was held on Friday (19) morning at the Old Parliament Chamber of the Presidential Secretariat.

The event was organised under the ‘Vision’ programme series, a joint initiative of the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Education and the Department of Communication of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya was selected to participate in this programme as part of the initiative.

During the event, Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Hemali Weerasekara, addressed the students on leadership, personality development and parliamentary traditions.

Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Roshan Gamage, explained the role of the President’s Fund and highlighted the programmes implemented for the benefit of school students.

Senior Presidential Adviser on Science and Technology, Professor Gomika Udugamasooriya, emphasised that life’s challenges can be overcome by critically examining every experience. He also highlighted the importance of encouraging children, from their school years onward, to explore diverse fields beyond a single subject area and to develop an innovative mindset through experimentation and discovery.

Among those present were Director General of Public Relations to the President, Dharmasiri Gamage, Director (Communications) of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Samantha Mallawarachchi, Deputy Director (Administration) of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Chintha Madhubhashini, Director of the Tri-Forces Coordination Unit at the Presidential Secretariat, Air Commodore Asiri Gallage; Assistant Director Lieutenant Colonel Nadeeka Dangolla; Principal of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Dr. Sumedha Jayaweera; Principal of Ananda College, Colombo, D. M. Lal Dissanayake; as well as teachers, parents and students.

(PMD)