News
So-called patriots sold most state assets while claiming to protect them – SJB
By Saman Indrajith
The Samagi Jana Balavegaya yesterday alleged that the governments of the so-called progressive political forces had been responsible for the biggest sale of national assets to foreigners and local companies. SJB General Secretary MP Ranjith Maddumabadara addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo on Tuesday (2) said that governments of SLFP, PA, UPFA and SLPP had sold off the highest number of public enterprises to the private sector or to foreign investors. “Among them are Colombo Gas Company, Orient Lanka, Rajarata Agro Chemicals, Lanka Salt, Puttalam Salt, Sri Lanka Telecom, SriLankan Airlines, Sri Lanka Insurance, Overseas Realty, Kelanitissa. In most of those governments Mahinda Rajapaksa was in the Cabinet. They sold the Colombo International Container Terminals to China and South Asia Gateway Terminals to a local company. In both cases the government stake was a mere 15 percent while the buyer got 85 percent of shares. They handed over 600,000 acres of land belonging to the state sector plantation corporations to private companies and foreigners. They are the very ones who came to power, promising to save national assets.
Madduma Bandara alleged that those involved in the East Container Terminal deal were notorious for commissions. They took commissions from the Southern Expressway project, the extension of Railway to Beliatta, purchase of MiG aircraft, etc. We are planning to expose these deals to people in the coming days. They sold the land belonging to the Army Headquarters. Soon after coming to power this time they sold three acres in the land near Galle Face. We have information that some areas in Colombo are being surveyed to be sold to foreign companies. That land includes the Bank of Ceylon Headquarters’ land and Police Headquarters’ lands.”
Maddumabandara said that one of the main accusations against the UNP and the SJB was that they would sell national assets. “They with the support of the media and their propagandists succeeded in having the public believe that UNP was the party that privatised and sold national assets. What we did actually was enabling employees of the corporations to buy 10 percent of shares. But statistics show that it was the so-called progressive camp that sold off the highest number of public enterprises.”
Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella also addressed the media.
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Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
The National Building Research Institute [NBRI] has issued Landslide Early Warnings to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura valid upto 0900 AM on 23rd May 2026.
Accordingly,
LEVEL I [RED] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Deraniyagala, Ruwanwella and Dehiowita in the Kegalle district and Ratnapura, Ayagama, Kuruwita and Eheliyagoda in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colombo district, Attanagalla in the Gampaha district, Horana, Bulathsinhala, Ingiriya and Palindanuwara in the Kalutara district, Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district and Pelmadulla, Kiriella, Elapatha, Kalawana and Nivithigala in the Rathnapura district.
LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Mirigama and Divulapitiya in the Gampaha district, Agalawatta and Mathugama in the Kalutara district, Bulathkohupitiya in the Kegalle district and Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya district.
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Minor flood situation likely to occur within the next few hours in the low-lying floodplain areas of the Kalu River
Based on the heavy rainfall currently being received in the Kalu River Basin and the analysis of water level data recorded at hydrological gauging stations maintained by the Irrigation Department within the Kalu River Basin, it is hereby warned that a Minor Flood Situation is likely to occur within the next
few hours in the low-lying floodplain areas of the Kalu River.
The affected areas include the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ratnapura, Kuruwita, Ayagama, Elapatha, Kiriella in Ratnapura District.
The public residing in these areas, as well as motorists and passengers travelling through the affected regions, are strongly requested to act with utmost vigilance and to take all necessary
precautions. Disaster Management Authorities are requested to take necessary actions in this regard.
A considerable rainfall has occurred in the catchment areas of the Aththanagalu Oya Basin as atb5.00 AM today (22).
By analyzing the current rainfall situation and river water levels of Hydrological Stations on the Aththanagalu Oya, there is a possibility of a flood situation occuring in some low lying
areas of the Aththanagalu Oya and Uruwal Oya valleys situated in Diwulapitiya, Mirigama, Attanagalla, Mahara, Gampaha, Minuwangoda, Ja-ela, Katana and Wattala Div8sional Secretaries Divisions within next 48 hours.
Owing to this situation, there is a possibility of some of the roads running through these lowlying areas being inundated at some places.
The public residing in these areas, as well as motorists traveling through these regions, are requested to exercise extreme caution regarding this situation.
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Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
Minor flood situation likely to occur within the next few hours in the low-lying floodplain areas of the Kalu River
Flood warning issued to low lying areas of the Aththanagalu Oya and Uruwal Oya valleys
Flood warning issued to low lying areas of the Kelani River valley
Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Gampaha, Kalutara and Ratnapura
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