News
State sector reforms: Herath endorses Ranil’s agenda
…questions mysterious cancellation of Japanese-funded LRT project
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Ruling party rebel lawmaker Prof. Charitha Herath says that the cancellation of the Japanese funded USD 1.5 bn light rail transit (LRT) project remains a mystery.
The SLPP National List MP told The Island yesterday (17) that his efforts, in his former capacity as Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) to unravel the truth, failed.
The MP noted that the fund allocation for this, on a soft loan, was even bigger than that of the Chinese flagship project, namely the Colombo Port City.
Sri Lanka suspended the project in September 2020, just weeks after the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) won a near 2/3 majority at the general election.
“We should at least now set the record straight. The need for re-examination of the unilateral decision that jeopardized Sri Lanka’s relations with Japan cannot be ignored, the MP said.
Responding to another query, Prof. Herath said that he dealt with the issue at hand in Parliament during the three-day debate on President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s policy statement.
Addressing Parliament, on the second day of the debate, Prof. Herath pointed out that not only President Wickremesinge lambasted the previous government over the cancellation of the Japanese project, he faulted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa economic policy and Basil Rajapaksa’s 2022 budget.
In addition to the LRT project, Sri Lanka cancelled joint development of the East Container Terminal (ECT) with India and Japan.
Prof. Herath said in Parliament that the SLPP had no option but to accept President Wickremesinghe criticism pertaining to the LRT and other cancelled projects. Lawmaker Herath questioned whether the decision to cancel the Japanese project was taken at Cabinet level, at a meeting chaired by the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa or somewhere else.
Prof. Herath said that mysterious things happened in the decision-making process.
Referring to the then Presidential Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, lawmaker Hearth said that the person who informed the relevant parties of the decision was silent on this particular issue.
Soon after the cancellation, Reuters quoted the Transport Secretary, Monti Ranatunga, as having said that the project was on temporary hold because of foreign exchange difficulties we were facing now and some other projects have also been temporarily halted.
The LRT was to connect Malabe, Battaramulla, Rajagiriya, Borella and Fort/ Pettah. The system comprised 16 stations and one depot at Malabe terminal. The SLPP should made its position clear whether it accepted President Wickremesinghe harsh criticism as regards the economic policy. Having repeatedly denounced what he called the UNP/SJB’s ‘social market economy’, the current government was now pursuing the same under Wickremesinghe’s leadership.
Prof. Herath said that as an SLPP member he felt that a member of the same party should be appointed as the President to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s term. Prof. Herath said that he voted for Dullas Alahapperuma as he believed that the 6.9 mn vote mandate received by Gotabaya Rajapaksa is intact. But, a far bigger section of the SLPP decided that mandate was ‘dead’ and irrelevant therefore that group voted for Wickremesinghe, Prof. Herath said.
Prof. Herath said that some of the reforms, that had been proposed by President Wickremesinghe, should be implemented. State sector enterprises should be reformed, whatever the criticisms, the MP said, urging political parties ,represented in Parliament, and the public ,to recognize the urgent need to undertake reforms.
Students from Karavita Central College, Ratnapura, St. Anthony Girls’ College, Katugasthota and Rajasinghe Central College, Ruwanwella, visited the Presidential Secretariat today (19).
This visit was part of a program jointly organized by the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Education, and the Mass Communication Division of the Parliament. The program offers schoolchildren from across the island the opportunity to visit key government institutions, including the Presidential Secretariat, the President’s House, the Colombo Port City, and the Parliament.
During their visit to the Presidential Secretariat, the students were given an informative session about the history of the Parliament.
To commemorate the occasion, the principals and students of the visiting schools presented commemorative gifts to Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, the Secretary to the President. In return, Dr. Kumanayake presented a valuable tree as a souvenir to be planted in each of the schools.
Later, Dr. Kumanayake engaged in a friendly conversation with the students, creating a memorable interaction.
Senior Advocate J.M. Wijebandara, the Director General Legal of the Presidential Secretariat, was also present at the event.
[PMD]
Newly appointed Deputy Ministers of the National People’s Power (NPP) government were sworn in today (21) before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat.
The new Deputy Ministers are as follows:
- Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando : Deputy Minister of Economic Development
- Mr. Namal Karunarathne : Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock
- Mr. Wasantha Piyathissa : Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment
- Mr. Nalin Hewage : Deputy Minister of Vocational Education
- Mr. R.M. Jayawardena : Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security
- Mr. Gamagedara Dissanayake : Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs
- Mr. T.B. Sarath : Deputy Minister of Housing
- Mr. Rathna Gamage : Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources
- Mr. Mahinda Jayasinghe : Deputy Minister of Labour
- Mr. Aruna Jayasekara : Deputy Minister of Defence
- Mr. Arun Kemachandra : Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment
- Mr. Anton Jayakody : Deputy Minister of Environment
- Mr. Mohommed Muneer : Deputy Minister of National Integrity
- Eng. Eranga Weerarathne : Deputy Minister of Digital Economy
- Mr. Eranga Gunasekara :Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs
- Mr. Chathuranga Abeysinghe : Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development
- Eng. Janith Ruwan Kodithuwakku : Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation
- Dr. Namal Sudarshana : Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs
- Mr. Ruwan Senarath : Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Governance
- Dr. Prasanna Kumara Gunasena : Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways
- Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni : Deputy Minister of Health and Media
- Mr. Upali Samarasinghe : Deputy Minister of Co-operative Development
- Mr. Ruwan Chaminda Ranasinghe : Deputy Minister of Tourism
- Mr. Sugath Thilakarathne : Deputy Minister of Sports
- Mr. Sundaralingam Pradeep : Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure
- Attorney Sunil Watagala : Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs
- Dr. Madhura Senevirathne : Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education
- Dr. Harshana Sooriyapperuma : Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
- Dr. Susil Ranasinghe : Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation
Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the event.
Gampaha District Member of Parliament Hemali Weerasekara was unanimously elected as the Deputy Chairperson of Committees. Her nomination was proposed by Minister Sunil Handunnetti, and was seconded by Member of Parliament Samanmalee Gunasinghe.
The new Deputy Chairperson of Committees is a former member of the Mahara Pradeshiya Sabha and a professional laboratory technician. She completed her education at Yasodara Vidyalaya, Colombo and Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo. She has been an active member of the NPP’s district and women’s executive committees.
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