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Sumanthiran asks IMF to ensure that no relief ends up in Rajapaksa pockets
TNA MP MA Sumanthiran told Parliament on Wednesday that he saw a twitter message from the president, following the Rambukkara shooting, exhorting “I urge all to refrain from violence as they protest”.
“Now I have not seen any protesters indulging in violence,” the MP said. “It has been only the police who have used excessive force which is quite blatant, and that has now resulted in the death of one person. Death of only one person is confirmed. The fate of few others is not known.
“Now why are these people protesting? These people are protesting because the government has failed them. The president has failed them. And in saying that they are very specific about a few matters When they say ‘go home,’ they are saying: return our money and go. Return our money and go home.
“There is good reason why they are saying that. I also saw a message that says that the discussions with the IMF is at an early stage. The loan program is at an early stage. And that any deal would require adequate assurances that the island country’s debts can be put on a sustainable path.
“Now this debt sustainability is a huge issue, because you have not rescheduled the debts. That should have happened quite some time ago, before those became due. Now you have gone for an IMF program and there is no debt sustainability. For IMF to assist you, you have to not only have political stability, but also debt sustainability.
“Now if these two are not done there is no remedy. People are crying out for justice; people are asking when will this end. It is going to get worse. We know even with the IMF facility, even with the program that is successful, its going to get worse for a while.
“But now there is no assurance that is going to be successful, the way it’s going. Despite the people in an unprecedented way in this country demonstrating and staying and requiring them to go, they are stubbornly refusing to go.
“Given that fact that when IMF considers the Rapid Finance Instrument – now that’s the first thing that’ll be given – when they consider the rapid finance instrument, they must make it conditional. A very strict condition must be imposed that this money that is given does not go into the Rajapaksa pockets. That it must go directly to the people, directly to the poor, for medicine, for basic food, for poor welfare.
“Also that (existing) poor welfare programmes are also designed presently in a way to enrich corrupt politicians. Now that must be avoided. So this specific request to the IMF that when you consider the rapid finance instrument, and we need that, please ensure, please attach it to conditions, that’ll ensure that it’ll go directly to the people.”
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Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre has issued an Advisory for Severe Lightning for the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district.
The advisory issued at 02.00 p.m. today [07 April 2025] is valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 07 April 2025
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district. There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
The report of the “Census of Population and Housing 2024,” conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics, was officially handed over to President Anura Kumara Disanayake this morning (07) at the Presidential Secretariat.
This preliminary report has been prepared based on island wide data collected between October and December 2024.
The report provides details on Sri Lanka’s population, its growth and the distribution of the population across districts.
The information gathered through the census is vital not only for the government but also for other institutions in formulating policies and development plans essential for the country’s progress. Significantly, for the first time in the history of census-collecting in Sri Lanka, data collection was carried out using tablet computers and user-friendly mobile devices.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Finance & Planning, Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana, Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics D.D.G.A. Senevirathne and several other officials.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka today (07) presented its flagship publication, the Annual Economic Review for 2024 (AER 2024), to President and Minister of Finance, Anura Kumara Disanayake, highlighting the steady progress of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery following the country’s most severe downturn in recent history.
The report was officially handed over by Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank, during a special ceremony held at the Presidential Secretariat.
AER 2024 comprises four main chapters: Macroeconomic Developments, Conditions of the Financial System, Review of Central Bank’s Policies and Macroeconomic Outlook.
According to the Review, the Sri Lankan economy showed significant signs of recovery in 2024, following the deep economic crisis experienced two years ago. The recovery trajectory, though challenging, has been notably faster than that of many other debt-distressed countries.
Improvements in economic activity, a partial resurgence in purchasing power and reduced uncertainty are among the key positive indicators noted in the report.
The event was attended by Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, K. M. Mahinda Siriwardena, Secretary to the Treasury, Mrs. K. M. A. N. Daulagala, Senior Deputy Governor, Dr. C. Amarasekara, Assistant Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) S. Jegajeevan, Director of Economic Research and Dr. L. R. C. Pathberiya and Additional Director of Economic Research at the Central Bank Dr. V. D. Wickramarachchi.
[PMD]
Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
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