News
UNP asks govt. to come down to earth
by Piyasena Dissanayake
UNP Chairman former minister Wajira Abeywardene yesterday called on government ministers to pay a visit to super markets and check the high prices of organic food in shelves and that would enable them to realise that the majority of people cannot afford them.
“This means that the majority of people cannot depend on organic agriculture alone. It also shows the shortsightedness of the government in their so-called organic food drive,” Abeywardene said addressing a meeting of professionals at the Galle District UNP office on Saturday.
Abeywardene said that it is now realized by people that only the UNP under the leadership of former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe could salvage this nation from a crisis imminent. “Tea industry is at its death throes. Situation is the same with almost every cash crop. Agriculture industry in this country has never seen a disaster of this nature. Now shops have shelves of organic foods increasingly since that is coming to the market after the government’s experiment. Their prices are so exorbitant that the majority of people cannot buy them. The ministers should visit supermarkets to see how the majority of consumers walk past those shelves to realise that soon the majority of people would face severe food shortage,” he said.
“The end result is clear. The country is being led to a famine. Industries are being closed. For example, the construction industry has collapsed owing to cement shortage and hundreds of thousands of construction workers, including masons, electricians, carpenters and supportive servicemen such as daily-wage earners working at building sites have been rendered jobless. There is a severe tile shortage, too.
“This is not a crisis we can solve by blaming each other for the status quo. We must come together to change this. Only the UNP leader could steer the country out of this crisis. We have to think out of the box and strengthen it as much as possible,” Abeywardene said.
Latest News
IMF Executive Board approves US$206 Million in Emergency Financial Support for Sri Lanka
The IMF Executive Board approved emergency financing under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), providing Sri Lanka with immediate access to SDR 150.5 million (about US$206 million,
equivalent to 26 percent of quota) to help Sri Lanka address the urgent needs arising from the catastrophic Cyclone Ditwah and preserve macroeconomic stability.
In response to severe weather impacts, the Sri Lanka Navy conducted a diving and technical assistance operation on Friday (19 Dec 25) to clear major debris obstructing vital infrastructure.
Heavy rainfall caused a significant rise in the water level of the Mahaweli River, washed large quantities of debris, including logs and bamboo, downstream. These remain lodged in the Diyakapanathota in Gatambe, Peradeniya and Lewella bridges, obstructing the smooth flow of water.
Acting promptly upon request, a Navy diving team executed a coordinated operation in collaboration with the Road Development Authority. The team removed the accumulated debris, restoring normal water flow through the bridges.
Latest News
Landslide early warnings issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended till 8AM on Sunday (21)
The Landslide Early Warning Centre of the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has extended the Landslide Early Warning issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya till 08:00AM on Sunday (21st December 2025)
The LEVEL III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Medadumbara, Doluwa, Ududumbara and Minipe in the Kandy district, and Nildandahinna, Hanguranketha, Mathurata and
Walapane have been extended.
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have also been issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Passara, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Lunugala and Kandeketiya in the Badulla district, Thumpane, Harispattuwa, Udapalatha, Kundasale, Akurana, Poojapitiya, Udunuwara, Pathadumbara, Pasbage Korale, Gangawata Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Yatinuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Panvila, Pathahewaheta and Deltota in the Kandy district, Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, Ukuwela, Naula, Matale, Ambanganga Korale, Rattota, Pallepola, Wilgamuwa, Yatawatta and Laggala Pallegama in the Matale district, and Nuwara-Eliya in the Nuwara-Eliya district.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Welimada, Haputhale, Haldummulla, Ella and
Bandarawela in the Badulla district, Alawwa, Mallawapitiya,
Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kurunegala district, and Kothmale East, Ambagamuwa Korale, Kothmale West, Thalawakele and Norwood in the Nuwara-Eliya district.
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Landslide early warnings issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended till 8AM on Sunday (21)
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