News
US ambassador speaks glowingly of JVP
By Saman Indrajith
US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung yesterday said the JVP’s popularity was growing because the party resonated with the public.
“To me the JVP is a significant party. They have a growing presence. They resonate with the public during recent times,” Ambassador Chung said at a roundtable discussion at the Jefferson House in Colombo.
She said that her recent meeting with the JVP leadership was very constructive. “I know that there had been a lot of rhetoric in the past. I thought it is my duty to really connect with the JVP leadership as person to person, not just as a party to the US Government. It was a really refreshing and honest conversation. We probably do not agree with everything, but I told them to speak to us directly if they have any concern about the US policy, investment projects or any programme here. So that we could get away from misinformation and disinformation,” the Ambassador said.
“I think we have a good understanding. They are a growing political party and their ideas are accepted by the public,” Ambassador Chung said.
Asked to comment on NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa’s recent allegation that she had thwarted a government move to remove those forcibly occupying the Galle Face green, Ambassador Chung said that people have a right for peaceful protest.
“Wimal Weerawansa is someone I haven’t met yet. I have seen him commenting on US embassy activities. We support peaceful protests, something we do around the world and we do it here. We have called for the restraint of the police and military. We believe in the power of peaceful protests. I am not sure what his intents of those comments, but supporting peaceful protests is something regular that the US does. We call the protesters to remain peaceful and the security forces to use restraint,” the Ambassador said.
Latest News
Concessionary priced food packages for new ‘Aswesuma’ applicants from 01st to 13th April
In keeping with the proposal by the President in his 2025 budget, for the provision of a package essential goods at a concessionary price during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival season, it has been planned to provide a food package containing essential food items valued at Rs. 5000/- for only Rs. 2,500/-.
It is expected to select appropriate beneficiaries from among the 812,753 candidates who have submitted new applications for Aswesuma benefits.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development jointly with the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to take necessary steps to provide the food package to the beneficiaries through the Lanka Sathosa outlet network and COOPFED outlets from 01.04.2025 to 13.04.2025
The Cabinet of Ministers have decided as follows considering the resolutions submitted by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development along with the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments on payment of salaries according to the revised salary scales with effect from 01.04.2025 based on the resolution furnished by the President for revising the salaries of government service by the budget 2025;
• To empower the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments to issue circular instructions to the the secretaries of all the Ministries, Local Government Secretaries and Heads of Departments in regard to salary revisions of the government service.
• To empower the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to issue circular instructions for state corporations, statutory boards and fully government owned companies and other institutions.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted to amend the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007 for remedying the shortcomings related to the transparency according to the international standards for prevention of money laundering, financing terrorism and other illegal activities.
Accordingly, the draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman has been revised as per instructions provided by the Attorney General subject to the special decision of the Supreme Court No. SC/SD/92/2024 and clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the final draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Safety and Cooperative Development to publish the aforementioned draft bill in the government gazette notification and subsequently submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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