Connect with us

News

Utilisation of Consolidated Fund for estate workers’ incentives challenged

Published

on

Rohini

SJB MP warns Budget Chief may end up behind bars

Matale District lawmaker Rohini Kaviratne (SJB) has questioned President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s proposal to utilise the Consolidated Fund to pay a section of the estate workers’ salary increase, beginning January next year.

President Dissanayake, who also holds the Finance portfolio, on 07 November announced that the daily wage of estate workers would be increased to Rs. 1,750 from Rs. 1,350 under the proposed new scheme. President Dissanayake proposed that estate owners contribute Rs. 200 while the Treasury granted an additional Rs. 200 as a daily attendance incentive.

Declaring that the SJB believed that the daily wage of estate workers should be Rs 2,000, the former UNPer emphasised that the government couldn’t, under any circum stances, grant privileged status to those working for big estates.

According to her, the President’s proposal was contrary to the Public Financial Management Act, No. 44 of 2024 (PFMA) that became operational on 09 August, 2024. Introduced in the wake of Aragalaya and declaration of bankruptcy, PFMA replaced the previous Fiscal Management (Responsibility) Act, No. 3 of 2003.

Kaviratne said that Finance Secretary, Harshana Sooriyapperuma, who previously served as a National List MP of the NPP, may not have been conversant with that Act, and other related laws, hence the unprecedented proposal.

The SJB MP said that she had raised the issue with the Auditor General, the National Procurement Commission, as well as the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

The Opposition MP warned that in case the government acted, regardless of the laws of the land, the Director Budget, too ,could end up in prisons like former Immigration and Emigration Chief Harsha Illukpitiya.

By Shamindra Ferdinando



News

Police officers donate LKR 9,687,462 from day’s salary to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

Published

on

By

A sum of LKR. 9,687,462, raised from day’s salary officers of the Police Department, has been donated to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to support the recovery of communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah and to assist in rebuilding the country following the disaster.

To date, officers of the Police Department have contributed over LKR. 74 million to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund through three such contributions of one day’s salary.

The donation was presented on Wednesday  (22) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat by the Personal Assistant to the Inspector General of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police  C. C. Bamunuarachchi, to the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Chief Inspector  Udaya Kumara, Officer-in-Charge of the Police Secretariat, was also present on the occasion.

[Presidents Media Division]

Continue Reading

Latest News

Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time

Published

on

By

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 26 April 2026, valid for 27 April 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry
of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

Continue Reading

News

Opposition asks for PSC to probe Treasury theft

Published

on

Sajith

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the illegal diversion of Treasury funds, amounting to US$2.5 million to a third-party account.

Premadasa has said both the chairmanship and a majority of the Committee’s membership should be held by the Opposition to ensure impartiality.

The government has not only failed to account for the loss of US$2.5 million but also deliberately withheld information from Parliament, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) and the public, Premadasa has told the media, accusing the ruling party of seeking to deflect responsibility by initiating an internal departmental inquiry, which he describes as a biased process designed to justify predetermined conclusions.

The Opposition Leader has said only a transparent and independent probe could establish the facts, adding that such an investigation could be effectively carried out through a Parliamentary Select Committee led by the Opposition.

He has also warned that the alleged failure to inform Parliament about the missing funds amounted to a serious breach of accountability.

Continue Reading

Trending