News

5000 hectares in Monaragala, Kotiagala & Kabilitta temporarily given for farming

Published

1 year ago

December 2, 2022

editor

A discussion was held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (01) under the patronage of President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Rathnayake on the utilization of land in Monaragala, Kotiyagala and Kabilitta areas for farming to face the food crisis in the future. These lands were previously reserved for reforestation.

Currently, around 8000 hectares of land in the Monaragala, Kotiyagala and Kabilitta areas owned by the Forest Department has been reserved for reforestation.It was decided to commence the afforestation activities immediately in the 3000 hectares where saplings have been prepared for afforestation.

The issue of the remaining 5000 hectares of land to be distributed among farmers temporarily for cultivation until the necessary facilities for reforestation were prepared was also discussed at length.

It was also focussed, during the discussion on the possibilities of releasing a certain extent of land for cattle rearing on a temporary basis.

President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayake advised the Forest Conservation Department to seek the advice of the Attorney General to resolve the legal issues that may arise in carrying out these activities and instructed heads of all related line institutions accordingly.

Presidential Adviser on Food Security Dr Suren Batagoda, Secretary to the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation R.M.C.M. A. Herath and a group of heads of line institutions and officers also participated.

News

This week’s Cabinet decisions

Published

2 hours ago

April 26, 2024

editor

A number of decisions have been taken at the Cabinet meeting held yesterday (April 25).

The decisions taken by the Cabinet of Ministers are as follows :

CabinetDecision_E24_04_25 Download

News

Salley, leading figure behind Zahran – Fonseka (Video)

Published

3 hours ago

April 26, 2024

editor

Former Army commander Sarath Fonseka told Parliament today (April 26) that the person who had groomed the main Easter Sunday suicide bomber – Zahran Hashim, is the current head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Maj Gen (Rtd.) Suresh Salley.

Although Salley is currently trying to wash his hands off the matter, he cannot escape this, MP Fonseka said.

‘When I was there, I had removed Salley from the SIS. But he was made SIS head by Gotabaya after my departure. Then, Boniface Perera, who was Salley’s right hand man, was made the Eastern Commander. If he starts to slander me again, I will release this file to social media, which will portray what kind of man he truly is. Such people were in contact with Zahran and made him a hero,’ he said.

MP Fonseka also said that Salley had recently said that he wasn’t in the country when the attacks took place. He cannot escape the responsibility by saying he wasn’t in the country, not with the present technology available, the MP added.

He has also said that the process of identifying and nabbing a terrorist cannot be done through commissions and committees and it is the officers Intelligence services and the CID who have the relevant capacity and experience in such matters.

MP Fonseka further said that strict punishments should be given to those who were responsible for the Easter Sunday bombings and who evaded responsibility.

If we secure power, I am confident that the perpetrators can be brought to justice within a year, he further said.

Today is the final day of the three-day adjournment debate on the 2019 Easter attacks.

(Video : VoiceTube)

BIZ

2 companies from Russia & India to take over MRIA management

Published

3 hours ago

April 26, 2024

editor

Accordingly, the Cabinet approval has been granted to hand over the management of MRIA to Shaurya Aeronautics Pvt. Ltd of India and Airports of Regions Management Company of Russia or an affiliated company thereof for a period of 30 years.

Earlier during a Cabinet meeting held on Jan. 09, 2023, approval was granted to invite EOIs from interested parties for utilizing the facilities of the MRIA.

EOIs have been called, for which 05 institutions have submitted offers for the purpose.