News

Expedite compensation for crop damages

Published

3 weeks ago

March 6, 2025

editor

President Anura Kumara Disanayake has instructed relevant officials to expedite the process of providing compensation for crop damages caused by recent heavy rains and natural disasters.

The President gave these instructions during a meeting held today (06) at the Presidential Secretariat with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Land and Irrigation.

The meeting was convened to review the budgetary allocations for 2025, specifically the funds designated to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, and to ensure their effective utilization for relevant projects.
The President drew the attention of officials to the errors in decision-making caused by inaccuracies in agricultural data.

The necessity of ensuring fair market prices for agricultural produce was also emphasized, with the objective of protecting farmers while maintaining reasonable prices for consumers.

The discussion addressed measures for the advancement of the livestock sector, the promotion of export-oriented agricultural crops, and the progress of Milco operations.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation – K.D. Lal Kantha, Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation Dr. Susil Ranasinghe, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation D.P. Wickramasinghe, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara, Commissioner General of the Department of Agrarian Development U.B. Rohana Rajapaksha, Director General of the Department of Export Agriculture M.K.S.R.D. Samarasinghe, Chairman of the Paddy Marketing Board A.M.U. Pinnalanda, Director of the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute Professor A.L. Sandika, along with senior officials from the ministry and provincial agricultural directors.

(President’s Media Division)

News

SLTB drivers return to original roles

Published

7 hours ago

March 25, 2025

editor

The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has decided to reassign drivers and conductors who were previously engaged in various other duties.

This decision comes into effect today as announced by Deputy Minister of Transport, Prasanna Kumara Gunasena.

Deputy Minister Gunasena revealed that political interference had led to the assignment of drivers and conductors to various non-related duties.

An investigation uncovered that 333 drivers were affected by these political appointments.

To ensure the fitness and readiness of these drivers for their original roles, they will undergo medical examinations at the National Transport Medical Institute.

Based on the results of these examinations, the drivers will be reassigned to their driving duties.

(News1st)

News

Prof. Gananath Obeyesekere bids adieu

Published

7 hours ago

March 25, 2025

editor

Professor Gananath Obeyesekere, a distinguished academic and former Head of Anthropology at Princeton University, has passed away at the age of 95.

He earned his BA in English from the University of Peradeniya in 1955, followed by an MA in 1958 and a PhD in 1964 from the University of Washington.

Prior to his tenure at Princeton University from 1980 to 2000, Prof. Obeyesekere held prestigious academic positions in Sri Lanka, the University of Washington, and the University of California, San Diego.

Among his popular books are Land Tenure in Village Ceylon, Medusa’s Hair, The Cult of the Goddess Pattini, Buddhism Transformed (coauthor), The Work of Culture, The Apotheosis of Captain Cook: European Mythmaking in the Pacific, and Making Karma.

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NPP MPs submit letter to remove Deshabandu

Published

7 hours ago

March 25, 2025

editor

National People’s Power (NPP) MPs have signed a letter to remove suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon from office.

A total of 115 MPs endorsed the letter, which was submitted to the Speaker this afternoon (March 25).

Tennakoon is currently in remand custody in connection with a 2023 shooting incident that took place outside the W15 hotel in Weligama, which resulted in the death of an officer from the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD).

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