News

Govt. repurposes luxury ministerial residences, cuts excessive MP privileges

Published

5 months ago

January 12, 2025

editor

The Government has decided that 50 “luxury” official residences set aside for cabinet ministers will be utilised for other purposes that will bring revenue to the state.

No minister in the current government would move into the luxury residences, Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala told the media.

Instead, they would be used by other government departments or utilised for tourism purposes, he added.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption is to be allocated one of the residences as it has requested new premises owing to space constraints in the present building.

The other houses too will be allocated on a case-by-case basis. “Given the massive amount of public funds that have already been spent on these residences, we are studying the revenue-generating avenues,” the minister said. He assured that the residences would be utilised “for the good of the people.”

MPs would be given “modest” quarters either at the Madiwela housing complex for MPs or similar housing complexes, with priority being given to MPs who live far from Colombo. Since the number of quarters at the Madiwela housing complex is insufficient, several unmarried MPs are occupying one housing unit, the minister revealed.

Speaking on other steps the government has taken to reduce the “excessive privileges” granted to MPs, Minister Wijepala noted that the Government had already abolished vehicle permits for politicians.

“The practice is for the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs to issue a circular granting vehicle permits to MPs of the new Parliament. I won’t be issuing that circular. We have stopped the practice of granting such excessive privileges using public funds,” the minister said.

The Government will allocate official vehicles to MPs from the available vehicle pools. They will have to return those vehicles when they cease to become MPs.

Meanwhile, the Government is also set to introduce legislation that will revoke pensions granted to MPs and their personal parliamentary staff, who are eligible to receive pensions after just five years, he revealed. “This (pension) is unfair given that public servants have to work many years before being eligible for pensions. This is an excessive privilege for MPs, and we have taken a decision to abolish it,” he said.

(The Sunday Times)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by The Sunday Times has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Solar power tariffs revised

Published

5 hours ago

June 22, 2025

editor

The Cabinet has approved a revision of tariffs for newly contracted solar energy systems in Sri Lanka, effective from June 16, 2025.

According to a letter issued by the Ministry of Energy dated June 20, the updated rates are as follows:

Rs. 20.90 per unit for systems up to 5 kilowatts (kW)
Rs. 19.61 per unit for systems between 5 kW and 20 kW
Rs. 17.46 per unit for systems between 20 kW and 100 kW

These revised rates will apply to all applicants who pay the system clearance fees on or after June 16, 2025. The new tariffs will also be valid for extension requests submitted on or after that date.

(dailynews.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Army denies social media claims fraudulent officer removals

Published

6 hours ago

June 22, 2025

editor

The Sri Lanka Army has dismissed recent social media claims suggesting a group of officers is being fraudulently removed using forged documents.

In a statement, the Army said the allegations are completely false stating that such assertions stem from a fundamental lack of understanding regarding military administrative protocols.

The allegations are aimed at damaging the institution’s reputation in the eyes of the public.

While confirming that no removals have taken place without proper procedures or the approval of the President, the statement asserts that the Army is committed to transparency while safeguarding national security.

Army_PR Download

News

A/L top achievers in North, felicitated (Pics)

Published

6 hours ago

June 22, 2025

editor

Three hundred students from the Northern Province who excelled in all subject streams of the 2023 G.C.E. Advanced Level (A/L) Examination will each receive a grant of Rs. 100,000 from the President’s Fund.

As part of a newly launched initiative to honour high-performing students at the district level for the 2023/2024 G.C.E. A/L Examination, the President’s Fund hosted an award ceremony this morning (22) at the Iranamadu Nelum Piyasa Auditorium in the Northern Province.

During the event, 300 students from the districts of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya, specifically 60 students per district, with the top 10 students from each subject stream, were recognised and presented with financial awards for their outstanding academic performance. The President’s Fund has allocated a total of Rs. 30 million for this initiative, which is expected to be extended to all districts in the future.

Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, addressed the gathering and noted that following the formation of the new government, the President’s Fund has been restructured and expanded under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Disanayaka. He emphasised that the Fund now operates with increased transparency, correcting past irregularities to ensure benefits are directed to the truly deserving. Dr. Kumanayake also mentioned ongoing efforts to digitise the Fund and decentralise its services to improve accessibility and efficiency.

He further highlighted that education is the key to a successful life and urged the students to take full advantage of the support provided, pursue academic excellence, become responsible citizens and contribute positively to the country’s development.
Also addressing the event were Speaker (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne and Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Ramalingam Chandrasekar.

A vote of thanks was delivered by Abhishek, a student from Jaffna Hindu College, who expressed heartfelt appreciation to the President and the President’s Fund. He described the programme as a valuable opportunity for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue higher education and achieve their goals.

In attendance at the ceremony were Northern Province Governor Nagalingam Vethanayahan, Deputy Minister of Cooperative Development Upali Samarasinghe, Members of Parliament K. Ilankumaran, Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy and M. Jagadeeswaran, along with other public representatives. Also present were Mr. Roshan Gamage, Senior Additional Secretary to the President and Secretary of the President’s Fund, senior officials from the Fund, government officers, heads of security forces, parents and students.

(President’s Media Division)