Connect with us

News

Both me & AKD are in same boat – RW

Published

on

Referring to his political fate and his rival candidate at the Presidential Election Anura Kumara Dissanayake, former President Ranil Wickremeisnghe yesterday said both himself and Dissanayake are in the same boat.

Wickremesinghe who addressed an election meeting in Negombo said people in this country has not given a majority to both himself and Mr. Dissanayake at the Presidential Election.

” President Dissanayake has wanted me to stay at home as I have been defeated at the Presidential Election. Yes I accept that I was defeated as majority of people did not vote for me. The majority of people did not vote for Mr. Dissanayake either. Therefore, I am the former President without the endorsement of the majority and Dissanayake is the incumbent President who does not have the endorsement of the majority. Is there any difference between both of us. We are both in a similar position? ” he questioned.

” Anyway I hope that he will be able to serve a full term as the President, ” Mr. Wickremesinghe added.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said the challenge before the incumbent government is to show the IMF how it is going to reduce state expenditure by 13 percent. He said Sri Lanka has to achieve this goal if it is going to secure IMF assistance continuously. “The Government will have to show how it is going to slash expenditure either through a vote on account or through a budget next year,” he said in this regard.

He also challenged the government to shed the proposal to increase the salaries of public servants if it claims that the proposal made by the last regime is not legal. ” Both President Dissanayake and Minister Vijitha Herath has said the proposal to increase salaries is illegal. It was the cabinet which decided to increase salaries in two phases. The treasury initially said there was no funds to increase salaries. I told Udaya Seneviratne whom I appointed to look into salary increase to have a dialogue with the treasury and he did so and informed me that it will be possible to increase salaries in two phases. We decided to increase salaries in two phases accordingly and the cabinet approved this move. New government is now saying that it is illegal. The proposal should be slashed if it is illegal,” he added.

(DailyMirror.lk)

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

News

Bus associations oppose proposal of 2% fare reduction

Published

on

By

The government’s proposal to reduce bus fares by a 2% effective from July 01 has led to the strong disapproval of bus associations, reports say.

It was also proposed not to revise the minimum fare.

The announcement was made during a meeting between officials of the Transport Ministry and representatives of private bus associations to discuss the annual bus fare revision, scheduled for July 01.

Continue Reading

News

UN Rights chief meets families of missing persons

Published

on

By

A group of activists and families of missing persons handed over letters and memorandums to the visiting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk in Trincomalee today (June 25).

UN Human Rights Spokesperson – Jeremy Laurence, who is accompanying the High Commissioner, said while in Trincomalee that Mr. Volker Turk expressed sorrow and solidarity with the families of the disappeared.

Meanwhile, a peaceful demonstration was also held in Trincomalee during this visit, where a group of activists and victims of disappearances was seen holding placards and banners.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights will visit Kandy before concluding his official visit to Sri Lanka tomorrow (June 26) after a special press briefing in Colombo.

Continue Reading

News

200 new super luxury buses to be procured for expressways

Published

on

By

There is an urgent need to introduce new buses to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus fleet, as nearly 52% of the regular bus fleet of the Sri Lanka Transport Board and nearly 94% of the luxury bus fleet have exceeded the economic life span. 

As to the insufficient buses to meet the passenger demand on the expressway, the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) is currently operating 61 luxury buses belonging to the private sector on a profit-sharing basis. 

Therefore, the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has decided to purchase 200 new super-luxury buses by using their own funds. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, Port and Civil Aviation to purchase 29 super luxury buses through the financially capable depots and to purchase the remaining buses by making a down payment using SLTB funds and the balance to be paid in monthly instalments over a period of 5 years.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Sri Lanka Mirror. All Rights Reserved