News

Both me & AKD are in same boat – RW

Published

3 months ago

October 28, 2024

editor

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

Fmr. minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa arrested

Published

4 hours ago

January 22, 2025

editor

Former Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

According to the Police Media Spokesperson, he has been arrested for allegedly misappropriating Rs. 6.1 million in flood relief aid in 2014.

News

A country can’t progress through laws & regulations alone – President

Published

4 hours ago

January 22, 2025

editor

President Anura Kumara Disanayake emphasized that a country cannot progress solely through laws and regulations and highlighted that tradition is a vital component of a nation.

President Disanayake emphasized that Sri Lanka has accomplished a remarkable mission through the traditions built on Buddhism and that it is the responsibility of everyone to safeguard these Buddhist traditions and pass them down securely to future generations.

The President expressed these views during a discussion held today (22) at the Presidential Secretariat on the 74th Upasampada Vinaya Karma’ ceremony of the Sri Lanka Rāmañña Maha Nikāya.

The President, recalling the historical significance of the Upasampada Vinaya Karma, a major ceremony in Buddhism, stated that the cessation of ordained monks (Upasampada Bhikkhus) would mean the dissolution of the Buddhist institution itself. He emphasized the importance of preserving these ancient traditions and carrying them forward with honour.

The national Upasampada Vinaya Karma ceremony, organized biennially by the Sri Lanka Rāmañña Maha Nikāya, is scheduled to take place from June 30 to July 5, 2025, at the Punyawardhanarama Viharaya in Vijithapura, Palugaswewa, within the Udakukkhepa Sima Malakaya.
This grand ceremony, which will ordain over 250 novice monks (Samanera), will be conducted under state sponsorship.

As the government considers the national Upasampada Vinaya Karma ceremony, which is held every two years, a dignified task, the President instructed officials to ensure that all necessary facilities are provided without any shortcomings.

The discussion was attended by prominent figures, including the Most Venerable Makulewe Wimala Mahanayake Thero, the highest prelate of the Sri Lanka Rāmañña Maha Nikāya of the Sangha ancestry of Mahavihara; Most Venerable Professor Aththangane Rathanapala Nayaka Thero, Supreme Judicial Leader of Sri Lanka Rāmañña Maha Nikāya; the Anu Nayaka Theros, Most Venerable Waleboda Gunasiri Thero and Most Venerable Ankumbure Premavansa Thero; along with the Maha Sangha, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath; Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi; Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage; former High Court Justice and Governor of the North Central Province Wasantha Kumara Wimalasiri; Chairman of the Rāmañña Nikayarakshaka Sabha and former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya; Secretary of the Rāmañña Nikayarakshaka Sabha and former Member of Parliament Lasantha Alagiyawanna, among others.

(President’s Media Division)

News

Women MPs’ caucus discuss on setting common minimum age for marriage

Published

4 hours ago

January 22, 2025

editor

The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus of Sri Lanka, chaired by Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj, has discussed several legislative reforms, including a proposal to establish a common legal minimum age for marriage across all communities of the country.

Meeting on Jan. 21, the caucus had discussed the need to amend existing marriage laws as well as to correctly define a “child” in alignment with international standards to enhance child protection. efforts in Sri Lanka.