News

Both me & AKD are in same boat – RW

Published

8 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

Solar power tariffs revised

Published

3 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

3 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.

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News

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

Published

3 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)