News

Local politicians saddened when Julie Chung being criticized: Wimal

Published

1 year ago

May 2, 2023

editor

When President Ranil Wickremesinghe gave consent to the agreements of Victoria Nuland and the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, the activists of Aragalaya were silent, Supreme Lanka Coalition Chairman and National Freedom Front Leader MP Wimal Wirawamsa said.

He said this while addressing the May Day rally of the Supreme Lanka Coalition which was held yesterday (01) at the Hyde Park Ground in Colombo.

Addressing the May rally, he said when Julie Chung is being criticized, Champika and Sarath Fonseka seemed hurt.

“This is the new way of regime change. Plan “A” was to get the Speaker’s consent to set up an interim government with local and foreign representatives. Fonseka is hurt because he was also to be appointed as one of the members. This is the new strategy to conquer us,” he said.

Puppet rule…..

“They want to control us like puppets. Otherwise, we will be destroyed like Haiti, Libya and Iraq. Victoria Nuland came after Ranil became President. Two weeks after she arrived, on February 14, a special US mission of 20 people arrived. The head of the CIA and an official in charge of this region of the US State Department arrived in two of their planes.”

Those who came through VIP terminal requested to tap our phones….

“They were given high privileges. They made four requests and Ranil agreed to three of them. That’s why Julie Chang is completely silent right now.

“The first request was to tap into our telephone cable system. The next one was to put a CIA official in charge of the National Intelligence Service. Third one is to allow software to capture bio data of all passengers passing through the airport. Consent was given to all these three proposals. The last one is adding an amendment to the SOFA agreement to allow US security personnel to roam freely inside Sri Lanka. President Wickremesinghe says that this request will be discussed further,”

News

Sri Lanka slips down Press Freedom Index

Published

10 mins ago

May 3, 2024

editor

Reporters Without Borders released the 2024 World Press Freedom Index on Friday (03).

According to RFS, Sri Lanka has slipped to the 150th position in the index, from 135th position last year.

Click here to read the RSF Sri Lanka Fact File

News

Companies should be ashamed of not giving workers a raise – Vadivel Suresh

Published

19 mins ago

May 3, 2024

editor

Mr. Vadivel Suresh, General Secretary of the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers’ Union, emphasized that both the Government and the Plantation Employers’ Association bear the responsibility of providing wage increases to plantation workers. These workers, who play a pivotal role in sustaining the esteemed reputation of ‘Ceylon Tea’, contribute significantly to the national economy of Sri Lanka.

MP Vadivel Suresh, made this statement during his participation in today’s (03) news conference at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC), under the theme ‘Collective path to a Stable Country’.

The Member of Parliament noted that plantation companies, benefiting significantly from the fluctuating dollar value, ought to feel ashamed for not providing their workers with a salary raise. He emphasized that the salary increase outlined in the gazette notice issued by the Labour Commissioner General for plantation workers should be implemented.

MP Vadivel Suresh further commented:

“We express gratitude to the President and the government for raising the salary of plantation workers to LKR. 1700. However, the Plantation Employers’ Association is contesting this decision.

The estate companies that profited greatly from the dollar’s value should be ashamed of themselves for not giving their workers a raise. Expressing opposition to the decision to increase wages for their workers, who contribute significantly to strengthening the national economy by upholding the reputation of Ceylon Tea, is regrettable. The decision to raise estate workers’ wages was not made hastily; rather, it followed extensive negotiations over the course of a year involving the Department of Labour, trade unions, and relevant stakeholders.

Employers’ unions persistently refrained from engaging in wage-fixing negotiations. Similarly, they remained silent when a salary increase of LKR 1000 was requested. However, the Labour Commissioner General, utilizing his authority, lawfully issued a gazette notice for a salary hike of LKR 1700. It is unjust for estate companies to procrastinate without providing relief to the workforce amidst fluctuations in the dollar’s value.

Both the government and the plantation Employers’ Association bear responsibility in this matter. Consequently, companies cannot contravene government decisions. Estate companies claim they are in dialogue with the high-level committee for the ultimate verdict. However, all 22 estate companies are owned by five individuals. These owners are involved not only in tea plantations but also in sectors such as tourism, small-scale manufacturing, agriculture, and gems. Additionally, plantation workers and trade unions must unite in support of this wage increase.

(President’s Media Division)

Gazette issued to up estate workers’ daily wage

Unable to increase daily wage – Plantation owners

News

CID records another statement from Maithri

Published

58 mins ago

May 3, 2024

editor

Former President Maithripala Sirisena has appeared before the Criminal Investigations Department today (May 03) to record another statement regarding the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

The CID had previously obtained a five-hour-long statement from the former President on March 25 over a statement he had made a few days earlier.