News

New Dy. Secretary General of Parliament assumes duties

Published

8 months ago

September 19, 2023

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The new Chief of Staff and Deputy General Secretary of Parliament G.K.A. Chaminda Kumara Kularatne assumed duties recently.

He assumed duties in the post by taking oaths before Parliament Secretary General Kushani Rohanadeera.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana announced to the Parliament regarding the appointment of senior lawyer Kularatne with effect from September 15 2023 at the beginning of the session today (19).

Mr. Kularatne is an alumnus of Ruwanwella Rajasinghe Madhya Maha Vidyala and a Law graduate of the Open University.

He also holds a postgraduate diploma in Business Management from University of Colombo and University of Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom.

He is also a member of the Sri Lanka Bar Association since 2005 and a member of the Bar Council since 2016.

Senior Lawyer Kularatne has worked as the Secretary to the Chief Government Whip in Parliament, Additional Secretary to the President, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, Additional Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition, Minister Counsellor at the High Commission of Sri Lanka in London, United Kingdom, Senior Assistant Secretary to the President, Assistant Secretary to the President, and has held many administrative positions at an executive level in public service about 20 years.

He is a senior public official with national and international experience in constitutional law, parliamentary affairs and proceedings, public administration and financial regulations.

Mr. Kularatne has represented Sri Lanka in many international conferences and training courses in many countries including the United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia, China, Indonesia and Japan.

He has also worked as a member of the boards of directors of many government institutions including Bank of Ceylon, Merchant Bank, MBSL Insurance Limited, Grand Oriental Hotel (GOH), C/S Maganeguma Emulsion Private Limited, Colombo Financial City Founder Ltd.

Furthermore, Mr. Kularatne was the first South Asian diplomat to represent the Executive Council of the Consular Officers Association, the oldest association of ambassadors, when he served as a Ministerial Counselor at the High Commission of Sri Lanka in London, United Kingdom.

Mr. Kularatne, who is married to lawyer Yogya Kularatne, is a loving father of two sons and a daughter, Parliament said.

News

Sri Lanka slips down Press Freedom Index

Published

8 hours ago

May 3, 2024

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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

8 hours ago

May 3, 2024

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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

9 hours ago

May 3, 2024

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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.