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Peliyagoda land to be sold to pay salaries of two state institutions!

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State Engineering Corporation (SEC) Chairman Rathnasiri Kalupahana said that a Cabinet paper has been prepared to sell a valuable land located in Peliyagoda belonging to the SEC for about 10 billion rupees.

He said that the land will be sold for the payment of employee salaries, arrears of salaries and arrears of EPF of the SEC and its affiliated National Equipment and Machinery Organization (NEMO).

The chairman said that it has been decided to sell a 17-acre, 2-rood, 17-perch land with a high urban value located next to the Peliyagoda Fish Market.

Mr. Kalupahana said this when inquired about the payment of mere Rs.7,000 to the NEMO employees for the month of May.

He said that due to the ongoing economic crisis in the country and the collapse of the construction sector, the salary payment to the employees of SEC and NEMO has become a serious issue due to the loss of income. He said steps have been taken to pay a part of the salary in this way from the money that received.

The chairman said that Rs.2,600 million will also be required to pay some 1,100 employees who are ready to retire voluntarily.

He said that the large-scale financial irregularities of NEMO and the recruitment of an excess of employees during the ‘Yahapalana’ Government have also led to the issues at the institution.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Kalupahana said that they have pointed out to the ministers in charge and the Ministry of Finance on several occasions that it is difficult to pay salaries to the employees of these institutions in the face of the current economic crisis.

“Not only the salaries, even the employee EPF and ETF allowances have not been paid for two years. Therefore, 1,100 employees are about to resign voluntarily. We made a request to the Treasury to compensate them. But the Treasury rejected our request and informed us that if our institution has any assets, it could be sold to pay compensation.”

“Accordingly, we prepared a Cabinet paper through Minister Prasanna Ranatunga to sell a valuable land adjacent to the Peliyagoda Fish Market and compensate the employees.”

“The current value of this land has been determined by the Government Valuation Department as between Rs.9 billion and 10 billion. There is also a two-storied building that was built during the tenure of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. However, the construction was halted during the ‘Yahapalana’ Government and it has been abandoned now. If the building had been fully constructed, the value of this land would have increased even more.”

“Although President Ranil Wickremesinghe approved the Cabinet paper, the Lands Ministry Secretary informed us that it is not possible to implement the decision. This situation has become a major issue for us. Accordingly, following the intervention of Minister Ranatunga, the institution was taken over by the Ministry of Finance through a special gazette. This will be convenient for future activities,” he said.

Mr. Kalupahana said that a discussion will be held today (19) with Acting Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe and a group of senior officials of the Finance Ministry to discuss and find solutions to these pressing issues.

Source – Aruna

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No strike on the coastal railway line (Update)

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The Locomotive Operating Engineers Union has temporarily suspended its decision to withdraw from coastal train operations from 12 noheon today (June 06), following a discussion with the Railway General Manager this morning.  

The union, which was demanding a solution to the faulty signaling system on the coastal line, said it received a positive response during the meeting.  

 


(Previous news 2025 June 06 – 10.53.a.m.)

Train drivers to suspend coastal line operations today

Train drivers have decided to suspend coastal line operations from 12 noon today (June 06), citing unresolved issues with the signaling system between Panadura and Moratuwa.

According to Locomotive Operating Engineers Union General Secretary – Chandana Wiyanduwa, the decision follows a near-accident involving the Sagarika train yesterday (June 05), which was halted near Moratuwa, due to a broken rail track.

An individual had managed to alert the driver in time, preventing a possible tragedy.

The faulty signal system also led to a slow train from Panadura proceeding with a green light, unaware that another train was already on the same track and heading in the same direction, posing a serious safety risk.

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Mervyn Silva Indicted, subsequently bailed

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The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) today (June 06) formally handed over an indictment to former Minister of Labour and Public Relations, Mervyn Silva, before the Colombo High Court.

The charges allege that Silva violated provisions of the Bribery Act by possessing assets – including properties, vehicles, and bank accounts – worth several crores of rupees, which are suspected to be disproportionate to his declared lawful income.

The indictment was presented before Colombo High Court Judge Aditya Patabendi. Following the submission, the court ordered that the accused be released on bail.

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‘Aswesuma’ granted to 400,000 more families while another 420,000 families lose it

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The Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment says that an additional 400,000 families will receive the ‘Aswesuma’ relief allowance next month.

Minister Dr. Upali Pannilage stated that the selection process is at its final stages.

He also noted that benefits for 420,000 families in the transitional category have been suspended since last April.

Currently, 1.38 million families are receiving “Aswesuma” welfare benefits.

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