News

President’s Secretary refutes EC’s call to halt development programs

Published

9 months ago

July 30, 2024

editor

President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake has informed the Chairman of the Election Commission R. M. L. Ratnayake that since the various development and welfare programmes implemented by the Government are not illegal activities, it is not possible to issue written orders and instructions to government officials to stop those programmes.

This is in response to a letter sent by the Election Commission Chairman to the President’s Secretary noting as the Presidential Election will be held soon, complaints have been received from many parties that party and candidate promotions are being carried through development programmes in the country and all institutions should be requested to stop this illegal practice which is being done in violation of the directives issued by the Election Commission.

In that letter, the President’s Secretary has recalled that two years ago, the country was economically bankrupt and the then government was not able to meet the basic needs of the people and the situation was such that there was no conducive atmosphere either to discuss or hold elections.

The President’s Secretary points out that although the economy has reached a stable state through the economic reform programme implemented together with the IMF, according to the data of the Department of Census and Statistics, one out of every six Sri Lankans is suffering from multidimensional poverty and an agreement has been reached with the IMF to bring them to a full economic recovery and for this purpose it is essential to continue the development programmes and meet revenue targets.

The President’s Secretary emphasises that if there is any obstacle to the programme, the country’s economy will collapse again and it will be inevitable that the country will go into a severe economic crisis. It has also been mentioned that the Government has no intention of making the low-income earners who have been living in the grip of the economic crisis even more miserable.

The President’s Secretary has also stated that he is not able to give written orders and instructions to the government officials to stop the development and welfare programmes as requested since he is not able to interpret the various development and welfare programmes implemented by the government as illegal actions as stated in the letter of the Chairman of the Election Commission.

President’s Secretary Ekanayake has also mentioned in his letter that it is appropriate to give space to all the relevant parties to present their facts while dealing with the complaints received by the Election Commission.

He has also said during the Presidential Election period, the Election Commission should pay due attention to the economy of the country and the living conditions of the low-income people and to the Articles 104b(4a)(a) and 104b(4a)(b) of the Constitution when issuing guidelines to public institutions and officials.

dailynews.lk
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

24 schools closed due to “Siri Dalada Vandanawa” to reopen on Monday

Published

4 hours ago

April 26, 2025

editor

A total of 24 schools in and around Kandy that were closed due to “Siri Dalada Vandanawa,” the special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic, will reopen on Monday (April 28), said the Chief Secretary of the Central Province.

Meanwhile, another 37 schools that are accommodating Police and security forces personnel will reopen on 29 April.

Over 50 schools in the Kandy town and surrounding areas were closed from April 21 in view of the special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

The special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy got underway on April 18 and will conclude tomorrow.

Schools that will reopen on Monday are as follows;
1. Dambawela Primary School
2. Gothami Balika Vidyalaya
3. St. Anthony’s College
4. Sri Chandananda Buddhist College
5. Chandananda Buddhist Girls’ College
6. Pushpadana Girls’ College, Kandy
7. Good Shepherd’s Convent, Kandy
8. Hindu Senior College, Kandy
9. Madduma Bandara Vidyalaya, Kandy
10. Viharamahadevi Girls’ College, Kandy
11. Girls’ High School, Kandy
12. Siddhi Lebbe College, Kandy
13. Dharmawickrema Girls’ College, Kandy
14. Kingswood College, Kandy
15. Peradeniya Central College, Kandy
16. Senkadagala Weerodhara Vidyalaya, Kandy
17. Dharmasoka College, Kandy
18. Sanghamittha College, Kandy
19. Eriyagama Pushpadana Vidyalaya, Denuwara
20. Gannoruwa Junior School, Denuwara
21. St. Mary’s Vidyalaya, Ampitiya
22. Uduwela Buddhist College
23. Uduwela Maha Vidyalaya
24. Wathuliyadda Primary School

Schools to be reopened on Tuesday are as follows:
1. Berrewaerts College
2. Berrewaerts Primary School
3. Siddhartha College, Ampitiya
4. St. Anthony’s Girls’ College
5. Vidyartha College
6. Thakshila College
7. Keppetipola College
8. Mahinda (Special) Model School Kandy
9. Special Education Resource Centre, Ampitiya
10. Asoka Vidyalaya Kandy
11. Gurudeniya Maha Vidyalaya
12. Vidyaloka Maha Vidyalaya, Thennekumbura
13. Dharmaraja College
14. D.S. Senanayake Maha Vidyalaya
15. Mahamaya Girls’ College
16. Sri Rahula National School
17. St. Sylvester’s College
18. Swarnamali Girls’ College, Kandy
19. Wariyapola Sri Sumangala College, Kandy
20. Seethadevi Girls’ School, Kandy
21. Sarasawi Uyana Maha Vidyalaya, Kandy
22. Peradeniya Junior Secondary School, Kandy
23. Peradeniya Hindu College
24. Lumbini Royal College, Kandy
25. Sri Vimalabuddhi Junior School, Kandy
26. Rasindev Vidyalaya, Kandy
27. Risikala Aesthetic College
28. Thalathuoya Junior School
29. Badi-Ud-Din Mahmud Girls’ College, Kandy
30. Mahaweli Navodya Maha Vidyalaya
31. Kandy Model School, Wattegama
32. Samudradewi Girls’ College, Wattegama
33. Bandaranayake National College – Kundasale
34. Hemamali Girls’ College
35. Ranabima Royal College, Kandy
36. Vivekananda Vidyalaya, Kandy
37. Mahanama College, Kandy

News

Pope Francis laid to rest

Published

4 hours ago

April 26, 2025

editor

Pope Francis has been buried at Santa Maria Maggiore basilica following his funeral in the Vatican.

In a statement the Vatican says Pope Francis’ coffin has been entombed in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in central Rome.

“The Pope is the first in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican, and his entombment was a private event, allowing for those closest to him to pay their respects,” the statement adds.Pope Francis “touched minds and hearts” and wanted to “build bridges, not walls”, said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who led the funeral service.

Dozens of leaders and dignitaries – including Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky and Prince William – joined an estimated 400,000 mourners who lined the streets of Rome and gathered inside St Peter’s Square itself.

(BBC News)