The State Veterinary Surgeons’ Association has launched a token strike today (June 09).

The strike began at 6.00 a.m. today, based on several demands, including the failure to implement a separate service constitution for veterinary surgeons despite previous efforts.

Association Chairman – Dr. Upul Ranjith Kumara stated that, as a result, the operations of all government veterinary offices will be disrupted.

The Department of Meteorology stated that, showery conditions are expected to enhance in the southwestern part of the island from tomorrow (June 10), with strong wind gusts over the island and in the sea areas around the island.

Accordingly, the general public is requested to be attentive to future forecasts issued by the Dept. of Meteorology in this regard.

Several spells of showers will occur in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Northern and Uva provinces during the afternoon or night.

Fairly strong winds of about 30-40 kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne announced to Parliament that Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunathilaka has withdrawn from the three-member Parliamentary Committee that was appointed to investigate and report on a complaint received regarding the actions of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dayasiri Jayasekara.

The Speaker made this announcement to Parliament on Friday at the commencement of Parliamentary business.

Accordingly, the Speaker announced that SJB MP Rauff Hakeem has been appointed to replace Karunathilaka.

The committee was appointed on May 20, after considering a complaint that was received regarding the conduct of Jayasekara in the Parliament Chamber. Deputy Chairperson of Committees MP Hemali Weerasekara will serve as the Chairperson of this Committee, while the other member will be Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.

Addressing the House on Friday, MP Karunathilaka questioned the Speaker on appointing unnecessary investigation committees for minor incidents, which in the past too he had chaired and been part of, that ultimately bore no result where no reports of the findings have been produced. Karunathilaka said that this was the reason why he withdrew from this committee to investigate and report on the complaint received on actions of MP Dayasiri Jayasekara.