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The government has decided to arbitrarily rob the retirement payments of the innocent pensioners in the country, revealed Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa upon visiting the Nedigamwila Rajamaha Vihara Temple and receiving blessings from Venerable Dhurandara Uyanwatte Saddharama Thero, the Anunayake of the Amarapura Siri Saddhamma Yukthika Order today (06).

Revealing that these payments are to be deducted under the pretext of crediting the pensioners’ money to Agrahara Insurance, the Opposition Leader added that the government will definitely collect these monies from the retirees should they fail to respond to such a request within two weeks.

The government is trying to make up for loss incurred due to harbouring the rich upon its reigning in via tax reliefs by draining the retired senior citizens who had committed themselves hard for the country for many years, Premadasa added, pledging that he would unconditionally be taking action against this most detestable act.

Expressing his disgust over the government’s fraudulent and shameless move to strategically slash the retirement payments of hundred of thousands of pensioners in the country in the guise of strengthening Agrahara Insurance, the Opposition Leader disclosed that the government issued the latest circular on October 29, 2021 to deduct Rs. 600 from retirees over age 70 and Rs. 400 from retirees below age 70 who retired before 01.01.2016.

The circular demands that the pensioners should read the circular and express within two weeks whether they are opposed to receiving the money, he revealed, questioning as to how many retirees in Sri Lanka would be reading this piece of document. This would be a shameless robbery committed by the government which is violent enough to seek vengeance on the innocent pensioners who are living their old age, Premadasa emphasised, promising that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will be taking every possible action against this act.

The Opposition Leader also joined in inspecting the Nedigamwila Navoda Community Water Supply Project.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna must ensure that unity amongst its allies is protected, as they fought for the same cause.

Speaking at the SLPPs fifth National Convention in Colombo on Tuesday (2), Rajapaksa said the SLPP always advocated peace, a quality that it inherited from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, adding that the size of a party does not matter, and what matters is the objective.

“These parties were with us when the times were tough and they moved with us. They are not the crutches of the SLPP. Therefore, all parties must unite, and making that happen is our responsibility,” Rajapaksa told the convention.

Further, Rajapaksa recalled the sacrifices made by those who contributed towards the SLPP’s historic success and honored them in his comments to the convention.

“Even when are charged, we never took steps to organize rallies to panic the public and we never wanted to keep the people in darkness,” he added in response to the present protests and trade union actions.

The Director General of Health Services has confirmed another 15 coronavirus related deaths for November 04, increasing the country’s death toll due to the virus to 13,821.

The deaths confirmed by the Govt. Information Department today include 06 males and 09 females while two of the victims are between the ages of 30 to 59.

The remaining 13 are in the age category of 60 years and above.

The Director-General of Health Services has confirmed 10 more coronavirus-related deaths for November 01, pushing the death toll in the country due to the virus to 13,770.

This includes 05 males and 05 female patients, according to the Department of Government Information.

One of the victims is aged between 30-59 years while 08 others are aged 60 years and above. The remaining victim is a female aged below 30 years.

An Extraordinary Gazette Notification has been issued removing the maximum retail prices imposed on a number of essential food items including sugar, dhal, potatoes, big onions and chicken.

The new Gazette Notification has revoked 7 gazette notifications issued by the Government setting maximum retail prices for these essential food items.

This gazette notification has been issued with the signature of the Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority Major General Shantha Dissanayake with effect from yesterday (03).

Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero's appointment as the new Chancellor of the University of Colombo has been confirmed.

Accordingly, the Thera is set to assume duties as the new Chancellor of the University of Colombo from November 17, 2021.

The total number of people who died of COVID-19 infection in Sri Lanka moved up as 15 more fatalities were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services on Wednesday (November 03).

The new development has pushed the official death toll from the virus outbreak in the country to 13,806.

The latest victims include 08 males and 07 females, the Department of Government Information said.

According to official data, 12 deaths were reported among elderly people aged above 60 years. In addition, 03 people aged between 30-59 years have also fallen victim to the virus infection.

There is a risk of A30, the new Covid variant discovered in many countries of the world unresponsive to the vaccines, entering Sri Lanka and this could be catastrophic for a country like ours, warned Upul Rohana, President of the Public Health Inspectors Association.

No predications can be made that this new variant will not breach the island in the event that almost all the Covid variants discovered in the world were found in Sri Lanka, he noted, warning that the prevalence of such a variant could be very high given the current adherence to the health guidelines.

The government has decided to remove the price control imposed on sugar, State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said.

Through a Gazette notifications, the government had declared maximum retail prices for sugar and rice with effect from September 02.

The maximum retail price (MRP) of White Sugar was declared as Rs. 122 per kg (Unpacketed) and Rs. 125 per kg (Packeted) while the MRP of Brown or Red Sugar was set as Rs. 125 per kg (Unpacketed) and Rs. 128 per kg (Packeted).

The Cabinet of Ministers on September 27 had decided to remove the price control imposed on rice. Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) had then revoked the gazette notification which specified Maximum Retail Prices (MRP) on rice.

SJB MP Harin Fernando speaking to media on the occasion of opening the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Head Office in Wattala today (01) said he is ready to step back from his parliamentary membership for former MP Ranjan Ramanayake, should President Gotabaya Rajapaksa choose to release him from prison.

Claiming himself to be someone who can fight on the road, MP Fernando added that Ramanayake, on the other hand, must be in Parliament.

“I realised one thing in life. You have to get used to giving up. I love Mr. John Amaratunga very much. But he took the seat on October 28, 1978, my birthday. Today, someone comes to Wattala after 42 years. If I was to stay for 40 years, no kid in Wattala will ever come. Therefore, I thought that the old system should be changed. Not much of a difference can be made if you are above 60. I will not be able to do anything. I have to produce three or four more kids from Wattala while I serve with what I can. The son of an innocent mom of this village should be able to go to Parliament. It should not be from just a class. Also, I am making another statement today that Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa can do it if he wants. I – if you choose to as I have a national list seat – am ready to step back from my national list seat if Ranjan Ramanayake can be released. I one time stepped back from my seat, but if a national list seat is relinquished, Mr. Sajith Premadasa or the Secretary General can appoint anyone to that seat. Nobody tells that Ranjan Ramanayake is not suitable for the MP post. Therefore, I know I can fight on the road, but Ranjan must be in Parliament, I would like to remind,” Fernando said.

The total number of people who died of COVID-19 infection in Sri Lanka moved up as 21 more fatalities were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services on Tuesday (November 02).

The new development has pushed the official death toll from the virus outbreak in the country to 13,791.

The latest victims include 06 males and 15 females, the Department of Government Information said.

According to official data, 16 deaths were reported among elderly people aged above 60 years. In addition, 05 people aged between 30-59 years have also fallen victim to the virus infection.

A total of 17 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (31) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 13,760.

According to the Government Information Department, 06 females and 11 males are among the deceased.

A total of 11 people who are above 60 years of age are among the deceased while 06 of them are between 30 and 59 years of age.