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President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasizes the necessity of a new economic reform program for the country’s economic recovery. He urges collective support from all citizens to prevent the next generation from inheriting the hardships of past economic crises.

The President reminisced about inheriting a country others were reluctant to lead, highlighting that while some focused on their political aspirations, his concerns were committed towards the welfare of the nation’s future.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe made these remarks while participating in a friendly discussion organized by the ‘United Youth Union’ on the theme ‘Future of our Youth’. The event took place yesterday (23) in Polonnaruwa.

During the ‘Conversation with the President’ meeting, President Ranil Wickremesinghe engaged in discussions with the youth, focusing on the future and vision of the country. The President addressed various issues raised by the youth and provided solutions during the session.

During the event, President Ranil Wickramasinghe asserted that the populace would reap the rewards of the government’s on-going economic reform endeavours within a few years. He stressed the importance of the nation’s youth determining the trajectory towards a brighter future for both themselves and the country.

Addressing the youth, the President emphasized:

I assumed leadership of a country in decline, one that other political leaders were reluctant to govern. Contemplating the consequences had I not stepped in, I recognized the stakes were high. While some feared the impact on their political careers, I considered the dire prospect of the country’s demise if immediate action wasn’t taken.

My sole challenge was my solitary presence in Parliament. However, around December, I engaged in discussions with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB). Subsequently, I briefed the former President on these discussions and urged him to implement the proposed program.

In the previous election, the United National Party declared the country’s financial deficit, emphasizing the urgent need to secure at least US$ 03 billion. Despite our efforts, this candid disclosure did not resonate with voters. However, the accuracy of this statement became evident in 2021.

Assuming leadership amidst such dire circumstances, I pondered the repercussions had I not stepped in. The nation’s economy teetered on the brink of collapse, necessitating immediate action. We diligently pursued support from the IMF to revive the ailing economy. Successfully concluding negotiations with the IMF, we are now poised to engage with the countries from which we have borrowed, seeking further assistance to stabilize our financial footing.

Following these discussions, our country’s development initiatives will receive renewed support from these nations. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that this alone does not address all our challenges. Persistently operating as an import-dependent economy, where imports surpass exports annually necessitates borrowing to bridge this gap. Without rectifying this structural imbalance our economy risks collapsing again within the next decade.

It is incumbent upon each of us to prevent the transmission of this economic crisis to the next generation. I firmly believe that this responsibility rests upon all our shoulders, necessitating our full dedication. Urgent economic restructuring is imperative, transitioning from an import-dependent to an export-driven economy. This requires comprehensive economic development across urban and rural areas alike, coupled with stringent budgetary controls. By implementing these governmental reforms, we can envisage a shift to an export-oriented economy by 2035, paving the way for sustained economic growth thereafter.

Furthermore, the government aims to double the annual tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka from 2.5 million to 5 million. Efforts will also be made to attract high-spending tourists to the country.

Additionally, we are dedicated to rural development through an agricultural modernization initiative. This initiative aims to facilitate agricultural exports by enhancing rural infrastructure. We are introducing new crop varieties and collaborating with the Thai government to explore ‘Durian’ cultivation opportunities. By increasing crop productivity, we envisage substantial improvements in the rural economy.

With abundant solar and wind resources in our country, transitioning to wind and solar energy production could yield tenfold the required energy, with surplus electricity exportable to India. Moreover, a thousand-acre investment zone in Trincomalee is underway, supported by India. Plans also include the development of the Mahaweli A and B zones to establish modern agricultural practices.

Efforts have been underway to establish new investment zones in Bingiriya and the North, with the requisite land already earmarked for this purpose. These initiatives are slated for implementation within the next five years.

I am undertaking all these endeavours for the betterment of your future. It should be emphasized that these efforts are ultimately for the benefit and prosperity of your children.

Additionally, efforts have been directed towards the development of the Higurakgoda area, with funding allocated this year for the construction of Higurakgoda Airport. This initiative will expand air services to the province. Furthermore, the historic town of Polonnaruwa can be made accessible to tourists both day and night. By integrating cultural elements with modern dances and songs, we have the potential to organize diverse tourism programs. It is imperative that we advance with these initiatives.

Henceforth, it is imperative for the youth to chart the course for the nation’s future. You hold the reins to your destiny. Within our political landscape, there exists a faction advocating quick fixes akin to “oil medicine.” However, the issues confronting our nation cannot be remedied with such temporary solutions. Therefore, I urge you to exercise caution and foresight as you navigate towards the future.

The questions posed by the youth and the responses provided by President Ranil Wickremesinghe are outlined below:

Q:

We have a significant expanse of paddy fields within the Lankapura Gramaseva Division, with some of these fields under the jurisdiction of the Wildlife Department. We kindly request your consideration to allocate these fields once again for cultivation purposes.

A:

As per the 1985 map, there are lands designated under the purview of the Department of Wildlife, as well as lands allotted to villages. We seek to thoroughly review this information and proceed with necessary actions accordingly.

Q:

As youth, we hold great admiration for you. In our region, there is potential to generate revenue in dollars. We believe that showcasing the wild elephants that frequent our villages could attract foreign visitors and enable us to earn foreign currency. Therefore, we request your support in providing us with training opportunities, enabling us to contribute to the country’s revenue while securing our own income.

A:

Tourism in our country is currently making significant strides forward. Furthermore, a committee has been tasked with the promotion of tourism. Therefore, I would like to assure you that solutions will be forthcoming in the near future

Q:

We reside in a remote village located in the Welikanda area. We kindly appeal to you to allocate land for us to engage in cultivation activities utilizing modern technology as part of the government’s agricultural modernization project.

A:

In 1977, the Welikanda area was predominantly covered by dense forest. Today, Welikanda and Maduru Oya have evolved into highly conducive provinces for agriculture. We have devised plans to introduce modern agricultural practices to the village under the Agricultural Modernization Project. Additionally, we have initiated a program to distribute free land deeds to the residents, with the aim of completing it within two months, granting legal land rights to 02 million people. Furthermore, we aspire to boost the tourism industry in this area and encourage agricultural cultivation as part of the agricultural modernization program.

Q:

Dimbulagala holds a distinctive position within the tourism industry. I recommend that special attention be directed towards its development.

A:

With the assistance of the International Monetary Fund program, there is now an opportunity to execute the country’s development initiatives. Consequently, the government has prioritized the promotion of tourism and is aiming to boost tourist arrivals. Additionally, efforts are underway to elevate tourism revenue to LKR 5.5 million. It is noteworthy that the government is concentrating on the development of all regions as potential tourist attractions.

Q:

President, I am a law student. In 1989, Janatha Vimukti Peramuna (JVP) killed six members of my family in a single day and looted property worth LKR 08 million. Their bodies were not even allowed to be buried in the cemetery. We still live in fear due to the remnants of JVP.

As a member of the affected family, I have been unfairly deprived of my shop on the main street owned by the Higurakgoda Provincial Council as an act of political revenge, hindering my ability to conduct business. For three decades, many young individuals like me have endured such political reprisals, depriving us of rightful opportunities. I am curious if you have any plans to address this issue.

A:

We are prepared to address your concerns. Best wishes with your studies.

The event was attended by Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayaka, former Deputy Minister Chandrasiri Suriyarachchi, SLPP Organizer of Minneriya Jagath Samarawickrama, Chairman of the United Youth Advisory Board Sudath Chandrasekera, its Director General Prasad Asanka Ratnayake, National Organizer Vijith Anuradha, and a significant number of youth representing the Polonnaruwa district.

The leader of the National People’s Power (NPP) Anura Kumara Dissanayake left for Canada today (21) for a visit.

Dissanayake is scheduled to participate in two major rallies organized by the Canadian Committee of the NPP on March 23 in Toronto and on March 24 in Vancouver.

He will also participate in several friendly meetings with the Sri Lankan Tamil and Muslim communities in Canada.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena has claimed he knows who really carried out the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks and that he was prepared to disclose the information to the judiciary.

Speaking to the media in Kandy today, the former President said if the court makes a request or issues an order in this regard, the information will be revealed.

Stating that no one has revealed the true mastermind of the Easter attacks yet, Sirisena said he was willing to disclose the details, but it was the responsibility of the judges to keep the information strictly confidential.

The World Bank has recognized Sri Lanka's 1990 Suwa Seriya Ambulance Service for strengthening Sri Lanka’s primary healthcare system and giving a second chance at life to the millions who are critically injured.

Martin Raiser, the Vice President for the South Asia Region of the World Bank Group recognizing the 1990 Suwa Seriya noted that the ambulance service has tapped into this potential by leading digital innovation in health and emergency services.

Its trademark speed and efficiency come from digital integration into its processes and operations—from using specific algorithms to identify the fastest ambulance that can be deployed to an emergency, to tracking callers’ locations through an app, to digitally tracking fuel levels in its vehicles.

The World Bank says Suwa Seriya’s success is an example of how technology can help revolutionize service delivery in developing countries.

Since its launch in 2016, 1.8 million Sri Lankan citizens in distress have dialed 1990 , and a Suwa Seriya ambulance has rushed them to the nearest hospital or primary care facility within 12 minutes of their call, one of the fastest response rates in the world for an ambulance service.

In these seven years, Suwa Seriya has saved countless lives—providing citizens the highest level of pre-hospital care, reducing complications caused by delayed care, and enabling them to get back into the workforce in record time—making a positive contribution to the country’s economy.

Initially funded by a grant from India, 1990 Suwa Seriya has since been supported by the Sri Lankan government.

However, it deliberately seeks private donors and sponsors to fund its digital innovations so as to not rely solely on public funding in a resource-constrained environment.

In its largest fundraiser yet, Suwa Seriya raised an impressive LKR 750 million in private funding via its “adopt an ambulance” campaign.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe today (22) released as many as 234 acres of land, previously held by the Jaffna Security Forces Headquarters, to farmers in the area.

These plots of land were released to farmers across five Grama Niladhari Divisions in Jaffna for cultivation purposes, the President’s Media Division said.

Under the Urumaya national program, aimed at distributing 2 million freehold deeds to the deserving public, President Ranil Wickremesinghe symbolically presented the deeds, benefiting a total of 408 individuals at a ceremony held in Oddakapulam, Jaffna.

MPs Prof. Charitha Herath and S.M. Marikkar have also decided to resign from the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), bringing the total number of opposition members to quit the parliamentary committee thus far to four.

In a post on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), former COPE chairman Prof. Herath said he has officially communicated his decision to the Speaker of Parliament today (19).

SJB parliamentarian Marikkar also announced his decision to step down today.

Their resignation comes after SJB parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne and MP Dayasiri Jayasekara also decided to quit the committee.

Wickramaratne announced his decision to resign yesterday and in his letter of resignation explained that no credible action had been taken on those who were found to have been complicit in corrupt practices or mismanagement despite the COPE reports submitted to the parliament time and time again.

He also took issue with the appointment of Rohitha Abeygunawardena, a ruling party MP, as the COPE chairman despite the previous government adopting a practice of appointing an Opposition member to chair the committee to strengthen the principle that the legislature must be a check and balance on the executive arm of government.

In addition, Wickramaratne highlighted that it is dissatisfying that members who have been appointed to COPE have allegations against their personal conduct, particularly on financial transactions and that this also contributes to the citizen’s loss of confidence in Parliament.

(adaderana.lk)

Prof. Chandrasiri Palliyaguru, retired Senior Professor and Head of the Sinhala Department at the Sri Kelaniya University has passed away.

He was 80 years old.

Prof. Palliyaguru, entered the Vidyalankara University in 1961, studied Sinhala, Pali, and Hindi and graduated in 1965 by offering Sinhala as his major and Hindi as his subsidiary.

He earned his Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology in 1976 for his thesis titled 'A Proposed Classification of Contemporary Sinhalese Rituals with Specific Reference to the Southern Province of Sri Lanka'.

In 2013 (Hon.) he was conferred with the title of Professor Emeritus by the University of Kelaniya as well.

He is the author of several books.

(sundaytimes.lk)

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Eran Wickramaratne has resigned from the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) with effect from today (Mar 18).

The opposition MP has served on COPE in previous Parliaments and was reappointed a member of COPE after the recent prorogation of Parliament.

“COPE has been established to ensure the observance of financial discipline in Public Corporations and other semi-governmental bodies in which the Government has a financial stake. By appointing a ruling party member as its Chairman, the committee fails to meet its objectives of keeping a check on the executive arm of the government,” he said in a statement.

MP Wickramaratne pointed out that to this end, the 2015-2019 government followed a best practice of appointing the Chairmen for the two key Committees COPE and COPA from the opposition.

“The duty of the Committee is to report to Parliament on accounts examined, budgets and estimates, financial procedures, performance and management of Corporations and other Government Business Undertakings. 45 years since its establishment, COPE has come to be a redundant committee. Mismanagement and corruption have largely gone unchecked due to limitations in Standing Orders. Standing Order should be widened, where irregularities and fraud when in light, should reach the Attorney General directly and Bribery Commission proceeding to act. The government blocks the process by limiting Standing Orders, thereby the effectiveness of COPE is now in question,” he said.

Stating that appointees to COPE as part of its 31-member team or Chairperson, must not be associated with allegations and/or convictions, the SJB MP said a committee that has an overview of checks and balances must have clearly outlined qualifications and disqualifications for its members.

MP Eran Wickramaratne said he is of the view that it is high time to revisit the scope of COPE and expand Standing Orders enabling the committee to do impactful work and embrace good governance practices moving forward.

“It is evident that the present government that lacks legitimacy compounds the fact by appearing to cover up and defend mismanagement and corruption by the more recent appointments,” he added.

The vote on the no-confidence motion against Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, was defeated in the Parliament today (21), following a three-day debate.

The Speaker survived the no-confidence motion, moved by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), by a majority of 42 votes.

A total of 117 lawmakers had voted against the motion while 75 voted in favour.

Accordingly, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena will continue to function as the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

The third day of the parliamentary debate on the no-confidence motion against the Speaker commenced at 09.30 a.m. this morning.

The parliamentary debate on the no-confidence motion tabled by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) was initially slated to be held for two days, however the Committee on Parliamentary Business later decided for it to be debated for three consecutive days.

The debate commenced in the Parliament on Tuesday (March 19).

The motion brought forth by the opposition against the Speaker was officially handed over to the Deputy General Secretary of Parliament on March 05.

It had been signed by 44 parliamentarians including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella and MPs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Rohini Kumari Wijeratne, Hesha Vithanage, Mano Ganesan, Rishad Bathiudeen, M.A. Sumanthiran, S.M. Marikkar, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Thalatha Atukorale, Vijitha Herath and Chandima Weerakkody.

The no-confidence motion alleges that the Speaker had ignored the Supreme Court’s recommendations pertaining to Sections 13, 17, 20, 33 (6), 34 (1), 35 (1), 21, 22 and 33 of the Online Safety Bill.

The Speaker is also accused of allowing the third Reading of the Online Safety Bill to be passed without a vote and disregarding the Chief Opposition Whip’s call for a division at the Committee Stage.

Further, the opposition MPs claim that the Speaker had ‘unconstitutionally and unlawfully’ used his decisive vote to affirm the appointment of IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon when the other members of the Constitutional Council were divided on a tie on the matter. It was reported that four members had voted in favour of the appointment while 2 voted against and 2 others abstained. However, considering the 2 abstentions as votes cast against, the Speaker had used his vote as the deciding vote to go ahead with the appointment, they allege.

(adaderana.lk)

Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha says that school principals will be informed through a circular to organise the inter-house sports meets and sports events of their respective schools after the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays.

The minister pointed out that it has been observed that many schools have organised inter-house sports meets regardless of the prevailing hot weather conditions across the island.

Minister Susil Premajayantha said that since the first school term will continue even after the New Year holidays, it is possible to hold sports meets and other outdoor sporting events during that period.

Meanwhile, the Department of Meteorology says the heat index, the temperature felt on the human body, is expected to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in North-western, North-central, Eastern, Western provinces and Monaragala, Mannar, Rathnapura and Vavuniya districts tomorrow (18).

MP Dilan Perera has also decided to resign from the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), becoming the 11th member to do so.

Earlier, Eran Wickramaratne, Gamini Waleboda, Prof. Charitha Herath, Dayasiri Jayasekara, S. M. Marikkar, Hesha Withanage, Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Wasantha Yapa Bandara, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Duminda Dissanayake had quit the committee membership, to remonstrate the appointment of new COPE chairman.

At the first COPE meeting of the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament convened on March 07, Rohitha Abeygunawardena was elected by majority votes to serve as the new chairman. His name had been nominated by MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage and seconded by MP Sanjeewa Edirimanna.

Meanwhile, the first COPE meeting under the chairmanship of Abeygunawardana was convened at the parliament complex on Tuesday (March 19) despite the string of member resignations.

(adaderana.lk)

A meeting was convened at the Presidential Secretariat, yesterday (15) chaired by Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayaka, to discuss the launch of a new mobile application “Beach Clean-up Coordination APP” aimed at enhancing the cleanliness and waste management on beaches.

The introduction of this mobile application is facilitated through the intervention of the Coastal Conservation Protection Authority. It aims to formalize coordination among institutions and organizations engaged in the sustainable development of coastal and marine environments.

Mr. Sagala Ratnayaka emphasized the importance of commitment from all institutions responsible for ensuring the sustainability of ocean and coastal areas in maintaining cleanliness. He highlighted that the new mobile application will serve as a tool to facilitate these activities effectively.

Emphasized the necessity of expanding current education and awareness programs concerning coastal cleanliness and preservation Mr. Sagala Ratnayaka noted that such efforts would significantly contribute to the government’s initiative to promote tourism in coastal regions.

The Coastal Conservation and Protection Authority highlighted the severe pollution of coastal and marine resources caused by waste flowing from rivers and canals, sewage discharge, and waste dumped near fishing ports and other marine areas. They emphasized the importance of clean-up efforts involving public and private institutions, as well as non-governmental organizations. The introduction of the mobile application is expected to enhance the coordination of these activities for more effective waste management.

In attendance at the discussion were Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Prabhath Chandrakeerthi, Secretary of the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, W.S. Satyananda, along with other government officials, the Navy Commander, Inspector General of Police, Heads of Security Division and representatives of non-governmental organizations.