By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): Government employees of the Eastern Province have taken a stand against Minister of Environment Naseer Ahamed who was accused of publicly threatening several government officials, including the Education Secretary of the Province.

Ahamed was seen threatening the said officials by babbling that “he can sack anyone as he pleases overnight,” in what public servants described as a direct blow in the head against the honour of the public service.

The Minister’s comments will only provoke anger among all public servants in the country, and one of such authority cannot act as if Sri Lanka’s public service is his personal property, one official on the condition of anonymity told LNW.

Ahamed who was elected to Parliament as a member of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) the main Opposition being submissive to his craving for a ministerial post in the government simply betrayed the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and its allied parties, he reminded, stressing that government employees are not ready to serve in such double standards.

The Environment Minister is at the centre of criticism from government officials to even MPs over his threatening comments in Kattankudy. Ahamed was seen threatening the officials by babbling, “I can sack anyone as I please overnight because this is my area, I will not let anyone walk freely on the road.“

Ahamed’s comments appear in a provocative manner instigating racial disharmony between Sinhala and Muslim people, and the petty political agenda the Minister has resorted to has already met with severe condemnation by the public servants and MPs alike.

A renowned trade union told LNW that they are appealing to President Wickremesinghe over Ahamed’s conduct, and a massive strike action will be launched with the support of public officials, should he fail to take an immediate action.

Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation has requested for permission from the Food Advisory Committee to release the egg stocks imported from India to the local market, Corporation Chief Asiri Valisundara said.

Following discussions with the Department of Animal Production and Health, eggs will be released to the supermarkets in Sri Lanka, he added.

However, the eggs imported from India are yet to be released to the market, Valisundara noted.

1. Parliament Media Unit quotes Secretary-General Kushani Rohanadeera that Party Leaders had approved a motion to appoint a Select Committee to ascertain whether the privileges of MPs have been violated by the former members of the Election Commission: Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says the Govt move is to intimidate public officials.
   
2. Gampaha Magistrate’s Court orders the Range Forest Officer of Gampaha to appear before Court on July 21, to submit facts pertaining to the removal of the endemic endangered tree “Crudia Zeylanica” also known as “Pandu Karanda” from the area of Daraluwa in Veyangoda, along the path of the Central Expressway: previously, the Highways Minister Bandula Gunawardene has said the endangered tree was cut down as per a Cabinet decision.
   
3. While the Census Dept has reported that the economy had undergone severe contractions of 8.4%, 11.8%,12.4% & 11.5% in the last 4 quarters (2Q22, 3Q22, 4Q22 & 1Q23), the Inland Revenue Dept says Sri Lankans paid Rs.697 bn as taxes to the IRD in the first half of 2023, compared with only Rs.362 bn in 2022, indicating an increase of Rs.335 bn (92%).
   
4. Popular local newspaper reveals that their findings of interviews indicate that people living at the grassroots level and middle-income earners are “cutting corners” to deal with the ever-increasing cost of living: also reveal that such situation has brought the daily life of many households to a standstill.
   
5. Health Minister Keheliya Rabukwella appoints a 5 member expert committee headed by Professor Chandima Jeewandara to probe recent deaths in Govt hospitals and various other issues reported in Govt hospitals.
   
6. Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera says 512,000 hectares of paddy fields were cultivated in the “Yala” season after 10 years, due to President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s new fertiliser policy: also says that under the Agriculture Modernisation Programme, it is planned to achieve 80% of the agricultural production output of the country’s consumption by 2025.
   
7. JVP Propaganda Secretary and NPP MP Vijitha Herath says the Govt is planning to introduce a 12-hour workday: also says the Govt is trying to deprive the workers of their legitimate rights by abolishing 13 Acts including the Shop and Office Employees Act and the Wages Boards Ordinance, at the behest of the IMF.
   
8. Secretary of the GMOA Dr. Haritha Aluthge says one of the main reasons for the sorry state of affairs in the health sector is corruption: urges the Health Minister to show his sincerity by sacking officials who are facing serious allegations: adds that health officials had ignored the repeated warnings of professional organisations.
   
9. SL Buddhist Lawyers’ Association President, Uditha Egalahewa says that the SLBLA strongly condemns the partisan and selective approach of the Bar Association with regard to the issuance of statements, although it agrees with the sentiments expressed by the BASL to uphold the rule of law and safeguard the independence of the judiciary.
   
10. President of the Trichy based “Indian Origin Upcountry Tamils Front” M S Selvaraj says those Tamils of Indian origin who were repatriated to India under the Sirima-Shastri Pact are living in a state of limbo for over 6 decades: also says the Group would demand an “international intervention” into their miseries, socio-economic backwardness, and the division of their families from India, Sri Lanka and UK at the International Court of Justice: Tamil Progressive Alliance Leader and SJB MP Mano Ganesan also participates at the meeting.