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Government must disclose truth about food scarcity: Meththika Vithanage

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Government must disclose truth about food scarcity: Meththika Vithanage

The importation of non-essential food items including grapes and apples must be limited, said Prof. Meththika Vithanage of the University of Sri Jayawardenapura.

Certain unnecessary expenditure involving functions must be slashed and the people should be oriented to tackle the upcoming ‘food scarcity,’ she noted, speaking to media today.

The government should be disclosing the truth about food scarcity, Prof. Vithanage went on, adding that the truth has not been acknowledged by the government despite warnings by a number of parties, recalling the dismissal of Udith K. Jayasinghe, who served as the Agriculture Secretary.

No sooner than a day since Jayasinghe’s warning of a potential food scarcity, he was sacked from the post of Secretary to the Agriculture Ministry.

Commenting on the event, Prof. Vithanage noted that Jayasinghe being aware of the occurrence of a food scarcity had made many wrong decisions, despite the warning.

People living in certain areas are compelled to have only one or two meals a day, she went on, urging that the government should have a definite plan to save the people from this situation.

The government leaders, on the other hand, have not paid their attention to the matter yet, she added.

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Appointment of Gamini Senarath as President’s Secretary confirmed. PM’s Secretary Anura Dissanayake

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Appointment of Gamini Senarath as President’s Secretary confirmed. PM’s Secretary Anura Dissanayake

The post of President’s Secretary vacant upon P.B. Jayasundara’s resignation is confirmed to be filled by the current Prime Minister’s Secretary, Gamini Senarath, political sources disclosed.

Speaking to newspaper editors today (27), President Gotabaya Rajapaksa emphasised that he had to face certain difficulties due to working with impractical people and that this problem will be rectified in the future.

The President’s comments could be interpreted as a confirmation to his acceptance of Jayasundara’s resignation.

Gamini Sedara Senarath, who is confirmed to be the successor to Jayasundara, is an outstanding first-class officer with vast experience in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service. Having his first degree from the University of Kelaniya, Senarath joined the Sri Lanka Administrative Service in 1984. Senarath holds a Masters Degree in Computer Technology from the University of Colombo and has completed a number of overseas courses.

Senarath served as the Chief of President’s Staff during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure as the President and continued to serve as the Prime Minister’s Secretary since November, 2019.

Senarath has been nominated for the post due to his special ability to coordinate with the Rajapaksa trio, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, according to political sources.

The post of Prime Minister’s Secretary vacant upon Senarath’s stepping up is to be filled by D.M. Anura Dissanayake, who is currently serving as the Secretary to the Irrigation Ministry.

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Seven companies allowed to import chemical fertiliser (VIDEO)

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Seven companies allowed to import chemical fertiliser (VIDEO)

Seven companies have been approved of importing chemical fertiliser, following the relaxation imposed on the importation of chemical fertiliser.

According to Director of the National Fertiliser Secretariat Chandana Lokuhewage, 1500 metric tonnes of Urea have already been approved for importation.

As of now, 31,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser required for tea cultivation have been imported, he added.

Accordingly, the importation of essential fertiliser required for tea, vegetable, fruit and flower cultivation has been approved, he went on, adding that further approvals will be granted as per the requirements.

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Pressure at workplace not a licence to kill people: Weerasekara

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Pressure at workplace not a licence to kill people: Weerasekara

The work place pressure is not a justification for murder, said Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara, responding to the recent event at the Tirukkovil Police where gunfire killed four Police officers.

No matter how depressed a person can be at their workplace, nobody has the right to kill a person, he noted.

A Police sergeant was accused of opening fire by a T56 killing four Police officers.

The mother of the suspect had testified that his son had been in utmost pressure for being denied of a leave request.

However, the Minister noted that such a condition was not disclosed to him.

Weerasekara added that the Tirukkovil Officer In Charge (OIC), who was injured by the incident, is currently receiving treatment and further investigations can be carried out upon his return.

The Public Security Minister further pointed out that this was rather an unfortunate situation and that he regrets it as the Subject Minister.

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Government allocates Rs. 85 bn for rural development next year

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Government allocates Rs. 85 bn for rural development next year

The government has allocated Rs. 85 billion next year aiming the development of livelihood in the rural areas, said Environment Minister Mahinda amaraweera, speaking to a program held at the Minister’s residence in Angunakolapelessa two days ago.

Accordingly, each Minister will be given a total of Rs. 115 million with Rs. 100 million each from the allocation and another Rs. 15 million from decentralised funds, the Minister said.

The Prime Minister has instructed not to waste any cent of this allocation for unnecessary projects and that this money be used for projects that provide employment opportunities to the public in a move of generating income, the Minister added.

PHI Chief says govt stats on Covid-19 false

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PHI Chief says govt stats on Covid-19 false

The daily situation reports issued by the Health Ministry on the Covid-19 situation in Sri Lanka are not accurate whatsoever, alleged Upul Rohana, Chairman of the Public Health Inspectors’ Association.

In his comment, Rohana suggested that more daily cases of Covid-19 are being reported than those documented in the statistics, adding that having them entered to the National Statistics is being disproportionately performed.

The controlling of the pandemic in this manner could be very dangerous, Rohana went on, stressing that the false notion that the pandemic has been controlled has led the public to behave carelessly.

The situation was well evident in the recent past, the PHI Chief reminded, and he warned that the country may face another series of unfortunate events, should the crisis continue.

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Commercial banks at risk amid deficit of Rs. 455 billion

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Commercial banks at risk amid deficit of Rs. 455 billion

The commercial banks in Sri Lanka are suffering from a deficit of Rs. 455 billion, revealed former deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka W.A. Wijewardena.

In a tweet, the ex CBSL deputy governor pointed out that the crisis is due to the interest rates and exchange rates being artificially controlled.

Wijewardena urged that the CBSL should act immediately in providing funds to the banking systems without letting the commercial banks collapse.

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President accepts P.B. Jayasundara’s resignation

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President accepts P.B. Jayasundara’s resignation

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has reportedly accepted the letter of resignation tendered by President’s Secretary P.B. Jayasundara.

According to The Morning, Prime Minister’s Secretary Gamini Senarath is tipped to be appointed as the next President’s Secretary.

No shortage. All essential commodities imported: Minister S.M. Chandrasena (VIDEO)

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No shortage. All essential commodities imported: Minister S.M. Chandrasena (VIDEO)

Land Minister S.M. Chandrasena responding to reporters yesterday (26) stated that all essential commodities have been imported to Sri Lanka and will not be of any shortage.

“The President, the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister and us the Cabinet will not slip away from these problems. We will be managing them at our best, facing the challenges and solving them in 2022 in a move of saving the country.

Although it has been said that there were 1500 containers, many of them were of exporting items. The figure is shown with them included.

Nevertheless, we have delivered the commodities required for the country. There is no shortage. No shortage, is there? Sugar, Dhal, Potatoes, everything is available in the market. The prices have soared a little bit because the prices went high in the global market. So, the price of every commodity has surged.”

Q: Do you not understand that the people are facing a difficult time?

“Difficult, alas difficult. We know that it is difficult. That difficulty is now being solved. We know, it is difficult.”

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Country at ‘Famine War’ instead of ‘Cultivation War’: Opposition Leader (VIDEO)

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Country at ‘Famine War’ instead of ‘Cultivation War’: Opposition Leader (VIDEO)

The country is at a ‘war against famine’ instead of the government’s proposed ‘war for cultivation,’ said Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa yesterday (26), inaugurating the “Manushyathwaye Charikawa” initiative introduced to listen to the sorrows of the people by visiting the people of Hambantota city and the surrounding market grounds.

The government that destroyed the country’s agriculture through its arbitrary decisions has driven country into a state where gas explosions occur from one house to another, Premadasa alleged.

Despite the promises by certain ministers of relief packages, the only relief package given to the people is the combination of depression, pressure, inflation, sorrows and pain, the Opposition Leader pointed out.

Unlike the natural disaster Tsunami that took away the lives of thousands 17 years ago, the current regime has orchestrated a disaster destroying the entire country, he added.

He went on saying that while collar robberies have spread across the country and that the only ‘deal’ he or the Samgi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has is the one with the people.

The Opposition Leader spoke to the people living in Hambantota and the traders doing business in the area and discussed their problems. He also distributed a leaflet mentioning “Family Governance – Destruction of the Country.”

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