President Ranil Wickramasinghe says that the interim budget to be brought for this year will be presented to Parliament in the first week of September.
He has mentioned that he hopes to give relief to the people.
The President has stated this in a discussion held yesterday (04) afternoon with a group of MPs including Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Professor GL Peiris, Dallas Alahapperuma.
Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) is appalled at the arbitrary arrest of Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) Chairman and iconic education sector trade union leader Joseph Stalin. This is a continuation of the wave of state terror unleashed by the illegitimate Wickremaisnghe-Pohottuwa regime from the moment it assumed power – with the pre-dawn ‘attack’ on Gota Go Gama on 21st July. This is an insidious attempt to generate a sense of fear psychosis within social activists and society at large and a dangerous infringement of basic freedoms guaranteed by the constitution of Sri Lanka. It is truly a dark irony that Mr. Ranil Wickremasinge, the current Executive President, is on the Hansard record in parliament criticizing the arbitrary detention of Stalin under spurious COVID quarantine regulations back in 2020 during the anti KNDU struggle. Mr. Wickremasinghe went to the extent of stating that Sri Lanka is in danger of losing the European Union GSP Plus scheme because Mr. Stalin was an internationally admired education sector activist. Further, adding insult to injury Mr. Wickremasinghe delivering the ‘throne speech’ in parliament today as the Executive President repeatedly stated that he is committed to respecting the right to peaceful dissent even as the police force he commands sent 25 officers to the headquarters of CTU to arrest this iconic education sector activist – a man who is the epitome of peaceful but committed trade union activism.
In addition to Joseph Stalin a number of leading aragalaya activists have been systematically arrested under spurious charges over the last few days. This is a clear strategy to unleash state repression and terror and to create a culture of quietism and self-censorship where people will be reluctant to exercise their democratic right to dissent and protest. Clearly this is the strategy of a failed and repressive leader who is unable to deliver the economic stability he promised to the nation. The international image of the Wickramasinghe-Phottuwa regime is now under severe strain and Mr. Wickremasinghe’s much touted liberal credentials lie in tatters. Within this context it is doubtful that even the aid that was potentially coming Sri Lanka’s way from liberal states that respect human rights will be forthcoming. We remind the Wickremasinghe-Pohottuwa government that it has embarked on a dangerous and destructive anti-democratic path and to therefore immediately halt this repressive trend. We also remind the government that the wellbeing of Joseph Stalin and all those who have been arbitrarily arrested in the last few days lie with the authorities and to immediately release them and uphold the democratic fundamentals of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
A meeting was held between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenghong this (04) morning at the Presidential Secretariat.
The Chinese Ambassador offered his greetings to President Wickremesinghe and the two discussed about the maintenance of strong relations between the two nations, a statement by the President’s Media Division said.
Wickremesinghe reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment to the principles of the United Nations’ conventions on sovereignty and territorial integrity and the island nation’s compliance with the ‘One China’ policy.
“Countries should refrain from provocations that further escalate current global tensions, and mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs of countries are important foundations for peaceful cooperation and non-conflict,” the meeting concluded.
MIAP
The Police have announced to the protesters in Galleface to immediately remove the unauthorised constructions and crops in the Galleface Ground and the surrounding area belonging to the government and the Urban Development Authority.
The announcement was repeated by the Police team this (04) afternoon.
The Police had announced yesterday (03) that these withdrawals must be taken place before 05 pm on August 05 and that legal action will be taken against those who refuse to comply.
MIAP
Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union Joseph Stalin will be remanded till August 12, as ordered by the Court.
Stalin was arrested by the Fort Police yesterday (03) on the allegation of violating a court order during a protest on May 28.
MIAP
A meeting between New Zealand High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Micheal Appleton and Leader of the National People’s Power (NPP) MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake was held this (04) afternoon at the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Head Office.
The meeting was attended by JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath and Deputy High Commissioner Andrew Traveler and Police Advisor of the New Zealand High Commission Sumudu Jayasinghe.
The two parties discussed the current economic and political situation in the country and the policies of the NPP. Attention was paid to increasing mutual understanding between the two parties as well.
Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa who headed to the Fort Police Station today (04) to check on trade union leader Joseph Stalin who was arrested by the Police questioned why trade union leaders who protest peacefully and disciplined are being hunted down while people like Mahinda Rajapaksa, the pilot of the current violent repression, are still at large and left free.
Speaking to media, the Opposition Leader emphasised that people like Stalin who fought for the working people and the teachers of the country are put in jail, while Mahinda Rajapaksa, who he called the ‘Father of Repression‘, is spending a good and healthy time. Premadasa thereby condemned the arbitrary arrests and political hunting at a time everyone should think about the country and work together in the name of humanity, and demanded that this state-sponsored terrorism be stopped immediately.
Recalling the statement made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe when he was still a Member of Parliament, the Opposition Leader questioned whether it would not be the case today, when he had said that arresting Stalin might ‘lose’ the GSP relief from the European Commission.
Problems should be resolved not with weapons like bombs, swords and bullets, but through negotiations and consensus, Premadasa went on, adding that it was former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who had instigated the cycle of violence.
He stressed that every citizen has the right to stand up for and advocate his or her opinion and stage peaceful protests and that no one can violate the right to protest without violence. Trade Union Leader Joseph Stalin democratically used his right for the country and no one can stand against it, he added.
MIAP
Political activist Pathum Kerner who was arrested and remanded has been released on bail as ordered by the Colombo Magistrate Court today (04).
Kerner’s bail was granted upon an ID parade carried out today.
The political activist was arrested on July 28 on the allegation of leading a protest held near the Parliament entrance on July 13.
MIAP
All private buses will withdraw from operation across the country from midnight today (04) due to the lack of sufficient diesel and the decision to slash bus fares without any notice or negotiation, revealed the Private Bus Owners Association calling in a joint press briefing today.
Contributing to the briefing, Chief Secretary of the Private Bus Owners Association Anjana Priyanjith noted that 40 litres of diesel are supplied for a bus per week under the new QR Code system and the volume does not suffice for bus operations at all. He added that with the volume of diesel currently supplied, a long-distance service bus can run for about an hour and a short-distance bus, half the day time.
Should the government fail to provide diesel for the daily running of 13,000 buses, it should declare the number of buses that ought to run per day and provide diesel meeting the demand, Priyanjith went on, adding that the government, however, fails to do that as well.
Accordingly, the islandwide private bus strike will be endorsed by the All Ceylon Private Bus Owners Association, Inter-Provincial Bus Owners Association, Podujana Eksath Bus Owners Association and the All Ceylon United Bus Owners Association.
MIAP
Shots were fired inside the premises of the Mount Lavinia Magistrate Court Premises, Police said.
An unidentified gunman had opened fire at an individual who was a witness to an ongoing case, revealed Police Spokesman Nihal Thalduwa.
However, no injuries were reported.
The gunman had fled the scene after the fire, the Police Spokesman added.
MIAP