The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will be breaking the power in Parliament soon, vowed SJB MP Chaminda Wijesiri, speaking to a briefing held in Colombo today (31).
The SJB MP revealed that his party is building the force to break that power, in a move to stop the government’s ridiculous actions.
MIAP
Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga made a written request to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa urging an immediate probe into the incident in Kalagedihena, Gampaha, where an egg attack was launched on the rally held by the National People’s Power (NPP) yesterday (30).
Accordingly, the Minister urged the President to penalise everyone responsible for this attack without giving in to any titles.
Ranatunga noted that the intelligent people of Gampaha never approve of such disgraceful acts and that there is a reasonable doubt whether this attack was launched to embarrass the government and the President.
Making a written request to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Tourism Minister urged that an impartial probe be made into the incident and have everyone responsible be penalised.
Ranatunga also denied the allegations levelled against him regarding the attack, saying that the speculations on media that he was behind the egg attack on the NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s vehicle are completely untrue.
MIAP
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) group has secured a massive victory in the election held to elect representatives to the Nivithigala Multipurposee Co-operative Society.
Accordingly, the SJB managed to secure 26 of 38 territories belonging to the Nivithigala Multipurposee Co-operative Society.
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP J.C. Alawathuwala speaking to a briefing held yesterday (30) claimed that the paddy harvest in the Kurunegala District has dropped by 40 – 50 per cent compared to the Season before.
“This is the season in which paddy farmers in the Kurunegala District are collecting their harvest. We clearly told the government and the Agriculture Minister that the harvest could drop by 50 – 60 per cent with this fertiliser crisis. Now see what has happened. Now, they have applied every fertiliser type – this garbage called ‘organic fertiliser’ – they were given and the harvest has dropped by 40 – 50 per cent. When the farmers’ tireless efforts at a huge expense end up in a harvest 50 per cent below than the previous year, how can they live?” the SJB MP said.
He added: “Now see what has happened in the country. The price of rice has skyrocketed. Compared to the prevailing prices, the price of rice has doubled and even tripled. On one hand the customer becomes helpless. What happens to the farmer on the other? In this so-called fertiliser problem that they had brought up, we have repeatedly warned that this crime must not be committed in this country. Our staple food is rice. Today, that staple food has reduced production by 50 per cent.”
We know that when independence was gained in this country, the rice production was 39 per cent. From the time of Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake to every other regime in this country, that was the percentage by which this country became self-sufficient in rice. When it was self-sufficient, Minister Mahindananda said that they were ‘ready to export’ rice. Now rice has to be imported to Sri Lanka. The country has been driven into a position where it has to import its own staple food, as there are no dollars,” the MP further noted.
MIAP
Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena, who visited the SATHOSA outlet in Kataragama yesterday (30) morning, has severely been reprimanded by a woman over the people’s hunger, making a scene.
The woman, who scolded the Minister in the face, confronted him saying that there is no rice to purchase and the people suffer from hunger as the government does not fulfill the promises it made.
Embarrassed, Miniter Gunawardena immediately left the scene uttering that the people should be happy for being given this much amid the current situation.
MIAP
Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage speaking to a rally organised by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday (30) stated that many parties who wish to overthrow the current government may have to answer to many questions regarding the irregularities committed during its predecessor.
“Looking at Facebook, the JVP is behaving as if Anura Dissanayake is already the President. Mr. Sajith Premadasa is groaning of forming new governments. You may remember what had been committed during the last five years. Those who had destroyed this country for five years, sold the country’s resources and properties and devastated it are speaking of forming governments today. No matter what is said on Social Media, we will be turning this around in the next six to seven months,” Aluthgamage said.
He added: “In my opinion, venerable Maha Sangha, this government is too democratic. Still the thieves from the past have not been penalised. In a matter of day or two, many of those who are speaking of forming governments will have to answer to questions related to what they had committed.”
MIAP
Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s approach of seeking the assistance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to solve the ongoing economic crisis must not be obstructed, said former Prime Minister and Leader of the United National Party (UNP) MP Ranil Wickremesinghe, speaking to a political discussion held in Puttalam two days (29) ago.
There is also the need of establishing a national policy framework with the contribution of all political parties against the ongoing economic crisis, the UNP Leader pointed out, adding that his IMF approach on three previous crisis situations, 1989, 2001 and 2015, did not make Sri Lanka liable to any unfavourable conditions at all.
The country, therefore, needs a long-term plan for its reestablishment, Wickremesinghe added.
MIAP
Every member of the ‘Sri Lanka Nidahasa – Podujana Alliance’ is held accountable for every initiative undertaken by the government and therefore, none can slip away from their responsibilities, said Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Namal Rajapaksa, speaking to a rally organised by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday (30).
“Certain parties of the Alliance are holding standalone rallies. There is no problem with it, that is their desire. Because they too should do politics. But they are frequently trying to make a picture that they are not involved in the initiatives undertaken by the government. But we say with responsibility that every member of this Alliance is held accountable for every initiative undertaken by the government,” Rajapaksa said.
The Minister added: “A single party cannot say that they are not involved despite their presence in the Cabinet. There is a collective responsibility. Therefore, they, despite their will to hold separate rallies, are held accountable for our initiative of building roads of one hundred thousand kilometres, so the initiative of building one thousand national schools, so the building of playgrounds, the Organic Farming initiative and etc. Therefore, they cannot slip away from that responsibility, I must add.”
The Sports and Youth Affairs Minister’s comments come in following the move by Ministers Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila and Vasudewa Nanayakkara from the minor parties representing the government to hold separate rallies and criticise certain initiatives undertaken by the government. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the major stakeholder of the SLPP-led regime, too is following a path unfavourable to the government.
MIAP
Previous report: The govt. should immediately move away from the agricultural policy of using only organic fertilizer – Wimal (VIDEO)
The government is attempting to repress trade unions and their strike actions in violation of democracy, said Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, speaking to a public rally organised by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) held in Kekirawa yesterday (30).
The Opposition Leader demanded the government that this anti-democratic conduct be stopped immediately.
The government, which is selling off the country’s resources, is now taking measures to repress the worker, Premadasa went on, adding that the SJB would stand by the people against this dictatorial regime that violates the fundamental rights of the workers.
MIAP
The number of Covid-19 cases identified in Sri Lanka yesterday (30) has surged up to 1056, marking a surge in the prevalence of the virus after months of stability, revealed the Department of Government Information.
Among the cases were two returnees from Sri Lanka.
The figure was around 500 – 600 cases at the beginning of 2022.
MIAP
