Lanka News – Lanka Gazette – Sri Lanka News Portal

The Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa is committed to look into the well-being of the minorities including those in the North and East, Ratnapura District UPFA Parliamentarian Vasudewa Nanayakkara said.

He said that President Rajapaksa is the only leader who treats all citizens without any discrimination. Continue Reading

The Consumer Affairs and Internal Trade Ministry (CAITM) yesterday assured that immediate action would be taken against bakery owners who make exorbitant profits by increasing wheat flour based products following last week’s gas price hike. Ministry investigation teams will be deployed on the directive of Minister Johnston Fernando from tomorrow to crack down on such errant bakery owners and restaurateurs who take undue advantage of the increase in gas prices.

The CAITM has also received several complaints over the past few days that some bakery owners and restaurateurs in the city and the outstations have already increased the prices of all flour based products including cakes, buns, hoppers and a variety of short eats. Continue Reading

The Budget for 2010 will be presented to Parliament next month, according to Finance Ministry sources.

“A Vote of Account was taken for the next three months under a special Presidential decree provided by the Constitution”, the sources said.

He said a mini Budget for the period August to December will be in force on government revenue and spending for the rest of the year until the Budget 2011 is presented in November, this year. Continue Reading

A new National Education Policy and a new Education Act will be introduced soon, said Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena.

Minister Gunawardena told the Sunday Observer that the present Education Act was introduced by the Father of Free Education Dr. C.W.W. Kannangara in 1931.

A series of amendments were later introduced to the Principals Act by successive Education Ministers during the past 79 years. The whole system of education is in a grave situation as a result of the outdated policies and the current Education Act. The present education policies have failed to meet the country’s needs, he said. Continue Reading

President extends invitation to Opposition to join hands

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday addressing the biggest ever May Day Rally organised by the UPFA, after the elimination of the three decade-old terrorism, appealed to the Opposition to join hands with the Government to rebuild the country, forgetting political differences.

Addressing a mammoth crowd at the rally held at the Town Hall grounds, Colombo under the theme, “Power to the workplace, Dynamism to the factory, Peace to the motherland”, the President said the Opposition should realise that the people have given a clear mandate to the Government to take the country forward.

If the Opposition is really keen on the welfare of the people and the motherland, they should extend their fullest support towards the attempts made by the Government to rebuild the country and not to oppose each and everything and act as a responsible Opposition.”

President said whatever the challenges may be, the Government would take every possible measure for the well-being of the country’s working class, which is a very strong weapon which has the ability to force any force to bow down before them. Therefore trade union leaders should act in a responsible manner to safeguard their rights. Continue Reading

UNP Hambantota District MP Sajith Premadasa recounting the invaluable services rendered by his father, the late Ranasinghe Premadasa for the downtrodden said his father’s dream of creating peace in the country is now a reality.

He was addressing a ceremony held in Colombo yesterday to coincide with the 17th death anniversary of President Premadasa. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mrs. Hema Premadasa were also present.

He said his father’s main objective was to eliminate poverty from the country. The late President looked into the problems of the farmer and fishing communities and the labour force. He introduced many economic development plans to strengthen their livelihood.

“Constructing thousands of houses for the poor, developing rural areas through the Gam Udawa concept and creating employment opportunities by setting up garment industries throughout the country and helping President Jayewardene to establish Free Trade Zones are remembered by people even today,”. Continue Reading

Tamil political parties have strongly condemned the moves by LTTE proxies to form a `Transnational’ Government abroad. Plans are under way even to hold an election for this so-called `Transnational Government’.

Minister and Eelam People’s Democratic Party leader Douglas Devananda commenting on the so-called `Transnational’ Government told the Sunday Observer that the move was a farce and nothing else.

“The parliamentary elections held recently have proved that there was no room for hardliners in the Tamil political scene. People in the country and the Tamils from the North and the East at large wish to live in peace forgetting their past horrible experiences. The cry for separatism has done enormous damage to the Tamils in the country.”

“Unlike previous leaders, President Mahinda Rajapaksa is bold enough to deal with issues which pose a threat to the unity and integrity of the country. The country has tremendous confidence in President Rajapaksa.

Therefore, when the whole country is looking towards a bright future, extraneous forces which cannot digest the healthy political developments in the country have now embarked on an idiotic move called `Transnational Government’. Continue Reading

Deputy Minister assuming duties at the Ministry of Media and Mass Communication at the auspicious time. Ministry Secretary W. B. Ganegala looks on.

Deputy Media Minister Dr. Mervyn Silva called upon media personalities in the country to report true and balanced news items in a responsible manner.

He made this request at a ceremony at the Media Ministry Auditorium in Narahenpita to coincide with his assuming of duties, on Thursday.

The Deputy Media Minister also highlighted the importance of freedom of expression and requested all media personnel to give priority to public opinion when reporting news or publishing articles.

The Minister assured that he would establish a separate division to receive complaints and suggestions made by media personalities. He also requested them to call him directly at any time from morning to midnight. Minister Silva also focused on the provision of safety and welfare facilities to media personnel and said that considering the responsibility of their jobs, they must be provided with due protection. Continue Reading

Govt confident of securing two-third majority:

The Government will introduce a new Constitution before the end of this year as it is fully confident of securing a two-third majority in Parliament.

The proposed Constitution would be more favourable to the country while it would further ensure good governance by removing the obstacles faced by the country’s development process, informed Government sources told the Sunday Observer.

According to the overall result of the 2010 general election, the Government would obtain nearly 145 seats in Parliament. Therefore, the Government needs another five seats to obtain a two-third majority.

The Government is fully confident that it would obtain these five seats easily under the program formulated by it, the sources said. Continue Reading

Sajith calls for reforms in UNP:

Parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa, who has been elected again from the Hambantota district, said the United National Party (UNP) needs to be reformed to represent the grassroots, including labourers, farmers and fishermen.

“The reforms should begin with where power is centred,” he was quoted as saying to the local correspondent of the BBC.

The UNP secured only 46 seats of the 180 declared so far, while the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) won 117 seats.

The UNP that won two seats at the 2004 general election in the Hambantota district, the stronghold of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, secured two seats at the April 8 polls under, Premadasa’s leadership. “The main reason for the failure to implement reforms was that power is pretty much centralised in the party so the responsibility lies with the party leader,” said Premadasa, the son of former President R. Premadasa. Continue Reading