News Room : A call to the people – The Island
2022 has seen the most dramatic uprising of people against the government’s tyrannical rule since independence. Amidst a devastating economic crisis, the people raised their voices against corruption, misrule and economic mismanagement, demanding greater democracy. Instead of heeding the people’s call for change in the political culture and economic accountability, the government has responded with repression. The state’s crackdown...
News Room : New laws take effect – The Island
By Saman Indrajith President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday announced in Parliament a moratorium on public protests and vowed to use the military to crush any future anti-government protests aimed at regime change. “They can call me a dictator. They must obtain police permission to stage street protests and not cause traffic chaos. There is a plan to stage another Aragalaya (mass public protest)...
News Room : Speaker orders out SJB’s Wijesiri
By Saman Indrajith SJB Badulla District MP Chaminda Wijesiri was removed from Parliament yesterday following an attempt to assault Member of Parliament Nimal Lanza during the Parliament sitting in the morning. MP Wijesiri tried to attack MP Lanza during a debate on the local government elections. Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena instructed to remove MP Wijesiri for behaving in an unruly manner in...
News Room : Second Reading of Budget 2023 passed with majority of 37 – The Island
SJB, JVP, SLFP and SLPP dissidents vote against Budget By Saman Indrajith The second reading of Budget 2023 was passed with a majority of 37 votes in Parliament yesterday. The vote taken at 6 pm received 121 votes in favour and 84 votes against. The SJB, JVP, SLFP and SLPP dissidents voted against the Budget. The vote on the second reading had originally been...
News Room : Priyamali’s associate given special treatment in remand prison
By Saman Gamage Isuru Bandara, the main associate of Thilini Priyamali, arrested over embezzling billions of rupees from businessmen and politicians, was allowed to meet visitors at the main office of the Magazine Prison, sources said. They said senior prison officers had authorised the special facility. Bandara is taken to meet visitors in the morning and he spends the rest of the...
News Room : Ranil to deliver Athulathmudali commemorative freedom speech – The Island
SJB, JVP, SLFP and SLPP dissidents vote against Budget By Saman Indrajith The second reading of Budget 2023 was passed with a majority of 37 votes in Parliament yesterday. The vote taken at 6 pm received 121 votes in favour and 84 votes against. The SJB, JVP, SLFP and SLPP dissidents voted against the Budget. The vote on the second reading had originally been...
News Room : Legal action will be taken against Third Secretary of Lankan Embassy in Oman – The Island
SJB, JVP, SLFP and SLPP dissidents vote against Budget By Saman Indrajith The second reading of Budget 2023 was passed with a majority of 37 votes in Parliament yesterday. The vote taken at 6 pm received 121 votes in favour and 84 votes against. The SJB, JVP, SLFP and SLPP dissidents voted against the Budget. The vote on the second reading had originally been...
News Room : Teachers’ new casual clothes force govt. to bring back old dress code
By Saman Indrajith Education Minister Susil Premajayantha told Parliament yesterday that he had referred to the Ministry of Public Administration the matter of female teachers wearing clothes, other than sarees to school, on the basis of a government circular. The Minister said that he had asked the Ministry of Public Administration to amend that circular at issue. Minister Premajayantha said so responding...
News Room : Yes indeed, Hippocrates is turning in his grave
My mind time travelled thirty-seven years to the auditorium, Rahula College, Matara. Being one of the two surgeons at the Base Hospital I was a man in demand whom the service receivers respected. My good lady and I were seated in the VIP row of seats and when the curtain raised there was a man hanging from a lamp...
News Room : Gal Oya Plantations seen as role model for profitable public-private partnerships – The Island
At a time when enhancing profitability of public enterprises is an urgent need to boost the national economy of Sri Lanka, the revival and turnaround of Gal Oya Plantations (formerly known as Hingurana Sugar factory) by LOLC is an embodiment of how the nation’s assets can be enhanced through professionalism and expertise by the private sector. Underperforming state enterprises...