Prime Minister on granting permanency to graduates
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, as the Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, announced in Parliament on yesterday that he will find a solution to the problem of the graduates who were not made permanent yet.
Answering a question asked by the Opposition Leader, he said that 461 graduates have not received appointments due to various deficiencies and that the Ministry Secretary has already started discussions in this regard.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena further said: “Honourable Deputy Speaker, As the Leader of the Opposition mentioned that the number of qualified graduates who have not yet been appointed in the departments under the Ministry of Public Administration, the Secretary of the Ministry has already started discussions regarding this issue. We hope to find a solution to it.”
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Loss-making institutions, a huge burden to the people – Minister Sabry
The high production cost, the diesel mafia and poor management have resulted in an increase in the electricity tariff, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry, PC in Parliament yesterday.
He was joining the Adjournment Debate moved by the Opposition on the “The difficulties faced by the public due to increase in the Electricity Tariffs by a large proportion”.
He said that the loss-making institutions are not the assets of the country but a huge burden for the people of this country.
The Government should not engage in businesses. If it is a business, there should be profits. But the Government cannot engage in profit-making businesses since there are no limitations for the number of workers.
He stressed the importance of introducing a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) to reduce the number of excess workers and also for a performance-based evaluation for the workers of the Ceylon Electricity Board.
The Minister further said that the top management of the institutions have to follow the instructions given by trade unions. He alleged that there is a monopoly within the Electricity Board which ruins the institution.
“Not only the burden on the public, but maintaining this type of loss-making institution is a huge barrier for the country’s journey towards the export economy,” he added.
He further said that sustainable development cannot be achieved without an export-oriented economy. Usage of renewable energy is very much essential to meet export market opportunities by competing with other countries.
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Measures to strengthen school meals programmes – Education Minister
Leader of the House and Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said in Parliament yesterday that measures have already been taken to strengthen the school meals programmes with the assistance of International Organisations, NGOs and various other institutions.
Responding to a question by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Minister Premajayantha said that Sri Lanka has around 19,000 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres which are staffed by around 40,000 teachers. The nutritional needs of these ECDs were successfully addressed during the recent past and currently, the Health Ministry is providing Thriposha and fulfilling other nutritional needs of these students.
A Government-funded school meals programme to provide daily nutritious meals to over 1.1 million students were also successfully implemented. “As the Minister of Education, I have already discussed with UNICEF, WFP, Embassies and various other institutions and NGOs seeking their assistance to strengthen the school meals programme,” said the Minister.
Accordingly, the first consignment of canned fish and dhal provided by the United States under the Food and Agriculture Organisation has already been received. China has also pledged to provide 10,000 MTs of rice and the first consignment has already been received. Measures have already been taken to distribute these stocks.
The Save the Children Organisation has also extended its assistance to this programme. John Keels has also expressed its willingness to implement a nutrition programme in 200 selected schools.
“It is also expected to allocate more funds from the next Budget for the school meals programme,” he added.
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CB Governor to conduct special programme on current economic situation – Deputy Speaker
Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapaksha announced that the special programme conducted by the Governor of the Central Bank on “Sri Lanka’s current economic situation and way forward” will be held on August 31.
The Deputy Speaker informed yesterday that the dialogic discourse on the “Sri Lanka’s current economic situation and way forward” which was scheduled to be held today, (August 30) from 2 p.m. to 4.p.m. at the Parliament Complex, will not be held due to unavoidable reasons and has been postponed for Wednesday (August 31) from 2.30 p.m to 4.30 p.m. Arrangements have been made to conduct the programme in Committee Room No. 01 of the Parliament Complex.
The special programme conducted by the Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe aims to provide an opportunity for an effective discourse on the current economic situation and future economic direction of the country, so that it will be useful for the Members of Parliament to actively participate in the upcoming Parliamentary debates regarding fiscal matters.
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Sajith requests for debate on UNICEF child malnutrition report
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday (29) requested a debate on the report presented by UNICEF regarding child malnutrition in Sri Lanka.
Premadasa also said that he would request the Minister of Health to clarify the facts regarding the information revealed in that report.
Premadasa made these observations making a statement with the permission of the Deputy Speaker. The Opposition Leader said that a UNICEF report shows that Sri Lanka is ranked 6th among countries with severe child malnutrition and said that Sri Lanka is ranked second in South Asia in terms of child malnutrition.
The Leader of the Opposition also said that he would request to start a programme to provide school lunch to schoolchildren and said that it should be included in the Interim Budget. He further said that the Government should pay more attention to improving the nutritional status of children instead of building official residences for politicians.
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Increased electricity charges greatly affecting people – MP Mujibar Rahuman
Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Mujibar Rahuman stated that the country could have built another thermal power plant with the money paid to the Chinese company for 12 years to maintain the Norochcholai Thermal Power Plant.
Rahuman made this observation by moving the Adjournment Motion on the increased electricity tariffs yesterday (29).
MP Rahuman questioned whether there are no Sri Lankan engineers and technical officers to maintain the Norochcholai Power Plant and said that the electricity consumers will have to bear these unnecessary costs.
The MP said that things have gone from bad to worse as the electricity charges have been increased while the Cost of Living has skyrocketed.
MP Rahuman pointed out that even though the Government said that they would provide relief to the poor people, no proposal or programme has been presented by the Government to do so. He also pointed out that many factories have collapsed as well.
MP Rahuman observed that other countries in the region have provided electricity at a lower price than Sri Lanka, and if a system is not made to provide electricity to investors at a lower price, investors will stop coming to the country.
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No option but to increase electricity rates – Mahindananda
Kandy District Member of Parliament Mahindananda Aluthgamage said in Parliament yesterday that there is a big difference between the electricity generation cost and the selling price of a unit.
The MP was joining the Adjournment Debate moved by the Opposition on the “The difficulties faced by the general public due to increase in the Electricity Tariffs by a large proportion”.
The electricity board has no option but to increase the electricity bill. If the electricity bill is not increased in 2022, 2023, there will be a loss of Rupees five hundred and eight billion. Everyone should find solutions to this together.
“This proposal was brought by the Opposition. But there is no one to listen. No power plant has been set up after the establishment of Norochcholai. Why do we buy electricity from the private sector? Because we did not build power plants, all governments including us are responsible for this situation. All 225 of us are responsible. All of us as well as the Electricity Board are responsible for increasing the electricity tariffs. See how the Samurdhi subsidy is given today. Subsidies should go to the right people.” he said.
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Committee on Ethics and Privileges
The names of the members of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges announced to Parliament.
The Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse yesterday (29) announced that following Members have been nominated by the Committee of Selection, to serve in the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, in terms of the provisions of the Standing Order 118 of the Parliament and the motion agreed to by Parliament on August 10, 2022.
Accordingly, (Dr.) Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Dilan Perera, Dullas Alahapperuma, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Kabir Hashim, R. M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara, (Mrs.) Thalatha Athukorala, Kanaka Herath, Vijitha Berugoda, Tharaka Balasuriya, Anuradha Jayaratne, G. G. Ponnambalam, Hesha Withanage, (Mrs.) Kokila Gunawardene, Weerasumana Weerasinghe and Samanpriya Herath have been nominated to serve in the Committee on Ethics and Privileges
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Committee on Standing Orders
The Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse announced to Parliament yesterday (29) that the following Members have been nominated by the Committee of Selection, to serve in the Committee on Standing Orders, with the Speaker as the Chair, the Deputy Speaker, the Deputy Chairperson of Committees, in terms of the provisions of the Standing Order 116 of the Parliament and the motion agreed to by Parliament on August 10, 2022.
Accordingly, (Dr.) Susil Premajayantha, S. B. Dissanayake, (Mrs.) Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi, (Dr.) Suren Raghavan, Mayantha Dissanayake, Charles Nirmalanathan, K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera, Sagara Kariyawasam and Yadamini Gunawardena have been nominated by the Committee of Selection, to serve in the Committee on Standing Orders.
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Backbencher Committee
The Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse announced to Parliament yesterday (29) that the following Members have been nominated by the Committee of Selection, to serve in the Backbencher Committee, with the Chief Government Whip as the Chair and the Chief Opposition Whip, in terms of the provisions of the Standing Order 126 of the Parliament and the motion agreed to by Parliament on August 10, 2022.
Accordingly, Kapila Athukorala, S. Noharathalingam, Selvarajah Kajendren,
Waruna Liyanage, Thisakutti Arachchi, M. Udayakumar, Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Karunadasa Kodithuwakku, (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya, W. H. M. Dharmasena, Kins Nelson, Rohana Bandara, Kumarasiri Rathnayaka, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, D. Weerasingha and (Mrs.) Manjula Dissanayake has been nominated to serve in the Backbencher Committee.
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Members for House Committee
Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse announced to Parliament yesterday (29) that the following Members have been nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the House Committee, with the Speaker as the Chair, in terms of the provisions of the Standing Order 117 of the Parliament and the motion agreed to by Parliament on August 10, 2022.
Accordingly, A. L. M. Athaullah, Chandima Weerakkody, Premalal Jayasekara, (Dr.) V. Radhakrishnan, (Dr.) (Mrs.) Sudarshini Fernandopulle, J. C. Alawathuwala, Nimal Lanza, Piyal Nishantha De Silva, Jayantha Ketagoda, Charles Nirmalanathan, Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi, Kins Nelson, (Mrs.) Muditha Prishanthi and Marjan Faleel have been nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the House Committee.
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Committee on Public Petitions
Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse announced to Parliament yesterday (29) that the following Members have been nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Committee on Public Petitions, in terms of the provisions of the Standing Order 122 of the Parliament and the motion agreed to by Parliament on August 10, 2022.
Accordingly, Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, Jagath Pushpakumara, Piyankara Jayaratne, Dilip Wedaarachchi, Vadivel Suresh, S. Viyalanderan, Ashoka Priyantha, A. Aravindh Kumar, (Mrs.) Geetha Samanmale Kumarasinghe, B. Y. G. Rathnasekara, Sarathi Dushmantha, Govindan Karunakaram, Jayantha Ketagoda, Mohomad Muzammil, Thushara Indunil Amarasena, Velu Kumar, Waruna Liyanage, U. K. Sumith Udukumbura, Mayadunna Chinthaka Amal, Nipuna Ranawaka, Gamini Waleboda, (Mrs.) Rajika Wickramasinghe, M. W. D. Sahan Pradeep Withana has been nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Committee on Public Petitions.
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Committee on Parliamentary Business
Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse announced to the Parliament yesterday (29) that four more Members have also been nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Committee on Parliamentary Business.
Accordingly, Mahinda Amaraweera, Wajira Abeywardana, (Mrs.) Thalatha Athukorala and Eran Wickramaratne have been nominated to serve in the Committee on Parliamentary Business.
by Daily News Sri Lanka
, Political, ,