10 January 2025 | Vol. 11, #5

Thinakkural: “Many [Hindu] kovils in Trincomalee are in great danger; attempt to seize eight kovils” – Kugathasan | “Chinese virus has not entered the country yet” – Minister of health

Thamilan: Expenditure for 2025 is Rs. 79.1 billion (Rs. 79,100 crore) (sic); Appropriation Bill presented in parliament with an allocation of Rs. 4,691 billion (Rs. 469,100 crore) as expenditure | Government announcement on salary increment for state employees

Dinamina: “Manusha’s agreement regarding the E8 visa category is illegal. He signed it without prior review. The agreement was signed by a provincial county mayor, which was an MoU initially intended for Pakistan that was repurposed for Sri Lanka” – Minister Herath in parliament | Appropriation Bill for 2025 presented to parliament; total government expenditure Rs. 4,218 billion: largest allocation for Ministry of Finance; allocation for Ministry of Health and Ministry of Mass Media: Rs. 508 billion; Ministry of Defence: Rs. 442 billion; Ministry of Education: Rs. 271 billion; Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation: Rs. 208 billion

Aruna: Defamatory statement against Islam: Ven. Gnanasara Thera sentenced to nine months in prison; “I’ve been fighting this battle for 20 years. Just kill me in one fell swoop” states the accused

Anidda: Appropriation Bill presented to parliament; in 2025 more funds allocated to security than to education; largest expenditure directed towards health (sic)

“We did not promise to reduce electricity charges” – Kumara Jayakody

Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thamilan

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dayasiri Jayasekara made a statement that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had promised that they would reduce the electricity charge by 35% in a short period after coming to power, and asked why it had got delayed. Responding to this claim, Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody stated that they had never promised to reduce the charge within a few days, adding that it was mentioned that electricity tariffs would be maintained at a stable level and that the power infrastructure would be improved within a period of 3 years.

“The government should pay special attention to a political solution” | “The Tamils in Negombo converted to Sinhalese” – S. Shritharan

Thinakkural, Virakesari

Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) MP Sivagnanam Shritharan told parliament that it is noteworthy that the government has paid attention to the basic problems of the people. He added that this government has a majority, and all ethnic groups are stakeholders in it. He further added that the government should pay special attention to the issue of a political solution. If the government takes a good decision on the solution plan, the Sinhalese people will also support it, he noted, adding that the Sinhala people are also in a positive mood at the moment. On certain claims made by some individuals, Shritharan further noted that Tamil people have traditionally lived in areas such as Puttalam, Chilaw, Negombo, Colombo and Anuradhapura. He claimed that the Tamils who lived in Negombo were converted to Sinhalese, adding that the NPP members should take note of the history.

“Many [Hindu] kovils in Trincomalee are in great danger; attempt to seize eight kovils” – Kugathasan

Thinakkural

Addressing parliament, Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) MP K.S. Kugathasan claimed that the Archaeological Department is also responsible for the country’s rice shortage and rising prices, and that the department has acquired a large amount of agricultural land in the Trincomalee District, making it uncultivable. He also expressed deep regret that the Archaeological Department is trying to acquire eight kovils and the agricultural lands surrounding them.

Colombo High Court sets date for Gamage’s passport case

Mawbima, Lankadeepa, Divaina

The attorney general’s charge sheet against former state minister Diana Gamage, accusing her of acquiring a Sri Lankan passport with forged documents, was read before the Colombo High Court on January 9, 2025. Gamage pleaded not guilty to the charges. During the proceedings, President’s Counsel Shanaka Ranasinghe, representing Gamage, raised objections to the case, arguing that the document in question was created in 2003, and with the case being filed in 2024, over 20 years later, there was no legal basis for taking action on such an old document. High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne indicated that the objections would be considered during the trial. The case is scheduled for a hearing on March 5, 2025.

Presidential Secretariat issues new circular on foreign interactions

Anidda

The Presidential Secretariat has issued a circular regarding the interactions between government ministries, institutions, and foreign states, international organisations, foreign missions in Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan missions abroad. The circular stipulates that all communications concerning discussions on policy matters with a foreign state on behalf of Sri Lanka, as well as  communications that may potentially evolve into such matters, should be conducted exclusively through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This circular Circular No. PS/SB/Circular/1/2025, amends the previous Circular No. PS/EAD/Circular/16/2022 dated January 9, 2023, and is effective from January 1, 2025.

“Sri Lanka can enhance its global market share through innovative programs” – President

Dinamina

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasised that Sri Lanka can enhance its global market share through innovative programs, noting that new models would open up fresh market opportunities. He made this statement during a ceremony at the Presidential Secretariat on January 8 marking the launch of a program aimed at establishing a research and development commercialisation framework. The event also saw the introduction of a new website, nirdc.gov.lk, designed to support this initiative.

Ven. Gnanasara Thera sentenced to nine months imprisonment

Dinamina, Mawbima, Aruna, Lankadeepa, Divaina, Anidda, Ada, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan

Colombo additional magistrate sentenced Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera, secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena organisation, to a nine-month prison sentence and imposed a fine of Rs. 1,500 for making defamatory remarks about Islam. The charges were based on a statement made by Ven. Gnanasara Thera at a media conference in Kirulapone on July 16, 2016, in which he referred to Islam as a “cancer”. The court deemed his words detrimental to communal harmony, leading to criminal charges under Section 291 of the Penal Code. After the verdict, Ven. Gnanasara Thera expressed his discontent in court, claiming the ruling was unjust because of his health condition, and added, “Instead of subjecting me to slow torment, just end my life at once.”

Appropriation Bill for 2025 presented to parliament

Dinamina, Mawbima, Lankadeepa, Aruna, Ada, Anidda, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya presented the Appropriation Bill for 2025 to parliament yesterday, outlining the government’s proposed expenditure. The second reading of the Appropriation Bill, also known as the Budget Speech, is scheduled for February 17, with the debate to follow from February 18 to 25. A vote on the second reading will be held on February 25 at 6.00 pm. According to reports, the total government expenditure is Rs. 4,218 billion, with the largest allocation directed to the Ministry of Finance.

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