6 December 2024 | Vol. 10, #223

Thamilan: Commemoration of Maaveerar Naal (Great Heroes’ Day); arrest everyone! – Colombo additional magistrate orders | Farmers in Thenmaradchi [Jaffna] get into the paddy field and protest

Aruna: “Not enough time, high taxes; cannot import rice” – Importers Association says

Anidda: The interim Vote on Account: Government’s four-month expenditure estimated at Rs. 5,605 billion, debt limit set at Rs. 4,000 billion; highest allocation of Rs. 220 billion designated for the Ministry of Transport and Highways

“I completely reject the ideology of a separate nation” – Kitnan Selvaraj

Thamilan, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Virakesari

Addressing parliament, ruling party MP Kitnan Selvaraj stated that they completely reject the ideology of a separate nation. He added that after the riots, the plantation people were taken to areas in the Northern Province including Vanni and Kilinochchi through the Red Bana Charity, and that their people united with the Eelam ideology and the youth became fighters in the 30-year struggle, though the Tamil chauvinists claim that the 30-year war was limited to the North only. He went on to say that they are committed to building national unity. The National People’s Power is to improve the welfare and livelihood of all people, including Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has clearly stated this, he noted.

“The wage of plantation workers can be increased to Rs. 2,000” – Jeevan Thondaman

Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Thamilan

United National Party (UNP) MP Jeevan Thondaman claimed that if the government decides to resolve the wage issue of the plantation people, the daily wage system should be abolished and an alternative mechanism introduced. He added that the Wages Board is under the Ministry of Labour, and it is easy to increase the basic wage to Rs. 2,000.

“There is a ‘mafia’ behind the prevailing coconut shortage in the local market” – Samarasinghe

Dinamina, Aruna

Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe stated in parliament yesterday (5th) that a ‘mafia’ is behind the current coconut shortage in the local market, calling it an artificial shortage with no actual deficit of coconuts in the country. He made these remarks in response to a question from SLPP parliamentarian D.V. Chanaka of the Hambantota District. Minister Samarasinghe stated that an estimated 2,684 million coconuts are expected to be harvested in 2024, though this represents a 14% decrease compared to last year. He further assured that the government has implemented measures to distribute coconuts from state-owned plantations through Sathosa outlets..

“Abolish executive presidency – Lawyers Collective

Anidda

The Lawyers Collective has sent a letter to the new Cabinet and members of parliament, outlining its position and calling for reforms in the country’s constitution and legal system, including the abolition of the executive presidency. The letter emphasises key issues that need attention, such as the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, the repeal of the Online Safety Act, and other governance-related matters.

Rasamanickam claims to have unreleased information on the Easter Sunday attacks; questions Gunawardena’s inaction

Anidda

Anidda asked former prime minister Dinesh Gunawardena for comment on MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam’s claim in parliament that he had shared information regarding the Easter Sunday attacks with Gunawardena. No response was received to the newspaper’s inquiry. On December 4, ITAK MP Rasamanickam informed parliament that he possessed unreleased information on the attacks, and was willing to offer it for further investigation. He also revealed that he had previously passed this information on to Gunawardena, but no action followed.

Renuka Perera released on bail | Arrest those who celebrated maaveerer without delay – Court directs the CID

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

Administrative Secretary of the SLPP Renuka Perera, who was arrested for sharing a video of an LTTE commemoration in Australia and falsely depicting it on Facebook as a maaveerer commemoration held in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, was granted bail yesterday (5th). Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Ratnayake approved his release on two sureties of Rs. 1 million each. The magistrate also directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate those involved in organising the maaveerar (great heroes) commemorations. The CID was instructed to identify, arrest and present the individuals responsible before the court.

The government’s interim Vote on Account presented 

Dinamina, Mawbima, Aruna, Divaina, Lankadeepa, Ada, Anidda, Thinakaran

The government’s interim Vote on Account, seeking parliament’s approval to allocate Rs. 2,600 billion for the period from January 1 to April 30, 2025, was presented yesterday by Leader of the House Minister Bimal Rathnayaka. This allocation aims to sustain state operations, continue ongoing projects and service debts during the first four months of 2025. Of the total, Rs. 976 billion (Rs. 976,074,263,000) has been earmarked for recurrent expenditure. The Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation has received the largest allocation, amounting to Rs. 220.06 billion.

Common priorities: Additional stories