Cabinet Decisions 

Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana told Parliament yesterday that JVP Central Committee member Wasantha Samarasinghe has made a life-threatening statement against Hudson Samarasinghe, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC).

In a special statement yesterday (23), the Minister stressed that threats to journalists are strongly condemned regardless of which political party they belong to and all political parties including JVP are requested not to make threats in order to hold an election in a free and peaceful manner.

He further said that the threat made by Wasantha Samarasinghe is circulating on the social media where he states that the matter will be taken care of at the election and no room will be left to flee the country or go into hiding.

The Minister further said that if any journalist has been threatened in this way, they should file a complaint with the CID and steps will be taken to provide them with the protection they need.

The minister recalled that Samarasinghe, one of the senior most media communicators in the country, is an experienced media administrator and a former MP, and he is working as SLBC chairman for the sixth time.

The Prime Minister made these comments when Seethawaka Museum was vested with the public on Sunday (21).

Senior Adviser to the President on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayaka visited the historic Kataragama Sacred site and actively participated in religious rituals yesterday (21).

During his visit, he met with the Chief Incumbent of Kiriwehera Viharaya, Venerable Kobawaka Dhamminda Nayaka Thera, to inquire about his well-being and joined the religious ceremonies at Kiriwehera and received blessings.

He also participated in ceremonies at the Ashta Phala Bodhi and visited other temples, including Kataragama Saman Maha Devalaya, to seek additional blessings. Additionally, he took part in illuminating the historic Kirivehera Chaitya with six-coloured light bulbs.

On the final day of the Kataragama annual Esala Maha Perahara, the sacred casket was ceremonially placed on the ceremonial elephant, Sinharaja, by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Sagala Ratnayaka, under the guidance of Kiriwehera Vihara Chief Incumbent Ven. Kobawaka Dhamminda Nayaka Thera.

Mr. Sagala Ratnayaka also engaged in cordial conversations with the devotees present.

State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa, Basnayaka Nilame of the Kataragama Devalaya Dishan Gunasekara, and several other notable figures were also in attendance at the event.

The government has planned an island-wide newspaper article competition to educate school students about the Financial Management Bills and the Economic Transformation Bills. This initiative aims to raise awareness and engagement among the youth on these crucial topics.

The theme of the competition is “My Country Developed by 2048 through Formal Public Financial Management and Sustainable Economic Transformation”. Winners and winning schools will receive valuable prizes and certificates.

Eligible participants include students from all government schools, Piriven Institutes, private schools approved by the Ministry of Education, as well as Bhikkus and Bhikkunees. Submissions are accepted in Sinhala, Tamil, and English.

The deadline for applications for this competition, organized by the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Education and the Government Information Department, is on July 31. Detailed information about the competition, including submission guidelines and related bills, can be downloaded from the Government Information Department’s website at https://www.dgi.gov.lk/contact-us/public-finance-management-bill.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe inaugurated the second phase of the flyover project constructed by the Transport and Highways Ministry at a cost of Rs.5,278 million between Kompanna Vidiya and Justice Akbar Mawatha over the railway line yesterday (11).

The Road Development Authority with Maga Engineering completed this project. Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr.Bandula Gunawardhana, Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Presidential Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka and Transport and Highways Ministry Secretary Ranjith Rubasinghe were present.

President Unveils “Randora Urumaya” Program to Grant Housing Rights to 50,000 Low-Income Families

Ownership of 130 homes across 31 Apartment Complexesin Colombo District Granted.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, reflecting on the destruction of his home by fire two years ago, emphasized the importance of having a secure home. This realization prompted him to launch a program aimed at granting full ownership of homes to 250,000 residents living in flats in Colombo.

He highlighted this initiative yesterday (09) during the inauguration of the “Randora Urumaya” housing deed awarding program. In the first phase, 50,000 houses are being provided to low-income families residing in Colombo flats.

During the event, the President symbolically participated in awarding ownership of 130 houses located in 31 apartment complexes in the Colombo district.

As per a concept of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the 2024 budget proposals introduced the Urumaya program, which aims to provide free land rights to 2 million people and grant full ownership of homes to 250,000 low-income families living in flats in Colombo.

The National Housing Development Authority has paid Rs.150,000 for each of the homes, including flats, that are rented out to low-income earners at Rs.3,000 or less per month. Although the payment has not yet been completed, within a month, 50,000 beneficiary families will receive full home ownership under the first phase. The Authority plans to award title deeds to 1,070 beneficiaries by the end of this year.

President Wickremesinghe further elaborated that through the “Urumaya” program, 2 million people will receive freehold land rights, and 50,000 people will gain full rights to their homes. He emphasized that owning land and a home fulfils the aspirations of the people of this country, and the government is committed to providing as much relief as possible to its citizens.

Addressing the gathering President Ranil Wickremesinge further stated;

Today, we stand united for the people living in Colombo flats to gain full ownership of their homes. This marks the arrival of the “Urumaya” program in the city. We initiated the “Urumaya” program during a time of great hardship for our country, providing as much support as the government could offer.

Our primary focus was on granting rights to the people. Owning land or a house is crucial and represents the hopes of the people. We implemented this program to fulfil those aspirations, successfully achieving it within two years.

Before achieving all this, it was essential to establish economic stability and maintain law and order in the country. Two years ago, there was widespread fear about the future of our country. Today, we have achieved economic stability. Without this, our country could have faced crises similar to Lebanon and Kenya.

We are now working to ensure that the people benefit from this newfound economic stability. In just two years, we managed to lift the country out of bankruptcy. I have long advocated for granting land rights to the farmers of this country, and we, as a government, united to make this a reality.

I truly understood the value of a house when my home burned down two years ago. If the Air Force had come to put out the fire, they would have had to shoot, and I didn’t want anyone to be harmed. As a result, everything in my house, including my books, was destroyed.

This experience deepened my appreciation for the importance of having a home, which inspired us to launch this project to grant people the right to own their houses. We extended the “Urumaya” program to the city, ensuring it wasn’t confined to rural areas. Under this program, 2 million people in villages will receive freehold land rights; while 250,000 families in Colombo will gain home ownership. You must protect and maintain these homes, keeping them nice and clean, and build your future within them. This is a valuable opportunity in your life, and I urge you to make the most of it.

As a government, we are committed to providing as much relief as possible to the people. We are all acutely aware of the hardships faced by our citizens. When I assumed leadership, I believed the country needed a significant change. This change cannot be achieved through slogans, street protests, or petitions. Real change requires purposeful action towards clear goals.

No one expected our country to reach the state it is in today. Through the “Aswesuma” program, similar to the “Samurdhi” grant, we provided triple the benefits to the people. We also increased the paddy production of the country and arranged for low-income families to receive 10 kilos of rice for two months. Additionally, government employees received a salary increase of ten thousand rupees.

We have also focused on developing tourism and agriculture in the country. The “Urumaya” program was implemented to grant freehold land rights to the people, and arrangements have been made to provide ownership of flats to those in need.
Our achievements were possible due to our dedication. Why were previous governments unable to accomplish these tasks? I must extend my gratitude to all the ministers involved. We must continue these efforts together.

We have reached an agreement with our official creditors, including China Exim Bank and private creditors, on how to repay the foreign loans we have taken. As a result, Rs.8 billion has been reduced from our debt obligations, and we have been given until 2042 to repay the remaining debt. We must move forward with this plan. I believe no one wants to revert to the old ways. If we fail to uphold our agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), we will face even greater difficulties as a nation. We cannot remain perpetually in debt; therefore, we must transition to an export economy to generate income.

We must accomplish these two goals and ensure no one derails our efforts. Your future is in your hands today.

Additionally, we need to create employment opportunities for the youth. An expert committee has been appointed to address salary discrepancies among government employees.

I have also instructed the Treasury Secretary to implement a program to provide relief to retirees. Funds should be allocated by the end of this year to support these individuals. The government aims to maintain low interest rates in the future. For business development, bank interest rates need to be kept low. However, lower interest rates can disadvantage pensioners, so I have directed the Treasury Secretary to develop a program to address this issue.

We have a long journey ahead to secure a better future for your children. We must build the society that future generation’s desire. I believe that granting rights to the people today is one of the best steps we can take towards that goal.

David Sislen, the newly appointed World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka, Nepal and Maldives met President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (4). The President had a cordial discussion with the World Bank team. Vice President for the South Asia Region, Martin Raiser; Country Manager for Maldives and Sri Lanka, South Asia, Chiyo Kanda and Senior Advisor to the President on Economic Affairs, Dr. R. H. S. Samaratunga attended the meeting.

Cabinet Decisions - 2024.07.01

Minister of Transport, Highways, and Mass Media, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, emphasized that deviating from the current government’s economic program under President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s leadership would inevitably lead to the country’s collapse once more.

Therefore, the minister stressed that the time has come for all citizens to support the continuation of the current economic program.

The Minister of Transport, Highways, and Mass Media, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, made this statement during a news conference at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) today (01), under the theme ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country’.

The Minister further commented:

A special debate on foreign debt restructuring will be held in Parliament on July 2 and 3. In the past, the Treasury lacked dollar reserves, making it impossible to pay debt instalments. There were shortages of fuel and gas, leading to long queues. Society became filled with hatred, and the entire country was overcome with turmoil.

At a time when no one else stepped forward to take charge, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, with his extensive experience as a Prime Minister and seasoned politician, accepted the challenge and initiated a program to stabilize the country. His first action was to approach the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and negotiate a comprehensive loan agreement, making significant efforts to ensure its success. Although the country had previously approached the IMF 16 times, President Wickremesinghe had to personally undertake energetic efforts to secure the loan facility.

As a result, a comprehensive loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund was secured, extending until the year 2027. Under this agreement, our country began to rely heavily on these loans. Given our reliance on imports and our lack of self-sufficiency, it’s imperative to maintain international trade relationships for goods. Regardless of the political leadership, these deals hinge on international recognition and adherence to global norms. Thanks to the comprehensive credit facility agreement, we secured annual imports until 2027.

Looking ahead, the budget for 2025 must be drafted in the coming months. Approval of this budget is crucial for disbursing salaries to public servants, pensions for senior citizens, and social welfare benefits like Samurdhi and Aswasuma to the needy. Without the support of the International Monetary Fund, a budget cannot be prepared beyond 2027.

The International Monetary Fund will provide US $700 million for the 2025 budget, with an additional US $400 million from the World Bank (WB) and US $300 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It is anticipated that another US $3,655 million will be received as debt relief when preparing the budget document for next year. This funding structure is essential for meeting obligations such as salaries, pensions, and subsidies for public servants, regardless of the governing administration.

These debt relief projections are speculative and extend into 2027. By that year, despite efforts to minimize budget gaps, a deficit of US $3,911 million is forecasted. Under the comprehensive credit facility, US $629 million, including US $600 million from the International Monetary Fund, US $300 million from the World Bank, and US $300 million from the Asian Development Bank, are allocated for budget preparation. Nonetheless, there remains a shortfall of US $1.5 billion to prepare the 2027 budget.

To cover this deficit, our country must access the international market. Presently, global market conditions restrict the issuance of Sri Lanka’s sovereign bonds, which can only be pursued in 2027. To issue such bonds successfully, our foreign reserves need to reach US $14 billion by that time, a target that currently stands at US $5.5 billion. Despite these challenges, a structured annual program has been developed to address these financial requirements.

While the government is implementing such a program, the President is making agreements with foreign countries. There is no hidden agreement or program. The President has also presented all the information to the Parliament.

In that context, no one can run a government apart from this prepared economic program. It must be said that if someone dreams of governing outside of this economic program, the country cannot be prevented from collapsing again.

Therefore, we need everyone’s support as a country to continue implementing these agreed programs to create an environment where the unborn children who love this country can rise as a nation and live in a developed country. Also, it must be said that if anyone opposes the debate in the Parliament regarding the extended credit facility, they will go down in history as traitors.

The Chief Prelate of the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha and Chancellor of the Sri Jayawardenepura University, Aggamaha Pandita Most Venerable Dr. Ittapane Dhammalankara Maha Nayaka Thera, stated that President Ranil Wickremesinghe is the sole leader capable of rebuilding Sri Lanka’s economy and advancing the nation. The Maha Nayaka Thera emphasized that the President’s program merits the blessings of the entire Maha Sangha.

The Maha Nayaka Thera made these remarks during President Wickremesinghe’s visit to Rukmale Sri Dharma Vijayaloka Maha Viharaya, Kottawa yesterday evening (27).

Upon arriving at the temple, President Wickremesinghe first participated in religious rituals to receive blessings. He then visited the Maha Nayaka Thera, inquiring about his health and engaging in a cordial discussion. Additionally, the President reviewed the temple’s development activities.

During the conversation, President Wickremesinghe updated the Maha Nayaka Thera on the current economic and financial progress in Sri Lanka. The president stressed the need to steer the country on a new path to prevent future crises, committing to work dedicatedly towards this goal in the coming years.

The President gratefully recalled the Maha Nayaka Thera’s invitation to assume the presidency during the county’s period of disaster, expressing his determination to stabilize the economy swiftly. President Wickremesinghe acknowledged the support of those willing to stand for the country, noting that achieving economic stability in a short period was a unique victory for Sri Lanka, especially compared to other countries facing similar crises.

Addressing the strike by teachers’ unions over unreasonable demands, the President asserted that the education of the country’s children must not be disrupted. President Wickremesinghe warned that if strike actions are not halted, stringent measures would be taken in the future.

The event was attended by Viharadhikari of the Kottawa Rukmale Sri Dharma Vijayaloka Maha Viharaya Ven. Pelawatte Punyarathana Thera, along with members of the temple Dayaka Sabha (Donor Committee).