President Gotabaya Rajapaksa visited the Bellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya to wish the chief incumbent Ven. Bellanwila Dhammarathana Thera on his 83rd birthday which fell yesterday. Transport Minister Gamini Lokuge accompanied the President. Picture by S.Kahatapitiya.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday urged the newly appointed members of the National Election Commission (NEC) to explore the possibility of holding the Provincial Council elections at the earliest and look into the legal action required for that.

Prime Minister Rajapaksa made these remarks when he met the NEC members at his official residence in Wijerama, Colombo this morning, the Prime Minister’s Media Division said.

The Prime Minister asked the members of the Election Commission to look into the possibility of holding the PC elections at the earliest either under the old or new system. NEC members said legal provisions should be made at the ministerial level to change the manner in which elections are held.

Therefore, they pointed out that it would be easier to hold the Provincial Council elections this time under the old system and in the future after introducing the necessary legislation to hold the elections under the new system.

They said that amendments were needed to the existing election laws and pointed out the need for a Parliamentary Select Committee for this purpose.

The Prime Minister replied that he had already made a request to the Speaker in this regard.

NEC Chairman Senior Counsel Nimal G.S. Punchihewa, members of the commission and Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Chaminda Kularatne were also present.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday instructed officials to act immediately to resolve shortcomings in prisons and provide the prisoners with necessary facilities while adopting a more humane approach towards them.

Observing that over 12,000 drug-addicted persons were in jail, the President stressed the importance of implementing a drug rehabilitation programme with special attention to them.

The President was addressing a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday to look into the prevailing problems in prisons and recommend solutions to them.

The President instructed officials to look into the possibility of constructing prisons in the locations already identified using pre-fabricated material.

The President pointed out the need to study models in prisons of foreign countries and provide such facilities to prisons in the country.

Many persons are languishing in prisons due to delays on the part of the Government Analyst’s Department, Attorney General’s Department and the Police Department.

The President noted that a Presidential Task Force comprising of the Customs, Police, Prisons Department and other relevant agencies must be formed to resolve the prevailing issues in prisons.

Justice Minister Ali Sabry, Prison Management and Prisoners Rehabilitation State Minister Lohan Ratwatte, Secretary to the President Dr. P. B. Jayasundera and Ministry officials attended the meeting.

Budget 2021 was passed with a two thirds majority in Parliament yesterday (10). The budget received 151 votes in favour and 54 votes against. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya, Jathika Jana Balawegaya and the All Ceylon Tamil Congress voted against the budget. Ilangai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) MPs were not present in the Chamber at the voting.

The Finance Minister and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa presented the Budget for 2021 in Parliament on November 17. This is the 75th budget of the country and the inaugural Budget of the present government.

The Government would have spent Rs.90 billion on anti-Coronavirus efforts by December end, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa told Parliament yesterday.

Participating in the debate for the Third Reading of the Budget, Prime Minister Rajapaksa said no one expected the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019, but the country had to face this pandemic. “Under the current situation we have spent Rs. 70 billion for the anti-COVID drive and by the time the Budget was presented it had increased to Rs. 80 billion and we expect it to increase further to Rs. 90 billion by end December.”

The Prime Minister said that despite the pandemic, the Government managed to maintain the Rupee at a steady level, which is a clear indication that the Government has successfully steered the country through this global pandemic. He said that it is a victory of the Government to be able to maintain exports while reducing the imports, which helped to boost our foreign reserves. This, he said is the best way for the country to move forward.

The Premier praised the health services and Security Forces for handling the situation effectively. Commenting on the relief measures provided to the people during the pandemic, he said, “we decided to provide food packs worth Rs.10, 000 to those under Quarantine and Rs.5000 to those affected by the pandemic and had lost their livelihoods”.

“These are the serious challenges that we have had to face. This is an opportune moment for us to realise how tied up we are with the world. What is happening globally even affects this House as countries that depend on other countries becomes quite helpless,” the Prime Minister pointed out.

He said that had the country’s economy been made strong domestically, then we would have been in a better position to face this current crisis. “This is the lesson that the pandemic taught us. That is why we thought of building up our domestic agriculture sector through our ‘Vistas of Prosperity’ policy statement. This budget was formed on the focus lines of our policy statement and that is why it is different from other budgets. In previous budgets the main focus was on bridging the budget deficit. However, this budget was formulated with the aim of uplifting the local farmers and local industrialists with the aim of building a strong local economy. Hence, we have given special consideration to the agriculture sector as this is the best way to strengthen the country,” he noted.

Prime Minister Rajapaksa said that thus far, farmers were paid only Rs. 32 per kilo of paddy, but this Government had increased it to Rs. 50 and also provided the farmers fertilizer for free, which enabled the farmers to double their profits.

He said that there were allegations against the Government that nothing was offered to the public in this budget. However, he said that the Government did not formulate this budget targeting the next election. “The people have accepted our economic drive. We don’t intend to hoodwink the people. We have allocated Rs. 350 million for road development through this budget. After Governor Edward Barnes, it is our Government that has embarked on the greatest road development revolution.”

The Prime Minister noted that between 2005 and 2010 his Government had built the most number of roads, but they had been criticised for it. However, he said today the people are benefiting. “Are only the ministers or the wealthy using these roads today? It is the ordinary citizens who are making use of these roads. Most of the rural produce is being brought to the cities to be traded via these roads. However, those who could not even build a few kilometres cannot understand this. They only waste time criticising us but have done nothing.”

He said that the Rs.350 billion from this budget is what the government intends on putting into the people’s pockets. “We have allocated Rs.135 billion for drinking water projects. We have allocated that to provide drinking water for everyone by the year 2024. In addition to these initiatives, another Rs.2000 billion worth of projects are being implemented in this manner including the 600 MW power projects. The Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport expansion and the port expansion would also be covered under these projects.”

He said that all of this is being done for the benefit of the people, adding that it was his Government that had carried out major reforms in this country that benefited the people.

The Prime Minister also said that most of the country’s laws and regulations are outdated and these are currently being reviewed. He said that a circular has been compiled with clear monetary regulations and it is expected to be issued by the end of the first quarter of 2021. Further, he said that 20 new judges were appointed in order to clear the huge backlog of cases. He noted that if justice is not served at the right time, it will be harmful to the people. Hence, the Prime Minister said that measures are being taken to uplift the judicial network and upgrade it to greater efficiency using modern technology. The dilapidated court houses would also be renovated as these belong to the people.

Commenting on the efforts taken by the government to enhance the country’s export capacity, he noted that by September the exports stood at over US$ 1,000 million and in comparison to September 2019 it is a 4.8% rise.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa urged the education authorities not to let the COVID – 19 to hinder implementation of plans for the advancement of education from pre-school to university level.

The prime objective of the Government is the development of the human resource. The future generation of the country must be equipped with knowledge, skills and competencies to make them productive citizens. President emphasized that the initiatives launched by the Government in this regard should not be hindered due to the prevailing situation.

This was stated by President Rajapaksa at a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat today (9) to review the steps taken by the Ministry of Education and all the State Ministries under its purview to meet the expected objectives.

The National Policy Framework “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour” prioritizes the expeditious formulation of a national education policy.  Another objective is to develop our education structure up to a level where children can learn from pre-school to undergraduate level under a single syllabus with a specific objective in line with international standards.

The strategies presented by the Ministry of Education and other related Ministries such as   State Ministry of Education Reforms, Promotion of Open Universities and Distance Learning, State Ministry of Dhamma Schools, Bhikku Education, Pirivenas and Buddhist Universities , State Ministry of Women and Child Development, Pre-School & Primary Education, School Infrastructure & Education Services and State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research & Innovation were separately reviewed  by the President to achieve this set target .

Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris , State Ministers Susil Premajayantha, Piyal Nishantha, Vijitha Berugoda, Seetha Arambepola, Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera and the relevant Secretaries of the Ministries were present at the discussion.

President Gotabhya Rajapakse says that corruption is the biggest obstacle to development of the country. He pointed out that corruption in any sector hampered development. He has mentioned this in a Twitter message issued in connection with the anti-corruption day which falls today. The president has said that weaknesses in monitoring mechanisms lead to corruption. A country can fight corruption when people want to eliminate corruption. The best method to end corruption is that people not tolerating it. The president has said that the vistas of prosperity manifesto paid attention to empower the citizens in the fight against corruption due to those reasons. He has further said that government considers eliminating corruption and fraud as a priority. The president has pointed out that citizens can do their duty by reporting such incidents to law enforcement officials.

The Cabinet has approved a proposal by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Finance Minister to implement a project to manufacture semi-steel and total steel radial tyres for the export market.

Co-cabinet Spokesman Mass Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the weekly Cabinet media briefing held online yesterday, that Shandong Haohua Tire Co. Limited of China has submitted a project proposal to the Board of Investment with the investment of US 300 million for the establishment of a project within the premises of Hambantota international harbour

to manufacture semi-steel and total steel radial tyres for the export market.

The Board of Investment has given its consent for this project as a strategy development project under the Strategic Development Act (Amended No.14 of 2008).

Cabinet approval has been granted to award tax relief as per the provisions under the Strategic Development Act subject to inauguration of the project within a period of 36 months and export at least 80 percent of the total production.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa commissioning the Mannar wind power project yesterday. Power Minister Dullas Alahapperuma was present.

Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the process of making the nearest school the best school has not become a reality in society.

He said parents are under pressure to enrol their children in popular schools and as a remedy, it has become imperative to build schools with all facilities outside the city.

The minister was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a girls’ school in the Kandy Digana - Rajawella area under the Green and Smart School Concept. The Central Provincial Education Ministry will spend Rs.500 million for this under the first phase. The school is scheduled to open in 2022.

The Minister said education has been given priority in the President’s ‘Vision of Prosperity’ manifesto and the construction of such schools will make the programme a reality. There are about 10,156 schools in the country, of which 370 are national schools, he said, adding that plans are on to increase the number of national schools to 1,000.

He said that out of the total number of schools, there are 3,000 schools with less than 100 students and 700 schools with less than 50 students.

The Ministry of Environment on the instructions of Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has introduced a Special Container to recycle carbon pens after use.

This is the first time such a programme has been launched in Sri Lanka, the Ministry said in a media communique.

The first container was handed over to the President on Thursday by Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera. Later he also handed over the containers to the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and the Leader of the House, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

Minister Amaraweera also presented a recycling drop box for disposable pens and toothbrushes to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. This initiative was launched based on the shared theme of “Discipline, Not Law” to promote recycling and find economic-based sustainable waste solutions in Sri Lanka. Prime Minister Rajapaksa appreciated this initiative, which helps tackle the recycling issue and works towards a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly Sri Lanka.

The container can hold up to 3,000 carbon pens and 500 toothbrushes, and once the container is full, Atlas, one of the island's leading carbon pen manufacturers, and INSEE Cement will have to pay for them.

Arrangements have been made to provide this Special Container free of charge to all schools and ministries. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that not even a single cent of government money was spent for this and that this programme was initiated with the assistance of the private sector.

The Minister said that disposable carbon pens used by schools, offices and various individuals in the island pose a serious environmental problem. At present, it is reported that the amount of carbon pens used and discarded in the school system of our country alone is between 75-80 Kg per day.

Scientific research has shown that it takes about 100 years for carbon pens to decompose when they are released into the environment.

The carbon pens that are added to the soil decompose, the micro plastics become micro plastic molecules and pollute the soil for about 500 years.

The Speaker and the Leader of the House thanked the Minister of Environment for the steps taken by the Ministry of Environment to prevent the environmental damage caused by carbon pens.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who is in Anuradhapura visited the historic Anuradhapura Sacred Area and performed religious rites in front of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi this morning (5).

President called on the Chief Incumbent of Atamasthana Ven. Dr. Pallegama Siriniwasa Theroa and received his blessings.

Later visiting Ruwanwali Maha Saya President had a cordial conversation with the Chief Incumbent of the Ruwanwai Raja Maha Viharaya, Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thero.

President engaged in religious observances at the Ruwanwali Maha Seya and inspected the Anuradhapura Sacred Area Development Master Plan.

The cost of the sacred area development project is Rs. 450 million. It will be implemented as 28 project sunder 3 phases. Construction work is scheduled to be completed before December 2024.

Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Urban Development Mrs. Anjali Devaraj, Chairman of the Urban Development Authority Harshan Silva, Director General Prasad Ranaweera were also present during the discussion.