MPs vocal during PM’s meeting to go against Keheliya?
There is suspicion within the government whether the MPs who vowed to defeat the expenditure heads of three ministries in the upcoming Budget, will support the vote of no confidence against Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.
Several MPs were being vocal during the ruling party parliamentary group meeting held last week. It was chaired by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena as the President was in Singapore.At the meeting, a number of backbench MPs and state ministers had accused the ministers in charge of five key ministries.
They have levelled allegations against 12 ministers including five senior ministers.MPs Madhura Withanage, Janaka Tissakuttiarachchi, Jayantha Katagoda, Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, Samanpriya Herath, Sumith Udukumbura, Kumarasiri Ratnayake, Jagath Samarawickrama, Piyal Nishantha, Milan Jayathilaka and Geetha Kumarasinghe were among those who made accusations.
Accusing five ministries, they have vowed to defeat the head of expenditure of three ministries in the upcoming budget .It is said that the backbench MPs have strongly accused a number of ministers of not giving jobs to even one person recommended by the MPs as requested, distributing land unfairly, giving priority to Opposition MPs over the ruling party MPs in admitting children to schools and not taking into account the proposals of the ruling party members when allocating funds for regional development projects.
Meanwhile, SLFP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara and another Opposition politician were accused of admitting children to schools with the blessing of the Ministry of Education.
Next no confidence motion against Nalin?
The MPs have also expressed displeasure over the behavior of Trade Minister Nalin Fernando.
They have alleged that Minister Fernando is enabling irregularities by following the instructions of his predecessors Nimal Lanza and Johnston Fernando.
Meanwhile, it was reported that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is planning to bring the next no confidence motion against Minister Nalin Fernando, who aggravated the issue of poultry products without lowering the tax on maize.
The frustrated MPs have suggested to the Prime Minister that all these issues should be discussed in a special meeting with the President.
Due to this situation, the President has prohibited the MPs from travelling overseas next week as the no-confidence motion against Minister Rambukwella is to be taken up in Parliamen
YOU MAY LIKE
-
Compensation possible only for 6 crops – Minister
-
SL can develop on its own – President
-
SL squad for Asia Cup named
-
Sri Lanka logs highest HIV cases in single quarter
-
50 yr. association between Indian NDC & SL Armed Forces, celebrated
-
Imported electric bus fleet to be increased to 200
Minister of Agriculture – Mahinda Amaraweera has said that compensation can be given for only 06 crop types that are harmed due to the prevailing dry weather spell.
Speaking today (29), the minister has said compensation for crop damage can only be given for paddy, maize, chilli, potato, big onion and soybean crops, at the present.
He further notes that if it is possible to provide at least some relief for other crops, he is prepared to do so.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture states that 58,766 acres of cultivated land islandwide have been harmed due to the current drought conditions.
President Wickremesinghe has expressed confidence that Sri Lanka can develop on its own & not be a burden on others.
“I think we in Sri Lanka should no longer think of asking others for help. But let’s make it on our own as many countries have done,” the President has said, according to the PMD.
According to the National STD/AIDS Control Programme, Sri Lanka has recorded 181 new HIV cases, reflecting a nine percent increase compared to the previous quarter in 2023, which saw 165 cases. The second quarter ranges from April to June.
This also represents a significant 39 percent increase compared to the second quarter of 2022, which had 130 cases.
Out of the cases reported in the second quarter, 26 males and three females fall within the age range of 15-24, while the remaining cases are individuals above 25 years old.
The male to female ratio of reported HIV cases in 2023 stands at 8.1:1.
Furthermore, the second quarter has reported 13 deaths related to HIV/AIDS.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has officially reported 10 HIV cases among the transgender community, while a total of 3,968 males and 1,379 females have contracted HIV thus far since 2009.
According to Dr. Janaki Vidanapathirana, Director of the National STD/AIDS Control Programme, there has been a significant rise in HIV cases in 2023.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Dr. Vidanapathirana stated that a total of 346 HIV cases have been reported this year, marking a noticeable increase compared to the previous year.
Dr. Vidanapathirana also expressed concern that the number of cases may continue to rise in the coming months.
She attributed the increase to several factors, including the expansion of testing capacity, a lack of knowledge about sex education among the public, risky sexual behaviors, and a failure to take necessary precautions.
“It is crucial for individuals to be aware of the risks associated with HIV and to take appropriate measures to protect themselves. The National STD/AIDS Control Programme continues to work towards raising awareness and providing necessary resources to combat the spread of HIV,” she added.
