News

Minister Namal Rajapaksa says that signing the Kerawalapitiya Yugadanavi power plant agreement at midnight is not an issue. He told the media that in dealing with countries around the world, they have to be on time in those countries and that this is not a problem for a government like theirs that works 24 hours a day. “The Minister of Power and Energy has replied to that. He said the signing was not at an auspicious time, but at a time convenient to both parties. So he has signed it at a convenient time. It is better to sign at midnight with a government that can work 24 hours a day. There is no problem with that. When dealing with other foreign countries you have to deal with the time in those countries. 12 midnight in our country is about one o clock in the afternoon in America. Therefore, it can be signed when both parties agree,” said Mr Namal Rajapaksa.

The representative of the American company that signed the agreement to transfer 40% of the shares of the Kerawalapitiya Yugadanavi power plant to the New Fortress Energy Company had left for the United States at 2 in the morning.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Patali Champika Ranawaka has arrived at the CID. He has arrived today following a summons issued by the CID.

An investigation has been launched into a promotion program carried out by Champika Ranawaka through the Ministry during the last government period and he has been summoned to record statements regarding that investigation.

Champika Ranawaka has arrived at the CID with a group of parliamentarians of the Samagi Jana Balawega have also arrived.

Ranawaka addressing the media stated that the present government which came to power to punish those responsible for the Easter attack is setting it aside and conducting political manhunts.

Speaking at the event MP Nalin Bandara stated that it should not be a surprise if the government claims tomorrow, that Champika Ranawaka is the mastermind of the Easter attack.

A former Governor says only nine agrochemicals are seized by the Registrar of Pesticides.

He also says that the Registrar of Pesticides has ordered to seize and take legal action against the sale of only 9 of the nearly 30 pesticides being sold illegally islandwide.

Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon, the former Governor of the Southern and Central Provinces has revealed this information in a recent press release.

''It is ridiculous to tout 'Organic Agriculture' while allowing the sale of more than 30 banned pesticides'' - Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon

"The government, which has turned a blind eye to the situation for a long time, issued this order on September 24, 2021, following my revelation on September 23. It is gratifying to see the arrest and prosecution of those selling illegal agrochemicals under the Pesticides Act, but the government has created the environment for the free sale of highly toxic chemicals by seizing only nine illegal pesticides," the former Governor said in a statement.

Tennakoon further stated:

"Even the highly toxic monocrotophos, malathion and carbofuran, which were banned in Sri Lanka some time ago, are being imported in unlimited quantities. They are packaged under various names and are currently being sold in the market. The government's plan is to portray to the country and the world that it is promoting organic farming and to cultivate in the Maha season using agro chemicals instead.”

He accused Udaya Jayasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Prof. Priyantha Yapa, Jayampathi Molligoda, Chairman of the Tea Board and others acting as if this illegal smuggling of agro chemicals was a blessing to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Organic farming has now been created in name only. They are using agrochemicals smuggled into the country by boat which is then smuggled across the country and sold illegally.

"The short sighted policy of the Ministry of Agriculture has pushed Sri Lanka's agriculture to a point where it is completely dependent on the black market. Agrochemicals worth Rs. 6000 are now being sold for Rs. 12,000," he alleged.

The Registrar of Pesticides, under the Pesticides Control Act No. 33 of 1980, has directed all authorised officers, all prosecuting officers and litigation officers to search and prosecute only those selling nine types of illegal agrochemicals.

Thereby, all other illegal agrochemicals have been given an open unofficial license for sale.

Former Governor Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon has called for the government to take immediate action to seize all illegal agrochemicals being sold in the country and to prosecute the smugglers.

The photographs show unregistered and banned agrochemicals that have been ordered to be seized.

Eliyantha White, the royal spiritual advisor of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has passed away.

White was recently being treated for contracting Covid-19 and his death was confirmed at a private hospital in Colombo a short while ago.

White secured his spotlight amid the Covid-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka for the alternative but controversial preventive methods he inventeed for Covid-19, winning many headlines.

The new Delta branch spreading in Sri Lanka has been officially named as AY.28, an alias of the Sri Lanka lineage which is B.1.617.2.28 .

Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, the head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology at the Sri Jayewardenepura University stated this in a Twitter message.

Our new delta branch with 701S is now officially AY.28Alias of B.1.617.2.28, Sri Lanka lineage @GMalavige @diyanath_r @DinukaAri @dinuguruge @Thushan_deSilva @Deshnicj

— Chandima Jeewandara (@chandi2012) September 26, 2021

“They do not care even the scientific data we have presented or the statements we have made. These transactions are carried out regardless of what we say. I have a big regret. The people of this country will be in great danger,” said Ananda Kulasuriya, Professor of Soil Microbiology. He was commenting on the government’s decision to import organic fertilizer.

He further stated that the government had assured him at the first meeting of the Presidential Task Force on Green Cultivation that no organic fertilizer or material would be imported into the country. However, he is saddened to see the catastrophe of importing tons of fertilizer, added Prof. Kulasuriya. ,

Professor of Soil Microbiology Ananda Kulasuriya, speaking further said, “If there is a proper plan, it is possible to produce organic fertilizer in the country properly. However, it cannot be done in a week or two. At least 80% of the organic fertilizer requirement can be met locally by the next Maha season.

I was appointed as a member of the Presidential Task Force on Green Expansion. Nevertheless, I attended only one meeting there. At that inaugural meeting, I made it clear that organic fertilizer or organic matter should be imported into Sri Lanka from any foreign country under any circumstances. I asked them not to do that, and I did not name a country.

I said this as a professor of microbiology. As a scientist with about fifty years of research experience, I explained that the country would be in grave danger if that were done.

When I made those comments in public, they said, ‘I have no intention of importing organic matter at all.’ What happened in the end? Attempts are being made to import metric tons of organic fertilizer. In these fertilizer samples, we saw a bacterium in the genus arvinia that is harmful to plants. It is a pathogenic bacterium well known to botanists.

They do not care even about the scientific data we have presented or the statements we have made. These transactions are carried out regardless of what we say. I have a big regret. The people of this country will be in great danger.”

MP Chandima Weerakkody has tested positive for COVID-19.

He was confirmed to have been infected with the virus after a RAT was conducted on him at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital last evening.

The MP is currently under quarantine at a treatment centre in Hikkaduwa.

A total of 92 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (21) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 12,376.

According to the Government Information Department,41 females and 51 males are among the deceased.

A total of 71 people who are above 60 years of age are among the deceased while 19 of them are between 30 and 59 years of age.

Two deaths have been reported below 30 years of age.

A total of 79 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (24) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 12,609.

According to the Government Information Department, 38 females and 41 males are among the deceased.

A total of 57 people who are above 60 years of age are among the deceased while 22 of them are between 30 and 59 years of age.

No deaths have been reported below 30 years of age.

Jayantha Ketagoda was sworn in as a National List MP of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) a short while ago.

He was named by the SLPP to fill the National List MP slot created after the resignation of former State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal.

Earlier, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National List MP Jayantha Ketagoda resigned from his Parliamentary seat to make way for Economic Revival and Poverty Alleviation Presidential Task Force Head, Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

Basil Rajapaksa is the present Finance Minister.

A total of 82 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (23) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 12,530.

According to the Government Information Department,31 females and 51 males are among the deceased.

A total of 61 people who are above 60 years of age are among the deceased while 21 of them are between 30 and 59 years of age.

No deaths have been reported below 30 years of age.

Government MPs should have the freedom to raise criticism over wrong decisions taken by those in the government, which cannot be violated through disciplinary inquiries, Ruling Party MP Jagath Kumara said, speaking to a briefing held today (20), following backlash over a controversial sentiment he delivered aiming two powerful government ministers a few days ago.

The Ruling Party MP in a recent briefing had accused Ministers Sarath Weerasekara and Gamini Lokuge of interfering in the appointment of the Officer In Charge of the Padukka Police Station. In response Ruling Party Secretary General Sagara Kariyawasam emphasised that MP Kumara will have to face a disciplinary inquiry for publicly criticising the ministers of the party.

In retaliation, MP Kumara stressed that another group of Ruling Party MPs are ready to stand by his side, had an attempt been made to silence him via a disiplinary inquiry.

Kumara also claimed that he has more information regarding Ministers Weerasekara and Lokuge, warning that these information will be exposed to media, had false allegations been levelled against him.

The trade union struggle by the school teachers and principals over salary anomalies continues to occur due to the conduct of Minister Weerasekara, he alleged.

LNW