Ranjith Siyambalapitiya re-elected as Deputy Speaker

SLFP MP Ranjith Siyambalapitiya was today re-elected Deputy Speaker by a majority of 83 votes in a secret ballot. A total of 148 members voted for Mr. Siyambalapitiya and SJB MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar obtained 65 votes. 

Three votes were rejected. SLFP MP Nimal Siripala De Silva proposed Mr. Siyambalapitiya's name while SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella proposed Bakeer Markar's name. Minister G.L. Peiris said the government would also support Mr. Siyambalapitiya. Deputy Speaker's post fell vacant after Ranjith Siyambalapitiya resigned as the Deputy Speaker recently.

More than 2,000 trade unions to join hartal tomorrow

Several trade unions, including health, transportation, railways, electricity, and education sectors, have decided to join with the trade union action in solidarity with the nationwide hartal on Friday (6), the trade union coordination center claimed.

If the hartal on Friday and the island-wide joint strike are not answered, the trade union coordination center says that the continuous strike and continuous hartal will continue from May 11 until the government goes home.

Sri Lanka’s foreign liquidity reserves critically low

Finance Minister Ali Sabry yesterday told Parliament that the country’s economy is at a critical level and warned that painful reforms lie ahead irrespective of who is in power.

In a detailed statement to the House on the present fiscal situation in the country as well as the way forward, Sabry admitted that wrong policies of the current administration had contributed to the present plight of the country, saying the tax cuts given in late 2019 after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took office is a historic mistake.

13 arrested for booing MPs, granted bail

The police yesterday arrested 13 persons for protesting near the Parliament. They shouted at vehicles carrying lawmakers to attend parliamentary proceedings. Tourism and Public Security Minister Prasanna Ranatunga told the House that they had been arrested as they hooted at the MPs and attempted to harass them.

Minister Ranatunga told Parliament that they would be produced in court. The Minister said it had been agreed at the party leaders meeting that the MPs should be allowed to move freely.

Sri Lanka in Dire Straits - Harsha de Silva

Earlier today the Minister of Finance, Hon. Ali Sabry, stated that the reluctance to goto the IMF much earlier was a grave mistake, in addition to the massive tax cuts and delayed depreciation of the rupee. However, I cautioned and suggested these changes as far back as 2020 November, although it fell on deaf ears. Today, these same Ministers act as if they are reborn. It is unfortunate that we did not make the right decisions at the time, as our debt was sustainable then, currently our debt is deemed unsustainable, thus the IMF is unable to provide us with any Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI).

Yoshitha Rajapaksa to Sue AKD

Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the Chief of Prime Minister's Staff said that he would file law suit against the claims made by JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake at an event yesterday (3) at Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.

 Dissanayake, revealing several 'files' with regard to alleged fraud and corruptions of politicians, businesspersons and state officials alleged that Yoshitha Rajapaksa owns several lands.

Grama Niladhari join protest at Galle Face Green

 The Grama Niladhari Trade Union Confederation today staged a protest at the Galle Face Green in support of the ongoing protests against the government. The Union held their protest walk from the Colombo Fort Railway station to the Galle Face Green. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Police arrest group protesting near parliament

 

Sri Lanka Police arrested a group of youth who were protesting near the Parliament premises on Wednesday (4) afternoon.