RejectingHIGHLIGHTS recommendations of Ranugge Commission FRIDAY 28 august 2020 Sajith quizzes Govt LATEST EDITION BY GAGANI WEERAKOON VOL: 09/219 PRICE : Rs 30.00 AND METHMALIE DISSANAYAKE Moragoda tipped to be Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday (27), next SL envoy to India questioned the Government on why they rejected BY GAGANI WEERAKOON recommendations given by the 15-member Salary Review Former Minister Commission headed by S. MilindaMoragoda is tipped to Ranugge, to remove the salary be the next Sri Lankan High anomalies in the public sector. Commissioner to India,... Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Presenting Vote on Account to Parliament Buddha Sasana Task Force Urges President Give Priority Don’t Rush To Promote PC Polls Investments The Buddha Sasana Ven. Ittepane Dhammalankara BY GAGANI WEERAKOON AND Task Force, submitting a Thera, Ven. Thirikunamalaye METHMALIE DISSANAYAKE letter to President Ananda Thera, Ven. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Dodampahala Chandrasiri Presenting the Vote on Account for has advised him against Thera, Ven. Matale the next four months to Parliament being hasty in Dhammakusala Thera, Ven. yesterday (27), Prime Minister Mahinda conducting the long Balangoda Sobitha Thera, Ven. Rajpaksa said the Government would deferred Provincial Akuretiye Nanda Thera, Ven. review all the project loans amounting Council (PC) Polls, Professor Medagama to around Rs 9 billion as priority should before the Government Nandawansa Thera, Ven. Prof. be given to promote investments rather could introduce much- Agalakada Sirisumana Thera, than depending on loans. needed political reforms. Ven. Kandegoda Wimaladhamma “When the former Government was The Task Force Thera and Ven. Vajiraramaye elected in 2015, the growth rate of the consisting of Chief Prelates Gnanaseeha Thera. economy was between five to six per cent. of the Buddhist Sects as well The Task Force has informed But by 2019, Sri Lanka had the as other leading monks had that the Government must also lowest growth rate in South Asia. also pointed out that it would look to seriously overhaul the In 2019, our economic growth also be unwise to press ahead election system here as well as to rate was just 2%. Also, there with the staging of the Poll, get rid of the threat posed to are a huge number of unsettled before the Government sovereignty and territorial bills in 2019. Due to these could introduce the 20th integrity through the 13th and reasons, the Government Amendment, Among the 16th Amendments, instead of would have to reduce monks who had signed the being unduly hasty in holding expenses,” he said. communiqué had been the delayed PC Poll. Ven. Ittepane Dhammalankara Thera Story Continued on PAGE 2 CoL Cabinet Sub- Matale Mayor Speaker: PCoI MPs meals in Parliament Committee Approved suspended cannot summon fmr Fish meal Rs 950 BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK COPE Chairman and vegetarian BY HEWA P. BY GAGANI WEERAKOON AND Cabinet approved the KARUNARATNA METHMALIE DISSANAYAKE meal Rs 629 (MATALE), MAHESH proposal tabled by President BY GAGANI WEERAKOON AND RUWAN (YATAWATTA) Gotabaya Rajapaksa to appoint Speaker Mahinda Yapa METHMALIE DISSANAYAKE AND K.L. SURAWEERA a Cabinet Sub-Committee on Abeywardana yesterday (KANDY) the cost of living (CoL). The (27), said the Presidential The controversy surrounding the price Cabinet Sub-Committee will Commission probing the of meals provided to Parliamentarians work to keep the cost of living Mayor of Matale, Daljith Batticaloa Campus Private surfaced once again, when an stable by providing policies and Nandalal Aluvihare, was Limited cannot summon Opposition MP sought the Speaker’s practical solutions. temporarily suspended former Chairman of the involvement in putting the record Cabinet Co-Spokesman Dr. from his position with Committee on Public straight on the costs involved,... Ramesh Pathirana said the immediate effect, based Enterprises (COPE), Sunil Sub-Committee will keep track on provisions in Sections Handunnetti to question Story Continued on of the market... 252, 277(1) and 277(2) of him about the COPE PAGE 2 the MC Ordinance,... investigation on... Story Continued on PAGE 2 Easter Attacks Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Several prominent SJB invitation to Karu Australia Every MP has the right politicians summoned proof of conspiracy – Vajira to express views to PCoI provides chemical The invitation extended by the Samagi Jana Speaker rules BY BUDDHIKA SAMARAWEERA Balawegaya (SJB) to former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya is proof that the detection devices Wiggie’s maiden speech Several prominent political figures latter is having an underhand deal and is Several Australian-supplied handheld have been summoned to the Police Unit conspiring to sell the UNP to the SJB, UNP chemical detection devices were presented stays in Hansard of the Presidential Commission of Working Committee Member Vajira Abeywardena to the Acting Inspector General of Police, BY GAGANI WEERAKOON AND Inquiry (PCoI) probing the bombings on alleged yesterday (27). C.D. Wickramaratne yesterday, by METHMALIE DISSANAYAKE 21 April 2019 Easter Sunday, to record Speaking to the Media, Abeywardena said, that Australian High Commissioner to Sri statements. an individual, who defected from the UNP with 17 Lanka David Holly and Australian Federal Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa An official of the PCoI said former others to join the then Rajapaksa Government, Police Detective Superintendent Rob Abeywardena yesterday (27), informed Parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti will talking about having lifetime membership in the... Wilson, the Police Department stated... Parliament that Thamizh Makkal Tesiya... testify before the Police Unit today (28),... Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 A2 FRIDAY 28 AUGUST 2020 NEWS Clay and carpentry subjects to be reintroduced BY W.K. PRASAD MANJU those involving clay and carpentry youths, but lamented that presently in the past, the student population school curriculum and stated these will be reintroduced with it had been deleted and conveniently had gained first-hand knowledge of subjects will not interfere with those State Minister of Women and Child professional training for the younger overlooked from the school it, while such subjects had proved to concerning Information Technology. Affairs, Pre-School and Primary generation. curriculum. be a livelihood for many as well. He added that discussions in this Education, School Infrastructure He said these vocations with Nishantha said, when vocations He said, vocational subjects such regard will be held with Education and Education Services, Piyal professional training had been such as those involving clay and as those involving clay and carpentry Minister, Professor G.L. Peiris and Nishantha said vocations such as existent a long time ago for the carpentry had been taught in schools will henceforth be included in the education officials shortly. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Speaker rules... Matale Mayor... ... No. 12 of 1989, yesterday (27). ... Kootani (TMTK) Parliamentarian C.V. Give Priority... Central Province Governor, Attorney-at-Law Lalith U. Wigneswaran’s controversial maiden speech in the Premier Rajapaksa said, all 225 Parliamentarians have a responsibility to revive the Gamage, announced the suspension of Aluvihare, House on 20 August would not be removed from the national economy and requested all MPs to join hands with the President and the issuing an Extraordinary Gazette Notification on 25 Hansard, as every MP has the right to express his/ Government to develop the country. Rs 1,900 billion has been allocated for August. her views and the House protects that right. Government expenses from 1 September to 31 December this year with the debt ceiling Gamage meanwhile, appointed former High Court Wigneswaran, during the inaugural sitting of the at Rs 1,300 billion. The debate on the Vote on Account will be held today (28). Judge Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena to inquire into the Ninth Parliament, said, the people living in the irregularities committed by Aluvihare. North and East have a right to self-determination The report on the alleged misdeeds of Aluvihare is to be and that Tamils were the first inhabitants of Sri handed over within three months, the Gazette Lanka. He demanded the recognition of Tamil rights Notification further stated. and repeatedly said “every action has a reaction”. In addition, the current Deputy Mayor Matale, Responding to a Point of Order raised by Samagi CoL Cabinet... Sandanam Prakash, has been directed to perform the Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Manusha Nanayakkara ... demand and supply fluctuations, shortage, Dr. Pathirana said if they do duties. A group of officials from the Government and the who requested the Speaker to remove weather effects, seasonal product so, the local farmer will become Opposition ranks of the Matale MC, including Prakash Wigneswaran’s speech from the Hansard because it changes and international market discouraged and the production of and Amila Niroshan, had informed both the President allegedly violated both the privileges of the MPs and prices. Speaking to the Media yesterday turmeric might fall. and Gamage regarding acts of irregularities that had the Constitution, Speaker Abeywardena noted, (27) at the Department of Government While claiming the public should make allegedly taken place at the MC under Aluvihare’s watch. Wigneswaran made his speech within his rights as Information, Dr. Pathirana