President Ranil Wickremesinghe who was on a visit to Germany returned to Sri Lanka last Sunday morning. National Security Adviser Sagala Ratnayaka who was on a mission to meet the security chiefs of the United States of America, was also a member of the delegation that returned to the country from Germany with the President.
While the President was leaving for Germany last weekend to join the Berlin Global Dialogue, Sagala Ratnayaka who went to an US security meeting, met some of the key figures in the country’s security setup , and both states had taken care to keep it a secret. After completing it, Sagala went to Germany and joined the President’s delegation.
During the Berlin conference, the President had discussions with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The President and his entourage also met the country’s Security Advisor without knowing that he was once the Ambassador to Sri Lanka. Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka and Foreign Ministry Secretary Aruni Wijewardena accompanied the President to the meeting with Security Advisor Jens Plotner.
The German Security Adviser appreciated Sri Lanka’s efforts to recover from the economic crisis within a year and said that the German Government would do all it could to help Sri Lanka to recover from the economic crisis.
At the meeting with the National Security Adviser and the German Chancellor, there was a discussion about the activities of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). They directly said that the IMF should set conditions to create an environment where people can live, not to put people into difficulties. They also said that the IMF should be sensitive when a country is facing hardships. They had expressed their gratitude for the Government’s decision not to burden the people any more.
The President also met the President of Kazakhstan and discussed the setting up of diplomatic ties between two countries in the future. There has been no Sri Lankan embassy in Central Asia for a long time.
President Wickremesinghe, Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka and others visited an art museum that has works of art from Sri Lanka. Among the preserved Asian paintings at the site were ancient Buddhist paintings from Sri Lanka. The President said to Sagala who was nearby, “We should make a good documentary program about these works of art and show them to the people of Sri Lanka.”
“Sir, there are museums like this all over Europe. Let’s do a documentary program about all this and let the people of Sri Lanka see it in parts,” Sagala replied.
When President Wickremesinghe came to Sri Lanka, the first thing he did was congratulate the newly elected Maldivian President.
Since World Children’s Day was on that day, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake and Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka had been sent to those programs as the President’s representatives. On Monday morning, President Wickremesinghe met the officials of the ministries under him and inquired about the progress.
In the evening, the President attended the Cabinet meeting and also met the Government Parliamentary Group. The dates of the November Budget and the Appropriation Bill were discussed. The President also spoke about the Mullaitivu Judge’s resignation and informed them that he has instructed the Minister of Public Security to conduct an investigation and the Minister of Justice will make a statement regarding this.
The interview given by the President to a German TV channel was aired on Monday night, Sri Lanka time. It began to be shared among our people from Tuesday morning.
The people who watched the program spoke to the President appreciating the interview. Director General of Government Information, Dinith Chinthaka Karunaratne had said that this interview should be prepared under Sinhala subtitles and sent to the media. According to his proposal, the video under Sinhala subtitles had been released to media organisations by the President’s Media Division.
On Tuesday, President Wickremesinghe visited the Ministry of Defence and met the Security Chiefs, where he discussed the outcome of the trip of the National Security Chief Sagala Ratnayaka and a security stalwart of the country to the US to meet the Security Chiefs there.
The President came to the Presidential Secretariat in the evening to join the ceremony to felicitate veteran journalist Edmond Ranasinghe. It was organised by President’s Senior Media Adviser Prof. Sunanda Madduma Bandara and others on the instructions of President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake. After the ceremony, the President joined the tea party organised for the guests.
The President joined the tea party with the editors, journalists and other guests and engaged in friendly conversation with them. The journalists inquired about the Social Media Regulation Act and the President pointed out that the people are being inconvenienced by social media. He said that he hopes to make changes according to the decisions of the Supreme Court regarding the Act.
UNP Management Committee
Later, the President went to the United National Party (UNP) Management Committee. When the President arrived, the group had started the discussion and the President sat down for the discussion asking about the readiness to hold the party convention.
UNP General Secretary Range Bandara explained how the convention was planned to be held.
“Sir, we had planned to bring about 24,000 people to the convention. Now it has been reduced to 10,000 because of the change in the venue,” the General Secretary said.
“If that happens, a section of the people will be kept out and we have to look into this as well,” the President said and spoke about the current political situation. The President asked about the party’s plan to face it, but no one came forward to give an answer.
The President said, “This group does the politics of the party. Therefore, it is the same team that needs to make plans. So when you come to the next Management Committee Meeting, prepare plans and bring them.”
Then President Wickremesinghe advised the group about the political trends of the country. Party Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene and Chairman Wajira Abeywardena were not present.
Later, the President attended a ceremony to mark the presentation of the report of the committee appointed to look into child protection. The report includes many suggestions for the safety and welfare of children.
The President went to the Parliament Complex on Wednesday morning as per the President’s program of going to Parliament one day in every parliamentary week. The President went to the Chamber after listening to the speeches of the members of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) about the IMF. Responding to a question asked by MP Eran Wickramaratne, the President said that if everyone works together, the country can be restored quickly.
When the President came to the lobby from the Chamber, as usual, the MPs surrounded him, commenting on the interview he had with a German media agency. Everyone appreciated the President’s speech for the country and for Asia. “Everybody gets scared when they see white skin. But the President directly told them not to make us second or third class citizens. It should be greatly appreciated.” MP Madhura Withanage said.
“When the President goes to foreign countries and talks about Sri Lanka, it’s like putting thorns in the eyes of the Opposition. But you also said in Germany that you don’t use honorific titles. But it is the son of the person who used ‘Srimath’ who is very upset today.” Everyone couldn’t stop laughing when MP Premanath Dolawatta said this.
“But he was the one who asked if his mother could take the presidency after his father was caught in the bomb blast and died. The son goes countrywide and deceives people by giving them bribes,” State Minister D.B. Herath said in an aggressive manner.
Women MPs complain to President
A group of women Parliamentarians made a complaint to the President saying that the Chairmen of some Government institutions, including banks, were working according to their preferences and were destroying those institutions.
Teetotaler
When State Minister Prasanna Ranaweera said, “Sir, As alcohol prices have increased, many people have now resorted to consuming illicit liquor. Many women have complained to me about this. On the other hand, there is no income for the country.” The rest of the MPs present said, “Now this person has also become a teetotaler.”
When the MPs asked about the problems with the IMF, the President said that we cannot put any more burdens on the people.
“People have made sacrifices. But the Inland Revenue Department has not fulfilled its duty. These institutions need to know how to perform their duties properly. From 2024, I will give a target to every organisation that collects revenue,” the President said sternly.
MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage who was there also pointed out some problems in the Customs. “Yes, the IMF has also spoken about it,” MP Wajira Abeywardena said, joining the conversation.
“The Leader of the Opposition was lying when he said that our MPs spent Government money to go to the United Nations General Assembly. But he is the one who wastes state money the most. The money allocated under the head of the Opposition Leader’s office expenses ends in six months. Therefore, you should set up a committee and look into the expenses of the Opposition Leader’s office.” The President smiled and shook his head when MP Madhura Withanage said that.
“From the President’s visit to Cuba to the United Nations General Assembly and the Berlin Conference, Sri Lanka has come to the fore in the international arena. Because of this, the misconceptions about Sri Lanka have been done away with. The foreign leaders who listened to the President’s speeches said that he is the one who has become the golden voice in Asia and Africa. They call him the Voice of Asia and Africa.” Everyone nodded when MP Wajira Abeywardena said that.
That evening, the President went to the BMICH to attend the General Convocation of the Sir John Kotelawala Defence University.
Zoom discussion with IMF officials
On the instructions of the President, Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka and Finance Ministry officials held a Zoom discussion with the IMF officials that evening.
On Thursday morning, President Wickremesinghe went to the Shangri-La Hotel to attend the fifth anniversary of the Ministers and Environment Authorities of the Asia Pacific Region. While attending the event, the President phoned and congratulated Tharushi Karunaratne, a school student who won a gold medal in the 800 metres event at the Asian Games in China and encouraged her.
President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake received a phone call from Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, who is on a visit to the US. He had said that many Sri Lankans abroad who watched the President’s German TV interview spoke in appreciation of it.
It was said that the ceremony organised by Washington Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe and led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the US was an opportunity that brought benefits to Sri Lanka.
Youth business meeting
The President’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka joined a youth business meeting last week. A group of young Indian businessmen were also present. The keynote address was delivered by Ratnayaka. Chief of Staff Ratnayaka and Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay had discussions there. In the same week, the Chinese Ambassador had also met Chief of Staff Ratnayaka.
Turning minor incidents into strikes
Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena revealed at a meeting with media heads recently that the conspiracies led by the extremist forces to provoke the people by destabilising the country are trying to rise through strikes in the transport sector.
He said, “The conspirators are using some minor incidents in the transport sector and turning them into strikes to incite the people and take the country into a struggle again. Look, when the railway workers go on strike all of a sudden, the trains cannot run. Then the people get inconvenienced and accuse the Government.”
Minister Gunawardena said the forces which were behind the Aragalaya (Struggle) are trying to provoke the people by using their own people. They plan to attack from there. The intelligence agencies have got information about this. “When the trains are not running, these people plan to attack the officers from the Station Masters to the officials who run the institutions and start a chain of reactions that will destabilise the country again. Therefore, we have to ask the people to be careful,” the Minister said.
Burden
Opposition Leader and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa instructed his group of Parliamentarians to raise their voice to provide relief to the people as the gas, water and electricity bills have increased, thereby putting a burden on the common people of the country. In the last parliamentary week, Sajith asked his group of Parliamentarians to pay more attention to these matters and to force the Government to provide some relief to the people.
Who could be the fastest walker among Members of Parliament? As he is a former Sports Minister and also a talented sportsman, there is no reason to be surprised that this MP is a fast walker. The MP is S.B. Dissanayake. On October 6, S.B. Dissanayake entered the Parliament complex at his usual speed. “Why are you running so fast, Sir? Are you training for the Paris Olympics?,” A Parliament official asked SB.
“That’s how I am anyway. I have been walking fast since my childhood,” replied SB with a smile.
“You are a former Sports Minister. Will Tharushi, who won the 800m gold medal at the Asian Games, be able to win an Olympic medal?” asked another Parliament officer.
“Why not, she can definitely win a medal at the Paris Olympics. But from now on, Tharushi and her family, from the mother and father must be taken care of. That is how Susanthika Jayasinghe, Damayanthi Dharsha, Sriyani Kulawansa and Sugath Thilakaratne brought medals to our country. I know what needs to be done, but we have not been given the responsibility,” SB said and went to the Parliament library.
