President Ranil Wickremesinghe travelled around the country over the past few weeks to inquire about the people’s well-being.
The President, who examined the operations of the ‘Urumaya’ program, went to Wilgamuwa to ascertain whether the ‘Aswesuma’ welfare program is being implemented properly.
This is how the President, who met small groups all over the country, checked whether the Government’s program was reaching the masses.
President Wickremesinghe, who went to Trincomalee to participate in several Air Force and Navy ceremonies, did not fail to go to Thambalagamuwa to meet the farmers.
After arriving in Colombo, he went to the BMICH to join the ‘What’s New’ dialogue on legal reforms organised by young legal professionals, led by Randula Abeydeera.
The President spoke about the legal reforms needed for economic development.
He said that 42 new laws were passed in Parliament in the past 14 months and that he hopes to introduce 62 more Bills to Parliament.
The President accepted the invitation of the two schools to watch the 94th ‘Battle of the Maroons’ cricket encounter between Ananda and Nalanda Colleges.
When the President descended from the pavilion after watching the match, he met the Director General of Government Information, Dinith Chinthaka Karunaratne, an old Anandian, near the elevator.
“Sir, earlier I only saw you at the Royal-Thomian match. Now you are also at the Ananda-Nalanda match,” Dinith Chinthaka said with a smile.
“As the President, I don’t want to anger anyone. That’s why I also came to watch your match,” the President told Karunaratne.
On Monday afternoon, as usual, the Cabinet and the Government Parliamentary group meetings were held at the Presidential Secretariat.
The bigwigs of the Central Bank were summoned to the Cabinet meeting to inquire about the salary increase of its employees.
A group including Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe attended the meeting and they said that the salary increase was done in keeping with the Central Bank collective agreement. The Cabinet Ministers blamed the Central Bank officials for increasing the salaries at such a high rate, even though increasing their salaries was not a problem. But there is nothing the Government can do about their salary increase because the Central Bank has been made an independent institution by a new Act.
The UNP Management Committee met on Tuesday evening and President Wickremesinghe assigned duties to several people targeting the upcoming elections.
UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene was entrusted with religious and environmental affairs and Ravi Karunanayake was entrusted with the responsibility of forming a new alliance.
MP Wajira Abeywardena was entrusted with coordinating with Government officials as well as retired officials.
General Secretary Range Bandara was entrusted with the responsibility of organising the affairs of the party.
Deputy Leader Akila Viraj Kariyawasam was entrusted with social media and National Organiser Sagala Ratnayaka was entrusted with online systems.
Navin Dissanayake was given the plantation sector and Harin Fernando with the May Day activities and the upcoming campaign activities and Manusha Nanayakkara was also assigned several duties.
‘Sebewa’ meeting
The ‘Sebewa’ public meeting to be held at Kuliyapitiya on March 10 (today) was also discussed and its organiser Akila Viraj revealed the plan.
The group discussed holding a youth meeting in Anuradhapura, a religious and business meeting in Kandy, after the Kuliyapitiya meeting and New Year celebrations in Nuwara Eliya in April.
Ravi Karunanayake said that the posts of party organiser should be renewed again.
General Secretary Range Bandara replied, “The people who are there cannot be removed. But it does not mean that new people cannot be appointed. Let’s appoint new organisers and share the responsibilities among those who are already there as organisers and let them work. Because when we were in trouble, it was the present organisers who helped the party.”
The President approved Range Bandara’s proposal to keep the present organisers and appoint new ones saying that it is a good thing.
“Sir, groups from other parties are now joining the party. At the same time, a number of issues are emerging. Shall we set up a committee under the leadership of Karunasena Kodithuwakku to resolve these issues?” Range Bandara said with a smile.
“That is something that has happened historically. People who fight always fight. I couldn’t solve it either. It will be sorted out soon,” the President said.
On Wednesday, the President went to Parliament to analyse the country’s economic situation. He came to the President’s office before the start of the parliamentary proceedings and had a chat with the MPs as usual. First, Prof. Ashu Marasinghe thanked the President for coming to watch the Ananda-Nalanda cricket match.
“If we had been told in advance that Sir was coming, we would have come to cheer him,” Ashu Marasinghe said, and everyone laughed.
When the President said that he came there on impulse, Ashu Marasinghe again said that the Serjeant-at-Arms Kushan Jayaratne’s son also played on that day.
After congratulating Kushan who was also present, the President went to the Chamber to make his statement. He also answered the questions raised by the MPs.
When the President came out of the Chamber after his speech, the ruling party MPs praised him for the answers he gave to MPs Dr. Harsha de Silva and Nalaka Godahewa.
“The Opposition has a problem about Harsha’s finance ministerial post being given to Nalaka Godahewa,” the MPs said with a smile.
“The President said that the loan will not be paid for five years. He said that all the parties and Opposition should come together and talk to the IMF. They said that the loan will be repaid by 2042. By doing all this, the Opposition will lose its place in the country in the future,” Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said, and everyone smiled.
“Yes, the President has always said that Sri Lanka will develop by 2048. By 2048, Sri Lanka will have paid off all its debts and become a developed state,” said Wajira Abeywardena.
“In any case, the Opposition has to come for the IMF talks. This time they won’t be able to escape. Because both SJB and NPP say that they will conduct business with the IMF,” State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said.
A discussion about the problems of the Parliamentarians of the Eastern and the Northern Provinces was held in Committee Room 2 under the patronage of President Wickremesinghe.
Thereafter, the President came back to the Presidential Secretariat because he had many other duties.
On Thursday morning, TNA Parliamentarian Govindan Karunakaram met President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake for an official matter. When he was leaving, the officials of the Presidential Secretariat had a conversation with him.
He made a good analysis in front of the officials and everyone was surprised because it was an answer that no one had expected.
“There are 75 percent Tamil people and 25 percent Muslims in Batticaloa. Our people think that Sajith Premadasa and Anura Dissanayake will contest the Presidency. Our people are afraid to vote for Anura Dissanayake based on two things. One was their opposition to the Indo-Lanka Agreement. They also worked to make the North and the East into two provinces. So, our people have this problem. Sajith Premadasa’s father was killed by the LTTE, so he is angry with our people. Our people know that. Therefore, Ranil Wickremesinghe is the only alternative left for the Tamil people now.” With that answer he left leaving the officials looking at each other.
On Thursday morning, President Wickremesinghe went to sign as a witness at the wedding of former Minister Susantha Punchinilame’s son and after that he came to the Ministry of Finance to speak to the officials of the IMF.
President meets Basil
Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa also attended the wedding after President Wickremesinghe had departed. Although the two did not meet at the wedding, they did meet at President Wickremesinghe’s residence that night. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was also present. At this meeting the two sides exchanged views on the future political affairs and the discussions between the two sides ended with the aim of meeting again in the future.
That evening the President went to the Nelum Pokuna Theatre to participate in the launching ceremony of the ‘Press Vs. Prez’ book.
MP Wajira Abeywardena had compiled a book on how cartoonists saw President Wickremesinghe.
The President extended his gratitude to the cartoonists whose creations brought joy during difficult times, acknowledging their contribution to lifting people’s spirits. The book on President Wickremesinghe’s parliamentary journey from June 23, 2021, to May 2023, comprised about 618 cartoons published in newspapers. Contributions from 40 cartoonists and nearly 20 journalists were pivotal in creating this compilation, with special appreciation reserved for the cartoonists and TV anchors who showcased these works on television. The President joined the National Women’s Day program on Friday and he spoke about bringing two Bills to Parliament that protects women’s rights including domestic violence.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe attended the 145th ‘Battle of the Blues’ cricket encounter between Royal College, Colombo and S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia at the SSC ground, Colombo on Friday afternoon (March 8).
President Wickremesinghe supported and encouraged the players. He also took the opportunity to engage in friendly conversation with the crowd who had gathered to witness the encounter. Batchmates of the President, past and present Royalists were seen engaging in friendly conversation with him, while posing for photographs.
Students of Royal College also posed for selfies with the President.
The Principal of Royal College, Thilak Waththuhewa and the Warden of S. Thomas’ College Rev. Marc Billimoria gathered alongside the President to watch the cricket encounter.
PM’s birthday
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena’s 75th birthday was on March 2. A special feature was that his birthday came after the 50th anniversary of his political career and 40th anniversary as an MP.
When asked about the celebrations, Premier Gunawardena gave his staff direct advice. “Organise elegantly and simply for religious occasions.”
The fact that March 2 was a Saturday made it easier to organise programs in a charming manner.
The Anunayake of the Amarapura Sri Saddhammawansa Mahanikaya, Tripitakacharya Ven. Borelle Athula Thera and the Maha Sangha visited Temple Trees on Saturday morning to invoke blessings on the Prime Minister.
The Maha Sangha who chanted ‘Seth Pirith’ and blessed the Prime Minister praised him for celebrating the birthday in accordance with the teachings of Buddha.
Premier Gunawardena then left for the School for Deaf and Blind, Ratmalana, to fulfill a duty that he continues to perform for children annually. Every year, the Prime Minister spends some time with the visually impaired, hearing impaired and speech impaired children, looking into their needs and facilities.
“So how are you?” The Prime Minister asked the children and treated them with food and drinks.
A tea party was held at Temple Trees on Saturday evening for those close to the family, old boys of the school and staff. It was significant that President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was in the same class with Dinesh Gunawardane at Royal College, Colombo, also attended the party.
“I came to congratulate Dinesh,” the President said.
Premier Gunawardena went towards President Wickremesinghe and said, “Today is the same as then” and showed the President to his seat.
“The two who sat next to each other in the same class are the President and the Prime Minister of the country,” said an elderly friend of the family, watching the two friends sit together and exchange pleasantries.
The State Ministers of the Ministry and several politicians from the Colombo district were also present to congratulate the Prime Minister.
President Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Gunawardena were seen talking for a long time. The others were seen standing at a distance without disturbing them. After spending a long time at his school friend’s charming birthday party, the President left after talking to everyone and greeting the Prime Minister again.
There has been a lot of discussion in society about the privatisation of the Government’s profit-making public sector enterprises. Recently, the Movement to Safeguard State Resources called on Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in Parliament to discuss the matter.
Anupa Nandula of the Bank Employees’ Union said that there was no mention of the sale of state infrastructure in the manifestos presented by the current Government during the election.
Nandula said that over 40 public institutions including the Ceylon Electricity Board, Insurance Corporation, Sri Lanka Telecom, and more together with the people have come together to protect public resources. “We don’t have any objection to restructuring. But we are against the sale done under the pretext of restructuring,’’ said journalist Tharindu Uduwaragedara.
He said that the sale of profit-making state institutions is a serious mistake by the Government. Nandula said that a discussion will be held at the Public Llibrary on March 11 at 2.30 pm under the leadership of political party leaders and trade union representatives and he also invited Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to attend it.
Nandana Udayakumara of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Technical Engineers and Superintendents Association, representing the CEB trade unions, said that they agree with the CEB restructuring and it should be done in a transparent manner. Udayakumara said that CEB is among the first, second and third in the Government’s selling list.
Udayakumara said, “Today, the employees of the CEB have no way of taking action against this. The Government has suppressed the employees of the CEB. Sixty-two CEB employees have been interdicted. Through that, a repression of employees has been launched. On the other hand, a judicial injunction has been taken against the actions carried out for the sake of professional rights.”
At that time, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa asked whether legal action had been taken against the interdicted group. Udayakumara said that legal process has begun. He said that if the measures taken against the CEB are not resisted, it will spread to other institutions too.
Convenor of the Samagi Affiliated Trade Union Federation Ananda Palitha said that the policies followed by the Government are amazing. The Government does not enforce the law against cronies who do not pay taxes, but the Government hastily prepares ordinances to suppress the employees without passing new laws for them.
Journalist Uduwaragedara said that these institutions which the Government is trying to sell can be turned into profitable companies through proper management and elimination of corruption.
H. A.R. Nihal, who represented the Postal Department, said that the Government is trying to reduce the 3,400 operational sub-post offices to 1,000. He said that the Government’s policies about the Postal Department are nothing but selling.
Chairperson of the Government Family Health Services Association, M. G. Devika Kodithuwakku said that there are reports that there will be a situation where it will not be possible to pay even pensions in the future.
Journalist Uduwaragedara said that as the Opposition Leader said, President Ranil Wickremesinghe unilaterally cut off the proposal to add health education to the basic rights of the people.
Opposition Leader Premadasa said, “That’s where his policy and mine differ.” In order to protect public resources, the principle of Samagi Jana Balawegaya is to introduce new management methods and provide human resources as necessary to make profit-making organisations more profitable. Loss-making institutions should be restructured through public-private sector participation and it should be done in a transparent manner.
Opposition Leader Premadasa said, “No one can buy me for money. My promise is to create a level playing field and protect the state institutions in a favourable image for a competitive country. Health, education and social security should be the responsibility of the Government. The Constitution should confirm that these are the rights of the people.”
The representatives who participated said that with the vision of Opposition Leader Premadasa, the program can be brought to the attention as a program that protects the rights of employees and protects jobs and they plan to discuss it.
