December 01, 2024
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    Prabashini Deshabandu

    Cabinet Decisions - 21.10.2024

    The Meteorology Department says showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North-western and Northern provinces and in Trincomalee district.

    Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Southern province.

    Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the other areas of the island during the evening or night and fairly heavy showers above 50 mm are likely at some places, it added.

    Thus, the general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers

    President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that the investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks will be expedited, and steps will be taken to ensure that such a tragedy never occurs again in the country. He assured that justice will be delivered to the victims.

    The President made these remarks during a discussion held today (06) at St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, Negambo, with the families of those killed and injured in the Easter Sunday attack.

    President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited the church during the morning and laid floral tributes at the memorial established in honor of the victims. To mark the occasion, a commemorative gift was also presented to the president.

    During the discussion the President met with the families of the victims, who shared their concerns and difficulties with him directly. He highlighted that the Easter Sunday Attack which happened on 21st April 2019 was the most tragic disaster in the recent past and that it will not be allowed to be buried with time.

    President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed his belief that one of the key factors influencing the people’s decision in the last presidential election was their hope for justice concerning the Easter Sunday attacks.

    He emphasized that the aspirations of the citizens align with his own, stating that his goal is to deliver the justice and fairness the people seek in relation to the Easter Sunday attack. He assured that efforts have already begun to achieve this.

    The President also stressed the importance of conducting the investigation without any preconceived conclusions or biases. He instructed the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security to ensure a transparent and impartial investigation, guided by openness and objectivity.

    President Anura Kumara Dissanayake acknowledged that there is a widespread belief in society that the Easter Sunday attacks may have been carried out to gain political mileage. He stated that if hundreds of innocent lives were sacrificed for political purposes, it would be a profound tragedy. He emphasized that if politics in the country has reached such an extreme, the first priority must be to eliminate this dangerous situation.

    The President also highlighted growing suspicions that the government apparatus at the time may have been involved in the attacks. If such allegations are true, he warned, the country would remain in a dangerously unstable and insecure state. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to uncover the truth behind these events, he emphasized.

    Additionally, President Dissanayake stressed that justice must be delivered to the victims of the tragedy, which claimed the lives of nearly 274 people and left many others injured, to honor the love and devotion of their families.

    He also expressed his deep appreciation for the role played by the priests, who helped prevent an even greater social catastrophe in the aftermath of the attacks. The President extended his gratitude to them once again for their efforts.

    President Anura Kumara Dissanayake further stated that if the bonds, trust, and harmony within society are weakened, and people begin to view others with anger and suspicion, it would pose a serious threat to the well-being of the community. In light of this, he emphasized the need for a fair and transparent investigation into the Easter Sunday attacks.

    The President also noted that for the past five years, those who gathered on the streets on April 21 were driven by a hope for justice, which sustained them year after year.

    His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, speaking at the event, shared that despite appealing to the Human Rights Commission in Geneva for justice for the Easter Sunday victims, no resolution has been achieved. He also pointed out that while the government has been working to provide necessary support to the victims, the public continues to question the true cause of the attack.

    His Eminence Cardinal Ranjith expressed his belief in President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, acknowledging the trust the people of Sri Lanka have in him and appreciating his integrity. He added that he believes the President will deliver on the promise of justice. He further expressed his belief that the President will take action to hold those responsible for the Easter Sunday attack accountable and ensure justice is served.

    Rev.Fr. Manjula Niroshan, the mission in charge of Katuwapitiya Church, along with a large number of Easter attack victims and devotees, attended the event.

    On the occasion of the World Teacher's Day on 5th October 2024, I would like to extend my heartfelt greetings to the Teacher Appreciation Ceremony organized by the South Asian Teacher Development Center with the theme "Valuing teachers voices :towards a new social contracts for education". It must be said that such work done in appreciation of the teacher who creates the future world is commendable and should be appreciated.
    Teachers and principals are unique among the people who play a leading role in our journey for a rich country and a beautiful life. They are the creators who will give live contribution to create that future world. I feel that teachers and principals who are bequeathing a generation of students with knowledge, attitudes and skills to the future are not being amply evaluated. There is a need for a truly fulfilling teacher's role to carry out the mission of imparting culture to the Sri Lankan student community.
    Looking back at the journey so far, it is no secret to us that nearly two hundred and fifty thousand teachers and principals worked under unsatisfactory conditions while performing their duties. Teachers and principals have been severely affected due to the pressure of education and lack of wages. Because of that, the number of people leaving the teaching service had increased and the number of talented newcomers entering the teaching service had also decreased rapidly. It is no secret that students and the entire education system are affected by such a collapse.
    So building a satisfied teacher is our prime role. Going beyond the celebrations limited to a day, the greatest honor and tribute that can be given to the teacher is only by building the education system and producing a teaching professional rich in knowledge, attitude and skill and raising the living standard for the teacher to the top of the society. Therefore, as a country, as the Minister of Education and as the Prime Minister, I pledge to the Sri Lankan teachers and principals that we will do it with utmost dedication during our tenure.
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