President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed the relevant authorities to hold the cremation ceremony of the late Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, Chief Adhikarana Sanga Nayaka of Colombo and Chilaw provinces, Peliyagoda Vidyalankara Parivenadhipathi Aggamaha Panditha Most Ven. Dr. Welamitiyawe Kusaladhamma Nayaka Thero, under full state patronage.
President Rajapaksa communicated with the Secretaries of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Buddha Sasana immediately after hearing of the demise of the Nayaka Thero and instructed them to take necessary steps to hold the cremation ceremony with full state patronage.
The first Poppy flower to commemorate the Remembrance Day was pinned on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat today (26).
Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Association, Major General Upul Perera pinned the poppy flower on President Rajapaksa.
The income earned by selling the Poppy flowers is used for the welfare of the retired and disabled war veterans.
The Remembrance Day was commemorated in 1944 in Sri Lanka and this year it celebrates the 77th Poppy Flower Commemoration.
The 2021 Remembrance Day Commemoration will be held at the Cenotaph War Memorial at the Viharamahadevi Park on November 14th morning to commemorate the war heroes who sacrificed their lives during the First and Second World Wars as well as the civil conflicts in Sri Lanka for 30 years.
Many countries around the world commemorate the Remembrance Day on November 11 annually and the commemoration is also being held in Sri Lanka on the closest Sunday to November 11.
General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Association Lieutenant Colonel Ajith Siyambalapitiya, Treasurer Major Shanthilal Kankanamge and Chairman of the Memorial Committee Lieutenant Colonel A. Deepal Subasinghe were also present.
The outgoing Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Sugiyama Akira called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat today (25).
The President commended Mr. Sugiyama Akira for rendering his valuable service to Sri Lanka in various ways, including his support to obtain 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from the Government of Japan and giving support to COVID-19 eradication process to make it a success.
The Japanese Ambassador informed President Rajapaksa that he would not hesitate to assist Sri Lanka at any time, strengthening the long-standing friendship between the two countries.
Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera and the Deputy Head of the Embassy of Japan Katsuki Kotaro were also present on the occasion.
-Secretary to the President says.
Secretary to the President P. B. Jayasundera vehemently denies the false news items created by certain media targeting the President’s Secretary by citing a statement made by an Opposition MP in Parliament regarding the opening of a personal account in a state bank to import fertilizer from India.
Those news stories are completely false and malicious. The opening of an account in a state bank is an act between the relevant bank and the account holder. It is the responsibility of the bank to act in accordance with the standard procedures in this regard.
Secretary to the President P. B. Jayasundera stated that stern legal action has already been taken against the false propaganda targeted at him by highlighting a statement made by a Member of Parliament.
-President urges farming community.
“I have given priority to the farmers – I will not erode that trust placed on me. Make decisions after considering good as well as bad elements – do not fall prey to provocative politics – rally for the benefit of the future generations”, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa urged the farmers.
The President made these remarks while inspecting the Organic Fertilizer Processing Centre and the organic farm at Bunnahepola in Udubaddawa today (23).
The President who visited the Fertilizer Processing Centre inspected the organic fertilizer production process and the techniques used to maintain the quality of the products. President Rajapaksa then visited the farming lands and inspected the vegetables and other crops grown there. The process of preparing the soil using organic manure was also observed.
This processing centre produces compost manure using earthworms and produces about 12 tons of manure per month. In a coconut land of about 13 acres, fruits such as papaya, banana, passion fruit, vegetables such as cabbage, beetroot, batana, a turmeric cultivation and a model paddy cultivation are being developed using organic fertilizers.
The President said that his objective is to improve the living standards of the farming community. “In this regard, I’m ready to make difficult decisions that political leaders may hesitate to make. Many calls were made not to get involved in a war back then. Similar to how the 30-year-old war was brought to an end, the goal of green agriculture will be achieved irrespective of the obstacles,” the President said.
The President said that he is not focused on the votes but on doing the right thing for the people and added that he is ready to take bold decisions for what’s right and focus only on the needs of the people.
Though the global chemical fertilizer companies place obstacles by provoking various forces, the President said that he is not afraid of any of them and added that the people had elected him as their leader to make the right decisions.
President Rajapaksa made this visit to encourage entrepreneurs engaged in organic farming.
The President also inspected the Garbage Recycling Centre at the Udubaddawa Pradeshiya Sabha premises.
Ministers Johnston Fernando, Mahindananda Aluthgamage and MPs Gunapala Rathnasekara, U.K. Sumith, Samanpriya Herath, former Chief Minister of the North Western Province Athula Wijesinghe, Chairman of the Udubaddawa Pradeshiya Sabha Raj Sisira Kumara and Chairman of the Bingiriya Pradeshiya Sabha Dimuth Thushara were also present.
Secretary to the President informs IGP.
Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera said that the report titled “29 crores to pay for Indian fertilizers in a personal bank account – President’s Secretary P.B. Jayasundera has influenced,” published in the ‘Sathi Aga Aruna’ newspaper is a completely false, untrue and malicious news item and that he strongly rejects it.
The Secretary to the President has informed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to summon all relevant parties and conduct a formal and comprehensive investigation into the newspaper report immediately.
- Vaccines to all eligible children within two weeks..
- Intra-provincial train services from Monday..
- Inter-provincial train services from November 01..
- Attention paid to remove inter-provincial travel restrictions after Oct 31 ..
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa instructed the health authorities to commence the administration of Pfizer vaccine as a booster third dose from November 1 to the frontline workers including those in the health, security, airports and tourism sectors.
It was also decided to complete the vaccination of all eligible children within two weeks. The President also instructed to expedite the vaccination process and complete the vaccination of all personnel who are eligible as soon as possible.
The Covid pandemic was brought under control quickly due to the strong commitment and contribution made by the health and security sectors. In view of this situation, the President pointed out the need to take steps to bring down the current number of COVID-19 deaths to zero and to focus on the areas where patients are being reported in order to prevent the virus from spreading.
The President made these remarks during the meeting of the Special Committee on COVID-19 Control held through video conference this morning (22).
The Special Committee on COVID-19 Control decided to commence the primary sections and grades 11 and 13 in all schools after having discussions with the education and health sectors. Special attention was also paid to the possibility of restarting tuition classes.
Train services within the provinces will commence from next Monday. The inter-provincial train services will be operational from November 1 and the Committee recommended that only the passengers with season tickets be allowed to travel under the first phase. The President instructed to add extra train compartments to reduce congestion.
The attention was also drawn to the lifting of inter-provincial travel restrictions from November 1, taking into account the requests made by the people. The President also said that the people should be continuously educated to follow health recommendations including wearing face masks, washing hands and maintaining social distance and that the people should be encouraged to use indigenous medicines to boost immunity.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived in Parliament this morning (21).
President Rajapaksa, who arrived at the parliament complex, was welcomed by the Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, State Ministers Kanaka Herath, Nalaka Godahewa, Kanchana Wijesekera, Arundika Fernando and MP Isuru Dodangoda. The President entered into the Chamber accompanied by the MPs of the Government.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa was raising questions under the Standing Order 27/2 when President Rajapaksa entered into the Chamber.
The President listened to the answers made by Ministers Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Lasantha Alagiyawanna in response to the oral questions raised by the Opposition Leader.
Message
Today is the birth anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad, who showed to the world that benevolence and honesty are the two characteristics that needed for a person to be trusted by everyone.
The profound religion the people believe in and accept has become the basis of the thinking and behavior of mankind in any society.
The life and philosophy of the Prophet Muhammad depicts the rationale of the Islamic belief that the God reveals himself to the people who are sincere, and that the God exalts such persons to suitable and higher places.
I feel that the best way to pay special respect to Prophet Muhammad, who is highly revered by the Islam devotees in Sri Lanka and the world over, is to strive to further disseminate his vision to strengthen coexistence among the people.
It is most timely than ever before to apply the humanitarian philosophy of the Prophet Muhammad maintained throughout his life, towards social welfare today.
May the lives of the Islam devotees around the world, including in Sri Lanka, who revere the exemplary life of the Prophet, be enlightened and prosperous!
Gotabaya Rajapaksa
October 19, 2021
The outgoing Egyptian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Hussein El Saharty called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (18).
Mr. Saharty, who has been newly appointed as a Coordinator for Egyptian Civil Society Organisations, said that he will continue to work to strengthen the relations with Sri Lanka. Mr. Saharty further stressed the need to enhance security ties and develop the tourism industry between the two countries.
President Rajapaksa commended Mr. Saharty for his service rendered to Sri Lanka as the Ambassador of Egypt.
Secretary to the President P. B. Jayasundera, Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage and the Counsellor of the Egyptian Embassy Karim Abulenein were also present.