Srilanka

Sharp drop in vegetable prices

There has been a sharp drop in the wholesale prices of vegetables due to the large stock of produce currently being received at the Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre, farmers and traders said. Farmers said low country vegetables are received in abundance over the produce of other parts of the country. Traders said the price of beans had dropped from Rs.40 to Rs.20 per kilo during the last three days.

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Parliamentary polls soon - President

While a parliamentary election will be held to obtain a fresh national mandate as soon as feasible, the new Government must act quickly to begin to fulfil the mandate given in the Presidential election, Presidential Gotabaya Rajapaksa told his newly appointed Government yesterday. He was speaking after swearing-in just fifteen parliamentarians, including his elder brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, to their ministerial posts in the new Cabinet.

In a brief, business-like ceremony that seems to be a hallmark of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime, the President yesterday morning appointed one of the smallest ministerial cabinets in decades and then gave them a quick no-nonsense pep talk that emphasised efficiency and warned against ministerial empire-building and sloth.

In his addess, President Rajapaksa pledged to hold a Parliamentary Election at the earliest opportunity permitted by the Constitution.The President said that the interim government was formed with the main objective of implementing the fundamental pledges given to the people in our plan presented during the election campaign.&People gave us a massive mandate with high expectations and we have to meet those expectations by winning the challenges ahead for us.& said the President.

The President stressed the importance of changing the unhealthy political culture and need of entering a new political era pointing out that the people of this country has shown disapproval towards the prevailing political culture. He further said that the State Ministers of the interim Government will be appointed next Monday (25).

The President urged the newly appointed Cabinet Ministers to provide opportunities to the State Ministers to fulfill their duties without any interruption.He charged that the job performance of previous State Ministers was limited to the practicing of their signature. Instead, he said that the Ministers should give the opportunity for the junior MPs to successfully engage in public administration.

Stressing the importance of giving equal opportunities for MPs to fill the unskilled job vacancies prevailing in the Ministries, the President instructed the Ministers to inform such vacancies to the Presidential Secretariat.He further stressed the importance of giving priority for the members of underprivileged families of the MPs& respective areas when selecting people for unskilled job opportunities.

While a parliamentary election will be held to obtain a fresh national mandate as soon as feasible, the new Government must act quickly to begin to fulfil the mandate given in the Presidential election, Presidential Gotabaya Rajapaksa told his newly appointed Government yesterday. He was speaking after swearing-in just fifteen parliamentarians, including his elder brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, to their ministerial posts in the new Cabinet.

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Special Advisory for heavy rain

The Department of Meteorology today issued Special Advisory for heavy rain says that "Showery condition over the island (particularly in the Eastern, Northern, North-central, Uva,Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces) is likely to enhance during next few days.Showers or thundershowers will occur with heavy falls about 100-150 mm are likely at someplaces in the above areas.General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages causedby temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.For Sea AreasThe possibility for heavy thundershowers and sudden roughness, associated with sudden increase of wind speed (up to 70-80 kmph) in the Eastern, Western and Southern sea areas tothe island is high in next few days.Naval and fishing communities are requested to be vigilant in this regard.

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State Ministers to be appointed on Monday

State Ministers of the new government would be appointed on Monday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today said.The President expressed these views at the swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet Ministers which was held at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo this morning.President Rajapaksa requested the newly appointed Cabinet Ministers to work in cooperation with the State Ministers

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Failure to receive O/L admission cards: Contact Examinations Dept.

The Examinations Department advises school principals who do not receive the admission cards for the Ordinary Level Examination 2019 by today (November 22) to contact the Examinations Department.Examinations Commissioner-General Sanath Poojitha told news media that the admission cards and the time tables of school candidates relating to the Ordinary Level Examination 2019 have already been posted to the principals of all schools and those of private candidates to their private addresses.

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New Cabinet of Ministers sworn-in

The new Cabinet of Ministers were sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat, today (22).

Following are the Ministers and their portfolios:

1. Hon. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa & Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs, Policy Development, Buddha Sasana, Cultural, Water Supply - Urban Development, Housing Facilities

2. Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva & Minister of Justice, Human Rights - Legal Reforms

3. Hon.Arumugam Thondaman & Minister of Community Empowerment - Estate Infrastructure

4. Hon.Dinesh Gunawardene & Minister of Foreign Relations, Skills Development, Employment - Labour Relations

5. Hon.Douglas Devananda & Minister of Fisheries - Aquatic Resources

6. Hon.Pavithra Wanniarachchi & Minister of Women - Child Affairs, Social Security, Health - Indigenous Medicine

7. Hon. Bandula Gunawardene & Minister of Information - Communications Technology, Higher Education, Technology - Innovations

8. Hon. Janaka Bandara Tennakoon & Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils - Local Government

9. Hon.Chamal Rajapaksa & Minister of Mahaweli Development, Agriculture -Trade

10. Hon. Dullas Alahapperuma & Minister of Education, Sports and Youth Affairs

11. Hon. Johnston Fernando & Minister of Roads - Highways, Ports - Shipping

12. Hon. Wimal Weerawansa & Minister of Small Medium Enterprise(SME) - Enterprise Development, Industries - Supply Management

13. Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera & Minister of Passenger Transport, Power - Energy

14. Hon. S.M. Chandrasena & Minister of Environment, Wildlife, Land - Land Development

15. Hon. Ramesh Pathirana & Minister of Plantations - Export Agriculture

16. Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga & Minister of Industrial Exports - Investment Promotions, Tourism - Aviation

In the meantime, the State Ministers of the interim Government will be appointed next Monday (25), President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said addressing the ceremony.

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