A recommendation by President Maithripala Sirisena to undertake two road projects costing a colossal Rs. 13 billion caused some flutter at last Wednesday’s weekly ministerial meeting. It came when the observations to the recommendations had been made by the Ministry of Finance and were questioned by Mr. Sirisena. The President was to complain that during the tenure of his predecessor, Mahinda Rajapaksa, he was unable to even have a road in the Polonnaruwa area repaired.
It took a while for Minister Karunanayake, with the help of his Ministry officials, to rake up similar instances in the past where observations have been made by the ministries in question on cabinet proposals. That was to ensure correct procedures were followed.
A smiling Mr. Sirisena agreed and his recommendation was accepted thereafter. One project was for the Polonnaruwa-Medirigiriya Road and the other for the Polonnaruwa town area.
The United States has told Sri Lanka that the disposition of the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Bushehr and its crew is a matter for Colombo to resolve under its own laws and international obligations, while signalling it is in active talks with Sri Lanka to contain Iran’s threat to US interests.
The government today granted permission for an Iranian warship with 208 on board to enter the country.
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