Sirisena notable absentee, Basil does the honours

Opening of Ragama hospital theatre complex

March 3, 2013, 9:38 pm

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Eyebrows have been raised over the absence of Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena at the opening ceremony of a new theatre complex at the Ragama hospital on Saturday.

In the absence of Minister Sirisena, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa did the honours in the presence of Deputy Health Minister Lalith Dissanayaka, Social Services Minister Felix Perera and Health Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka.

It led to speculation that it was part of the rift developing between the two powerful men in the SLFP over the impending premiership stakes.

When The Island contacted Maithripala Sirisena in this regard, he however maintained that his absence was due to a prior engagement in his electorate, Polonnaruwa, fixed more than two months back and therefore he had invited Minister Rajapaksa and others to do the honours in his absence.

Minister Sirisena said that Minister Basil Rajapaksa was a tower of strength to the government. Rajapaksa had stated that the Health Ministry had made steady progress and there was a conspiracy to sabotage the public health sector but the government was ready to face any challenge posed by its opponents, Minister Sirisena said.

China refuses US$500Mn loan for SL

MONDAY, 04 MARCH 2013

China has refused a loan of US$500 million sought by the Sri Lankan Government to buy petroleum products and stressed that China would only approve only project loans, informed sources said yesterday

A Finance Ministry official said the loan which was being negotiated last year had not materialised because China was only prepared to grant project loans for which interest rates were relatively high.

China had become Sri Lanka’s biggest lender. The country had obtained US$3.1 billion in loans and export credit to Sri Lanka about 18 months ago. The government had obtained Chinese loans, at interest rates varying from 2.9 per cent to 8.25 per cent, for major development projects such as the building of the Hambantota Port, the Mattala Airport, the Moragahakanda Irrigation Scheme and the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant. Meanwhile the country’s total debt burden has increased to Rs.6,610 billion with 52 per cent of it being from domestic borrowings. (Kelum Bandara )