Sunday Times E-Paper

Stories on gem clusters fabricated to divert people’s attention

The “Dhammika peniya ( Syrup) was another fabricated gimmick

BY YOHAN PERERA

The COVID-19 pandemic has gone from bad to worse. Some 1600 persons have died of COVID 19 since June

Story on the discovery of a cluster of precious gems appears to be a fabricated story with the aim of diverting people’s attention from burning issues in the nation, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene alleged yesterday.

The “Dhammika peniya ( Syrup) was another fabricated gimmick some months ago. Now we see clusters of gems being found in Ratnapura. The Gem story is also a fabricated one.the COVID-19 pandemic has gone from bad to worse.

Some 1600 persons have died of COVID 19 since June 21 2021 to date. I was told that the Delta variant is spreading in the Badulla District as well” he said.

The Government has no funds to import essential goods. Chemical fertilizers were banned in a rush.this was something which should have been done gradually. Some countries have shifted to organic fertilizer as a long term programme.

No country has gone into complete use of organic fertilizer. This rush will result in starvation next year, Mr. Wijewardene said. “Government has not been able to provide online education during the pandemic, It was myself and Harin Fernando who held a discussion with Google to provide free WIFI. We approached Google officials through a Sri Lankan millionaire in the US. However Former President Maithirpala Sirisena would not let us go ahead with it.

It was also former President Sirisena who blocked the program of providing tabs to school children. There would not have been any crisis with regard to education if these projects had gone ahead,” he added.

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2021-08-02T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-08-02T07:00:00.0000000Z

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