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Secretary to the Ministry of Health Dr. Anil Jasinghe says although there is no need for the general public to panic at present, he cannot rule out new COVID-19 variants from entering the country.

Dr. Anil Jasinghe, while acknowledging the surge in the number of COVID-19 cases detected globally, noted that Sri Lanka will increase the number of PCR tests being conducted to identify the extent of the spread.

Speaking during a media briefing, Dr. Jasinghe said a special discussion was held with the participation of officials of the Epidemiology Unit and several other divisions to devise a plan to face any future epidemics.

He confirmed the number of PCR tests conducted at the Medical Research Institute, Kandy National Hospital and the Galle National Hospital will be increased.

Dr. Anil Jasinghe said NB.1.8.1 and LF.7, sub-lineages of the JN.1 COVID-19 variant are spreading across many Asia countries including India.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Health stated that the World Health Organization (WHO) has also classified NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 subvariants as variants under monitoring.

Dr. Anil Jasinghe added that health authorities are monitoring the situation and are prepared to take necessary actions based on developments.

He also said anyone having COVID symptoms such as fever, cough, chills and sore throat should wear a mask to prevent the spread.

The Cabinet has granted approval to recruit 15,073 individuals to fill existing vacancies across various sectors of the public service, according to Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.

The decision includes a significant intake in the education sector, with:

- 129 teachers to be recruited directly under the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Training, and 

- 3,661 teachers for the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Education Ministry, 
bringing the total number of new teaching appointments to nearly 6,000.

"It has been recommended recruitment for 15,073 vacant posts in 02 special expenditure units under 18 line ministers and 04 provincial councils according to two (02) reports furnished by the officials’ committee," said the document shared by the Department of Government Information.

This large-scale recruitment drive follows recommendations made by a special committee appointed under the leadership of the Secretary to the Prime Minister, tasked with reviewing the public sector hiring process.

General Secretary of the United National Party Young Professionals Organisation (Colombo Chapter), Attorney Delan De Silva, has publicly condemned the recent government decision to bar civilian students from entering the Medical Faculty of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU).

In a statement shared on ‘X’, De Silva called the move “a betrayal of our youth” and “a death blow to free education”, adding that it was not a policy, but sabotage.

“Sri Lanka is short by over 15,000 doctors. Each year, nearly 800 students leave to study medicine abroad, draining $700–800 million in foreign exchange. Meanwhile, the Rs. 35 billion teaching hospital at KDU—built with taxpayer funds—is now off-limits to Sri Lankan civilians?” he questioned.

De Silva emphasised that the move deepens the country’s healthcare crisis and erodes public access to state-funded education.

“A university funded by the public cannot become a gated institution for the privileged few. If we are serious about healthcare and equity, this decision must be reversed immediately,” he further urged.

News reports on the government’s decision, which have begun gaining traction online, are being widely shared by legal professionals, educators, and youth activists concerned about the militarisation of education and its implications for public policy.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has filed an indictment against former minister Mervyn Silva.

The indictment has been filed over charges that he committed an offence under the Bribery Act, by the acquisition of assets, including properties and vehicles, and maintaining bank accounts exceeding his declared lawful income.

The Bribery Commission states that former minister Mervyn Silva had committed this offence between March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2012.

The Bribery Commission states the former minister had spent Rs. 13.9 million to purchase land in the Kadawatha area and Rs. 71.3 million to purchase land at Sir Ernest de Silva Mawatha in Colombo-07.

In addition, he has spent Rs. 32.375 million to purchase a Mercedes Benz for his son Malaka Silva, over Rs. 5.5 million to buy a Hyundai vehicle and Rs. 8.85 million to buy a Defender.

As such, the Bribery Commission has filed a case consisting of two charges against former minister Mervyn Silva, alleging that he committed an offence under the Bribery Act by acquiring property beyond his legal income.

Venerable Bandarawela Amithananda Thera, a respected Buddhist monk, recognised for his impactful sermons on television and radio, has passed away at the age of 62.

The Thera became a household name among Sri Lankan Buddhists, widely admired for his eloquent preaching and efforts to bring Dhamma teachings to the public. His sermons resonated with devotees across the country, contributing significantly to the revival of Buddhist discourse in modern media.

He had been battling an illness for some time and was receiving long-term care. The Thero passed away this afternoon (May 29) while undergoing treatment at the Colombo National Hospital.

Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.

The official gazette notification listing the names of elected members to local government bodies is scheduled to be published on May 29, according to the Election Commission of Sri Lanka.

The Commission confirmed that the finalized document has already been forwarded to the Government Printing Department for publication.

Political parties and independent groups are still in the process of submitting the final name lists of their elected representatives. The Commission stated that approximately 90% of this process has been completed.

However, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has requested the Election Commission to allow amendments to two of its submitted nomination lists for the Colombo Municipal Council.

The Colombo High Court on Thursday (29) sentenced former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage to 20 years and former Sathosa Chairman and former Trade Minister Nalin Fernando to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment.

The court found both men guilty of causing significant losses to the state through the irregular purchase of thousands of Carrom and checkers boards in the lead-up to the 2015 Presidential Election.

The two were convicted of abusing their official powers by authorizing the procurement of 14,000 Carrom boards and 11,000 checkers boards through Sathosa, the state-owned retail giant, for distribution to sports clubs.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), which led the prosecution, argued that the purchases were politically motivated and conducted in clear violation of procurement procedures.

Presenting final submissions before the verdict was delivered, the Commission’s counsel stated that the defendants had engaged in deliberate misuse of public authority, resulting in a financial loss exceeding Rs. 53 million in taxpayer funds.

The case was initially filed by CIABOC in 2019 before the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar, a special tribunal reserved for high-profile cases involving financial crimes and abuse of public office.

The verdict is being viewed as a significant development in Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption efforts, as it marks one of the most severe sentences handed down to high-ranking political figures in recent years.

pix by - wasitha patabedige

A meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand Winston Peters and President Anura Kumara Disanayake took place this afternoon (26) at the Presidential Secretariat during Mr. Peters’ official visit to Sri Lanka.

Conveying greetings on behalf of the Government and the people of New Zealand, Mr. Peters congratulated President Disanayake on his victory in both the Presidential and General Elections. He reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between the two nations and acknowledged the recent re-establishment of diplomatic relations.

Deputy Prime Minister Peters expressed the Government of New Zealand’s strong appreciation for the positive developments taking place in Sri Lanka following the recent presidential and general election victories. He acknowledged the significant steps taken by the new administration towards political stability, economic recovery, and social progress, and commended the leadership of President Anura Kumara Disanayake in steering the country in the right direction. Mr. Peters further emphasized that New Zealand recognizes Sri Lanka’s current trajectory as a promising foundation for sustainable growth and long-term development. In this context, he announced that the New Zealand government remains committed to deepening its financial support in the future.

President Disanayake noted that Deputy Prime Minister Peters’ visit marks the beginning of a new chapter in Sri Lanka–New Zealand relations. The President briefed Mr. Peters on Sri Lanka’s progress in economic, social and political stabilization following the recent elections. He emphasized the government’s commitment to further strengthen these areas to ensure long-term national development.

The President also highlighted the importance of reconciliation, noting that long-standing divisions among the people had led to prolonged conflict. He stated that his government is prioritizing peace-building and national unity as key pillars of the reconciliation process.

Discussions also explored opportunities to enhance bilateral cooperation in key sectors such as agriculture, education and tourism. Both parties expressed their commitment to working closely to advance these areas of mutual interest.

Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando along with Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, were also present at the meeting. (PMD)

A high-level discussion was held at the Presidential Secretariat between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Chairpersons of District Coordination Committees, and senior officials from the Ministry of Finance to gather proposals and insights for the upcoming Budget 2026.

During the meeting, President Dissanayake stressed the importance of prioritizing the basic and urgent needs of the people at the district level in the budget planning process.

He emphasized that the budget must reflect the real and immediate concerns of communities across the country.

Extensive discussions were held on the development projects currently underway across various districts.

The dialogue focused on identifying essential infrastructure requirements and other critical development needs, and ensuring their implementation through the forthcoming budget allocations.

The Parliamentary House Committee has decided to revise the rates charged for meals for Executive Grade Officers and Non-Executive Staff Members of Parliament, effective from 01 June 2025.

Accordingly, it was decided to charge Rs. 4000 per month for the meals of an Executive Grade Officer and Rs. 2500 per month for a Non-Executive Staff Member.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the Committee held last week, under the patronage of Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, to review a decision taken at the Committee’s previous meeting on 21 May.

The Committee further decided that the current rates charged for meals purchased from the Parliament Staff Cafeteria by the drivers of Parliamentarians, Police Officers, President/Prime Minister Security Officials and journalists should remain unchanged.

The revision of these rates is a decision taken once every three years on the request of the Parliament Staff based on the recommendations made by the Ministry of Finance regarding the cost of meals provided to the Parliament Staff.

This House Committee is a committee consisting of Members of Parliament from the ruling party and the opposition.

A discussion on the challenges facing Sri Lanka’s export industry was held this morning (28) at the Presidential Secretariat, under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Disanayake.

The meeting brought together heads of institutions under the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, as well as officials from the Ministry of Finance and Planning.

The discussion centred on the government’s strategic approach to strengthening domestic production and transitioning towards an export-oriented economy. Particular attention was paid to formulating a long-term industrial development plan to address and overcome current challenges in the export sector.

Key areas of discussion included identifying the necessary steps to enhance the export sector and the presentation of relevant proposals and plans to the President.

Former Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has been granted bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court in connection with the controversial importation of a substandard consignment of organic fertilizer from China in 2021.

Aluthgamage, who was previously remanded, was released on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 and five personal sureties of Rs. 1 million each.

The court also imposed a travel ban, preventing him from leaving the country until further notice.

The bail order was issued after the former minister was produced before the court today.

The case stems from allegations that Aluthgamage facilitated the opening of Letters of Credit (LCs) for the fertilizer shipment before obtaining proper regulatory approvals, resulting in a financial loss exceeding Rs. 1.3 billion to the state