News

Sri Lanka's Sports Minister, Harin Fernando, and International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Allardice, held a productive meeting today to discuss the future of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

The two leaders engaged in a "constructive discussion" focused on finding a way forward for the cricket administration body, which has faced internal challenges in recent times.

Sri Lankan Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa filed a Fundamental Rights petition to the Supreme Court on January 8th, challenging the recent electricity tariff hike and the Ceylon Electricity Board's (CEB) practice of disconnecting power to consumers.

The petition names the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), the CEB Head Office, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, the Power and Energy Ministry Secretary, and the Attorney General's Department as respondents.

The Opposition Leader speaking to reporters outside the apex court premises in Colombo contends that the CEB generated excess electricity through hydropower, leading to Rs. 52 billion in profits.

He said that a 400 GWh drop in demand resulted in further profits of Rs. 26 billion, and additionally, the CEB imposed an 18% tariff hike, generating another Rs. 26 billion.

Premadasa highlighted the disconnection of electricity for 800,000 consumers despite the Rs. 52 billion profit made by the CEB.

He called for the immediate suspension of this practice and a review of the disconnection policy.

Opposition Leader Premadasa also called for a reduction in electricity tariffs based on the CEB's profits and the introduction of a new pricing formula for low-income consumers struggling with current rates.

Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, the sister of Britain’s King Charles III, has arrived in Sri Lanka on an official state visit.

The Princess Royal of the United Kingdom, accompanied by her spouse Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, will be in Sri Lanka from today until January 13, 2024.

Princess Anne is in Sri Lanka to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.

Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe extendedhis warm congratulations and best wishes to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her party’s victory in the parliamentary elections & her re-election to the office of Prime Minister.

“Recognizing her visionary leadership, he expressed confidence in her wisdom and experience benefiting the people of Bangladesh” PMD said in a statement.

SJB’s Chaminda Wijesiri has announced his resignation as a member of parliament.

Making a statement to the House today (09), the Badulla district MP said he tendered his letter of resignation to the secretary general of parliament.

The ‘Saradiel’ theory of the red radical parties will consign the country from the third world to the world of hell, said Mawbima Janatha Party leader Dilith Jayaweera.

Addressing the party’s Kandy district convention at Sahas Uyana yesterday (07) he played down promises by radical parties to catch the thieves and hand people back their robbed money as empty talk.

Jayaweera stressed the need for a path of decency by all if the country is to achieve progress.

The traditional leftist and rightist politics do not have any flow to gain entrance to politics today, said the MJP leader.

According to him, more than 60 per cent of the people have now come out of the two traditional political camps and are questing for a new solution.

That new solution and if there is any positive entrance space for that solution need to be discussed now, he said.

Jayaweera renewed his invitation for NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake for a live debate on political issues.

Chairman of the party Dr. Sarath Amunugama also spoke.

The main entrance of the Yala National Park has been temporarily closed until further notice, due to floods.

Accordingly, the Tissamaharama - Palatupana main entrance of the Yala National Park is closed until further notice due to floods, a warden of the park confirmed.

He assured, however, that despite the closure of the relevant gate, tourists are still able to enter the Yala National Park through the Katagamuwa entrance, adding that access to Zones 4, 5 and 6 remain available, despite there being no access to Zone 1.

Senior Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama has been appointed as the new President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA).

Accordingly, Dr. Wijewickrama has assumed duties in his position as the 136th President of the SLMA.

Addressing the event while assuming duties in his position on Saturday (Jan. 06), Dr. Wijewickrama expressed that the shortage of drugs in the country is now gradually easing.

Furthermore, he mentioned that the specialist doctors are ready to work together with the Ministry of Health while providing necessary advice to the Ministry in order to further reduce the shortage of drugs.

The Office for National Unity and Reconciliation Bill debated in Parliament today (09) was passed in Parliament by a majority vote.

The debate on the Second Reading of the Bill was held today from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm and at the end of the debate Hon. G. G. Ponnambalam of Ahila Ilankai Thamil Congress (AITC) called for a division for the said Bill. Accordingly, in the voting held, 48 votes were cast in favor of the Bill and only 7 votes were cast against. Accordingly, the Second Reading of the Bill was passed by a majority of 41 votes.

Amendments were added to the Bill during the Committee and accordingly the Bill was passed with amendments.

Meanwhile, the National Hydrographic Bill, which was debated today, was also passed with amendments, without a vote with.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe declared a prompt allocation of funds to tackle health and education issues in the North by giving priority to identified needs, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said in a statement.

Specifically, initiatives will be undertaken to allocate land for the teaching hospital in Jaffna and allocate funds for the recruitment of teachers to fill vacancies.

The President articulated this commitment during a discussion held yesterday (06) at the Jaffna District Secretariat with representatives from the health and education sectors, along with the youth community.

Nearly 300 individuals representing the health sector, education sector, and the youth community were in attendance as the President addressed and provided solutions to their concerns.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe assured his commitment to offering essential support to integrate the Northern Province into the national economy, urging government officials and the youth community to actively contribute to this initiative, the PMD mentioned.

A senior professor from the University of Jaffna handed over a proposal to the President addressing the deficiencies within the University and outlining recommendations for the enhancement of its physical and human resources.

In attendance on this occasion were Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda, Member of Parliament Angajan Ramanathan, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, Jaffna District Secretary S. Sivabalasundaran, present academic professionals of the University of Jaffna including Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jaffna Professor S. Srisatkunarajah, Former Vice-Chancellor Professor Vasanthy Arasaratnam and other officials, according to the PMD.

Following the discussion, President Ranil Wickremesinghe visited the Rio Ice Cream store in Jaffna, seizing the opportunity to taste ice cream.

A gathering of individuals who demonstrated excellence in the realms of education, sports, theatre, film arts and social media participated in this event titled “Meet-and-Greet.” During the occasion, the President engaged in friendly conversations with the participants, extending congratulations to them for their achievements, it added.

Slain ‘Sunday Leader’ editor Lasantha Wickramatunga is being remembered today (08) on his 15th death anniversary.

A remembrance event, comprising a mass, was due to take place at his burial place, Borella cemetery, at 9.00 am.

Wickramatunga was killed by unidentified persons at Attidiya in Dehiwala on 08 January 2009.

The killers are yet to be ascertained.

Six years after the killing, his remains were exhumed on 27 September 2016 and a new inquest took place.

Its determination was that he died from injuries to the head and brain from an unspecified weapon, and not due to gunshot wounds, the CID informed courts on 20 March 2017.

Investigations also revealed that Army intelligence members had frequented his office a day prior to his killing, the CID said, adding that statements had been recorded from 950 persons, including 295 Army intelligence members.

Crimes OIC of Mt. Lavinia police at the time, Tissa Sugathapala, was arrested in 2018 for allegedly concealing evidence in the murder, but got bailed out later.

In April 2019, the journalist’s daughter, Ahimsa, filed a civil plaint in a US court, accusing former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa of being responsible for the killing of her father.

The FSP has urged the government to halt its so-called ‘Yukthiya’ operation against narcotic drugs, alleging it to be an oppressive injustice in the name of justice.

Drug users are being hunted down, instead of dealing with drug kingpins, which cannot eradicate the drug trade, said its education secretary Pubudu Jayagoda at a media briefing on 06 January.

“Now, there is this comedy by Tiran Alles and Deshabandu. It has been given the name Yukthiya. No one seems to speak against this injustice in the name of justice.”

He said that as a party, the FSP has decided to raise a voice against it, with the media being made by the Ranil, Rajapaksa and Deshabandu gang to keep dead silence.

Jayagoda made special reference to the shooting at a hotel at Pelenda in Weligama, and accused the police of concealing the truth behind the incident.

He claimed the public security minister who was having a personal issue with the hotel’s owner Hardy Jamaldeen, was using the police to take revenge from him.

Similarly, acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon is said to have taken revenge from a former friend when he dismantled a hotel in Dehiwala, claiming it to be owned by a drug racketeer.

The FSP education secretary asked all parties to speak up against ‘Yukthiya’ operation.