News

A group of representatives from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka next week.

This delegation will conduct the third review under the country’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program provided by the IMF. The team will be led by the IMF’s senior mission chief, Peter Brewer.

Following this review, the IMF is expected to release the next loan instalment to Sri Lanka.

During their visit, the IMF delegation will discuss the current government’s economic policies in detail.

They will also evaluate the implementation of previous agreements with the IMF and review recent progress made under Sri Lanka’s economic reform program.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank recently assured IMF representatives during discussions in Washington that the government remains committed to adhering to the IMF agreement.

After the third review, the fourth instalment for Sri Lanka under the EFF program will be released.

(adaderana.lk)

The Ministry of Education has said that schools will be closed on November 13 and 14 due to the general election.

According to the ministry, the decision to grant the holidays was made in response to a request from the Election Commission.

All schools are scheduled to reopen on November 18.

The 2024 general election will be held on November 14.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says that steps will be taken to reduce the electricity tariff by more than 30 percent in the near future.

He revealed this while addressing a public meeting of the National People’s Power (NPP) held in Dambulla today (09).

“We will create a massive transformation in the electricity sector within a period of one to one-and-a-half years. We will reduce the electricity bill by more than 30%. Give us a little time for that. We need time to reduce even the fuel price. We will do these things,” he said.

Political parties make impractical promises in order to gain power, notes general election candidate Keshal Jayasinghe.

A contestant for Colombo from ‘gas cylinder’, he said Ranil Wickremesinghe was the only candidate who had not made false promises at the recent presidential polls.

Politicians should give up the practice of making false promises to the people at least now, Jayasinghe told ‘Heta Dawasa’ programme of Advocata Plus YouTube channel.

The Ministry of Education has issued a circular requiring social media platforms like WhatsApp, Viber, and Telegram, used for educational activities in schools, to be continuously monitored by school authorities.

Education Ministry Secretary J.M. Thilaka Jayasundara stated that principals, vice principals, and department heads must serve as administrators of these groups. She noted that the Ministry has received reports on the negative impacts of social media in schools, prompting her to provide detailed guidelines to Provincial Secretaries, Education Secretaries, and relevant education authorities.

The Ministry’s instructions specify that school communication groups must be limited to curriculum-related discussions and educational activities. Administrators are accountable for any harm or reputational damage resulting from these platforms, and students without access to technology should not be disadvantaged. For primary students, educational materials should be shared in an organized manner, and social media should only be used for academic reminders or notifications.

Further, assignments or homework must not cause inconvenience to parents or families. Messages, images, or audio that violate student privacy or cause stress are prohibited, with strict disciplinary action to follow any violations. Any disputes arising in these groups will be subject to legal action per Sri Lankan laws, including the Right to Information Act and the Information and Communication Technology Act.

The Department of Meteorology has issued an advisory for severe lightning in 21 districts, effective until 11.30 pm today.

Accordingly, thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Central, Uva, Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and Trincomalee and Ampara districts during this period.

The Met Department warned that there may be temporary localized strong winds during the thundershowers.

The public is requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

The government says that reports claiming that Sri Lanka Thriposha Limited (SLTL) is to be closed down are false.

Issuing a statement in this regard, the Ministry of Finance clarified that no action has been taken to liquidate the Threeposha Company and that there are no such plans.

It further stated that the program of providing Triposha to children and pregnant mothers will continue forward in a more effective manner.

Two newly appointed Ambassadors to Sri Lanka presented their credentials to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat today (07).

The two new envoys, His Excellency Adel Ibrahim, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and His Excellency Mr. ISOMATA Akio, Ambassador of Japan, also paid courtesy calls on the President following the presentation of credentials.

A special discussion was held (08) at the Presidential Secretariat, led by Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake the Secretary to the President, and attended by officials from the Irrigation Department, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, and related Ministries. The meeting focused on determining if the Salinity Barrier is indeed contributing to the floods leading to agricultural damage.

It was decided that a thorough study is necessary to address these concerns and that the Engineering Department of the University of Peradeniya will assist in this investigation. The Secretary to the President supported this proposal and directed the officials to create an action plan based on the findings from the study.

Additionally, officials reported that saltwater intrusion has adversely affected livelihoods, with many residents losing farmland. The Secretary highlighted that restoring normal conditions is both a government and official responsibility and directed further action to address flooding in the Matara area.

Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake has instructed officials to prepare a proposal based on a study by the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Peradeniya. The solutions derived from this report will guide the second phase of the project, with necessary funding requests to be submitted.

He also emphasized the importance of implementing a structured flood management plan for the Matara district and directed the coordination between the Irrigation Department and Water Supply and Drainage Board to establish a sustainable flood management plan in Matara.

The Secretary noted that there have been complaints from residents by the river banks regarding the adverse effects of the salinity barrier, which has led to the loss of farmland and livelihoods along the Nilwala River. He stressed that it is the government’s responsibility to address this issue urgently and to restore normalcy. Additionally, he directed officials to continue working towards solving the flooding issue in the Matara region.

Former State Minister Lohan Ratwatte and his wife, Shashi Prabha Ratwatte, were remanded today until November 18 under charges related to the illegal use of a vehicle that was reportedly assembled without proper authorization.

They was produced before Nugegoda Magistrate Ruwani Jayawardena after investigations by the Mirihana Police revealed the luxury vehicle, found at the couple's residence on Shalawa Road, Embuldeniya, Mirihana, had been illegally assembled

The vehicle was also discovered without a valid number plate.

The investigation has uncovered that the vehicle's chassis number was fraudulent, and the couple had been using it since 2020.

Attorney DIG Ruwan Gunasekara said they swapped license plates with fraudulent ones and used them on another vehicle, a Toyota Lexus. Video evidence of the vehicle’s use has been submitted to the Government Analyst for further examination.

In addition to charges under the Motor Traffic Act and the Penal Code, the case also involves violations of the Customs Ordinance and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The Director of Customs testified in court today as part of the ongoing investigation.

Lohan Ratwatte was arrested by the Mirihana Police on October 30, while his wife appeared before the court on November 4 and was remanded until today.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya convened a meeting yesterday with senior officials from key government institutions, under the Ministry of Technology and public sector institutions providing information technology services.

The Prime Minister underscored the importance of advancements in science and technology within the ministry and reviewed the ongoing progress of IT services to foster Sri Lanka’s development.

Key discussion topics included digitization efforts, the integration of artificial intelligence, and current challenges to IT development in the public sector.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya recently met with key figures from the International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), including Mr. Sumathi Dharmawardena, President’s Counsel, the newly appointed Independent Chair of the ICC ACU, and Mr. Alex Marshall, (CBE, QPM) General Manager of Integrity and Human Resources, ICC.

During the discussion, Mr. Alex Marshall noted Sri Lanka’s progress in combating corruption in cricket over the past seven years, emphasizing the importance of player education and strengthening the Ministry of Sports’ Special Investigations.

The meeting was also attended by Mr. Andrew Ephgrave, Senior Manager, of ICC ACU Operations; Mr. Vije Bandara, Senior Attorney and Director General of Legal at the President’s Office; Mrs. Illeperuma, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Sports; and Prof. Shemal Fernando, Director General of Sports.