News

An online passport system soothing applicants to apply online for their passports is now operational covering the 25 districts of the island.

The new online application system is operational at the Divisional Secretariat level, with 50 Divisional Secretariats islandwide.

Having the new system operational, it is no longer necessary to visit the Office of the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Battaramulla, Colombo, and applicants can submit their passport applications, fingerprints and photographs at the sub-offices of the Department of Registration of Persons located in their respective districts.

The initiative will be declared official this (15) afternoon at the Homagama Divisional Secretariat under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Public Security Minister Tiran Alles.

Below is the list of Divisional Secretariat Offices where the sub-offices of the Department of Registration of Persons are established covering the 25 districts of Sri Lanka.

Former Minister Navin Dissanayake was appointed the new Governor of Sabaragamuwa Province today (June 13).

He was sworn in before President Ranil Wickremesinghe, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).

Speaking on his new appointment, Dissanayake vowed to bring his “20 years of experience to improve the public delivery systems in the province and bring much-needed reforms in the education sector” in his capacity as the governor.

The PMD said Disanayake also expressed his commitment to contributing significantly to the realization of President Wickremesinghe’s projects and government policies aimed at the country’s development.

Further, he has acknowledged the challenging situations the country has faced in the past, however, went on to highlight the positive transformation taking place today, owing to the President’s effective initiatives.

The new provincial governor, who spoke of giving special attention to enhancing the children’s education in the Sabaragamuwa Province, also emphasized his intention to collaborate with political party leaders, seeking their insights and recommendations, to successfully implement government programs.

Dissanayake’s appointment comes after Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, who served as the Sabaragamuwa provincial governor since November 2019, resigned from the post with effect from June 10, 2023.

The Department of Examinations announced that the Grade 5 Scholarship examination will take place on the 15th of October 2023.

The Commissioner General of Examinations, Amith Jayasundara, said that applications will be accepted from 15th June to 6th July.

The Department of Examinations said that the deadline for accepting nominations will NOT be extended under any circumstance.

Applications can be submitted online before the 6th of July 2023.

The Director General of the Department of Archeology Prof. Anura Manatunga has tendered his letter of resignation from his post to the Ministry Secretary, the Minister for Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Vidura Wickramanayaka said.

Prof. Manatuga had been appointed as the Director General of the Department of Archaeology with effect from the 1st of January 2021, in the wake of former Director General Dr. Senarath Dissanayake retiring from the service.

Professor Manatunga previously served as the Director at the Centre for Heritage Studies of the University of Kelaniya and was the former Head of the Department.

He also served as the Archaeological Director of the Polonnaruwa Project of the Central Cultural Fund during 1999-2013.

He was the General Secretary of the International Association for Asian Heritage (IAAH) and a Fellow of the Sri Lanka Council of Archaeologists, and a former Joint Secretary and Vice President of the Council.

He has been a member of the Advisory Committee of the Department of Archaeology for several decades. His areas of expertise are History of Archaeology, Archaeology Theory and Methods, Indian Pre and Proto History, and Archaeology Law and Ethics.

Most of his important discoveries at Sigiriya and other sites are pioneering work in Sri Lankan archaeology.

The Supreme Court today (June 15) refused to grant leave to proceed with two fundamental rights (FR) petitions filed against the restructuring of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) PLC.

The petitions had been filed by Sri Lanka All Telecommunication Employees’ Union president J.B. Gurusinghe, its secretary H.K. Hettiarachchi and the president of SLT Samagi Sewaka Sangamaya president Indika Priyadarshana.

Following a lengthy trial, the Supreme Court’s three-judge bench comprising, Justices Murdu Fernando, Kumudini Wickamasinghe and Priyantha Fernando, decided to dismiss the two petitions.

The SLT trade union leaders, in their petitions, had deemed the decision taken by the Cabinet of Ministers to divest the government-owned shares in the SLT a violation of fundamental rights.

When the petitions were called before Supreme Court today, Deputy Solicitor General Rajeeva Gunathilake told the judge bench that the Cabinet of Ministers, in March 2023, gave its approval to go ahead with the restructuring of SLT, adding that the proposal was also green-lighted in the budget speech delivered by the President in his capacity as the Finance Minister.

He also deemed the concerns raised by the petitioners, about the potential threats to the national security posed by privatization of SLT, baseless.

The Deputy Solicitor General went on to note that the move would not be prejudicial to the shareholders nor the subscribers of SLT, as mentioned in the petitions, and requested the judge bench to refuse to grant leave to proceed with the two FR petitions.

Later, President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva presented submissions on behalf of Sri Lanka Telecom.

Former minister Navin Dissanayake is due to be sworn-in as governor of the Sabaragamuwa province in the coming week.

He will succeed Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, who resigned yesterday (10).

Presidential advisor Ruwan Wijewardena, speaking to journalists in Gampaha, said Dissanayake’s appointment will most likely take place on Tuesday.

The Attorney General today informed the Court of Appeal that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is conducting investigations against Pastor Jerome Fernando under the Money Laundering Act.

Senior State Counsel Shaminda Wickrama, who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General, informed the court of this when the writ petition filed by Fernando, requesting the issuance of an order to prevent his arrest, was taken up for consideration today (15).

The writ petition was taken up today before the Appellate Court bench consisting of Justices Sobitha Rajakaruna and A. Marikkar.

The Senior State Counsel who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General, raised these preliminary objections and requested that the relevant petition be dismissed without being taken up for hearing.

The senior state counsel charged that through this petition, the petitioner has concealed facts from the court as well as presented facts that mislead the court.

He said that the petitioner has stated in the petition that there are preparations to arrest him based on media reports and also that his accusation is entirely based on media reports.

The senior state counsel informed the court that the petitioner had filed a fundamental rights petition with this request before the Supreme Court, but that fact has been concealed in this petition.

The senior state counsel providing further information said that an investigation will be conducted regarding this petitioner under the Money Laundering Act.

Senior state counsel Mr. Shaminda Wickrama alleged that the malicious actions of the petitioner are revealed through this petition and therefore requested the court to dismiss it without issuing a notice for hearing.

However, the further consideration of the petition was adjourned until June 19 while President’s Counsel Jagath Wickramanayake is scheduled to present the facts on behalf of the petitioner on that day.

On Monday (12), the Court of Appeal had granted time for the Attorney General to file objections in relation to the writ petition filed by Pastor Jerome Fernando.

Senior State Counsel Shaminda Wickrema, appearing on behalf of the AG, had strongly objected to Pastor Jerome’s request, when the petition was taken up for consideration on June 12.

Accordingly, the court granted time until June 14 for the AG’s Department to submit the relevant objections, and ordered the case to be recalled today (June 15).

Pastor Fernando, in his petition filed through his attorneys, alleges that the CID is preparing to arrest him, accusing him of having committed an offence under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) through a statement he made during a religious sermon.

Thus, he had filed this writ petition seeking an order to prevent his arrest.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that the standards of the Sri Lankan universities were high on the list of Asian universities. The standard and reputation of the universities should be restored and improved once again in the country’s university system to attract students overseas. This would also help to improve the development of the country’s economy.

The president stressed that he is satisfied with the education received during his era compared to the present day. For many of the people during his time, the United Kingdom was a second choice, if not the first, after the University of Ceylon. However, when asked by the young generation today about the satisfaction of today’s education system, the answer would be negative. Even if they are selected for a university, they are trying to go abroad.

The President highlighted the need for fixing the issues with the educational system in this nation and added that conditions should be put in place so that everyone can complete their education at the appropriate age and move on.

President Wickremesinghe stressed the importance of being attentive to the South Asian population. In 2050, India will have about another 3–400 million, rising to 1.7 billion. The poverty level will decrease, while the better income number will increase. He anticipated that this change may occur in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar, and the East African nations.

They alone can’t be building universities. India will have nothing else to do if they are going to provide education for all of them, so they will either use other techniques. Therefore, Sri Lanka must be vigilant in these areas. If Sri Lanka has a sufficient number of universities, it would help to cater to some of them from those areas.

These remarks were revealed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe while addressing the “CVCD Excellence Awards” held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo on Friday (9).

President Ranil Wickremesinghe attended the “CVCD Excellence Awards” ceremony as the Chief Guest and was welcomed by the Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Directors Sri Lanka (CVCD), Professor Sujeeva Amarasena, the Vice Chancellor of Ruhunu University.

Prof. Nilanthi De Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, introduced the award ceremony in detail.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe was appreciated by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Directors (CVCD), Sri Lanka, for his excellent leadership and commitment in establishing an innovative research culture within the university system.

Organized biennially by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Directors Sri Lanka (CVCD), the “CVCD Excellence Awards” recognize and honor outstanding contributions and achievements in research, innovation, and invention by scholars in the Sri Lankan university system.

The awards are presented in three categories: Most Outstanding Senior Researcher, Most Outstanding Young Researcher, and Most Outstanding Inventor.

In this year’s awards ceremony, the Most Outstanding Senior Researcher and Most Outstanding Young Researcher Awards for the year 2022, Allied Health Sciences and Indigenous Medicine, Engineering, Architecture, and Technology, Humanities, Life Sciences, Management Studies, Medicine, and Dentistry, were awarded for eight fields of study: natural sciences, social sciences, and legal studies.

Accordingly, Professor B. it. K. S. Perera (University of Moratuwa), Professor D. M. Deepti Yakandawala (University of Peradeniya), Prof. Arosha Sarangi Adikaram (University of Colombo), Prof. Shaman Rajindrajith (University of Colombo), L. B. D. R. P. Wijesundara (University of Kelaniya), and Professor S. Mr. P. Karunanayake (Open University) received the Most Outstanding Senior Researcher Award.

Dr. A. N. Madushanka (University of Peradeniya), Dr. K. K. Asanka Sanjeeva (Sri Jayawardenepura University), Dr. W. H. M. Sanjeeva Samaratunga (Rajarata University), Dr. M. B. Kavinda Chandimal Dayasiri (University of Kelaniya), and Professor A. Mr. Sandaruwan Ratnayake (University of Uva Wellassa) received the Most Outstanding Young Researcher Award.

University of Moratuwa Professor Rangika Umesh Halwathura won the Most Outstanding Inventor Award.

Vavuniya University Vice Chancellor Professor T. Mr. Mangaleswaran delivered the speech of thanks, and members of the committee of Sri Lanka Vice Chancellors and Directors, family members of award-winning scholars, and others attended this event.

Following is the full speech made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe:

Seated here, I was thinking back to the time that I had finished A-levels and sat for the exam. My father also insisted that I take the London A-level, which was held in Madras. So I flew to Madras and sat for the London A-Level. But at the same time, I received the results of the Sri Lankan, as you called it, Ceylon A-levels, and I found that I had gotten into the university and had been selected.

It was a simple system then. In none of these marking systems, all those who got four subject passes went in first, followed by those who got three subjects. I also got my A-level results from London A-level. I applied through UCCA, and there was one university that was prepared to take me based on Sri Lankan A-level results.

And others certainly considered me based on my London A-level results. So I had to make a decision whether I was going to stay here or go to the UK. I really thought of staying in Sri Lanka. My mother was insisting I go to the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, because of my grandfather’s connections, but I had made up my mind. I felt that if I am to do law, it has to be in Colombo. Otherwise, I have to go on to another subject, like economics or history. So I am telling you, I never studied economics.

When I look back, I think that at that time, a lot of people told me this was a good degree. This is well accepted. The dean of that time, the professor of law, Professor Nadarajah, was the leading exponent of Roman Dutch law after Professor Lee died. We had a number of lecturers, the youngest, of course, being a young temporary assistant lecturer called G.L. Peiris.

I passed out, and I’m quite happy with my education here. But when I speak to young people today, I ask them, “Would you like to stay in Sri Lanka? The answer to many of them is no. Even if selected by a university. For many of us in the UK, it was a second choice if you were not selected for the University of Ceylon.

But it is not, so today, having spoken to them and listened to their views, I don’t know what I would do if I came to making a selection today. So, this is a crisis in the university system. It’s a part of the larger crisis in Sri Lanka itself and how we face the future. So we have to look at the university system and what the role of education is first, then look at the local issues.

As I asked the chairman, we have about 170,000 qualifying for the A-levels; of that, 40,000 get into universities here, and another 30, 000 to 40,000 go to universities abroad.

So that’s the difference. What’s the difference? So that another 40,000, of which I would say 25000 to 30000, would be prepared to enter Sri Lankan universities. We don’t have the resources, so that’s the first one. Are we going to have a system of universities coming under the UGC and universities outside the UGC, some for profit and others not for profit?

Three systems are functioning, or should we gradually look at building up one system of universities? So that’s the first one.

Secondly, the government makes money available to fund students’ higher education. But then we find that another group of students equal to the number in the universities is going outside and paying money. So, is this the best way we have? We must preserve one right, which is in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: universal access to education. But different countries have different ways of doing it. Some give student loans; some help students who have economic issues but allow the others to go ahead. So, are we to study? I think we have to study all these systems and then ensure the government makes the funding available.

Look at the best system available for the maximum number to get their education. That’s the first item I think we have to go into if we can’t run away from the issue, because we will need a large number of engineers, a large number of doctors, and a large number of scientists. If we are to develop and go ahead, where are we going to get them? Who is going to educate them? That’s, I would say, the main issue we have.

Secondly, one of the standards is: where are we now? When I went to university, our universities were high up on the list of Asian universities. I am not talking about the world’s list of Asian universities. We are not so today; let’s be frank about it. How are you going to improve our performance? How are we going to ensure that these universities have a good reputation and standing?

Then you’ll attract students from other parts of the world, making your funding that much easier. How do the state universities function with disruptions and vice chancellors getting assaulted? That cannot happen. I think at some point we have to face these issues and resolve them. There’s no other way to do it. We must ensure that everyone studies so they can get ahead.

We have a big problem in the education system; people don’t sit for A-levels until they are about 20, and you’re about 24 when you pass out. I was 21 when I sat for my degree, 22 when I got the results, and we were not awarded degrees because they were from 1971, and 23 when I became an advocate of the Supreme Court.

I don’t think anyone I know now has touched that. That means the best part of your life You spend time at the university, then go to find a job. So these issues had to be resolved. Then you will find the non-UGC universities coming up, and then they get students because the job market is there.

Now, this is a problem not only for the UGC universities here but also for many universities abroad. But we had to find our own solution and not wait to see what others were going to do with regard to the universities. Then comes the issue of remuneration. Your main issue has been the present taxation, but another one that has been raised in universities is how you would pay your academic staff. In Western universities, each one is judged to be worth something in the market, and given that, are we to do that? Or are we going to carry on with this same system? As far as the non-UGC universities are concerned, I have no doubt that they will decide what the pay should be for each individual.

These are the issues that we have to face. And then the research that is being done: how are the peer reviews? What are the standards? There are allegations regarding some of the research items that have been made, and all that has to be cleared. I mentioned to the chairman and some of the VCs that we don’t have sufficient postgraduate studies in this country.

What are the postgraduate studies you have done?

The single University of Ceylon changed the culture of Ceylon with two plays “Maname” and “Sinhabaahu”. With that came the change. They produced the University of Ceylon History in four volumes. Some are maybe out of date, nevertheless, look at all the rest of it that they produced at the University of Ceylon. Have we all together in any way equalled that? I’m not asking about overtaking equalled that; that’s a question mark.

So, these are serious issues that we have to think about. If you don’t tackle these issues, you are going to face serious problems with the university education provided by the UGC University. Outside of that, there is the question that every university has to face today. What is a university? How do you educate? You had social media; you had it online.

You have AI, and you have chat GPT, which people use for exams and some for their postgraduate research. So, can these brick-and-mortar institutes suffice? Or are we to use the technology? This is another issue that we have to take up. So, my effort is to ensure that you are focused on this and come up with solutions.

If you look at the population of South Asia in 2050, India will have about another 3–400 million, maybe going up to 1.7 billion. And that poverty level will decrease, and better income numbers will increase. This will happen in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar, and the East African nations. Now all of them can’t build universities. India will have nothing else to do if they are going to provide education for all of them, so they will either use other techniques. So, we have to be sure of that. But if we have a sufficient number of universities, we can cater to some of them from those areas. Now they are catering to our needs. But there may come a time when we have to cater to their needs.

So, these are the issues we have to think of because the structure of the universities will no longer be the same. There was a big debate originally about the first university in Ceylon, whether it was to be residential or not. They took the Oxford and Cambridge Model, and that’s the structure of Peradeniya University. But if you look at the newer universities, all the residents are no longer there.

Now, the question is not whether they are going to be halls of residence. Will there be halls for lectures?

So, we have to address these issues and find solutions because we have appointed a Cabinet Committee on Education, which is going into all the issues. So I thought I’d mention to you all: what are the questions that we will be posing to you? So I don’t want to take any more of your time, but I must congratulate all those who got the awards here.

What you have done is to raise the reputation of Sri Lankan universities for research, and taking that into account, we will make more money available for research. But how are we going to do it? We haven’t determined yet. I thought I would put about a billion aside for a year. I don’t know if you can use it for the other subjects as well.

And by then, we’ll have the Institute of History for History and Archaeology to carry on. So thank you again for inviting me, and all the best to the award winners.

Fifty-one divisional secretariats across the island will start issuing passports via online tomorrow (15), said public security minister Tiran Alles.

The Department of Immigration and Emigration is introducing the facility to enable applicants to obtain passports at their hometowns without visiting Colombo.

The Department said the launch of this facility will take place in the presence of president Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The finalized passports will be sent by courier to the homes of the applicants within three days, said Alles.

The Department will continue to accept applications that will be handed over to its offices.

Online applicants can submit their fingerprint marks at sub-offices of the Department of Registration of Persons at 51 divisional secretariats.

They are:

Ampara district - Samanthurai, Pottuvil

Anuradhapura district - Nuwaragam Palatha Central, Kekirawa, Horowpothana

Badulla district - Mahiyangana, Haputale

Batticaloa district – Valachchena, Kathankudy

Colombo district – Seethawaka, Homagama

Galle district – Karandeniya, Akmeemana, Neluwa

Gampaha district – Negombo, Mirigama, Gampaha

Hambantota district – Tangalle, Tissamaharama

Jaffna district – Chavakachcheri, Point Pedro

Kalutara district - Ingiriya, Matugama, Panadura

Kandy district – Gampola, Kundasale, Pujapitiya

Kegalle district – Galigamuwa, Ruwanwella

Kilinochchi district – Karachchi

Kurunegala district – Kuliyapitiya, Nikaweratiya, northwestern province office of the Department of Registration of Persons

Mannar district – Manthai West

Matale district – Naula

Matara district – Athuraliya, Devinuwara

Moneragala district – Buttala

Mullaitivu district – Mullaitivu

Nuwara Eliya district – Ambagamuwa, Walapane

Polonnaruwa district – Elehera, Dimbulagala, Hingurakgoda

Puttalam district – Puttalam, Chilaw

Ratnapura district – Balangoda, Kuruwita, Embilipitiya

Trincomalee district – Kinniya

Vavuniya district - Velangasettikulam

Jaffna District Secretary A. Sivabalasundaram says that measures were taken to ban private tuition classes on Fridays and Sundays from the first of July.

He says that private tuition classes on Friday evenings and Sundays have been banned for classes below grade 9.

The decision has been taken in the discussion held with health officials, police, private tuition class owners, teachers, and child development officers of the Jaffna district.

The district secretary says that the matter will be discussed with the district development committee.

The Jaffna District Secretary also says that every private tuition class should be registered in the District Secretariat.

He adds that sanitation facilities should be fulfilled in every private tuition class within the district.

A team of doctors of the Sri Lanka Army surgically removed what is considered to be the largest and heaviest kidney stone from a patient on June 01.

At the Army Hospital in Colombo, they removed the calculus that is 13.372 cm long and weighs 801 g.

The previous record for the largest (13 cm) kidney stone was held by India and the heaviest (620 g) by Pakistan.

Head of the hospital’s genitourinary unit Lt. Col. Dr. K. Sutharshan led the surgery, assisted by Capt. Dr. W.P.S.C. Pathiratne, Dr. Thamansha Prematilake, and two colonels, Dr. U.A.L.D. Perera and Dr. C.L. Abeysinghe, as anesthetists.

Later, army chief Lt. Gen. Vikum Liyanage was shown the kidney stone that has now entered the Guinness World Records.

The prices of mobile phones and appliances will be reduced as per the rupee’s appreciation against the US dollar, said the importers.

President of their association Samitha Herath told journalists in Colombo yesterday (09) the reduction will be around 20 per cent.

In the event of a depreciation of the rupee, prices will have to be raised again, he said.

Sales of mobile phones dropped by around 40 per cent in recent times due to high prices.