News

The Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, Admiral Steve Koehler, met with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Thursday (10) afternoon.

The visiting US Navy Admiral (4 Star) was accompanied by US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the U.S. commitment to support Sri Lanka in combating transnational threats like drug smuggling and terrorism was discussed at the meeting.

Ambassador Julie Chung said the meeting took place to discuss how U.S.-Sri Lanka security partnership can strengthen Sri Lanka’s sovereignty while ensuring regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.

She added that the U.S. remains firmly committed to enhancing the bilateral relationship with Sri Lanka, working together to promote security, prosperity, and shared values.

Cabinet Spokesman Minister Vijitha Herath says that the fertilizer subsidy of Rs. 25,000 for paddy farmers will commence from Ampara District next Monday (Oct. 14).

He mentioned this during the Cabinet press conference held today (08).

“The Maha season is about to start. We are going to provide this fertilizer subsidy to the people of Ampara district by Monday next week. After that, we will provide the relevant subsidy to the farmers in Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Mahiyanganaya and Mahaweli regions”, he added.

Former Member of Parliament Patali Champika Ranawaka says that his party - the United Republic Front (URF) will not contest the 2024 Parliamentary Election.

He communicated this during a media briefing held today (10).

“We decided to withdraw from this election campaign. We were hoping to contest the election representing Samagi Jana Sandhanaya from 11 districts. During the nomination process, we realized that there has been a violation of the agreement that we cannot justify, so that we decided to withdraw”, he added.

(adaderana.lk)

The Constitutional Council has approved the appointment of Senior DIG Priyantha Weerasooriya as the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP).

The Constitutional Council convened a meeting at the parliamentary complex today (08) under the chairmanship of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to take a final decision on approving the appointment of the Acting IGP.

Under existing regulations, any individual serving as Acting IGP for more than 14 days must receive the formal approval of the Constitutional Council.

Weerasooriya was appointed as Acting IGP by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on September 27, under the constitutional powers vested in the President.

He had received his letter of appointment from the President’s Secretary Dr. Nandika Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo on the same day.

Prior to this appointment, Weerasooriya served as the Senior SIG in charge of the North Central Province, a position he held since March 2024.

A law enforcement professional with 36 years of unblemished service, Weerasooriya had served across various ranks, from Police Constable to Senior DIG, with key roles in operational, middle, and strategic management.

Notably, SDIG Priyantha Weerasooriya is the first officer in the 158-year history of the police service to rise from the rank of Police Constable to Inspector General of Police (IGP).

A Law graduate from the University of Colombo, he became an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) after being sworn in as a lawyer at the Sri Lanka Law College.

He also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management.

Remarkably, 10 IGP commendation letters have been issued in recognition of SDIG Weerasooriya’s thirty-six years of outstanding service in the Police Department.

Having served as the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) overseeing Crime and Traffic, as well as the Director of Police Logistics, SDIG Weerasooriya has participated in United Nations peacekeeping missions in East Timor and Haiti.

At the time of his appointment as Acting IGP, he was serving as the SDIG in charge of the North Central Province.

The National Police Commission has approved the reappointment of former Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shani Abeysekera in the Police Service on a contract basis for one year, with effect from today (10).

Speculation has been rife that Abeysekara, who retired from the service 3 years ago, is expected to lead a new assets recovery unit of the police department.

The All Ceylon Egg Producers Association claims the price of eggs has increased due to intermediaries creating a shortage by hoarding eggs.

The price of an egg, which was between Rs. 28 and Rs. 30, has recently shot up to Rs. 40 in the local market.

The All Ceylon Egg Producers Association points out the price hike was due to hoarding by intermediaries.

The Association said if the government intervenes by investigating these intermediaries and also reduces the prices of eggs, then an egg can be provided for Rs. 30.

The All Ceylon Egg Producers Association further urged the government to take immediate action to reduce the price of eggs.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government has decided to retain the 130-year-old iconic Nuwara Eliya Post Office building exclusively for the operations of the Postal Department, suspending the former government’s plans related to tourism.

Announcing the decision, Minister Vijitha Herath said the Nuwara Eliya Post Office property will be safeguarded solely for the use of the Postal Department and will not be released for any other purpose.

He also informed that all decisions previously made regarding the Nuwara Eliya Post Office property will be suspended.

The former government had made plans to hand over the Nuwara Eliya Post Office to the Taj Samudra Hotel as a hotel project to improve tourism in the area.

In November last year, protests were held against the government’s plan, prompting then-President Ranil Wickremesinghe to clarify that plans were only made to set up hotels in the lands surrounding the Post Office building.

Reiterating that there were no plans to demolish the Post office building, then President Ranil Wickremesinghe said it was only proposed to renovate the building.

The Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations against Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) Kanishka Wijeratne today (07) gave undertaking to the Supreme Court to resign from office.

This was after the court granted leave to proceed with three Fundamental Rights (FR) applications filed challenging his appointment as the Director General of the Bribery Commission.

Vatican Ambassador to Sri Lanka Most Reverend Dr. Brian Udaigwe met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the President's Office today.

During the meeting, the Vatican Ambassador congratulated President Dissanayake on his recent election victory, conveying heartfelt greetings from His Holiness Pope Francis, the Head of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Vatican City State.

Ambassador Udaigwe also extended best wishes for the continued success and prosperity of Sri Lanka under the new President's leadership.

Dr. Udaigwe expressed optimism about Sri Lanka's future, stating that positive developments were forthcoming in line with the people's aspirations.

He commended President Dissanayake's commitment to the welfare of the country and its citizens, offering the Vatican's support in realizing the President's vision for Sri Lanka.

The Vatican Ambassador also lauded the President's initiative to conduct transparent and credible investigations into the tragic Easter Sunday attacks.

Dr. Udaigwe assured the fullest cooperation of the Vatican in supporting the President's ongoing efforts to bring justice and healing to the victims and their families.

According to the PMD, the meeting underscored the strong diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Vatican, with both leaders emphasizing mutual collaboration for the betterment of the nation and its people.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited the headquarters of the Amarapura Maha Nikaya in Wellawatte this morning (05) and received blessings from the Acting Maha Nayaka, Most Venerable Karagoda Uyangoda Maithri Murthi Maha Nayaka Thero of Amarapura Nikaya.

The Nayaka Theros of the Secretariat of the Amarapura Maha Nikaya were also present at this occasion, where they invoked blessings for the President.

During the discussion, the Chief Prelate emphasized the need to build a strong state by maximizing the use of the country’s resources. He noted that only then could Sri Lanka rise as an independent nation on the global stage.

The President acknowledged that the current period, with a General Election already announced, is a politically transitional time. He expressed his intention to accelerate progress on key tasks with full Parliamentary power following the election.

The Chief Prelate and the senior Theros also praised the example set by the President and his team, especially during the post-election period, where they ensured no violent incidents or disturbances occurred.

The Maha Sangha further highlighted that, during the last Presidential election, certain groups attempted to organize campaigns against the current President by using religion as a tool, but those accusations have now been proven false. However, the Maha Sangha cautioned the President to remain vigilant as similar smear campaigns may arise in the future.

President Dissanayake remarked that the people, through the results of this Presidential election, have shown the need to change the traditional political system. He also noted that the public has rejected the slander and fears that were created about his team, confirming that these were merely baseless rumours.

During the discussion, the Maha Sangha inquired about the possibility of a new constitution, to which the President responded by stating that he hopes to introduce a new constitution but emphasized that it will only be done following thorough discussions and a referendum. He pointed out that the previous governments implemented constitutional amendments without public consensus. The President also pledged to bring forward a constitutional amendment that meets the expectations of the people, after stabilizing the country to some extent.

The Election Commission of Sri Lanka today announced that the deadline for accepting applications for postal voting in the 2024 General Election, which was scheduled to end at midnight today (8), has been extended until midnight on 10 October 2024.

The Elections Commissioner General said that this decision was made in consideration of the possible postal delays and several requests made by the public to the commission.

Furthermore, the election regulatory body has also advised that it is more appropriate to hand over the postal vote applications completed on October 09 and 10 by hand to the district election office of the district where the office of the certifying officer is located, instead of handing them over to the posts, in order to avoid the possible delays.

The Election Commission also noted that the application deadline will not be extended further under any circumstances.

Imports for public transport vehicles, including buses, started on October 1.

The Ministry of Finance has announced that light vehicles, including cars, will be imported in the first quarter of next year.

Vehicle import process will be implemented in three phases.