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Over 500 prisoners are due to be released tomorrow (04 Feb.) in view of the 75th Independence Day.

Accordingly, a total of 588 prisoners will be released tomorrow, Prisons Commissioner and Spokesman Chandana Ekanayake stated.

Those who were jailed for drug-related offences will be granted the said presidential pardon, while the release of 31 inmates who were deemed to have displayed good behavior during their imprisonment was also approved by the Prison Board.

Thus, these 31 inmates too, will be released tomorrow, Ekanayake said.

Petrol price increased by Rs 30 to Rs 400.

All other fuel prices remain unchanged.

The English place name Slave Island is to be changed to Kompanna Vidiya to be used uniformly in all three languages on a directive by the prime minister.

Secretary to the prime minister Anura Dissanayake has instructed the public administration ministry secretary to take measures for this name change.

This will coincide with the 75th Independence Day anniversary.

Part of Colombo came to be known as Slave Island during colonial rule.

Victoria Nuland, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs of the United States, called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo on Wednesday (1).

She is on an official visit to the country, and she discussed the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, and the ongoing US assistance to the Sri Lankan people.

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung accompanied Nuland for the meeting, where both sides further discussed ways both the United States of America and Sri Lanka are working together toward an inclusive, prosperous and secure future for all Sri Lankans.

According to the President's Media Division, the President in his meeting with Victoria Nuland, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs of the United States, thanked the US Government for their support during difficult times.

Under-Secretary Nuland had pledged the US Government’s support for Sri Lanka's ongoing recovery efforts.

The discussion also focussed on the on-going discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while the U.S. pledged to continue to support the negotiations with the aim of swiftly resolving the issues.

The President outlined the measures being taken in regard to the reconciliation talks with the minority parties in Sri Lanka, including the full implementation of the 13th Amendment.

Discussions also focussed on the on-going efforts to combat the growing narcotics trade, with the U.S. extending their assistance.

Moreover, Under-Secretary Nuland and Ambassador Chung met with the minority opposition party leaders to discuss their hopes for reconciliation.

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung tweeted that a political solution to Sri Lank's history of ethnic conflict was also discussed.

"When those with different perspectives work together toward solutions, democracy is strengthened," said the Ambassador.

Former Archbishop of Colombo His Grace the Most Rev. Dr Oswald Gomis was called to eternal rest at the age of 90 during the early hours on Friday (3).

The remains of the late Most Rev. Dr Oswald Gomis will be moved to the Bishops' House at noon on Friday (3).

His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis was born on 12th December 1932 in Kelaniya.

He received his primary education at St. Benedict’s College, Colombo and transferred to St. Paul’s School, Waragoda (Branch of St. Joseph’s College) during the war years. Then continued his collegiate studies at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo.

He joined the Minor Seminary of St. Aloysius, Borella on 16th January 1950 and was promoted to the Major Seminary of St. Bernard, Borella and received the religious habit on 31st August 1951.

He completed his theological studies at the National Seminary in Kandy and was ordained a priest at St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Kotahena on 3rd February 1958 by His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Cooray (then Archbishop).

Nominated on 9th April 1968 he received Episcopal Ordination on 17th July 1968 as the Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo and Titular Bishop of Mulia.

He holds a M.A (Educ) from the Adamson University in the Philippines and was conferred a PhD by the Fu Jen University in recognition of services rendered in the field of Social Communications and Education in Asia.

His Grace the Most Rev. Dr Oswald Gomis was instrumental in founding a number of schools and colleges in the country.

He also spearheaded the program for the construction of houses for Tsunami victims and supplying livelihood.

His Grace the Most Rev. Dr Oswald Gomis also made great contributions to literature and was called to eternal rest while being treated for an illness at a private hospital in Colombo.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena says he expects to contest the next presidential election with the support of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

Joining a media briefing today (Jan 31), the SLFP leader expressed confidence about winning the election race.

“I am not the type of person to move backward. I am not scared of the conspiracies [against me]... Despite being harassed, I will contest the next presidential election with the support of my party. No matter how many votes I receive, I am confident that I can win the election.”

Sirisena went on to apologize for the coordinated suicide bomb attacks that devastated the country on Easter Sunday in 2019 while he was in office as the Head of State.

The former president stated that the Catholic community does not harbour any feelings of hatred towards him over this tragic incident.

Speaking on the sum of Rs. 100 million that the Supreme Court ordered him to pay in compensation to the victims of the Easter Sunday suicide bombings for violating human rights, Sirisena pointed out that according to the top court’s judgment, he was held responsible for the mistakes committed by the officials appointed by him as the Head of State.

Sirisena said, as a person who respects the country’s judiciary and the law, he accepted the judgment of the Supreme Court.

On January 12, the Supreme Court found the former President, along with former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara, former National Intelligence Chief Sisira Mendis and former Chief of State Intelligence Nilantha Jayawardena in violation of the Fundamental Rights of petitioners, by failing to take action to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks despite receiving sufficient intelligence information.

The most prestigious lifetime award “Sri Lankabhimanya” Award was conferred to former speaker Deshabandu Karu Jayasuriya by President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the President’s House Colombo.

IUSF convener Wasantha Mudalige has been released from one case filed against him under the PTA.

The order for his release was given by Colombo chief magistrate Prasanna Alwis today (31).

Delivering the verdict, magistrate Alwis said the accused was not found to have committed any offence under the PTA.

He further said the prosecution has created evidence to misuse the provisions of the PTA.

Mudalige has been in remand custody for more than 150 days now.

Two members of the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) have tendered their resignations to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization & National Policies.

Accordingly, Mohan Samaranayake and PUCSL’s deputy chairman Udeni Wickramasinghe have stepped down from their positions with immediate effect.

Wickramasinghe vacated his position, citing personal reasons.

Meanwhile, Samaranayake, in his resignation letter, said the work environment and the work style of the electricity sector regulator have become highly unprofessional, unpleasant and intolerable.

“The situation has degenerated to such an extent that on January 20, 2023 when a special meeting of the Commission was held, a group of thugs was organized and allowed inside the Commission’s premises who directly threatened me with physical assault and destruction of property. This act of hooliganism was justified by insinuation by Chairman, PUCSL at the National Council meeting held in Parliament on January 24, 2023 with the participation of members of the Commission. His justification of threats against me indicates that I run the risk of being threatened and even assaulted in future,” he continued.

Samaranayake accused the PUCSL chairman Janaka Ratnakayake of violating Section 9(5) of the PUCSL Act and continuing to make decisions and statements purported to be that of the Commission without the concurrence of the rest of the members thereby making other members redundant.

He also stressed that he has been “humiliated and painted villain before the society.”

Failure on the part of the government authorities to counter legal and other arguments against the proposed electricity tariff hike with irrefutable facts, which leaves people in the quandary, Samaranayake added.

Former speaker Karu Jayasuriya is to be conferred with the honorary title ‘Sri Lankabhimanya’ in recognition of his services to the country.

The Cabinet approved a proposal in this regard made by president Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The president will confer the highest civilian honour on Jayasuriya on February 03 to coincide with the 75th Independence Day celebrations.

Jayasuriya, a former cabinet minister, was the speaker of parliament between 2015 and 2020.

The commemorative stamp issued by the Philatelic Bureau and the special commemorative coin issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka on the occasion of the 75th National Independence Day, was presented to President Ranil Wickremesinghe this morning (02) at the Presidential Palace in Kandy.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe received the commemorative stamp from the Minister of Mass Media, Transport and Highways, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, and the commemorative coin was presented to the President by Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank.

The Philatelic Bureau issued the Rs. 50 stamp and first day cover in keeping with the practices followed over the years on such significant events. The new stamp could be purchased from all post offices and sub-post offices in the island from today.

Additionally, the Sri Lanka Philatelic Bureau has created special stamp windows at Kandy, Trincomalee, Kurunegala, Galle, and Negombo where customers can purchase this commemorative stamp with the first-day cover.

In conjunction with the 75th Anniversary of Independence, the Sri Lanka Postal Department has organized the Independence Stamp Exhibition and Museum Exhibition from the 6th to the 12th of February from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm at the Postal Headquarters premises located at D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha, Colombo 10.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) issued an uncirculated commemorative coin in the denomination of Rs. 1000 to mark the 75th Anniversary of Independence.

The national flag of Sri Lanka is embossed on the middle of the coin, and the number “75” is displayed there in bold numerals.

The words “Independence Commemoration” are printed in English, Tamil, and Sinhala along the top edge of the coin.

Around the lower edge of the coin’s periphery is the year “1948 – 2023.” In big numerals, the face value “1000” is displayed on the centre of the coin. The national emblem of Sri Lanka appears above the face value. The year “2023” is at the bottom edge of the coin. Words “Sri Lanka” in English, Sinhala, and Tamil appears along the periphery on the upper edge of the coin.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has decided to boycott the 75th Independence Day celebrations, as the Tamil people are yet to gain true independence, said its spokesperson MP M.A. Sumanthiran.

Speaking to the media, he said since independence, majoritarianism has become the rule in the guise of democracy, with not even the Sinhala Buddhists now feeling they are denied freedom.

A black day will be declared and a campaign launched to gain true independence to the country, he added.

Several southern political groups too, have similarly declared a black day on February 04.