News

Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa left for the United States of America on Monday (26) morning.

He had left for Dubai via the VIP Terminal at the Bandaranaike International Airport, and thereafter will fly to the US.

He was accompanied by former First Lady Ayoma Rajapaksa, son Daminda Rajapaksa, daughter-in-law S. D. Rajapaksa, and his grandchild.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the island nation in July 2022 after a huge crowd stormed his official residence following months of demonstrations sparked by an unprecedented economic crisis.

The 73-year-old announced his resignation from Singapore and spent weeks under virtual house arrest at a Bangkok hotel before his return late on September 2nd.

Prof. Ashu Marasinghe has stepped down as the Presidential Advisor on Parliamentary Affairs with immediate effect.

Marasinghe resigned from the post citing personal reasons, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).

A total of 309 inmates who were imprisoned for minor offenses and several other reasons have been released on the occasions of Christmas.

Accordingly, 306 male inmates and three female inmates have been released, the Department of Prisons announced.

Lanka Sathosa Limited on Friday (23) announced the price reduction of seven items.

1. Potatoes (1kg) reduced by Rs. 5/- to Rs. 285/-.

2. Big Onions (1kg) reduced by Rs. 5/- to Rs. 185/-.

3. White Sugar (1kg) reduced by Rs. 6/- to Rs. 218/-.

4. Red Dhal (1kg) reduced by Rs. 11/- to Rs. 374/-.

5. 425g canned fish (local) reduced by Rs. 15/- to Rs. 475/-.

6. Chilli (1kg) reduced by Rs. 15/- to Rs. 1,780/-.

7. Sprats (1kg) reduced by Rs. 50/- to Rs. 1,100/-.

Former MP and Presidential Advisor Professor Ashu Marasinghe has lodged a complaint to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today.

“A false doctored video and pictures regarding my client Prof. Ashu Marasinghe has been released at a press conference” Lawyer Pravi Karunaratne who accompanied Prof. Ashu Marasinghe to CID told reporters.

Lawyer Pravi Karunaratne said that his client filed a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department, prior to this press conference, regarding the existing threat.

“My client and a female had a dispute in a company in which they are directors and a large sum of money was being demanded from my client over the dispute, this threat came in that backdrop” he added.

Former MP Hirunika Premachandra along with a woman claiming as Prof Marasinghe’s ex-lover held a media briefing yesterday and accused Prof. Marasinghe of sexually abusing a pet dog.

“This false incident is now in the hands of the courts. Therefore I will not comment on this any further and my lawyer will explain all details” Prof. Marasinghe said near the CID premises today.

President’s office announced yesterday that Prof.Marasinghe resigned from his Presidential Advisor position.

Dinesh Weerakkody has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Investment.

The appointment was made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Wednesday (21).

Dinesh Weerakkody is a former Chairman of Hatton National Bank PLC and Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC. He is also a former Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka and Vice Chairman of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors.

According to the President's Media Division, the other board members are Dr. Dushni Weerakoon, Chandani Wijewardena & Eraj de Silva.

The date for the local government election will be announced before the 5th of January 2023.

"The announcement was delayed by a few days due to several factors, although the NEC previously said the date will be announced before the end of December," said Chairman of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka Nimal Punchihewa.

"The calling of nominations will begin 14 days after the announcement," he added.

In the meantime, Executive Director of PAFFREL Rohana Hettiarachchi said, "I will resort to administrative action against the Election Commission if the date isn't announced before the 5th of January."

More than 9,300 police personnel are to be promoted to their immediate higher rank, according to a cabinet decision.

From constable to inspector, 8,312 male and 1,005 female officers will get their long-overdue promotions accordingly.

Ministers approved the relevant paper submitted by public security minister Tiran Alles.

A meeting took place today (23) to identify and rectify shortcomings in the Police Ordinance to suit the times.

Justice minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and public security minister Tiran Alles chaired the discussion.

A new act is to be formulated as per recommendations by three committees appointed by the Police Department as well as a draft prepared in 2017.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has ordered the expeditious amendment of the ordinance, the need of which has been highlighted since 2010.

Top officials who attended the meeting included attorney general Sanjaya Rajaratnam, additional solicitor general Nerin Pullai, IGP C.D. Wickremaratne and prisons commissioner general Thushara Upuldeniya.

Hanaa Singer, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Sri Lanka, who is leaving upon completion of her service, paid a courtesy call on President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday (19).

The President engaged in cordial conversation with Singer and thanked her for the services she had rendered to Sri Lanka and wished her the best of luck in her future endeavours.

Hanaa Singer herved as the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Sri Lanka since September 07, 2018.

As the UN Resident Coordinator in Srilanka, Ms Hanaa Singer led a UN Country Team of 22 resident and non-resident UN Agencies. She is the representative of the UN Secretary-General in Sri Lanka.

Ms Singer has worked for close to 30 years across development and humanitarian contexts at various senior management and strategic leadership roles.

Prior to this appointment, she has held several senior management positions in UNICEF offices across the world, including as the Associate Regional Director in Geneva and as Country Representative for Syria, Nepal, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

In Syria, she provided strategic leadership to one of the largest protection crises on the global stage – successfully scaling up programmes through an integrated package of high impact interventions in health, nutrition, water and sanitation, education and child protection - increasing the reach of UNICEF’s work to the most vulnerable children including in besieged and hard-to-reach areas.

As UNICEF chief in Nepal, she pioneered strategic programmes for scaling up sanitation, adolescents and multisectoral nutrition programmes, establishing strategic new alliances resulting in the government adopting national action plans. She has also led humanitarian programmes in Burundi and Haiti, and managed cross border humanitarian operations to Afghanistan and Iraq among other areas and provided technical support to programmes in the North Caucasus, Kosovo, Macedonia, Georgia, Tajikistan and Bosnia.

A national of Egypt, Ms Singer holds a Master's degree in Political Sociology and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the American University in Cairo, Egypt. She also holds a diploma in “Planning and Management of Decentralized Development Projects” from Bradford University in the United Kingdom.

Ms Singer has engaged in academia and research in political sociology and international relations at the American University of Cairo and at the Sadat’s Academy for Management Sciences, Faculty of Political Science of Cairo University. She is the author and co-author of two publications on social change in the Middle East.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued a special gazette notification, amending the portfolios of 08 ministries. The amendments are effective from Thursday (Dec 22).

As per the gazette, the Multipurpose Development Task Force Department, which was under the purview of the Ministry of Defence, has been listed under the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils & Local Government.

Meanwhile, the Kidney Fund is now gazetted under the Ministry of Health after it was removed from the portfolio of the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs & Social Empowerment.

The Vidatha Centres, which were under the purview of the Ministry of Education, will now function under the Ministry of Industries.

As per the gazette, the Ministry of Agriculture has been assigned to oversee Regional Economic Centres and the broadening of the market for local farm products. These were previously assigned to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce & Food Security.

Meanwhile, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties, No. 02 of 2018 and Safeguard Measures Act, No. 03 of 2018 have been gazetted under the Ministry of Trade, Commerce & Food Security.

The new commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday (19).

Vice Admiral Perera assumed command as 25th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy on Sunday (18), after he was elevated to the rank of three-star Admiral.

In keeping with the tradition, the new Navy Commander met with the President and presented a memento to mark the occasion.

Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera's illustrious career has been enriched with vast experience in the Sri Lanka Navy, in various capacities and the officer has held command at sea and earned victories in battle as a Squadron Commander in the prestigious 4th Fast Attack Flotilla, the teeth arm of the Sri Lanka Navy fleet, as well as a Group Commander in the Special Boat Squadron at the height of the looming terrorist activities.

He is also one of the Commanding Officers who led the Special Boat Squadron of the Navy and has been the Officer in Charge of Naval Diving and Salvage Unit, spearheading some crucial salvage work. At sea he has commanded a series of Fast Attack Craft, Fast Gun Boats, Landing Craft, Fast Passenger Craft, Sa’ar 4 Class Fast Missile Vessel and his last command at sea has been SLNS Sagara, an Offshore Patrol Vessel.

Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera is a recipient of Rana Soora Padakkama (RSP) thrice for conspicuous display of gallantry in combat and Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP) for unblemished service and devotion to duty. The senior officer has been commended by former Commanders of the Navy seven times for his leadership and professional conduct in challenging circumstances and tasks.

He holds the record of being the first to circumnavigate Sri Lanka in a sea kayak and formerly held office as General Secretary of National Association of Canoeing and Kayaking in Sri Lanka