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The “Suwa Seriya” ambulance service, which provides free emergency medical care across Sri Lanka via the 1990 hotline, is set to expand under a new initiative aimed at improving efficiency and addressing operational challenges, Health and Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced.

Speaking during a visit to the Suwa Seriya Ambulance Service headquarters in Rajagiriya, Jayatissa said the government is committed to strengthening the service by addressing key issues, including staff shortages, training needs, and funding constraints. Originally launched as a donation from the Indian government, Suwa Seriya is now fully operated by the Sri Lankan government.

During the visit, the minister inspected the service’s emergency dispatch and control unit, telephone communication center, and a fully equipped ambulance. He later held discussions with the Board of Directors of the 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation to review the service’s current operations and future plans.

Concerns raised during the discussions included the shortage of emergency medical technicians (EMTs), the need for better employee facilities, and recruitment challenges. Officials also discussed increasing budget allocations, improving salaries, and introducing a new uniform for staff.

The minister stressed the importance of staff retention through competitive salaries and enhanced training programs. The possibility of engaging security forces personnel in operations, if required, was also discussed, along with additional training opportunities for existing staff.

A Cabinet paper has been submitted to acquire 150 new ambulances to strengthen the fleet, officials revealed. The discussion also focused on expanding and promoting the service in high-tourist areas to ensure emergency medical support for foreign visitors.

Currently, Suwa Seriya operates 322 ambulances across Sri Lanka, including 25 provided by the government. The service handles over 5,000 emergency calls daily, responding to approximately 1,050 incidents

Air Vice Marshal Vasu Bandula Edirisinghe has been appointed as the new Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

According to the SLAF, the appointment is with effect from Wednesday, 29th January 2025.

He takes over from the current Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa who is set to retire on 29 January.

Former Parliamentarian and senior leader of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) Mavai Senathirajah has passes away at the age of 82.

He had reportedly passed away today (29) at the Jaffna Hospital where he had been admitted over the past couple of days.

It had been reported yesterday that the veteran Tamil politician was admitted to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital due to an accident that occurred at his home.

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The Sri Lanka Central Bank (CBSL) has informed the Finance Ministry to import one billion dollars worth of vehicles from the country's foreign reserves in 2025.

Accordingly, the Ministry and the Cabinet will decide the amount of tax that will be levied on vehicles to increase state revenue, the CBSL stated.

CBSL noted that the import of vehicles and gold into the country had to be stopped because the country's foreign exchange earnings have decreased, making the import cost unsustainable. However, CBSL added that in order to strengthen the country's economy, the existing number of vehicles must be renewed.

A Central Bank spokesperson said that since the vehicles currently in the country were imported five years ago, they also cost a lot of money to maintain, so there is a need to import new vehicles.

The Central Bank said that it had studied how much can be allocated for vehicle imports without compromising the target of increasing foreign reserves in the next two years. Accordingly, it had provided forecasts to the Finance Ministry regarding vehicle imports of one billion dollars this year.

The Central Bank further stated that there is a possibility of gradually increasing foreign reserves for vehicle imports in the coming years by increasing foreign reserves and that importing one billion dollars worth of vehicles now will not hinder the increase in reserves and the gradual advancement of the exchange rate.

The current amount of Sri Lankan foreign reserves is USD 6.8 billion.

Jaffna District Independent MP Ramanathan Archchuna has been arrested this afternoon (29) by a special team of police officers in Jaffna, over allegedly obstructing the duties of police personnel in Anuradhapura.

Police Media Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manathunga stated that the suspected MP is scheduled to be produced before the Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court.

Police launched an investigation against the parliamentarian for allegedly obstructing the duties of traffic police officers in the Rambewa area in Anuradhapura on January 20 and facts related to the incident was presented before the court by Anuradhapura Police.

On January 22, the Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court ordered the adjournment of the case involving MP Ramanathan Archchuna due to a discrepancy in identifying the correct suspect.

The case has been postponed until February 3.

It was reported that a heated situation had occurred involving MP Ramanathan Archchuna and traffic police officers on duty in the Rambewa area, while the former was on his way to participate in parliamentary session.

The MP reportedly had a heated confrontation with traffic police officers who had stopped and inspected his vehicle as the MP was allegedly driving a vehicle with ‘VIP lights’ on, and in a manner that obstructed other vehicles.

The President's Media Division says that the Presidential Fund's services at Divisional Secretarait level is set to begin on the 7th of February.

The program will be launched under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at Temple Trees.

The announcement from the PMD says that the program is being implemented with the aim of providing more efficient services to the public.

Accordingly, the Presidential Fund services will be provided through 341 Divisional Secretariats and their established sub-offices across the country.

The pilot project for five selected Divisional Secretariats is already in operation.

An online discussion was also held today to inform the Divisional Secretaries about this new service.

The President's Media Division mentioned that details about the new service delivery process of the Presidential Fund were clarified during this session.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was in possession of a significant number of firearms issued for personal security.

Responding to queries by reporters if Yoshitha Rajapaksa was in possession of 07 to 08 firearms, Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Sampath Thuyacontha confirmed it, saying that the weapons have been taken into custody by the authorities.

He further said that at present, Yoshitha Rajapaksa was only in possession of two firearms and that the former President’s son has been informed to return the weapons.

Providing details on the review conducted on firearms for personal security, Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Sampath Thuyacontha said the government had commenced reviewing the firearms.

As such, a total of 1697 licenced weapons has been issued to 1550 persons, while only 1368 firearms have been returned to the government.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence said that 182 firearms had not been returned to the authorities.

Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was arrested in Beliatta, has been brought to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation.

The CID says that statements are currently being recorded from him.

Yoshitha Rajapaksa was arrested in connection with an investigation regarding the purchase of land in Ratmalana using 34 million rupees, allegedly earned illegally.

Police Media Spokesperson SSP Buddhika Manthunga says that the arrest was made due to sufficient evidence indicating violations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 5 of 2006.

The action was taken following the advice of the Attorney General for further legal procedures.

Accordingly, onward action concerning Yoshitha Rajapaksa will be taken in accordance with the Code Of Criminal Procedure.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena has issued a statement requesting the government to urgently construct canals that will take the water flowing out of the Moragahakanda reservoir to Anuradhapura and the North West without wasting it.

The former President also states that this will enable the development of agriculture in the North West and Anuradhapura.

Ex-president Sirisena's statement further states:

"The general public has been suffering greatly and suffered losses due to heavy rains in the Polonnaruwa district, which have destroyed farming and property. The main reason for this is that the water collected from the Moragahakanda and Kaluganga reservoirs flows only to the Polonnaruwa district and the Minipe reservoir.

By the year 2019, I have increased the water flowing from Moragahakanda to Anuradhapura and the North West by 10 km. About 15 to 20 canals were under construction. However, from 2019 to 2024, the construction of canals to the North West and Anuradhapura was not implemented by the then governments. Those activities had completely stalled. If the large canals to the North West and Anuradhapura had been cut by 2019 to 2024, Polonnaruwa would not have suffered such destruction.

If the current government pays attention to this and starts construction of canals to Anuradhapura and the North West, Polonnaruwa would not have suffered such destruction. Currently, the water from the Moragahakanda and Kaluganga rivers going to Polonnaruwa falls into the Mahaweli River and a large amount of water flows into the ocean. I kindly request the current government to take steps to promptly construct canals leading to Anuradhapura and the North Western Province so that the water available for agricultural development in the North Western Province and Anuradhapura District does not go to waste in the Moragahakanda."

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s lawyers today filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition before the Supreme Court, urging for the redeployment of his removed security detail.

The FR petition has been filed challenging the removal of a considerable number of security personnel while seeking a court order to reinstate them.

The move comes after the government recently decided to reduce the privileges afforded to former heads of state, citing significant state expenditure.

As such, the government decided to restrict the security personnel to 60 officers per former President.

The Attorney General's Department has filed indictments against Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa in connection with the 'Krrish' deal.

The indictments were presented before the Colombo High Court, charging Rajapaksa with criminal breach of trust.

The case involves alleged financial irregularities amounting to Rs. 70 million during the leasing of 4.3 acres of land at the Krrish Transworks Square in Fort.

Previously, Rajapaksa faced legal proceedings at the Fort Magistrate's Court regarding this incident.

Member of Parliament Aravinda Senaratne has been appointed as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA).

The announcement was made today by the Speaker of Parliament.

In addition to Senaratne's appointment, several other members representing the ruling party have been appointed to the COPA committee.

The Parliament also indicated that members representing the opposition will be appointed in due course.