News

Wasantha Handapangoda, a trade union activist of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has passed away.

She died in the United Kingdom due to a sudden illness while visiting her daughter.

Handapangoda was a former chairperson of the SLPP Teachers’ Union.

A group of representatives from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka next week.

This delegation will conduct the third review under the country’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program provided by the IMF. The team will be led by the IMF’s senior mission chief, Peter Brewer.

Following this review, the IMF is expected to release the next loan instalment to Sri Lanka.

During their visit, the IMF delegation will discuss the current government’s economic policies in detail.

They will also evaluate the implementation of previous agreements with the IMF and review recent progress made under Sri Lanka’s economic reform program.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank recently assured IMF representatives during discussions in Washington that the government remains committed to adhering to the IMF agreement.

After the third review, the fourth instalment for Sri Lanka under the EFF program will be released.

(adaderana.lk)

Minister Sunil Handuneththi has lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding a group impersonating him to solicit funds for fake community service projects.

Speaking to the media, the Minister revealed that friends and associates of his in Japan, South Korea, and the UK were contacted via WhatsApp.

“First they take an unclear video call which lasts around 16 seconds, and several bank accounts have been used in this scam. They are fearlessly using my image, voice, and technology to deceive people,” the Minister said.

Handuneththi urged Sri Lankan expatriates to refrain from contributing to these scams, stressing that neither he nor the government solicits funds in this manner. “If we seek funds, it is only through responsible organizations,” he said.

Handuneththi also disclosed that his signature, the official Parliament letterhead, and seal had been forged to promote a fake Zoom discussion scheduled for January 5, 2025.

The Minister has called on the CID to conduct a thorough investigation and enforce the law against the scammers. He appealed to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information or who may have fallen victim to the scam to report their experiences.

“If anyone has donated funds to these fraudulent schemes, we encourage them to come forward and share their information so it can be included in the investigation,” he said.

“If they are bold enough to impersonate public representatives in this manner, one can only imagine the extent to which they might be deceiving the public. It is imperative that the law is enforced against such fraudsters to prevent further exploitation,” he added.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says that steps will be taken to reduce the electricity tariff by more than 30 percent in the near future.

He revealed this while addressing a public meeting of the National People’s Power (NPP) held in Dambulla today (09).

“We will create a massive transformation in the electricity sector within a period of one to one-and-a-half years. We will reduce the electricity bill by more than 30%. Give us a little time for that. We need time to reduce even the fuel price. We will do these things,” he said.

The Department of Prisons has announced that a total of 389 prison inmates will be released under special state pardon, in view of Christmas.

Among those to be released, four are female inmates, according to the Prisons Department.

Accordingly, the 389 inmates are released under the two criterias of granting one-week pardon for each year served and the release of prisoners serving prison sentences upon cancellation of their outstanding fines.

Prisons Spokesman said that accordingly, 48 inmates from Mahara Prison, 45 inmates from Wariyapola Prison, 41 inmates from Welikada Prison and several other inmates from all other prisons across the island will be pardoned and released in view of the Christmas.

The procedure is carried out in accordance with the powers vested in the President by Article 34 of the Constitution, according to the Prisons Spokesman.

The Ministry of Education has issued a circular requiring social media platforms like WhatsApp, Viber, and Telegram, used for educational activities in schools, to be continuously monitored by school authorities.

Education Ministry Secretary J.M. Thilaka Jayasundara stated that principals, vice principals, and department heads must serve as administrators of these groups. She noted that the Ministry has received reports on the negative impacts of social media in schools, prompting her to provide detailed guidelines to Provincial Secretaries, Education Secretaries, and relevant education authorities.

The Ministry’s instructions specify that school communication groups must be limited to curriculum-related discussions and educational activities. Administrators are accountable for any harm or reputational damage resulting from these platforms, and students without access to technology should not be disadvantaged. For primary students, educational materials should be shared in an organized manner, and social media should only be used for academic reminders or notifications.

Further, assignments or homework must not cause inconvenience to parents or families. Messages, images, or audio that violate student privacy or cause stress are prohibited, with strict disciplinary action to follow any violations. Any disputes arising in these groups will be subject to legal action per Sri Lankan laws, including the Right to Information Act and the Information and Communication Technology Act.

Veteran Sri Lankan singer Priya Suriyasena has passed away at the age of 80. He breathed his last at the Colombo National Hospital earlier today.

Suriyasena was celebrated for his contribution to the Sri Lankan music industry, with a career spanning decades and numerous beloved hits.

Further details regarding his funeral arrangements are expected to be announced soon.

The government says that reports claiming that Sri Lanka Thriposha Limited (SLTL) is to be closed down are false.

Issuing a statement in this regard, the Ministry of Finance clarified that no action has been taken to liquidate the Threeposha Company and that there are no such plans.

It further stated that the program of providing Triposha to children and pregnant mothers will continue forward in a more effective manner.

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to extend the authorization of rice imports by the private sector until January 10, 2025.

This was communicated by the Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa during the Cabinet press conference held today (24).

A special discussion was held (08) at the Presidential Secretariat, led by Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake the Secretary to the President, and attended by officials from the Irrigation Department, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, and related Ministries. The meeting focused on determining if the Salinity Barrier is indeed contributing to the floods leading to agricultural damage.

It was decided that a thorough study is necessary to address these concerns and that the Engineering Department of the University of Peradeniya will assist in this investigation. The Secretary to the President supported this proposal and directed the officials to create an action plan based on the findings from the study.

Additionally, officials reported that saltwater intrusion has adversely affected livelihoods, with many residents losing farmland. The Secretary highlighted that restoring normal conditions is both a government and official responsibility and directed further action to address flooding in the Matara area.

Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake has instructed officials to prepare a proposal based on a study by the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Peradeniya. The solutions derived from this report will guide the second phase of the project, with necessary funding requests to be submitted.

He also emphasized the importance of implementing a structured flood management plan for the Matara district and directed the coordination between the Irrigation Department and Water Supply and Drainage Board to establish a sustainable flood management plan in Matara.

The Secretary noted that there have been complaints from residents by the river banks regarding the adverse effects of the salinity barrier, which has led to the loss of farmland and livelihoods along the Nilwala River. He stressed that it is the government’s responsibility to address this issue urgently and to restore normalcy. Additionally, he directed officials to continue working towards solving the flooding issue in the Matara region.

Veteran filmmaker Sudath Mahaadivulwewa has been named Chairman of the National Film Corporation.

The appointment has been made by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. 

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya convened a meeting yesterday with senior officials from key government institutions, under the Ministry of Technology and public sector institutions providing information technology services.

The Prime Minister underscored the importance of advancements in science and technology within the ministry and reviewed the ongoing progress of IT services to foster Sri Lanka’s development.

Key discussion topics included digitization efforts, the integration of artificial intelligence, and current challenges to IT development in the public sector.