News

A broadcasting symposium is to be jointly hosted in June by the Media Ministry and the Sri Lanka Broadcasters’ Guild.

Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa chaired a recent meeting at the Government Information Department to discuss arrangements for the workshop with four sessions in a single day.

He told the gathering the planned symposium would address responsibilities and future goals in the field to promote it ethically and qualitatively.

The event is tipped to discuss the next five years, prevailing issues, copyright matters etc.

Organizing subcommittees are to be appointed to cover all matters relating to the symposium.

Online participation with financial support from the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission and a follow-up media workshop too, came under discussion.

Four senior superintendents of police have been appointed to the posts of Acting deputy inspectors general of police (DIGs) with immediate effect.

Accordingly, SSP M.N.S. Mendis has been appointed as the acting DIG in charge of the Batticaloa District.

SSP W.P.J. Senadheera has been assigned as the acting DIG in charge of the Western Province Traffic Division.

SSP D.M.M.A.B. Mahagiriulla has been appointed as the DIG in charge of the Ratnapura District.

SSP K.M.U.P. Kaluapahana has been appointed as the acting DIG in charge of Monaragala District.

Additionally, five SSPs have received new postings and transfers. 28 other police OICs have also received transfers.

The police media division confirmed that all these appointments and transfers were made with the approval of the National Police Commission.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne says that the animal census is not being conducted with the aim of obtaining completely accurate data.

Participating in the Ada Derana ‘Big Focus’ program, he said that the data obtained from this is expected to be utilized to increase agricultural productivity.

‘Maybe we’ll have to look at this in another round. We’ll have to spend more time. We can get some ideas, but we can’t say that the data is 100% accurate. There must be relevant data for this. Then we can do a study on the animals in the country,’ he added.

The Deputy Minister further explained that the country lacks access to advanced technology and noted that it is not yet at that level of development. He also pointed out that implementing such technology would be costly and added that the government is conducting a participatory survey.

He further explained that even individuals who don’t require it will still be given the survey paper and added that, despite it not being necessary, the paper must be distributed.

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A senior lecturer of the University of Colombo, Dr. Janaki D Jayawardena, tragically lost her life in a motor accident in Kohuwala yesterday (7), police confirmed.

The 59-year-old wa with her son and his wife along Sumanaarama Road when an incident occurred while her son attempted to restart his car. In an effort to do so, he placed a stone under the front wheel.

While he was trying to start the car, Dr. Jayawardena attempted to remove the stone. However, as the vehicle was parked on a slope, it unexpectedly moved forward, hitting her. She was rushed to the Kalubowila Hospital but succumbed to her injuries.

Investigations revealed that although the stone was removed, she was unable to move away in time, leading to the fatal accident.

Kohuwala Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.

A meeting has been held between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and officials of the Excise Department on the efficient and effective regulation of alcohol and other approved intoxicants within the country to support economic growth.

The discussion focused on increasing state revenue through proper regulation of the alcohol and tobacco industries, facilitating legal revenue generation, enforcing compliance with laws and regulations, implementing strong awareness programs against illegal alcohol, hazardous drugs, and psychoactive substances, preventing health risks associated with unregulated alcohol consumption, and ensuring public safety.

The meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat today further focused on addressing the current challenges faced by the Excise Department and achieving this year’s revenue targets.

A key point of the discussion was the integration of the department’s operations with the Inland Revenue Department to enhance efficiency and fairness in tax collection.

Discussions were held on revenue collection and protection through an effective decision-making and management mechanism in strategic and operational activities.

The necessity of formulating a human resource and technological development plan to enhance the efficiency of the Excise Department was also discussed.

The meeting was attended by Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana, Commissioner General of Excise Udaya Kumara Perera, and a group of Excise Department officials.

A law banning corporal punishment for children will be passed swiftly, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs, and Constitutional Reforms Harsha Nanayakkara said in Parliament.

“Punishment has a significant impact on a child’s development. If children believe violence can solve problems, they will carry that belief into adulthood. Many involved in organized crime come from broken families,” the Minister said. “It’s easier to fix a broken child, but not a broken adult,” he added.

He also stressed on the importance of women’s contributions to society, stating that a single day of debate is insufficient to recognize their role.

The Matara Magistrate's Court has issued an open warrant for the arrest of Deshabandu Tennakoon.

A warrant was issued on February 28 by the Matara Magistrate's Court for the arrest of the suspended Inspector General of Police.

The warrant pertains to investigations into a shooting incident that occurred in front of a hotel in the Pelena area of Matara on December 31, 2023.

The court has also imposed a travel ban on Tennakoon, preventing him from leaving the country while the investigations are ongoing.

Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody has clarified that the wind power project scheduled with Adani has not been canceled, despite concerns over high costs.

Speaking at the Energy Ministry's Consultative Committee meeting, the Minister explained that the project was referred to the Cabinet for review due to the elevated costs.

At that time, Adani’s Indian parent company informed the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka that it was withdrawing from the project.

The Board of Investment subsequently notified the Ministry about this development.

However, the Minister emphasized that discussions regarding the project are ongoing with Adani’s Sri Lankan representative office.

Minister Jayakody said that a response to the matter is expected within two weeks, and if the response is negative, alternative solutions will be considered.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake presented the ‘Sannas Pathra’ appointing Most Ven. Karagoda Uyangoda Maithri Murthy thera as Chief Prelate of the Amarapura Nikaya

The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, has congratulated President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Sri Lanka’s impressive economic progress and emphasized the importance of continuing economic reforms.

In her first virtual meeting with Dissanayake, the IMF chief said she highlighted that these reforms are crucial for attracting investments and improving living standards in the country.

In a post on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), Georgieva stated:

“First virtual meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. I congratulated him on Sri Lanka’s impressive achievements and discussed the importance of continuing reforms supported by the IMF arrangement to attract investments and raise living standards.”

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon has filed a writ petition with the Court of Appeal seeking an order preventing his arrest.

The petition, filed through his legal representatives, has requested that an interim injunction be issued to stay the arrest warrant issued against him by the Matara Magistrate’s Court.

The Matara Magistrate’s Court had recently issued a warrant for the arrest of the former IGP in connection with a shooting incident that took place in front of the W15 Hotel in the Pelena area of Weligama, Matara, on December 31, 2023.

The petition was taken up before a two-member Appeals Court bench consisting of Acting President of the Court of Appeal Mohamed Lafar Tahir and Justice Sarath Dissanayake today (10).

Subsequently, the judge bench ordered that the petition be scheduled for further consideration on the March 12, after notices are served to the respondents of the petition.

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The government aims to convert the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) into an aircraft maintenance hub, Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation Bimal Rathnayake announced in Parliament today (07).

Speaking during the committee stage debate on the budget, the Minister stated that the government intends to collaborate with a suitable foreign partner to make MRIA a profitable venture.

“The airport was constructed at a cost of Rs. 36.5 billion, and over the past five years, it has incurred a total loss of Rs. 38.5 billion. Our goal is to turn this into a profitable institution,” he noted.

The government’s initiative seeks to leverage MRIA’s infrastructure for aircraft repairs and maintenance, potentially attracting global aviation companies.