News

The government has undertaken preparations to introduce three pivotal bills aimed at preventing gender-based violence in Sri Lanka, State Minister for Women, Children Affairs, and Social Empowerment, Geeta Kumarasinghe announced.

State Minister Geeta Kumarasinghe said that these legislative measures, including the Gender Equality Act, the National Commission for Women Act, and the Women’s Empowerment Act, are vital steps in promoting gender equality and safety.

She further stressed that the measures are being taken in response to President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s directives to address gender-based violence in Sri Lanka.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), she made the remarks while addressing a media briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre on Tuesday (Oct 10).

Addressing the media, the State Minister said the government is also placing special emphasis on the social security of women. As part of this commitment, plans are underway to establish women’s care centres across ten districts, providing a secure environment for women in need, while a 24/7 emergency hotline, 1938, has been introduced, allowing women to seek assistance and report incidents confidentially.

To ensure the safety of children left without parental care and to protect their identities, the government has implemented the “Window” program. Recognizing the importance of women’s safety, the ministry is considering reducing taxes on sanitary napkins.

She also said a comprehensive program to prevent gender-based violence is in the pipeline. This initiative, implemented in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), spans the next five years (2024 – 2028). It includes self-employment schemes to empower young women, widows, women from incarcerated families, women in the estate sector, and low-income urban women entrepreneurs. The government is actively working on the establishment of women’s care centres in ten districts to provide support and assistance to women in need.

Moreover, the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs, and Social Empowerment has undertaken numerous initiatives for children’s welfare, including a nutritional allowance program, providing Rs. 45,000 over ten months for pregnant and lactating mothers, which continues to operate. This program offers benefits for six months during pregnancy and four months during lactation.

In addition, a program has been implemented to provide breakfast to preschool children in the year 2023, and the target number of children is 155,000. Furthermore, high-nutrition biscuits are being distributed to preschool children in districts, including Monaragala, Galle, Mullaitivu, Anuradhapura, Nuwara Eliya, and Ampara, to combat nutritional deficiencies. Preschool teachers will receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 2,500 under the “Guru Abhimani” program.

State Minister Geeta Kumarasinghe added that monthly district-level meetings are being conducted to address the concerns of children and women, ensuring that these initiatives are successful.

The funeral of veteran Sri Lankan actor Jackson Anthony, who passed away this morning, will be held this week.

According to family sources, the body of the late actor will be placed at the ‘Jayaratne Respect Home’ Funeral Parlour in Colombo from 07.30 am to 11.00 pm tomorrow (Oct 10) and will be open to the public to pay their respects.

The body of the actor will be placed at his residence in Kadawatha on Wednesday (Oct 11) and Thursday (Oct 12).

The final rites of veteran Sri Lankan actor Jackson Anthony will be performed on Thursday (Oct. 12) at the St. Peter & Paul’s Church in Ragama at 03.00 p.m.

Jackson Anthony passed away at the National Hospital in Colombo this morning (09). He was 65 at the time of his demise.

The actor passed away after undergoing treatment at the Colombo National Hospital following an accident in July 2022.

Jackson Anthony was hospitalised after the accident in which his vehicle collided with a wild elephant in Thalawa.

Jackson Anthony is one of the most popular artists in Sri Lanka and has won the national award for Best Actor for a record sixteen times.

He was also well-known for his immense talent and versatility as a director, producer, singer, screenwriter, television host, novelist, columnist, lyricist, historian and traveller.

The Catholic Bishops Conference has asked president Ranil Wickremesinghe to share copies of the investigation reports into the Easter Sunday terror attacks

“since it is the first time this information is revealed in public.”

In a letter to the president, Catholic Bishops referred to Wickremesinghe’s claim in an interview with German broadcaster Deutsche Welle that foreign investigation agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, British police, the secret services of Australia, India, Pakistan, and China had given their reports on the attacks.

It also pointed out that his stand of “only dealing with Catholic Bishop Conference, not with Cardinal” undermines the “collegiality” of the collective body comprising bishops of 12 dioceses and three auxiliary bishops in the county.

“It should be noted that the cardinal being the Archbishop of Colombo is not ‘sui generis’ [existing alone] but an integral and most vital member of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka.”

“Hence, any reference to the Cardinal by Your Excellency in a singular manner undermines the collegiality of the conference,” the letter said.

The high-speed passenger ferry between Sri Lanka and India is scheduled to commence operations tomorrow (Oct 10), it was reported.

The ferry service will operate from Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, India to Kankesanthurai port in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.

Indian media reported in September that the passenger terminal was being set up at the Nagapattinam Port and that the works were to be completed ahead of the commencement of the ferry service.

The route would cover a distance of 60 nautical miles and the ferry would have at least 150 passengers with the journey taking around two hours.

The operations would be initiated by the Shipping Corporation of India and controlled by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

The remains of actor Jackson Anthony will be kept at a private funeral parlour at Bauddhaloka Mawatha in Colombo today (10) for the public to pay their last respects.

His family said the body would be taken tomorrow to his home at no. 90/A 58, Wanigasuriyawatte, Ragama Road, Kadawatha.

The funeral takes place at St. Paul’s Church at Ragama at 3.00 pm on 12 October.

Anthony passed away yesterday, aged 65 years.

In July 2022, he was seriously injured after his vehicle collided with a wild elephant at Talawa in Anuradhapura.

Anthony underwent emergency surgery and had since been receiving treatment at Colombo National Hospital.

The Department of Meteorology has issued an ‘Amber’ level advisory for severe lightning in parts of the island.

Accordingly, thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in Northern, North-central and Eastern provinces and in Kandy and Matale districts during the evening or night, the Met. Department said.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity, it added.

Furthermore, the Department of Meteorology advises the people to seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees, avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms, avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms, avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc., beware of fallen trees and power lines and for emergency assistance to contact the local disaster management authorities.

In a briefing to the Cabinet, President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed deep concern over the recent attacks in Israel and its implications on Sri Lankans and Israelis residing in both countries.

President Wickremesinghe emphasized the need for immediate action to ensure the safety of Sri Lankans working in Israel. He directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to locate and ensure the well-being of these individuals, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

Additionally, he called for assistance in facilitating the return of Israelis, including tourists and employees, from Sri Lanka to Israel and urged the police to provide necessary security measures for Israelis within Sri Lanka.

While reaffirming Sri Lanka’s longstanding support for the two-state concept of Israel and Palestine, President Wickremesinghe condemned the recent Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the loss of numerous civilian lives. He stressed that despite past criticisms of Israel’s actions, such attacks could not be justified, it added.

President Wickremesinghe called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in line with the African Union proposal, emphasizing the broader consequences of the crisis on global fuel prices. He noted that the ongoing conflict would likely lead to a prolonged period of high fuel prices, adversely affecting developing economies, including Sri Lanka.

The President’s statement underscores Sri Lanka’s commitment to peace and stability in the region and its concern for the safety and well-being of its citizens and foreign residents amidst the current crisis, according to the - PMD.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued a directive, urging against the use of his images on billboards, cut-outs and posters.

He has also called upon fellow political leaders to avoid incorporating their photos in their campaign materials.

President Wickremesinghe emphasized the importance of addressing the people’s needs over the politics of slogans, noting that such practices have adversely affected the country’s economy.

The President reiterated his long-standing opposition to the use of slogans and cut-out-based politics and encouraged everyone to embark on a new political journey together.

These remarks were made during his participation in the 149th-anniversary celebration of Chenkaladi Central College in Batticaloa this morning (08).

Additionally, the President instructed the relevant parties to remove a large cut-out displayed near Chenkalady Central College in Batticaloa, following his participation in various programs in Batticaloa over the past two days.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has initiated the appointment of a board of directors for the Sri Lanka Personal Data Protection Authority, established with the primary objective of safeguarding personal data within the nation.

In a significant milestone for data protection in South Asia, Sri Lanka’s Personal Data Protection Act No. 9 of 2022 (‘PDPA’) has been making strides toward full implementation.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the act, certified by the Speaker in March, 2022, aims to safeguard personal data held by various entities, including government bodies, banks, telecom operators and hospitals.

This legislation, the first of its kind in South Asia, was developed through a transparent process, with draft versions made available for public comment from June 2019. The PDPA is set to be implemented in phases, with Part V brought into operation through a gazette notification on July 21, 2023.

The PMD stated that this crucial step allowed the government to appoint the Board of Directors, comprising seven individuals with expertise in engineering, accounting/finance, law and regulatory affairs.

Leading the Board of Directors is Arjuna Herath, a Senior Chartered Accountant and former Consulting Leader of Ernst & Young in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Other notable members include Attorney-at-Law and Former State Counsel Nisith Abeysooriya, President’s Counsel Saumya Amarasekera, Digital Law Expert & Chair of the PDPA drafting Committee Jayantha Fernando, Additional Secretary to the President Dr. Sulakshana Jayawardana, ISO Lead Auditor and Technology Management specialist Bimsara Seneviratne and Electronics Engineer and Digital Strategy specialist Shehan Wijetilaka.

The PDPA assumes paramount importance in light of the government and private sector’s digital strategies, along with global privacy law developments. It is expected to attract investment and promote the digital economy, aligning with the National Digital Strategy and the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity (SL-UDI) project.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe highlighted the need for data protection in his November 2022 Budget Speech, promising the establishment of the Data Protection Authority in 2023. This independent regulator will collaborate with various sectoral regulators to ensure the proper governance of personal data.

Currently, the Board of Directors is in the deliberation and planning phase for the creation of the Data Protection Authority. The first step involves recommending the operation of Part VIII (Fund of the Authority) and Part IX of the Act to design the organizational framework, recruitment procedures and roles of key officers, including the Director General.

To meet the Act’s enforcement deadline of March 19, 2025, the Authority plans to formulate policy frameworks and regulations. It will hold public consultations and engage with advisory committees representing key sectors of the economy and other stakeholders to ensure comprehensive and effective data protection measures.

The Authority is set to commence public consultations and awareness campaigns once it has the necessary capacity, a process expected to take several months.

The PMD added that Sri Lanka is on its way to establishing a robust framework for personal data protection in the digital age, making strides toward safeguarding citizens’ privacy and promoting trust in the digital ecosystem.

The Minister of Industries, Ramesh Pathirana states that no new recruitments will be made for any jobs in the public sector in the future, except for the most essential areas of the public service.

Minister Pathirana claimed that the public service has become an ‘unbearable issue’ for the government at present.

He also mentioned that Sri Lanka has one of the highest public employee-to-population ratios in the world.

“There are 1.5 million public employees in the country, whilst the population of the country is 21 million. There is a government employee for approximately 12 people of the population. This is one of the highest ratios of public employees in the world”, he said.

“This means that we bear a huge ‘national burden’. We can’t do this further”, the minister added.

Malaysia will support Sri Lanka’s application to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dato Seri Diraja Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said, during discussions with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees in Colombo today (09).

The Prime Minister stated that Sri Lanka’s entry into RCEP would bolster its economic connectivity within the broader South East Asian region and the Malaysian Minister assured fullest support to Sri Lanka and said, “Sri Lanka belongs to our region.” The Prime Minister affirmed the government’s alignment with the future vision of ASEAN for the Indo-Pacific area, pledging full support for the advancement of this economic perspective, the PM’s Office said.

The Prime Minister and the visiting Minister discussed bilateral relations with special emphasis on cooperation in regional groupings such as Indian Ocean Rim Association for enhancing trade and investment cooperation.

Premier Gunawardena invited Malaysian entrepreneurs to enter into new areas of investments in Sri Lanka in in the growing hospitality industry, education and pharmaceuticals industry. Malaysia was amongst the top 6th investment partner of Sri Lanka in recent years.

The Prime Minister thanked the Government and people of Malaysia for the support given during last year’s economic crisis, the statement said.

Referring to the high-level contacts, historical links, people-to-people contacts, and geographical proximity and the deepening bonds of friendship with Sri Lanka, Minister Zambry Abd Kadir said his government was looking forward to increase the economic and trade cooperation.

The high-level Malaysian delegation included Under Secretary Generals Dato Syed Mohamed Bakri Syed Abdul Rahman and Ahmed Kamrizamil Reza and High Commissioner Badli Hisham Adam.

State Minister Suren Raghavan, MP Yadamini Gunawardena and Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake also participated in this meeting.

The President’s Media Division (PMD) says Sri Lanka cannot endorse the idea of international investigations into the island’s internal matters.

The Constitution of Sri Lanka and all other existing laws do not provide for conducting international investigations, the PMD said further, explaining that carrying out such investigations would be in violation of the law.

These remarks were made in a statement on Friday (Oct. 06) in which the PMD raised concerns about the editorial published in the local Catholic newspaper ‘Gnanartha Pradeepaya’ dated October 08 (Sunday), as well as the article titled “An international investigation team is needed for an independent, transparent, and thorough investigation and monitoring.”

The PMD says Public Security Minister Tiran Alles, on April 20, 2023, had delivered 88 volumes and 48,909 pages of the presidential commission report on the Easter attack to Most Rev. Bishop Harold Anthony, following a request made by him.

Additionally, during a recent telephone conversation with Minister Tiran Alles, the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Harold Anthony had mentioned that he was personally reviewing the report.

In light of this, the PMD said President Ranil Wickremesinghe is preparing to engage in discussions with representatives of the Bishops Conference.

The statement read that the idea of international investigations into Sri Lanka’s internal matters cannot be endorsed, explaining that the Constitution of Sri Lanka and all other existing laws do not provide for conducting international investigations.

The PMD said a committee, led by a retired Supreme Court judge, has been established to conduct an inquiry and produce a report regarding the Channel 4 television program.

“The government also intends to engage in further discussions on this issue once the Bishops’ Conference have thoroughly reviewed the report from the Presidential Commission.”