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President Anura Kumara Disanayake visited the Vatican Embassy today, where he extended his condolences on the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis.

Upon his arrival, the President was warmly received by Most Reverend Archbishop Brian N. Udaigwe, the Apostolic Nuncio of the Vatican to Sri Lanka.

Following a brief discussion with Archbishop Udaigwe, President Disanayake signed the book of condolence.

The President conveyed, on behalf of the Government and the people of Sri Lanka, heartfelt sympathies to the global Christian community on the demise of His Holiness Pope Francis.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, stated that the UAE will prioritize the promotion of the energy, tourism, foreign investment and foreign employment sectors while further strengthening its longstanding ties with Sri Lanka.

The Deputy Prime Minister who is currently on an official visit to Sri Lanka accompanied by a high-level UAE delegation made these remarks during a meeting with President Anura Kumara Disanayake at the Presidential Secretariat today (22).

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that this visit aims to further strengthen and expand the strong and longstanding bilateral relations between the two nations, with a focus on achieving mutual economic benefits through deepened cooperation for both countries.

Extending his best wishes on behalf of the UAE and its people to the new administration of Sri Lanka, the Deputy Prime Minister assured the UAE’s full support for the new government’s development agenda.

Furthermore, he praised President Anura Kumara Disanayake’s dedication, efforts and commitment toward rebuilding Sri Lanka, as well as his positive approach toward relations with the UAE.

In response, President Anura Kumara Disanayake emphasized that Sri Lanka has now established an investment-friendly environment. He assured that unlike in the past, the country would not allow the re-emergence of an unstable climate that discouraged investment. The President also stressed that there are now strong legal frameworks in place to protect investments.

The President also briefed the delegation on the government’s steps toward debt restructuring and achieving economic stability. Additionally, he outlined investment opportunities available in port terminal development, port city development, the tourism industry, the energy sector and transportation sector.

President Disanayake further emphasized that the new government’s objective is to position Sri Lanka as the region’s leading investment hub and premier tourist destination.

Among those present at the meeting were Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Minister of State (UAE) H.E. Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh; UAE Ambassador to Sri Lanka H.E. Khaled Nasser Al Ameri, Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs (UAE) H.E. Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability Affairs (UAE) H.E. Abdulla Balalaa, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the UAE, Ahmed Burhaima, Director of the Policy Planning Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UAE) Muath Alwari, Senior Media and Content Specialist at the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (UAE) Maitha Al Mansouri, Desk Officer for Asian Affairs and Pacific Department (UAE) Ms. Huda Al Abdali and several other officials. (PMD)

All schools across Sri Lanka will be closed on 05 and 06 May in view of the upcoming 2025 Local Government Elections.

According to the Education Ministry, schools are expected to resume academic activities on 07 May.

The move follows a request by the Election Commission to use school premises as polling centres, counting centres, and for the distribution and collection of ballot boxes and other election-related materials.

The circular states that schools used as polling centres must be handed over to Grama Niladharis by 04 May and be ready with desks, chairs, halls, and necessary facilities. Education directors and principals have been instructed to coordinate accordingly.

Despite resuming, institutions requested for post-school hours may still be used for election purposes after regular school hours, as specified in the official instructions.

The Vatican has just announced the Pope's funeral will take place on Saturday, 26 April at 10:00 local time (09:00 BST).

Pope Francis's funeral will take place outdoors in front of St Peter's Basilica.

The dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, will lead the service.

At the end of the funeral, Re will deliver the final commendation - a concluding prayer where the Pope will be formally entrusted to God - and the body moved to St Mary Major for the burial.

The Vatican has also announced that Pope Francis will be taken to St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday morning at 09:00 local time (08:00 BST).

The Pope's coffin will be there until the burial for the public to pay their respects.

His body is currently laid out in a coffin in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence, where he lived during his 12-year papacy.

Source: BBC

The marking of postal votes for this year’s Local Government (LG) elections commenced today (24), and the Elections Commission states that the postal voting is proceeding smoothly, with no issues reported.

The Commission also mentioned that postal votes can be marked today, as well as on April 25, 28, and 29.

Postal vote applicants from all institutions, including government bodies, the police, the armed forces, schools, corporations, and statutory boards, will have the opportunity to cast their votes during these four days.

The Elections Commission stated that 648,495 applicants are eligible to vote by post in connection with this year’s LG elections.

Six years after the deadly Easter Sunday bombings, the United Nations has reiterated its call for justice, accountability, and lasting peace in Sri Lanka.

UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche stressed that the victims’ families still await answers, urging the government to uphold transparency and due process in the ongoing investigations.

Sri Lanka Police have arrested three individuals in connection with the murder of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) local council candidate Dan Priyasad. The suspects are currently being questioned by the authorities.

According to police reports, investigations into Priyasad's murder are being conducted by four separate teams.

The incident occurred at an apartment complex in the Salmulla area of Kolonnawa, where Priyasad was shot by two unidentified assailants. He sustained severe injuries and was admitted to Colombo National Hospital last night.

Despite receiving medical treatment, Priyasad succumbed to his injuries. He was 39 years old and a resident of the Meethotamulla area in Wellampitiya.

Police stated that the suspects arrived on a motorcycle and fled the scene after shooting Priyasad with a pistol.

The Food Security Committee convened for the sixth time today (April 21), at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

The meeting was held under the leadership of Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha and Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe.

The meeting was convened to discuss and formulate policies focused on enhancing food security in the country, the President’s Media Division said in a statement.

The Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara and other members of the Food Policy and Security Committee, comprising Ministry Secretaries, were also present at the meeting.

In accordance with a resolution passed by Parliament, the Speaker of the House has appointed an inquiry committee to investigate allegations against Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon. This action is taken under the provisions of the Removal of Officers Procedure Act No. 5 of 2002.

The committee will be chaired by Supreme Court Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, appointed by the Chief Justice as per the Act.

Additionally, retired Supreme Court Justice Neil Iddawela has been appointed as a member of the committee with the consensus of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

Justice Iddawela currently serves as the Chairman of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

Furthermore, Lalith Ekanayake, Chairman of the Police Commission, has been appointed to the committee by virtue of his official capacity.

The committee is tasked with investigating the allegations against IGP Tennakoon and reporting its findings. Following the committee's report, Parliament will need to pass a resolution to recommend the removal of the IGP to the President.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been summoned before the Bribery Commission this week.

Accordingly, the former President has been requested to report to the Bribery Commission at 09.30 am on 25 April.

Ranil Wickremesinghe has been summoned to record a statement regarding the investigation into a complaint against Badulla District MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake.

The former President was previously summoned before the Bribery Commission on 17 April, but he had informed of his unavailability.

As such, the Bribery Commission has issued an alternative day to record the statement.

The convenor of the “Nawa Sinhale National Movement” and political activist, Dan Priyasad, has succumbed to his injuries after being hospitalized following a shooting incident in Wellampitiya earlier today.

According to reports, he was initially admitted to the Colombo National Hospital with gunshot wounds, but passed away shortly after due to the severity of his injuries.

The shooting incident took place at the ‘Laksanda Sevana’ Housing Complex in Wellampitiya this evening (22), as reported by an Ada Derana correspondent.

Priyasad was reportedly shot four times—twice in the chest and twice in the shoulder. Additionally, another individual who sustained minor injuries during the incident is also currently receiving treatment at hospital.

It is reported that two individuals, who had arrived on a motorcycle, fired multiple gunshots using a pistol before fleeing the scene.

Wellampitiya Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.

Suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon has been issued a notice to appear before the Matara Magistrate’s Court on 25 April 2025.

The Matara Magistrate today ordered Tennakoon, who is currently on bail, to appear before the court in connection with disobeying court orders.

Tennakoon is accused of having acted in a manner that violates court orders when leaving court after receiving bail.

The owner of the car used to escort him out of court has also been ordered to appear before the Matara Magistrate’s Court on the said date.

The court order has been issued after the Attorney General submitted a motion to the court today stating that Tennakoon had violated court orders when he left the Matara Magistrate’s Court complex after being granted bail on 10 April.

Deshabandu Tennakoon was wanted in connection with the shooting incident in front of a prominent hotel in Weligama in 2023.

He is accused of orchestrating the shooting involving officers from the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), Weligama Police, and the Special Task Force, which resulted in the death of a CCD officer and injuries to another.

After an open warrant was issued to arrest Deshabandu Tennakoon, he surrendered before the Matara Court, having evaded arrest for 20 days, and was remanded.

However, on 10 April, the Matara Magistrate’s Court granted bail to Deshabandu Tennakoon on two sureties of Rs. 1 million each.