News

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to leave the island early tomorrow morning (26) on an official visit to Japan and the Philippines.

During his two-day official visit to Japan, the President will participate in the funeral ceremony of the former Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe, and will hold bilateral discussions with the Japanese Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Finance Minister during this tour.

Thereafter, President Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to leave for the Philippines to preside over the meeting of the Governors of the Asian Development Bank.

During his visit to the Philippines, President Wickremesinghe will hold discussions with the President of the Philippines Bongbong Marcos and the President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Masatsugu Asakawa.

The President is scheduled to return to the island upon completion of his official tour on the 30th of September.

Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff to the President Sagala Ratnayake, Director of International Affairs Dinuk Colomboge, Director of Media Shanuka Karunaratne, Director of Sustainable Development Randula Abeyweera and Private Secretary to the President Sandra Perera will accompany the President on his official tour. The Treasury Secretary will join the President on his visit to the Philippines but Mr. Dinuk Colomboge and Mr. Randula Abeyweera will not join the President on his official visit to the Philippines.

Lanka Sathosa has decided to drop the prices of five essential items with effect from the 22nd of September 2022.

Sathosa has revised the prices of the following products:

1. Imported Big Onions (1 kg)

New Price: Rs. 150/- - Old Price: Rs. 175/-

2. White Sugar (1 kg)

New Price: Rs. 278/-  - Old Price: Rs. 285/-

3. Imported White Kekulu Rice (1 kg)

New Price: Rs. 179/- - Old Price: Rs. 185/-

4. Imported Nadu Rice (1 kg)

New Price: Rs. 185/- - Old Price: Rs. 194/-

5. Imported Dhal (1 kg)

New Price: Rs. 415/- - Old Price: Rs. 429/-

A solar powered boat service has been commenced from Battaramulla, Diyatha Uyana and Aggona, Heenati Kumbura to Wellawatta.

The Ministry of Urban Development and Housing mentioned that this service is a solution to the daily traffic congestion in Colombo. The boat service was implemented from the 23rd September.

The Land Reclamation and Development Corporation and Genso Power Technology Pvt Ltd have jointly started this passenger boat service, under instructions from Minister Prasanna Ranatunga.

Commenting on this new service, Minister of Urban Development and Housing Prasanna Ranatunga has mentioned that this passenger boat service is the first boat service in Sri Lanka to be operated by solar panels and therefore has zero emission.

These boats can reach Wellawatta from Battaramulla Diyatha Uyana and Heenati Kumbura within 30 minutes. Rs. 200 per person will be charged to travel from Battaramulla to Wellawatta while Rs. 300 will be charged from Aggona, Heenati Kumbura to Wellawatta.

This boat service operates during daily office hours and provides transportation facilities for 8 people in one boat.

Government and private offices in and around Battaramulla, Gateway International School, Nawala Open University, 176 bus route, 138 and 122 bus routes, Wellawatta railway station can be easily accessible by this boat service.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that a special book exhibition including books and documents of rare and historical value that have been taken from Sri Lanka to foreign countries, is expected to be organized in conjunction with the 75th Independence Commemoration.

The President said this when he joined the 23rd Colombo National Book Fair at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall premises this morning (22).

The President also said that he hopes to obtain the support of the Sri Lanka Book Publishers Association for the Independence Commemorative Book Exhibition.

The President, who arrived at the book exhibition this morning, was received by the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Book Publishers Association, Mr. Samantha Indivara and group.

Sri Lanka Foundation Chairman Saman Athaudahetti, members of the Book Publishers Association, Vijitha Yapa, H.D. Premasiri, Ariyadasa Weeraman and Atula Jayakody were also present on this occasion.

This year’s book fair includes over 400 booths of local and foreign book publishers and the president visited the booths and observed them, while engaging in conversation with the book publishers and writers.

The President also interacted with the public who were present at the book fair.

The Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, and the UN of the United Kingdom, Lord Tariq Ahmad says the UK is providing urgent food and farming support to Sri Lankans hit hardest by the economic crisis.

Taking to twitter, Minister Ali Sabry mentioned that during the meeting held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Lord Tariq Ahmad set out the UK’s package of £3 million assistance to Sri Lanka.

While extending gratitude for the assistance, Minister Ali Sabry also briefed Lord Tariq Ahmad on steps being taken towards reconcilliation and accountability in Sri Lanka.

The funding will be delivered through Red Cross and UN partners. It will provide access to food, seeds, and tools to help grow crops as well as mental health care, including for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

"The UK stands by the people of Sri Lanka who are facing such a challenging time. The ongoing crisis is deeply concerning with so many in dire need of help. We are providing £3 million of lifesaving support to the most vulnerable and will continue to work with international partners to help Sri Lanka," Lord Tariq added.

The first consignment of rice from an Australian donation totaling AUD22 million (approximately USD15 million) arrived in Sri Lanka and will soon be distributed to those most affected by the ongoing economic crisis

The consignment, consisting of 600 metric tonnes of rice, forms part of a larger consignment of rice, pulses and cooking oil, due to arrive in the country soon.

“Australia and Sri Lanka share many decades of friendship, and this latest contribution is an extension of our goodwill during this unprecedented crisis,” said Paul Stephens, Australia’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. “We are supporting WFP to provide life-saving food to people who are struggling with price increases, job losses and reduced incomes”.

“Australia was the first to contribute to WFP’s emergency response, enabling us to kick-off much needed assistance to those hard-hit by the ongoing crisis,” said Abdur Rahim Siddiqui, WFP Sri Lanka’s Representative and Country Director. “Through Australia’s generous donation, we are providing cash and in-kind food to the most vulnerable, including pregnant and breastfeeding women and school children,” he added.

Sri Lanka’s economic crisis has increased the level of food insecurity and recent WFP surveys show the situation could deteriorate further in the coming months without urgent assistance. Launched in June, WFP’s emergency response aims to help 3.4 million of those most at risk.

A remembrance event has taken place for 31 Tamil civilians who were murdered 32 years ago in Batticaloa blamed on the military.

Relatives and other villagers paid floral tributes and a mass by Batticaloa bishop Rev. Nocholas Jude held in front of a memorial at Saukadi on September 20.

According to eyewitnesses, a group in military uniforms stormed the village around 8.30 am on September 20, 1990.

They shot and hacked infants, women and men and burnt their bodies, and also killed seven fishermen.

Villagers demand justice for the victims and punishment for the killers.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe met Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Rt. Patricia Scotland QC yesterday (20), during his visit to the United Kingdom (UK) to attend the State Funeral Service of the Late HM Queen Elizabeth II.

They discussed Sri Lanka’s engagement with the Commonwealth Secretariat and matters of mutual interest.

President Wickremesinghe also attended a reception hosted by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs the Rt. James Cleverly, MP at the Church House on September 18.

The events also provided the opportunity for the President to interact with world leaders.

Saudi Arabia’s 92nd national day was celebrated in Colombo yesterday (23) at a gala event at Shangri-La Hotel.

Prime minister Dinesh Gunawardena, speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, senior presidential advisor Sagala Ratnayake participated, while Bodu Bala Sena’s (BBS) general secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera was a special invitee.

According to social media posts on the event, Ven. Gnanasara’s presence was surprising as he is a Buddhist monk strongly opposed to Islamic extremism.

CEO of BBS Dilanthe Withanage, who had distanced himself from activities pertaining to the organisation over the past couple of years was also a special participant, along with his wife.

According to BBS, crown prince Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has adopted a moderate approach as against Islamic extremism.

Ven. Gnanasara Thera and other BBS representatives have held several rounds of talks with Saudi diplomatic officials recently, where the prelate was asked to take the lead in promoting friendship between Buddhists and Muslims worldwide.

Sri Lanka Cricket’s Executive Committee says it has come to a mutual agreement with Tom Moody, who was functioning as the “Director of Cricket,” to exit from his contract with immediate effect.

The Executive Committee of the SLC, after much deliberation, was of the opinion that Tom Moody’s services are no longer required as he was directly reporting to the Technical Advisory Committee, which has ceased to exist now.

Moody’s appointment as the Director of Cricket, effective March 1, 2021, was made based on a recommendation by the Technical Advisory Committee of the SLC.

Sri Lanka Cricket also expressed gratitude Moody for his contribution to the game of cricket in Sri Lanka during his tenure.

Speaking in this regard, Moody commented, “It was a privilege to service SLC again and I’m proud of what I managed to achieve during my term with the guidance of the Technical Advisory Committee.”

A senior teacher trade unionist, Renuka Maliyagoda, is presently under interrogation at the Colombo Crime Division at Dematagoda.

She has been summoned to appear before the CCD today for an inquiry.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has approved power cuts for 1 hour and 20 minutes for the next two days.

PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said that the power cuts will be enforced between 6.00 pm – 10.00 pm on Tuesday (20) and Wednesday (21).

Thereby, power cuts for 1 hour and 20 minutes will be enforced for Groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W during this period.