News

The newly appointed Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupawahini Corporation (SLRC) Gihan de Silva assumed duties on Thursday (Dec 26).

Appointed by the Minister of Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, he fills the vacancy created by the resignation of the former Chairman Senesh Dissanayake Bandara.

Gihan de Silva is a business professional with over 25 years of experience and has demonstrated capabilities in marketing, strategic planning and management, as well as gaining a reputation for creating impactful brands.

An old boy from Nalanda College, Colombo, he holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Sri Jayewardenepura University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from Colombo University.

He is also a member of the Presidential Task Force for the government’s ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ programme.

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.

Former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh dies at 92

He was admitted to the emergency department of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), where he breathed his last, the hospital confirmed.

The former prime minister was administered CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), but efforts to revive him remained unsuccessful, said sources.

Born on September 26, 1932, in Gah village, West Punjab (now in Pakistan), Singh’s life was a testament to service, scholarship, and leadership. He earned a Master’s degree in Economics from Panjab University, Chandigarh, and later obtained a doctorate from the University of Oxford.

Singh served as prime minister from May 22, 2004, to May 26, 2014, leading the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for a historic 3,656 days. His tenure made him the 3rd longest-serving prime minister in Indian history, following Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. (Indian Express)

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 Gazette notification has been issued announcing the monthly amounts to be paid to ‘Aswesuma’ welfare beneficiaries in 2025.

Accordingly, the monthly payments are as follows:

•⁠ ⁠Extremely Poor: Rs. 17,500 per month (January–June).

•⁠ ⁠Poor: Rs. 10,000 per month (January–June).

•⁠ ⁠Vulnerable: Rs. 5,000 per month (January–December).

•⁠ ⁠Transitional: Rs. 5,000 per month (January–March).

Accordingly, the previous “Aswesuma” welfare payment scheme, issued on May 17, 2024, has been rescinded.

However, payments under the prior scheme will continue through December 31, 2024, for beneficiaries whose payments were delayed.

Applicants who have not yet been selected for the program will receive payments once their eligibility is confirmed.

This includes individuals who have filed appeals, pending investigations to verify their qualifications.

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

The appointment has been made by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. 

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.