News

Sri Lankan Dhammika Chandrasekara is contesting for the Lombardy region in Italy’s upcoming regional government election.

A candidate from Partito Democratico, she is the only foreigner vying for a seat at the polls that takes place on February 12 and 13.

Chandrasekara said her intention was to represent fellow Lankans in Italy and also to support her home country and its tourism to grow.

The 57-year-old who hails from Kandana is a mother of three.

She left for Italy at the young age of 19 and did her studies while doing jobs in Rome, Napoli, Verona and Milan.

The English place name Slave Island is to be changed to Kompanna Vidiya to be used uniformly in all three languages on a directive by the prime minister.

Secretary to the prime minister Anura Dissanayake has instructed the public administration ministry secretary to take measures for this name change.

This will coincide with the 75th Independence Day anniversary.

Part of Colombo came to be known as Slave Island during colonial rule.

Pakistan’s former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf has died. Talking to Khaleej Times, the Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai confirmed that the former leader passed away on Sunday morning and that the country’s missions are in touch with his family.

The former leader had been hospitalised in Dubai due to a rare disease called amyloidosis.

Musharraf was president of Pakistan between 2001 and 2008. He founded the All Pakistan Muslim League in 2010.

In June last year, his family had confirmed that he was admitted to American Hospital in Dubai. In a statement posted on his Twitter account, the family had said that the former president was “going through a difficult stage” where recovery was not possible and organs were “malfunctioning” (Khaleej Time)

Former Archbishop of Colombo His Grace the Most Rev. Dr Oswald Gomis was called to eternal rest at the age of 90 during the early hours on Friday (3).

The remains of the late Most Rev. Dr Oswald Gomis will be moved to the Bishops' House at noon on Friday (3).

His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis was born on 12th December 1932 in Kelaniya.

He received his primary education at St. Benedict’s College, Colombo and transferred to St. Paul’s School, Waragoda (Branch of St. Joseph’s College) during the war years. Then continued his collegiate studies at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo.

He joined the Minor Seminary of St. Aloysius, Borella on 16th January 1950 and was promoted to the Major Seminary of St. Bernard, Borella and received the religious habit on 31st August 1951.

He completed his theological studies at the National Seminary in Kandy and was ordained a priest at St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Kotahena on 3rd February 1958 by His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Cooray (then Archbishop).

Nominated on 9th April 1968 he received Episcopal Ordination on 17th July 1968 as the Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo and Titular Bishop of Mulia.

He holds a M.A (Educ) from the Adamson University in the Philippines and was conferred a PhD by the Fu Jen University in recognition of services rendered in the field of Social Communications and Education in Asia.

His Grace the Most Rev. Dr Oswald Gomis was instrumental in founding a number of schools and colleges in the country.

He also spearheaded the program for the construction of houses for Tsunami victims and supplying livelihood.

His Grace the Most Rev. Dr Oswald Gomis also made great contributions to literature and was called to eternal rest while being treated for an illness at a private hospital in Colombo.

Price of a Litro LP Gas 12.5kg cylinder increased by Rs.334 with effect from midnight today new price will be Rs.4,743.

5kg cylinder increased by Rs.134 and the new price Rs.1,904; 2.3kg cylinder increased by Rs.61 and the new price will be Rs.883

The most prestigious lifetime award “Sri Lankabhimanya” Award was conferred to former speaker Deshabandu Karu Jayasuriya by President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the President’s House Colombo.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe met India’s State Minister of External Affairs V. Muraleedharan at the Presidential Secretariat this evening (Feb. 04).

The two sides have discussed the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

The Indian State Minister appreciated the measures taken by the Sri Lankan government to ensure ethnic harmony.

He also conveyed greetings of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the 75th Independence Day of Sri Lanka.

Muraleedharan arrived in Sri Lanka to represent India at Sri Lanka’s 75th Independence Day celebrations this morning (Feb. 04).

Two members of the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) have tendered their resignations to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization & National Policies.

Accordingly, Mohan Samaranayake and PUCSL’s deputy chairman Udeni Wickramasinghe have stepped down from their positions with immediate effect.

Wickramasinghe vacated his position, citing personal reasons.

Meanwhile, Samaranayake, in his resignation letter, said the work environment and the work style of the electricity sector regulator have become highly unprofessional, unpleasant and intolerable.

“The situation has degenerated to such an extent that on January 20, 2023 when a special meeting of the Commission was held, a group of thugs was organized and allowed inside the Commission’s premises who directly threatened me with physical assault and destruction of property. This act of hooliganism was justified by insinuation by Chairman, PUCSL at the National Council meeting held in Parliament on January 24, 2023 with the participation of members of the Commission. His justification of threats against me indicates that I run the risk of being threatened and even assaulted in future,” he continued.

Samaranayake accused the PUCSL chairman Janaka Ratnakayake of violating Section 9(5) of the PUCSL Act and continuing to make decisions and statements purported to be that of the Commission without the concurrence of the rest of the members thereby making other members redundant.

He also stressed that he has been “humiliated and painted villain before the society.”

Failure on the part of the government authorities to counter legal and other arguments against the proposed electricity tariff hike with irrefutable facts, which leaves people in the quandary, Samaranayake added.

Today, I will not be delivering a traditional Independence Day statement. I am not going to dwell on the freedom we gained. While honouring those who were dedicated and worked hard for the country’s freedom, including the late Mr. D.S. Senanayake, I will focus on regaining the freedom that we have lost today.

Around 75 years ago, the esteemed ‘London Times’ newspaper carried an editorial stating that “It is our desire to see Sri Lanka become a Switzerland in the East, very soon.”

They had not expressed a similar vision for any other country in the East.

However, what has happened to us today?

Today, we are facing an unprecedented economic crisis, hitherto never experienced.

Why have we to face such a situation? Who is responsible for such?

Let’s be truthful. All of us are more or less responsible for this situation. None of us can point fingers and blame each other.

We made mistakes from the beginning. Efforts were made to rectify those mistakes, though it was not possible to correct them completely.

The policy followed by the late Mr. D.S. Senanayake in securing the country’s freedom was to unite all Sri Lankans. He believed that everyone, be it Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim or Burgher, should forge ahead as Sri Lankans.

However, after independence we divided in terms of race, religion and region. We were divided to a point of developing suspicion and animosity against each other. Various groups exploited this division to gain power and created further rifts among the people. Instead of rejecting such groups, we accorded power to these very same groups.

In politics, lies were spread instead of the truth. Politicians who spoke the truth were rejected by the people. Those who pointed out the real situation of the country and sought related remedies were hardly given a place. Yet, those who satisfied people with their lies gained greater acceptance.

We got trapped in a consensual political culture. Our characteristic was to be depended on borrowed resources and we borrowed even more. We adopted the notion that, “The government is a spring of resources”. Many were of the view that the duty of the rulers was to distribute the various resources obtained from that spring, among the people. Accordingly, job opportunities were provided and various goods and equipment were also distributed. Cash was also made available. In most instances, we did not vote on behalf of the country. Instead we voted for a candidate in order to receive a job, to gain admission to a school for our children and to have a tender passed etc. We worked for political candidates expecting personal favours in return.

Most of us contested not for the country, but for personal power, for greater perks and to earn a little more.

We were trapped in promises and endured slogans which finally resulted in the gradual collapse of the country’s economy. We borrowed increasingly to fulfil election pledges and proved the slogans shouted at the protests were correct.

We borrowed more for consumption rather than for investment. However, according to the Buddhist Philosophy one should take loans for investment purposes and not consumption. While we are talking of Buddhism, our action is not in keeping with the Buddha’s teachings.

Lee Kuan Yew, who visited Sri Lanka to study and formulate a strategy to rebuild Singapore, said after many years, that . “This situation has arisen in Sri Lanka due to unnecessarily prioritising politics. If Sri Lanka was followed as a role model, even Singapore by today would have perished.

In fact, we have reached the point of destruction. There are those who want to keep perpetuating this wound forever, though I don’t wish. Let’s seek to heal this wound though it’s difficult and painful. If we endure the suffering and pain for a short period of time, we can get the wound healed completely.

We have no way out of this crisis with short cuts as that some political parties are pointing out.

We have only one way to get rid of this situation, if we want to overcome this crisis and achieve real economic and social freedom. Remember, if we miss this path due to misplaced political agendas, we would neither have a future nor a country.

On several occasions, I pointed out the seriousness and danger of the looming economic crisis we are facing today. I have already said that the first six months of this year will be extremely difficult. We have to face this difficult situation in our stride, although unwillingly, for the sake of the country.

Although a large number of people in this country got out of poverty with the free education and expanded the middle class, today the country has turned into a land where it is impossible to fulfil their aspirations. I see the youth who should be working hard in different fields in this country are creating long queues to obtain passports. We need to change this situation too.

To achieve this end we should modernize the economy and open it to the world. The corrupt political factionalism that deceives the people making them dependants and poor for ever should also be changed. This is the “system change” that the youth of this country have been demanding for over a long period of time.

My government therefore has embarked on new path of reform to fulfil the needs of the youth. Even though those decisions that have to be taken for it are painful, it has to be done in order to overcome.

We have to move away from narrow politics in order to be rid of this crisis situation. We must face this challenge together as children of one mother and make our fullest contribution to strengthen the path towards the successful development of this country. We must all move forward as Sri Lankan nationals leaving aside all differences.

Hence the basis and foundation for a strong new economy has already been formulated. We are successfully completing the difficult stage required to get support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). We expect to get their consent without delay.

We cannot be satisfied just by strengthening the economy. The entire system needs to be changed. All areas of this political system, the legislature, parliament, Executive, state machinery, etc. should be modified to suit the modern era. The nation, and we should benefit from this change. More space should be created in the new system, for representation and opinions of young people and women in particular.

For this system modification, we are proposing a number of orders to the Parliament.

Additionally, immediate action needs to be taken in relation to the unique issues that the people in the North and East face. A cabinet subcommittee for this purpose has already been established.

All political parties are informed of its decisions and their implementation dates. Thereby those tasks are carried forward. We have given priority to activities such as release of land and prisoners. Furthermore, measures are being taken for the maximum division of power in a unitary state. However, we’ll never consent to the division of this nation.

I’m not attempting to treat the superficial condition with painkillers. But to treat the root cause of the malaise. It is challenging and difficult, but it’s our only option.

I know that many of the decisions I have been compelled to take since assuming the presidency have been unpopular.

However, because of those decisions, today no citizen of this country will die of dehydration in oil queues. You won’t starve without gas. Not curse without fertilizer.

Therefore, regardless of the obstacles the anarchist political forces seek to create, I will continue this new reform program with the majority of people who love this country.

We can become a developed country by 2048 if we work and move forward in a united and planned manner envisioning peace and reconciliation. There is the potential to become a developed country which is not begging from any other nation in the world. True freedom can be achieved and it is possible.

It is our collective responsibility to build a new country in which our children can compete with the rest of the world. Therefore, I urge all parties to come together to overcome this difficult period.

Let’s unite! Let’s join hands!

With joined hands let’s embark on a united journey over the next 25 years, as we have planned. Let’s further nurture those plans in accordance with the views of all parties. Let’s get stronger. Let’s make them more systematic and streamlined.

Not only should all of us who live in Sri Lanka join this effort. But the Sri Lankans living in the different countries around the world should also shoulder this journey. Everyone should be united. Everyone should contribute to the achievement of these goals as much as possible.

Let us devote ourselves, unite as children of one mother. Let us make our country one of the most developed in the world by 2048, when we will celebrate 100 years of independence.

Thank you all.

The commemorative stamp issued by the Philatelic Bureau and the special commemorative coin issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka on the occasion of the 75th National Independence Day, was presented to President Ranil Wickremesinghe this morning (02) at the Presidential Palace in Kandy.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe received the commemorative stamp from the Minister of Mass Media, Transport and Highways, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, and the commemorative coin was presented to the President by Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank.

The Philatelic Bureau issued the Rs. 50 stamp and first day cover in keeping with the practices followed over the years on such significant events. The new stamp could be purchased from all post offices and sub-post offices in the island from today.

Additionally, the Sri Lanka Philatelic Bureau has created special stamp windows at Kandy, Trincomalee, Kurunegala, Galle, and Negombo where customers can purchase this commemorative stamp with the first-day cover.

In conjunction with the 75th Anniversary of Independence, the Sri Lanka Postal Department has organized the Independence Stamp Exhibition and Museum Exhibition from the 6th to the 12th of February from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm at the Postal Headquarters premises located at D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha, Colombo 10.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) issued an uncirculated commemorative coin in the denomination of Rs. 1000 to mark the 75th Anniversary of Independence.

The national flag of Sri Lanka is embossed on the middle of the coin, and the number “75” is displayed there in bold numerals.

The words “Independence Commemoration” are printed in English, Tamil, and Sinhala along the top edge of the coin.

Around the lower edge of the coin’s periphery is the year “1948 – 2023.” In big numerals, the face value “1000” is displayed on the centre of the coin. The national emblem of Sri Lanka appears above the face value. The year “2023” is at the bottom edge of the coin. Words “Sri Lanka” in English, Sinhala, and Tamil appears along the periphery on the upper edge of the coin.

Over 500 prisoners are due to be released tomorrow (04 Feb.) in view of the 75th Independence Day.

Accordingly, a total of 588 prisoners will be released tomorrow, Prisons Commissioner and Spokesman Chandana Ekanayake stated.

Those who were jailed for drug-related offences will be granted the said presidential pardon, while the release of 31 inmates who were deemed to have displayed good behavior during their imprisonment was also approved by the Prison Board.

Thus, these 31 inmates too, will be released tomorrow, Ekanayake said.

Petrol price increased by Rs 30 to Rs 400.

All other fuel prices remain unchanged.