News

A sum of Rs. 200 million has been allocated for the 75th Independence Day celebration to be held on 4 February at the Galle Face in Colombo, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Governments Neel Bandara Hapuhinna told The Morning newspaper.

Speaking to The Morning, he affirmed that the Treasury has already made the necessary budgetary allocations for the ceremony, adding however that the Ministry is attempting its best to cut down on costs.

The government has decided to celebrate the 75th National Independence Day with pride together with the new reformist program for the next 25 years.

During this celebration held with pride under the theme “Namo Namo Matha – A Step towards a Century”, the government will announce its new reformist course for the next 25 years for the implementation of a stable government policy right until the 100th Independence Day celebrations in 2048.

The main ceremony of the National Independence Day Celebrations will be held on the 04th of February at 8.30 am at Galle Face Green under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

The festivities are scheduled to begin after the offering of floral tributes at the statue of Mahamanya D.S. Senanayake at Independence Square and the statue of the war heroes at the Presidential Secretariat.

It is also of significance that many cultural and religious programs have been organized throughout the country in conjunction with the 75th National Independence Festival. Accordingly, the Buddhist religious rites will be performed on the evening of February 02 at Sri Dalada Maligawa, and on the same night, the Dhamma sermon will begin at Victoria Dam at 9:00 PM. The following morning, an alms giving has also been planned.

The Catholic religious services will be held at Maradana Fatima Church on February 04 at 6.30 am, while Christian religious services will be held at the same time at Galle Face Christian Church. Hindu religious rituals will be held on the morning of February 03 at Trincomalee Dakshina Kailash or Koneswaram Temple. Arrangements have been made to hold Muslim religious services on February 4th at 10.00 am at the Colombo Grand Mosque.

Meanwhile, Buddhist and Hindu religious programs have also been organized in Colombo, and accordingly, on February 04 at 6.30 a.m., a Buddhist religious program has been organized at Dharmakirtyarama Temple, Polwatta, Colombo 03, and Hindu religious programs have also been organized at New Kadireshan Temple, Colombo 04.

A Sri Dalada exhibition is to be held at the historic Temple of the Tooth Relic premises in March, exhibition of Kapila Vastu Buddhist Relics to be held in Colombo in May, the sacred Buddhist relics from China exposition and exhibition to be held in Anuradhapura in June, exhibition of the sacred Buddhist relics from Pakistan is scheduled to be held in the Southern Province in July.

In addition, the special cultural arts festival “LankaraLanka” organized in conjunction with the 75th Independence Day will be held on February 03 at 7.30 pm at Independence Square in Colombo with the participation of 750 artists from the public and private sectors.

The Jaffna Cultural Center will be opened on February 11th morning under the patronage of the President, and the cultural procession will commence opposite the Jaffna Cultural Center and will travel through the streets of Jaffna culminating near the Jaffna Fort (the old bus station site). A cultural concert will also be held there and a special music concert is also planned to be held at the same venue that night.

On the 19th of February, the Republican Rally is scheduled to parade the streets of Kandy under the full sponsorship of the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth Relic) representing all dance traditions of the country.

It is also planned to air a 30-minute short film on Sri Lanka’s freedom at all cinemas and performing theatres while a Design competition including short dramas, patriotic songs, and art competitions has also been planned to target the youth on the theme of “freedom” in May. A massive art competition and exhibition showcasing the pride of the country has also been organized by veteran artist H.S. Sarath.

The exhibition of artifacts reflecting the history of the country, organized by the Ministry of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, the National Museum Department, the Central Cultural Fund, and the Department of Archaeology, is also scheduled to be held from February 4th to the 10th.

A book containing newspaper reports and other articles about independence is also expected to be launched at the Independence Day National Festival and a special stamp with the image of the first Prime Minister of independent Sri Lanka Mahamanya D.S. Senanayake is also scheduled including a special commemorative stamp of a rare type which includes portraits of Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India and Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the first Prime Minister of independent Pakistan. In addition, a Rs. 1000 special commemorative coin is also expected to be released.

The concept of “Urban Forests” will be implemented from January 1st throughout the island, and the Independence Day celebration bicycle ride from Point Pedro to Dondra Point sponsored by Sri Lanka Telecom will also be held from January 28th to February 1st.

In addition, arrangements have been made to hold Independence Day commemorations at the provincial and district level and public parks, National Parks owned by the National Zoology Department National Parks owned by the Department of Wildlife and Forest Conservation and National Parks owned by the National Botanical Gardens Department will be opened to the public free of charge on National Independence Day.

A program to provide rice for 02 million low-income families at the rate of 10 kilos per family per month for 02 months is to be implemented and the related program will be implemented by the District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries.

It is the aim of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to make the government’s new reformist journey commencing with the celebration of the 75th Independence Day in 2023 a stable state policy until the 100th Independence Day in 2048 and the plan for the next 25 years will also be implemented in conjunction with this year’s National Independence Day.

Accordingly, several new institutions and laws are planned to be introduced and an Institute of History, an Institute of Economics and Trade, and an Institute of Women and Gender will be established for the study and research of the history of Sri Lanka.

Government and Public Policy University, Agricultural Research University, Climate Change University, and Sports University are also expected to be established.

The National Commission on Women’s Act, Gender Equality Act, Women’s Empowerment Act, Child Care Act, Climate Change Act, Social Justice Commission Act, Reforestation and Tree Cover Act are also to be introduced.

In addition, for the safety and security of natural resources including the Mahaweli river, Sinharajaya, Sripada Site (Zero Peak), Horton Plains, Knuckles, and Adam’s Bridge, the Living Entity Act is to be introduced. New laws for the exploration and management of marine resources as well as an Act for the conservation of Muthurajawela are also scheduled to be introduced.

The Independence Day activities also include a project of 75 urban forests and a project of 1996 houses for low-income families in Colombo and many projects and programs on the National Youth Platform.

The Conservator General of Forests K.M.A Bandara, in response to a query made on the instructions of President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, has stated that media reports implying that Sri Lanka’s forest cover has decreased to 16% are false, the President's Media Division (PMD) said.

Highlighting that the assessment of forest cover is carried out every five years and the census conducted in 2020 is scheduled to be completed in June this year, he said thathe natural forests of Sri Lanka stood at 29.15% (1,912,970 hectares) of the total land extent according to the census conducted in 2015.

The Conservator General of Forests also said that although there has been some reduction in the amount of forests due to various development activities and other human activities in the country, there has definitely been no decrease in the amount of forests up to 16% as stated in the media reports.

According to media reports, if the forest area in Sri Lanka is 16% of the total land extent, then the existing forest area in the country should be 1,040,000 hectares. This means that 872,970 hectares of forests should have been destroyed during the seven years from 2015, which is 124,710 hectares per year and 341 hectares of forest destruction per day.

He also said that the method used to assess the forests should have been described in the presentation of data on forests. Basic points such as the definition of forests, the method of estimating forest size, and the estimation of forest size should have been mentioned in the report. However, there is no source from which the relevant data was obtained in the media reports suggesting that the forest cover had decreased.

The Conservator General further stated that if there is widespread forest destruction, as reported in the media, it should have been observed by the Department of Forest, the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Sri Lanka Police, and the Sri Lanka Air Force, which monitors forests from the air. However, such extensive forest destruction has not been reported to any of these institutions.

He also stated that the Forest Department is updating forest maps and that no such forest destruction was observed during those activities.

Lanka Sathosa has slashed the prices of four more essential food items with effect from yesterday (Jan. 11).

Accordingly, the price of Samba Rice has been reduced by Rs. 05 per kilogram, White Raw Rice (local) by Rs. 16, White Nadu Rice (local) by Rs. 07 and Wheat Flour by Rs. 05 per kilogram.

The new prices of the aforementioned commodities are as follows;

Samba Rice 1kg – Rs. 220 White Raw Rice (local) 1kg – Rs. 189 White Nadu Rice (local) 1kg – Rs. 198 Wheat Flour 1kg – Rs. 240

The third round of negotiations between Sri Lanka and Thailand on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will be held on Monday (09) and Tuesday (10) in Colombo.

The President’s Media Division (PMD) stated that the negotiations will be held with the participation of 26 official delegates from Thailand headed by Ms. Auramon Supthaweethum, Director General of the Department of Trade Negotiations, advancing the government’s agenda of expanding the market access for Sri Lankan exports.

Seven theme areas – trade in goods, trade in services, investments, rules of origin, custom cooperation, trade facilitation, and economic cooperation will be the focus of the negotiations. The start of the negotiations will take place against the backdrop of a significant trade imbalance in Thailand’s favor.

In 2021, Sri Lanka imported goods from Thailand worth USD 355 million, but only sent USD 59 million to Thailand. Thus, from the perspective of Sri Lanka, the negotiations will be aimed at enhancing access to our exports not only in the Thai market but also in markets in other ASEAN countries through Thailand’s gateway and lowering current non-tariff trade obstacles to trade.

According to market potential assessments, Sri Lankan exports of precious stones, black tea, and other goods have a lot of promise. Sri Lanka is hopeful that via successful discussions, doors can be created to offer opportunities in both the new industries and for the two nations’ current trade frameworks.

The PMD further stated that the National Trade Negotiating Committee (NTNC), whose members primarily represent the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Commerce, and Food Security, the Department of Trade & Investment Policy of the Treasury, and the Department of Commerce, will participate in the negotiations on behalf of Sri Lanka under the leadership of Mr. K.J. Weerasinghe, Chief Negotiator, and the Presidential Secretariat.

In the first quarter of 2024, the government plans to put this agreement into operation. The NTNC will give the specific requests made by the regional business associations/chambers considerable consideration during the negotiations. The government’s objective of entering the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which represents 30% of the global population and economy, will be advanced by this agreement. Since trade is a growth tool that is relevant to both countries, the government of Sri Lanka is eager to strengthen the bilateral relationship with Thailand.

The PMD added that Thailand and Sri Lanka have formal diplomatic relations that date back 68 years, and Thailand’s economy was especially boosted by the rapid growth of manufactured exports.

Adarsha Karadana, who was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday (11 Jan.), has been released on bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

Accordingly, Karadana was released on two surety bails of Rs. 500,000 each on the orders of Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis.

Karadana was arrested by the Police Computer Crimes Division of the CID yesterday over a complaint filed by the former Presidential Advisor, pertaining to a video released by her in which Marasinghe is allegedly seen sexually abusing her pet dog.

On 24 December, Marasinghe had filed a complaint with the CID against Karadana, accusing her of doctoring the video in question, which was widely circulated on social media, and attempting to defame him.

On 10 January, the Colombo Magistrate’s Court rejected a petition filed by Karadana on 03 January, requesting that she be released on anticipatory bail. The petition was rejected on the grounds that allowing for such a petition to proceed would hinder the ongoing investigations into the accusations of beastiality levelled against Marasinghe.

Calling a media briefing along with SJB politician Hirunika Premachandra on 23 December, Karadana released a video of Marasinghe allegedly sexually abusing her pet dog.

Marasinghe subsequently vehemently denied the allegations, and went on to demand Rs. 1 billion from both Premachandra and Karadana for defamation.

Accordingly, notices were issued to both Premachandra and Karadana, demanding Rs. 500 million from the former, and Rs. 1 billion from the latter, over recent claims made by the duo at the aforementioned press conference.

Conducting tuition classes, seminars, lectures and workshops for the 2022 A/Level examination will be prohibited from midnight on the 17th of January.

Commissioner General of Examinations Amith Jayasundara said the ban will be in effect until the conclusion of the exam.

The 2022 A/Level examination will begin on the 23rd of January and continue until the 17th of February.

The Department of Examinations said it will request the Ceylon Electricity Board to refrain from imposing the scheduled power cuts daily, from a week before the start of the exam.

The Commissioner General of Examinations said a request was made to refrain from imposing the scheduled power cuts for the duration of the exam.

When inquired by News 1st, the General Manager of the Ceylon Electricity Board Rohan Seneviratne said no request was received so far, for a continuous power supply before the exam.

He said if a request is received, necessary research will be conducted to reach further decisions.

The Supreme Court today (11) upheld the prison sentences given by the three-judge High Court of Colombo to Kusumdasa Mahanama, the former chief of staff of former President Maithripala Sirisena, and Piyadasa Dissanayake, the former chairman of the State Timber Corporation.

That was after announcing the decision of the appeal they had filed.

In 2018, the two were arrested by Bribery or Corruption Investigation Commission officials while demanding a bribe of 54 million rupees from an Indian businessman and receiving 20 million rupees.

In relation to that, a case was filed against them under 24 charges before the three-judge High Court of Colombo, where Kusumdasa Mahanama was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment with hard labor and a fine of 65,000 rupees and Piyadasa Dissanayake was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment with hard labor and a fine of 50,000 rupees.

Sri Lanka will set a world record if a Local Government Election is held under the current circumstances in the nation, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.

State Minister Siyambalapitiya pointed out that money will have to be printed in order for the election to be held amidst the current economic crisis.

He further stated that if the election is conducted by printing money this will be considered a world record.

“The election can be held alongside setting a world record. What is the world record? Sri Lanka is a country amidst a severe economic crisis. We can set the world record as the country that held an election by printing money. If that is so, then let us hold the election,” the State Minister added.

State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya made the statement when speaking to the media on Friday (06).

The US National Security Council’s Senior Director for South Asia, Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat today (Jan 11).

Laubacher has expressed appreciation of the United States for the economic recovery efforts being undertaken by President Wickremesinghe.

According to the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, who attended the meeting, said the 75-year partnership between the two countries, the support extended by the United States to the people of Sri Lanka in time of need, improving the global environment, shared values of democracy and promoting economic development were also taken up for discussion.

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Chief Organizer for the Agalawatta electorate Ranjith Somawansa has crossed over to the Opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).

The SJB said in a statement that Ranjith Somawansa met with the Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa today.

Somawansa worked as the Minister of Health, Indigenous Medicine, Probation and Childcare and Minister of Education, Culture and Arts in the Western Provincial Council and performed a remarkable mission during that period.

The SJb further stated that Somawansa is a graduate of the University of Colombo and has also acted as an outstanding student activist at the University.

Having been the Chairman of Progressive Students Front and United Students’ Front of the University of Colombo, he later entered politics through the Sri Lanka Freedom Party on the invitation of Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

The SJb added that Somawansa was elected as a member of the Western Provincial Council in 1993 and is a character with decades of political experience, having held the offices of the Leader of the House and Deputy Leader of the House etc. of the Western Provincial Council.

The United National Party will contest the upcoming Local Government Election together with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, said the UNP General Secretary on Tuesday (10).

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and the United National Party met for talks again on Tuesday (10) at the President's Office.

UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara told reporters that the SLPP and the UNP decided to contest the Local Government Election together.

He said the matter was discussed with the district leaders.

He also said that discussions took place on which Local Government Institutions will be contested under the symbol of the Elephant, and which will be contested under the symbol of the Flower Bud.

He also added that an agreement was also reached with regard to using a common symbol for certain Local Government Institutions.

Social Media activist Sepal Amarasinghe who was arrested by the CID for making defamatory comments regarding the Sacred Tooth relic, was remanded to the 10th of January.

Amarasinghe was arrested on Thursday (5) in Bellanwila by detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department.

Earlier on Thursday (5), President Ranil Wickremesinghe instructed the Inspector General of Police to immediately investigate the request made by the Mahanayake Theros of the Asgiri and Malwathu chapters and the Diyawadana Nilame of the Dalada Maligawa regarding a fake Dalada Maligawa that is being constructed in Wadakada, Kurunegala.

The President's Media Division said that the Inspector General of Police had said that investigations were launched under a Deputy Inspector General of the Criminal Investigation Department.

The IGP has noted that two investigation teams under the supervision of an Assistant Superintendent of Police have visited the site in question for an inquiry.

The Mahanayake Thero's of the Malwathu and Asgiri Chapters of the Siam Sect, and the Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy have addressed a join letter to the President and requested President Ranil Wickresinghe to fulfil the duty of protecting and nurturing Buddhism as enshrined in the constitution.

They also directed the President's attention towards reports on a fake Temple of the Tooth, and the comments made by an individual on social media that harm the mindset of the Buddhist people.

The letter notes that preventing these events at the very beginning would lead to the betterment of Buddhism.

The join-letter urged the President to take immediate action over these matters.

The Chief incumbent of the Kotte Sri Naga Viharaya Venerable Kotahene Naratha Thero also filed a complaint with the Police Headquarters over the matter.