News

The date for the local government election will be announced before the 5th of January 2023.

"The announcement was delayed by a few days due to several factors, although the NEC previously said the date will be announced before the end of December," said Chairman of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka Nimal Punchihewa.

"The calling of nominations will begin 14 days after the announcement," he added.

In the meantime, Executive Director of PAFFREL Rohana Hettiarachchi said, "I will resort to administrative action against the Election Commission if the date isn't announced before the 5th of January."

More than 9,300 police personnel are to be promoted to their immediate higher rank, according to a cabinet decision.

From constable to inspector, 8,312 male and 1,005 female officers will get their long-overdue promotions accordingly.

Ministers approved the relevant paper submitted by public security minister Tiran Alles.

A meeting took place today (23) to identify and rectify shortcomings in the Police Ordinance to suit the times.

Justice minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and public security minister Tiran Alles chaired the discussion.

A new act is to be formulated as per recommendations by three committees appointed by the Police Department as well as a draft prepared in 2017.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has ordered the expeditious amendment of the ordinance, the need of which has been highlighted since 2010.

Top officials who attended the meeting included attorney general Sanjaya Rajaratnam, additional solicitor general Nerin Pullai, IGP C.D. Wickremaratne and prisons commissioner general Thushara Upuldeniya.

Hanaa Singer, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Sri Lanka, who is leaving upon completion of her service, paid a courtesy call on President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday (19).

The President engaged in cordial conversation with Singer and thanked her for the services she had rendered to Sri Lanka and wished her the best of luck in her future endeavours.

Hanaa Singer herved as the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Sri Lanka since September 07, 2018.

As the UN Resident Coordinator in Srilanka, Ms Hanaa Singer led a UN Country Team of 22 resident and non-resident UN Agencies. She is the representative of the UN Secretary-General in Sri Lanka.

Ms Singer has worked for close to 30 years across development and humanitarian contexts at various senior management and strategic leadership roles.

Prior to this appointment, she has held several senior management positions in UNICEF offices across the world, including as the Associate Regional Director in Geneva and as Country Representative for Syria, Nepal, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

In Syria, she provided strategic leadership to one of the largest protection crises on the global stage – successfully scaling up programmes through an integrated package of high impact interventions in health, nutrition, water and sanitation, education and child protection - increasing the reach of UNICEF’s work to the most vulnerable children including in besieged and hard-to-reach areas.

As UNICEF chief in Nepal, she pioneered strategic programmes for scaling up sanitation, adolescents and multisectoral nutrition programmes, establishing strategic new alliances resulting in the government adopting national action plans. She has also led humanitarian programmes in Burundi and Haiti, and managed cross border humanitarian operations to Afghanistan and Iraq among other areas and provided technical support to programmes in the North Caucasus, Kosovo, Macedonia, Georgia, Tajikistan and Bosnia.

A national of Egypt, Ms Singer holds a Master's degree in Political Sociology and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the American University in Cairo, Egypt. She also holds a diploma in “Planning and Management of Decentralized Development Projects” from Bradford University in the United Kingdom.

Ms Singer has engaged in academia and research in political sociology and international relations at the American University of Cairo and at the Sadat’s Academy for Management Sciences, Faculty of Political Science of Cairo University. She is the author and co-author of two publications on social change in the Middle East.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued a special gazette notification, amending the portfolios of 08 ministries. The amendments are effective from Thursday (Dec 22).

As per the gazette, the Multipurpose Development Task Force Department, which was under the purview of the Ministry of Defence, has been listed under the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils & Local Government.

Meanwhile, the Kidney Fund is now gazetted under the Ministry of Health after it was removed from the portfolio of the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs & Social Empowerment.

The Vidatha Centres, which were under the purview of the Ministry of Education, will now function under the Ministry of Industries.

As per the gazette, the Ministry of Agriculture has been assigned to oversee Regional Economic Centres and the broadening of the market for local farm products. These were previously assigned to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce & Food Security.

Meanwhile, Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties, No. 02 of 2018 and Safeguard Measures Act, No. 03 of 2018 have been gazetted under the Ministry of Trade, Commerce & Food Security.

The new commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday (19).

Vice Admiral Perera assumed command as 25th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy on Sunday (18), after he was elevated to the rank of three-star Admiral.

In keeping with the tradition, the new Navy Commander met with the President and presented a memento to mark the occasion.

Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera's illustrious career has been enriched with vast experience in the Sri Lanka Navy, in various capacities and the officer has held command at sea and earned victories in battle as a Squadron Commander in the prestigious 4th Fast Attack Flotilla, the teeth arm of the Sri Lanka Navy fleet, as well as a Group Commander in the Special Boat Squadron at the height of the looming terrorist activities.

He is also one of the Commanding Officers who led the Special Boat Squadron of the Navy and has been the Officer in Charge of Naval Diving and Salvage Unit, spearheading some crucial salvage work. At sea he has commanded a series of Fast Attack Craft, Fast Gun Boats, Landing Craft, Fast Passenger Craft, Sa’ar 4 Class Fast Missile Vessel and his last command at sea has been SLNS Sagara, an Offshore Patrol Vessel.

Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera is a recipient of Rana Soora Padakkama (RSP) thrice for conspicuous display of gallantry in combat and Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP) for unblemished service and devotion to duty. The senior officer has been commended by former Commanders of the Navy seven times for his leadership and professional conduct in challenging circumstances and tasks.

He holds the record of being the first to circumnavigate Sri Lanka in a sea kayak and formerly held office as General Secretary of National Association of Canoeing and Kayaking in Sri Lanka

Prof. Ashu Marasinghe has stepped down as the Presidential Advisor on Parliamentary Affairs with immediate effect.

Marasinghe resigned from the post citing personal reasons, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).

The Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act comes into force from Monday (19), said the Sri Lankan Parliament in a facebook post.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena endorsed the certificate on the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill which was passed by a majority of votes after debate in Parliament.

Following the debate on the second reading of the bill held recently (09) a division was called by the opposition. Accordingly, 83 votes were cast in favor of the Bill and 41 votes were cast against.

A division was called for the Third Reading of the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill by the Opposition to which 79 votes were cast in favor of the Bill and 36 votes were cast against.

Accordingly, this bill comes into force as Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act No. 45 of 2022 from today.

The new tax regime will impose an extraordinary maximum 36% tax bracket on monthly income, with the lowest bracket starting at 6% for those earning over Rs. 100,000/- per month.

Monthly income of up to Rs. 100,000/- will be free from tax. A person who earns Rs. 350,000/- a month will be subject to all six tax brackets and will have to pay a tax of Rs. 52,500/- per month.

Lanka Sathosa Limited on Friday (23) announced the price reduction of seven items.

1. Potatoes (1kg) reduced by Rs. 5/- to Rs. 285/-.

2. Big Onions (1kg) reduced by Rs. 5/- to Rs. 185/-.

3. White Sugar (1kg) reduced by Rs. 6/- to Rs. 218/-.

4. Red Dhal (1kg) reduced by Rs. 11/- to Rs. 374/-.

5. 425g canned fish (local) reduced by Rs. 15/- to Rs. 475/-.

6. Chilli (1kg) reduced by Rs. 15/- to Rs. 1,780/-.

7. Sprats (1kg) reduced by Rs. 50/- to Rs. 1,100/-.

The luxury cruise liner ‘Ocean Odyssey’, carrying 108 high-end passengers from the United States, reached the Colombo Port on Sunday (18).

The cruise ship is scheduled to set off for Trincomalee tomorrow (19). The passengers of Ocean Odyssey will travel the country before boarding the cruise ship December 21 at the Trincomalee Harbour, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation said.

Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva also participated in the ceremony organised at the port to welcome the passengers of the cruise ship.

The 2022-built MS Ocean Odyssey cruise ship is an ice-strengthened (polar class 1A / PC6) expedition vessel inaugurated in February 2022.

The vessel is owned by SunStone Ships Inc (USA) and operated under charter by Vantage Cruise Line – subsidiary and brand owned by Vantage Travel Service Inc (brand name “Vantage Deluxe World Travel”).

On November 29, the super luxury passenger cruise ship "Mein Schiff 5" had arrived at the Colombo Port with 2,000 tourists on board.

Dinesh Weerakkody has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Investment.

The appointment was made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Wednesday (21).

Dinesh Weerakkody is a former Chairman of Hatton National Bank PLC and Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC. He is also a former Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka and Vice Chairman of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors.

According to the President's Media Division, the other board members are Dr. Dushni Weerakoon, Chandani Wijewardena & Eraj de Silva.

Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, RSP **, USP, ndu, psc, was appointed as the 25th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy on 18th December 2022, after being elevated to the rank of three-star Admiral.

The appointment was made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera is a product of the Royal College, Colombo.

He joined the Sri Lanka Navy in the Executive Branch in 1987 as an Officer Cadet of the 05th Intake of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University.

He was awarded the ‘Sword of Honour’ for the best in the batch upon successful completion of naval training from the Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee.

He was commissioned in the rank of Acting Sub Lieutenant in 1989 and graduated from the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Defence Studies) with honours.

In pursuing academics, he has completed a Post Graduate Diploma in International Relations at Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies and has also been conferred with a Master’s in Science Degree (Defence Studies) in Management from the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University.

He also holds a Master’s Degree of Maritime Policy with Distinctions from the University of Wollongong, Australia. Additionally, in pursuing of professional progress he has obtained specialization in Clearance Diving from the Indian Naval Diving Training School and in Principle Warfare from the Pakistan Navy.

He is an alumnus of the US Naval War College from where he has passed the US Naval Staff Course and National Defence University of People’s Liberation Army, People’s Republic of China, having attended Defence and Strategic Studies Course in 2018-19 and conferred with a Master of Military Sciences Strategic Studies.

He has rendered more than thirty-five years of distinguished service to the Sri Lanka Navy with a reputation of a dedicated, professionally competent and an inspiring leader.

His illustrious career has been enriched with vast experience in the Sri Lanka Navy, in various capacities and the officer has held command at sea and earned victories in battle as a Squadron Commander in the prestigious 4th Fast Attack Flotilla, the teeth arm of the Sri Lanka Navy fleet, as well as a Group Commander in the Special Boat Squadron at the height of the looming terrorist activities.

He is also one of the Commanding Officers who led the Special Boat Squadron of the Navy and has been the Officer in Charge of Naval Diving and Salvage Unit, spearheading some crucial salvage work. At sea he has commanded a series of Fast Attack Craft, Fast Gun Boats, Landing Craft, Fast Passenger Craft, Sa’ar 4 Class Fast Missile Vessel and his last command at sea has been SLNS Sagara, an Offshore Patrol Vessel.

His key shore appointments include the Commandant SLNS Shiksha, the main recruit training center of SLN, Director Naval Training, Director Naval Operations, Director Naval Foreign Cooperation, Director Maritime Special Forces, Head of the Naval Research Wing, Deputy Area Commander North Central Naval Area, Commander Southern Naval Area, Commander Northern Naval Area, Deputy Chief of Staff and finally as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy.

Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera is a recipient of Rana Soora Padakkama (RSP) thrice for conspicuous display of gallantry in combat and Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP) for unblemished service and devotion to duty.

The senior officer has been commended by former Commanders of the Navy seven times for his leadership and professional conduct in challenging circumstances and tasks.

His prowess in sports is very versatile ranging from aquatic sports of swimming, water polo, windsurfing, kayaking and speed boating to adventure, cycling, musketry, fencing and archery among other things.

He holds the record of being the first to circumnavigate Sri Lanka in a sea kayak and formerly held office as General Secretary of National Association of Canoeing and Kayaking in Sri Lanka, working diligently to promote paddle sport in the country.

He is also an International Technical Official in Canoe Sprint and Dragon Boat discipline of International Canoe Federation and a qualified level one coach in canoeing.

Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera is married to Mrs. Mala Lamahewa and they are blessed with two sons Sachith (24) and Shamal (21).