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President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed relevant officials to take immediate steps to develop the Ella tourist area according to a grand comprehensive plan.

The President also informed the officials to prepare the relevant development plan within 4 months together with the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Urban Development and the Ministry of Environment and submit it to him.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the President issued these instructions during the discussion held with the Ella Businessmen’s Association today (16).

The President pointed out the need to plan the Ella tourism zone formally and according to a proper plan and also pointed out the importance of carrying out its construction activities in an environmentally friendly manner to avoid disturbing the tourist attraction.

The PMD stated that President Ranil Wickremesinghe further stated that under the first phase, the Ella tourism zone will be developed through a formal plan, and then steps will be taken to make the entire Uva Province a preferred destination for tourists.

Expressing his views, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said, “Ella is a tourist area created by the people of this area. It now contributes widely to Sri Lanka’s economy. We hope to develop this tourist zone according to a new comprehensive development plan. I have instructed the officials to take steps to provide short-term solutions to the problems that have arisen in this area.”

“Today, tourists visiting the Maldives spend about $500 a day. However, tourists who come to the Ella area spend twenty dollars a day. We must change this situation. Trained workers are needed for the promotion of the tourism industry. Experienced tourism workers left the country during the last Covid epidemic. They were very experienced workers. Tourists, who spend $500, come expecting good service. We need trained employees to provide such a service.”

“Steps should be taken to create a good tourism service under this massive development program. Those tourists who arrive in the Uva Province should spend at least 07 days there. We need to make new plans with that objective in mind,” he said.

President Wickremesinghe further said, “We have to arrange to attract the tourists visiting the Eastern Province to Ella thereafter. This new development plan should include a program to develop the Mattala Airport and bring tourists directly from Mattala to Ella. These plans would be effective for the country’s development both in the short term and in the long term.”

“We must work to maintain the banking sector in the country without letting it collapse while developing the tourism sector. If the banking system collapses, tourists will not come to our country. Therefore, the government has a program to protect both the tourism and banking sectors. As we would implement it, I request you all support it,” he added.

The PMD stated that President Ranil Wickremesinghe resolved many of the issues raised by the Ella Businessmen during the meeting with them and the prompt action taken by the President to address their issues was highly appreciated by the Ella business community.

Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Harin Fernando, State Ministers Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, Governor of the Uva Province A.J.M. Musammil, Chief of Presidential Staff and President’s Senior Adviser on National Security Sagala Ratnayake, Badulla District Secretary Damayanthi Paranagama and several others participated in the discussion.

The Ministry of Education has announced that admission for Grade 01 students will only be carried out by schools and not via the Education Ministry.

The Ministry further said that 2022 GCE Ordinary Level students whose schools do not consist of their preferred GCE Advanced Level streams will be required to submit applications to the schools with the relevant GCE Advanced Level streams.

2022 GCE Ordinary Level students have been instructed not to forward such applications to the Education Ministry.

The Education Ministry also informed that the process of providing admission to students to enroll in schools mid-semester has been halted from 5 December 2022.

The enrollment of students mid-semester for 2023 will commence only after the completion of the 2022 third academic term, which falls on 24 March 2023.

The admissions will be provided after inspecting applications and based on vacancies in schools, the Ministry added.

Businesswoman Thilini Priyamali who was remanded over a large-scale financial fraud has been released on conditional bail.

The Fort Magistrate’s Court released her on strict conditional bail when the case pertaining to the financial fraud was taken up for hearing today (16).

Priyamali was arrested in early October for financially defrauding several businessmen, politicians, and civil, religious, and political leaders. Investigations into the financial fraud revealed that she had allegedly defrauded Rs. 1.28 billion.

The Criminal Investigation Department thereafter arrested and remanded Isuru Bandara, the alleged business partner of Thilini Priyamali.

In November, Buddhist monk Ven. Borelle Sirisumana Thero and Sri Lankan corporate personality, Janaki Siriwardana were arrested and remanded in connection to the financial fraud linked to Thilini Priyamali.

Janaki Siriwardana was working in the Colombo Fort Krish Project at the time of her involvement with Thilini Priyamali, during which she had introduced a businessman to Priyamali. The latter is accused of defrauding over Rs. 226 million from the businessman.

Ven. Borelle Sirisumana Thero was arrested based on information that was revealed during investigations into the financial frauds committed by Thilini Priyamali.

All suspects, including Thilini Priyamali, arrested over the financial fraud case have been released on bail as of today.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya has appointed Sajith Premadasa as the Leader of the party for the year 2023.

The decision was reached during the annual party convention held at the Campbell Park in Colombo on Sunday (11).

Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka was appointed SJB Chairman, while MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara was named as the General Secretary.

MP Tissa Attanayake was appointed National Organizer of the SJB while Dr. Harsha de Silva was named as the Treasurer of the party.

It is the responsibility of public officials to provide maximum public service without conflict between public institutions and public officials, President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized today (15).

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), President Wickremesinghe further said that public officials should never give reasons for not performing their duties.

The President stressed that government officials should use the law as a shield to serve the people and not the companies.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe made these remarks while participating in the District Development Committee meeting held at the Badulla District Secretariat this morning.

The President further said, “A scientific report should be obtained before removing the pine trees from these areas. During the rule of the English in this country, tea was cultivated while pine trees were also there. Therefore, don’t fall for the wrong ideas.”

“Before removing the pine trees, it is necessary to scientifically investigate if they would have an impact on the catchment areas. Why do you want to uproot the pine cultivation and opt for turpentine cultivation it will have an impact on the catchment areas.”

“Government officials should act efficiently. I don’t need excuses. There is no way that there could be problems between the government departments. As a government, everyone should come together and serve the people,” he said.

The President pointed out that, “in the plantation field, some officials use the law as a shield. I paid attention to this when preparing this Act in the 80s.”

Stating that when discussing the educational problems in this area, the shortage of teachers was highlighted, the President said, “A year or two after the appointment of teachers, they get transfers. The Ministry of Education and the Provincial Council should discuss and take a decision not to transfer teachers until five years after their appointment. The proposal to get new land for plantation schools will be considered and necessary steps will be taken.”

He further said, “For the promotion of the health sector in the Badulla District, the necessary facilities will be provided to upgrade the Mahiyangana Regional Hospital into a district hospital. Also, we are working to allocate money for the expenses of the kidney hospital in Girandurukotte.”

“If a problem has arisen regarding the development of the Bandarawela Hospital due to the Diyathalawa Base Hospital, steps will be taken to investigate it. The steps to upgrade the Bandarawela District Hospital to a base hospital have been assigned to the Ministry of Health, and they should look into it.”

“All the lands related to the development of the Badulla Province General Hospital have been released so far. I request you to implement its future activities. Due to the declaration of bankruptcy of our country, receiving foreign aid has stopped. Therefore, there may be some delay in providing money for the necessary equipment to the Badulla General Hospital,” the President said.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe also said that in the future, they will work towards establishing an emergency treatment unit for tourists in that hospital, adding that there is a possibility of earning foreign exchange through it.

Also speaking during the meeting, State Minister Chamara Sampath Dasanayake commented on the failure to implement the development activities in the Badulla District in the past and the re-implementation of these development programs.

Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Harin Fernando, Mahinda Amaraweera, Ministers of State Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, Tenuka Vidanagamage, Aravinda Kumar, Member of Parliament Suresh Vadivel, Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayake, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, Governor of the Uva Province A.J.M. Musammil, President’s Senior Adviser on Food Security Dr Suren Batagoda and other government officials of the district attended this event.

Leader of the Samabima Party Deepthi Kumara Gunaratne has questioned the discipline in the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).

In a video posted on social media, Gunaratne referred to remarks of insulting nature by SJB MP Nalin Bandara directed at state minister Diana Gamage in Parliament.

That has yet to be condemned by any, not even by the known feminist and wife of the SJB and opposition leader, Jalani Premadasa, Hirunika Premachandra who speaks about rights of women and various human rights groups, he said.

This shows how the SJB treats the women and the level of its discipline, Gunaratne added.

Senior journalist Uvindu Kurukulasuriya too, in a facebook post, condemned Nalin Bandara’s remarks.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court on Thursday (15) ordered to relax the overseas travel ban imposed on State Minister Diana Gamage for a period of five days.

The State Minister is mentioned in a case filed for allegedly providing false information to the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration to obtain a passport.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate Nandana Amarasinghe ordered the Criminal Investigations Department's OIC to produce a comprehensive investigation report to the court on the 5th of January 2023,with regard to the investigations on the State Minister.

President's Counsel Sarath Jayamanne appearing for the State Minister made submissions to the court, and following a request made, the travel ban was lifted for five days.

Counsel appearing for the aggrieved party informed the court that the Attorney General's silence over the matter, leads to concern.

President's Counsel Sarath Jayamanne told the court that the investigations have not named State Minister Diana Gamage as a suspect.

However, the Chief Magistrate told in open court that the court observes that the evidence reports produced thus far by the detectives are sufficient to name Diana Gamage as a suspect.

The Chief Magistrate, however, said that the decision on the matter lies with the Attorney General and the Criminal Investigations Department.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the government would assist the Colombo University to improve its quality.

The President made this observation during a discussion at the Dean’s Office of the Law Faculty having taken part in the Back to the Faculty-Faculty of Law, at the University of Colombo, which was organized to mark its 75th Diamond Jubilee today (10).

The President participated in the event as the first alumnus of the Colombo Law Faculty who became the Executive President of the country.

The casual discussion held with the participation of the Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. H. D. Karunaratne, Dean of the Faculty of Law Prof. Sampath Punchihewa,

Parliamentarians Professor G. L. Peiris and Madura Withanage, President’s Counsel Ronald Perera and several others.

The President, during the discussion, instructed the university authorities to prepare a program to establish the postgraduate institute and to recruit permanent staff to it to enhance the quality of university education. He said that the focus should be drawn to bringing the university among the best universities in the world rather than developing more and more of its infrastructure facilities.

This is how the university could attract foreign students into the country, he added.

He as well as several others recalled that the education of the law faculty was qualitatively high in the past even when the infrastructure facilities were not as good as today. During the discussion, the President also inquired about the progress of the planning to construct the engineering faculty at the Colombo University to which the authorities said that an area of four acres had been allocated.

On President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s arrival, he was received by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Dean of the Faculty of Law, and Secretary to the Law Faculty’s Law Society Senaka de Seram at the entrance of the Law Faculty.

The President posed for selfie photographs with the alumni on their request and a group photograph as well.

Over a thousand alumni were present at the occasion including Professor Prathiba Mahanamahewa, and Attorney-at-Law Shiral Lakthilaka.

Veteran vocalist, lyricist and composer Nihal Nelson passed away on Tuesday (13). He was 76 years old at the time of his demise.

Nihal Nelson was one of the most influential singers in Sri Lanka and considered ‘undefeated on the concert stage’.

Nelson holds the record for the most albums recorded by a Sri Lankan artist with 113 albums.

Nihal Nelson was born on 1946 in Moratuwa, and received his primary education from Innocent Maria Mixed School which is currently known as Rawathawaththa Methodist College.

After passing grade 8, he entered Moratu Maha Vidyalaya where he completed A/L in 1960.

Nelson married Malini Sriyalatha in 1974.

He was among the first Sri Lankan vocalists to release a cassette in 1978 with Gune Ayyage Kamare. Nelson was also among the first to release a compact disc.

He was known for his popular hits such as “Pansala Palliya”, “Kiri Dunne Daruwantai”, “Lassanata Pipunu Wana Mal”, “Karuna Suwanda” and many more.

He also worked as a playback singer for many films.

The Chairman of the National Election Commission Nimal Punchihewa says the gazette notification for the local government polls will be issued soon.

According to the Local Government Polling Act, to hold the election on 20th March 2023, the relevant gazette notification must be issued before January 5th 2023.

Therefore, several rounds of discussions have been held regarding the upcoming elections.

The Chairman of the NEC further said the related discussions will also be held in the coming days.

Direct flights between Chennai in India and Jaffna, Sri Lanka recommenced today (12), with the landing of the first passenger flight operated by Alliance Air.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry confirmed on Twitter that the first flight from Chennai landed at the Jaffna International Airport in Palaly this morning.

Flight operations between Chennai and Jaffna recommenced today after a lapse of 2 years.

With the resumption of operations, Air Alliance is expected to operate 04 weekly flights between the Jaffna International Airport in Palaly and Chennai.

According to MP Angajan Ramanathan, who is the Chairman of the Jaffna District Development Committee, the costs of flight tickets are as follows:

One-way ticket – starting from Rs. 44,000 Return ticket – starting from Rs. 65,000.

Air quality in most parts of Sri Lanka has dropped to unhealthy levels due to an increase in dust particles in the atmosphere, warns the National Building Research Organization.

It says cooler weather and cyclonic conditions in the Bay of Bengal have exacerbated pollutants from India to enter the island and blanket many areas in thick fog.

The air quality index has fallen to 200 in Gampaha and to 167 in Colombo.

NBRO’s senior scientist Sarath Premasiri said the condition will ease by tomorrow when the cyclone moves away further from the island.

He said caution should be taken to prevent respiratory illnesses from the foggy condition, such as keeping to indoors as much as possible, wearing masks outdoors and keeping doors and windows closed.