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Former president Chandrika Kumaratunga has ruled out joining another party by leaving the SLFP.

In a statement, she pointed out that she was born and bred politically in the SLFP, came under attack on behalf of that party and would die as a SLFPer.

She said she would engage in politics as per the Bandaranaike vision which she values, while at the same time giving guidance to any other party.

The SLFP is in a woeful state due to its present policies as its leaders betray the party for opportunistic, petty gains, said Bandaranaike, adding that she remained committed to safeguard the Bandaranaike policies.

The finance ministry is to strictly adhere to a decision to discontinue granting service extensions to public servants upon completion of 60 years of age by the end of this year.

In the parliamentary staff alone, 27 officials on the verge of retirement are doing their best to get their jobs extended.

A top ministry official said the entire state service will be in a mess if that is allowed.

The ministry has also suspended transferring the ownership of official vehicles of state officials upon their retirement.

Secretaries of all ministries and heads of state entities have been officially informed about that decision.

An extraordinary gazette notification has been issued regarding compulsory retirement of government employees who have completed 60 years of age.

The extraordinary gazette notification has been issued by the Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, in his capacity as Minister of Public Administration Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government and will come into effect from January 01, 2023.

“Any Government employee may be directed to retire from Government Service on or after attaining the age of fifty-five years. All civil officers must retire compulsorily on attaining the age of sixty, except those officers whose age of compulsory retirement is fixed by the Constitution or by any other law, unless otherwise decided by a competent authority,” the gazette notification says.

The ‘Attaché Case’, Presidential Dispatch Bag of international standard designed by the Directorate of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers of the Sri Lanka Army, was handed over to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, by Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army at the Presidential Secretariat on Friday (02).

This Attaché Case was designed on a special direction by the President. It is a renowned tradition to accompany world leaders with a sophisticated briefcase with international standard, commonly called an ‘Attaché case’ that carries important and secret documents wherever they travel.

Introducing this world-famous tradition to our country, the President tasked the Sri Lanka Army to fabricate the Presidential Dispatch Bag in line with international standards.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Commander of the Army, a group of experts in the field headed by the Director General Electrical and Mechanical Engineers designed the Dispatch Bag as a unique creation incorporating high-end technology, as per specifications given by the Presidential Secretariat.

Addressing the event, the President said that this initiative could contribute to cutting down on filing costs and would be introduced to all ministries as well. On a daily basis, piles of files are sent to the Presidential Secretariat by the ministries to obtain the signature of the President. Hence, the President said that these dispatch bags could be used by the ministries for this purpose cutting down on the cost of files. He said that the Army could produce these bags for the relevant ministries.

The bag offers a combination of well-thought-out features for keeping the bag’s content safe and organized and it is made of premium leather which ensures its durability as it is expected by the President to hand over the Dispatch Bag from one President to the next in line.

The President, after accepting and inspecting the high quality and neatly finished Presidential Dispatch Bag, commended the Commander of the Army, the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and particularly, the skilful and versatile craftsmen of the Sri Lanka Army.

Minister of Transport and Highways Bandula Gunawardena has called for the immediate resignation of the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), Kingsley Ranawaka.

In a letter addressed to the SLTB chairman, the minister states that the ‘Park and Ride – City Bus Service’, which was initiated under a policy decision of the government, has been suddenly suspended without informing him, based on a decision reached by the Director Board of the Sri Lanka Transport Board.

The minister says that the City Bus service was immensely popular among the commuters and had managed to reduce traffic congestion on High-Level Road to a certain extent during rush hours in addition to the fact that it helped reduce CO2 emissions.

In the letter, the Transport Minister emphasizes that by suddenly suspending this programme, which was launched based on a policy decision of the government with the aim of providing facilities to the general public and easing traffic congestion and reducing environmental pollution, the SLTB chairman has disobeyed policy decision of the government.

Therefore, the Minister, under the powers vested in him by Sri Lanka Transport Board Act, No. 27 of 2005, has instructed Mr. Kingsley Ranawaka to resign from the posts of SLTB chairman and Director Board member with immediate effect.

Fitch Ratings on Thursday downgraded Sri Lanka’s Long-Term local-currency debt rating by two notches to “CC” from “CCC”, Reuters reported.

According to the report, Fitch cited a probable local-currency debt default in the face of high-interest costs and tight domestic financing conditions for the downgrade.

Sri Lanka is suffering its worst financial turmoil since its independence from Britain in 1948 as a result of economic mismanagement, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic that wiped out the Indian Ocean island’s key tourism industry.

Sri Lanka aims to restore growth to pre-crisis levels in 2026, a state finance minister said on Wednesday, with policymakers intent on meeting a December deadline to present proposals that might help unlock an International Monetary Fund bailout

The ratings agency has affirmed Sri Lanka’s foreign currency debt rating at ‘RD’ or in default territory, reflecting the country’s worst economic crisis in decades.

Former Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has told a court in Colombo that he cannot personally take responsibility for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday Terror Attacks.

He told the court on Monday (5) that as he is no longer the President of the country, the victims and their families must seek compensation by filing a case against the government, and not against him.

Earlier, a request made by Former President Sirisena to remove him from the list of respondents in the petitions filed over the Easter Sunday Terror Attacks at a separate court was rejected.

Sirisena filed an appeal challenging the decision, and the matter will be taken up again on the 28th of December 2022.

The government is looking at allocating lands that were previously reserved for reforestation in Monaragala, Kotiyagala and Kebaliththa areas for farming activities in a bid to face the food crisis in the future.

Currently, around 8000 hectares of land in the aforementioned areas owned by the Forest Department has been reserved for reforestation.

Accordingly, it was decided to commence afforestation activities immediately in the 3000 hectares where saplings have been prepared for afforestation.

The issue of the remaining 5000 hectares of land to be distributed among farmers temporarily for cultivation until the necessary facilities for reforestation were prepared was also discussed at length during a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (01) under the patronage of President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayaka.

The discussions also focused on the possibilities of releasing a certain extent of land for cattle rearing on a temporary basis.

Ratnayaka advised the Forest Conservation Department to seek the advice of the Attorney General to resolve any legal issues that may arise in carrying out these activities and instructed heads of all related line institutions accordingly.

Litro Gas on Monday (5) announced that the prices of domestic cooking gas cyclinders will be increased with effect from midnight.

Price revision is as follows:

12.5 kg increased by Rs. 250/- to Rs. 4,610/- (Previous Price was Rs. 4,360/-)

5 kg increased by Rs. 100/- to Rs. 1,850/- (Previous Price was Rs. 1,750/-)

2.3 kg increased by Rs. 45/- to Rs. 860/- (Previous Price was Rs. 815/-).

• This price revision applies to the Colombo District.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that a bill on gender equality and women's empowerment will be submitted to Parliament soon and he also instructed the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus to prepare the bill.

The President emphasized that women's representation should be increased not only in the Parliament but also in other sectors and the public sector as well as the private sector should focus their attention in this regard.

The President pointed out that the representation of women in the First Council of Sri Lanka was 2% and 91 years after universal suffrage, the representation of women in the current parliament is only 5.3%.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe made these observations by joining the Committee Stage Debate on the budget proposal for the financial year 2023 in parliament on Thursday (01).

Statement issued by the President's Media Division:

“I expect to speak especially on the Ministry under me. We thank the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus for commencing a 16-day campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

It was in 1931 that Sri Lankans got the universal franchise. However, the State Council did not have any female representation. The group of females including former President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s grandmother requested the Donoughmore Commission to permit the females to contest at the election as well. At the election, not a single female won a seat. Eight months later after the demise of my great grandfather J H Meedeniya, Mrs Mollamure was appointed.

On the other hand, Mrs Florence Senanayake was appointed from the opposition side. Hence, the female representation in 1931 was 2 per cent and after 91 years after the universal franchise was achieved, we have increased the female representation up to 5.3 per cent which is not satisfactory.

However, the UK parliament did not have 2 per cent female representation in 1931but Canada, Lok Sabha, Australia etc have increased it by now. We all are responsible for not doing so.

In 2015 we proposed to increase the female representation at the Provincial Councils but could do it due to the amendment. However, the proportion of females in our society is 52 per cent. That’s why I asked the Women Parliamentarians Caucus to attend to that matter. We are drafting two acts related to Gender Equality and Women Empowerment.

It is also proposed to establish an independent commission under the name of the National Women’s Commission to give leadership and make recommendations to the Parliament to intervene in matters relating to gender equality and women empowerment. The government supports it and I hope the Opposition side too would support it. We also have planned to appoint a female Ombudsman.

We have much to talk about on this matter. When we look at the estate sector, and garment factories, most of the employees are females but there is not a single woman director in them. Not only the Private sector but the government sector too has done the same mistake, as the scenario in the Corporations is the same. We can address it by way of law. However, where the education sector, health and administrative sector are concerned, female representation is higher. But in the private sector, we don’t find this development and it should be improved. But when we look at the numbers receiving education, more than 50 per cent are female which is not reflected at the higher level of employment.

In addition, the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus has been assigned to attend to Child affairs as well. The number of orphan children being looked after by the government is very low. The Caucus has to look into the protection of those children as well. We have to attend to the matter of elders and disabled persons. The amount that we can allocate for them has dropped as we settle loans, paid salaries or maintained loss-making institutions. But the curtain and what is in front of the curtain are nice. But nobody is looking behind a different curtain. Earlier this ministry was not considered to be important under any government but now we are considering granting other ministries to female members. In India Finance Ministry, and Defence Ministry were held by females. Liz Truss was also the Foreign Minister. So we should attend to these matters and hence I instructed the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus to propose to formulate the required laws. We have a responsibility to increase women's representation not only in parliament and politics but in all other areas as well.

I also instructed the Minister to address the issues related to Samurdhi. The issue there is some needy people are not receiving Samurdhi benefits while some who are not needy are getting them. We have to remove those who are not eligible. Some decisions may not be popular but the Parliament should be strong to get the correct decision. Though I don’t talk much about education as the minister will address it. Do we need the same schools we had when free education was introduced in 1946 or the same schools we had in 1980? I think we need schools that look ahead to 25 years beyond 2023.

The entire system that we are used to will change. MP Eran Wickramaratne will tell you all that we may not have brick-and-mortar universities at the end of the day. It could be something else. However, why can’t we be the regional hub for that? Sri Lanka can be a regional hub for education. Let us make up our minds. You are allowing billions of dollars to go out, at least three billion. So not only can we retain that 3 billion, but if we do it right, we will be able to attract another 10 billion. We must do that.

Can we be saying these are students and taking in those who are 40-50 years and expect to rectify this system? That’s all I am saying. Some may attack me for it, but I don’t mind. That is a fact. I said it earlier as well, earlier, we entered universities and passed out by the age of 21 or 22. Yet today, how many pass out by that age?

I think many can pass out by the age of 21-22. We were law students at the time and we all passed out by that age. Yet, can this be done today? So are we going to face this issue or not? That is the question and that is why I ask if we are all going to face this issue and stop it.

Young men and women must pass out and leave university by the age 21-22. Then they can have jobs. Now we have to tailor the courses to suit the job market. In the future, we may experience a shortage of job opportunities in the job market, especially in the arts and social science fields. Hence, I would like the national council and the other committees of parliament to focus their attention on this issue. This issue could only be resolved if the matter is presented to these committees. The only issue that remains is whether the government is going to do it alone or whether the Opposition will join with the government and support its program or whether they will get onto the streets and start protesting. So we have to decide which course of action we are going to take. Developing the education sector is a step taken for the betterment of the future generations.”

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has warned Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) against political interference in its affairs.

The ICC will send an official if any such instances are reported, it has written to Sri Lanka’s cricket governing body.

The SLC in turn has referred the letter to the Sports Ministry, deshaya.lk reports.

The warning comes amid reports of a group with political backing trying to get an interim committee appointed for cricket’s administration.

The SLC receives an average annual ICC grant of three million US dollars as well as additional payments for Sri Lanka’s participation in international fixtures.

The Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) still remains undecided whether to pursue legal action to get compensation for the worst maritime disaster to hit Sri Lanka.

It is now 18 months since X-Press Pearl caught fire off Colombo, and just six months remain to seek redress through courts.

MEPA chairperson Darshani Lahandapura has told BBC Sinhala Service the attorney general or the Australian law firm that provides legal advice on the matter is yet to make any official intimation.

An expert involved in a consultant capacity said that even if the matter is taken to courts, the extent of damage to the environment cannot be determined by 20 May 2023.

Extensive damage to the coastal environment and marine life were caused by the May 2021 sinking of the ship.

At the time, it had been carrying 25 tons of nitric acid and 1,486 container-loads of other chemicals and cosmetics.