News

Former Minister Wimal Weerawansa has informed authorities that he is unable to appear before the Tangalle Divisional Crime Investigation Unit today.

He has requested that an alternative date be scheduled for his appearance. Accordingly, Weerawansa has been asked to appear before the Tangalle CID on Sunday, October12.

He was initially summoned at 10:00 a.m. today to provide a statement regarding comments he made about an individual named Beliatte Sana.

Beliatte Sana, who was recently arrested along with a vessel in connection with a drug-related operation in Tangalle, is currently being questioned under a detention order.

The Department of Meteorology has warned that atmospheric conditions remain conducive for evening thunderstorms across several parts of the island today (05).

Accordingly, the public is urged to take necessary precautions to minimize potential damages caused by heavy rainfall, strong winds, and lightning during these thundershowers.

Showers or thundershowers are expected in many provinces after 1.00 p.m., while intermittent showers may also occur in the morning in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, and North-Western provinces, as well as in the Galle, Matara, Jaffna, and Mannar districts.

Meanwhile, the Met Department forecasts that certain areas in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-Central, and Uva provinces, along with the Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts, could experience heavy rainfall exceeding 75 mm.

The female elephant belonging to the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya has died a short while ago, temple officials confirmed.

According to a temple official, the elephant, aged 76, passed away earlier today within the temple premises.

The elephant, known among devotees as “Manika,” had long been part of the Bellanwila temple’s cultural and religious activities, including annual peraheras and temple events.

Former Minister Wimal Weerawansa has been instructed to appear before the Tangalle Police the day after tomorrow.

This summons relates to an inquiry concerning a statement he made to the media about an individual named 'Beliatte Sana'

He is required to appear at the Tangalle Police Station at 10 a.m. on that day.

The national ceremony to mark World Habitat Day was held today (05) at the Temple Tress under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Coinciding with the United Nations’ World Habitat Day, the national commemoration was held under the theme “A Place to Belong – A Beautiful Life”.

In line with this, the period from 1st to 5th October was declared Habitat Week, during which a series of related programmes were implemented across the country, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).

As part of the housing development programme implemented by the National Housing Development Authority to provide homes for nearly 4,000 low-income families who lack the financial means to build their own houses, 1,000 completed houses were officially handed over to beneficiaries by the President through digital technology during the event.

On this occasion, the symbolic presentation of the Ambatale Water Supply Project proposed to be implemented with the assistance of the Government of India and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and facilitated by the UN-Habitat Sri Lanka Office was also formally made to the President.

Under the programme to provide land deeds to 1,000 beneficiaries whose ownership documents had been delayed due to various reasons, 357 symbolic land deeds were presented to recipients. Additionally, under the initiative to offer financial assistance of one million rupees each to 1,000 low-income families without the means to construct their own homes, 157 beneficiaries were symbolically presented with cheques by the President.

Marking World Habitat Day, the President also presented awards to the winners of the island wide art competition held in connection with the occasion, as well as to the winners of various programmes implemented by the Urban Development Authority, the PMD said.

Meanwhile, the President also visited the art exhibition organised to promote the creative talents of schoolchildren in celebration of World Habitat Day and the exhibition of design concepts related to housing planning.

Addressing this ceremonial event, the Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, Anura Karunathilaka, stated that the present government has formulated and is implementing a comprehensive programme aimed at realising the housing dreams of the people of the country, it added.

He further noted that the government has recognised the need for a systematic approach to housing planning, while fostering a broader dialogue within society on the concept of housing. The Minister emphasised that the government is committed to creating a safe, comfortable and dignified living environment for all citizens.

The message of the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, for World Habitat Day was presented on this occasion by Harshini Halangoda, the Programme Manager of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in Sri Lanka.

Among those present were the Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Anil Jayantha Fernando; the Deputy Minister of Housing, T. B. Sarath; the Governor of the Western Province, Haniff Yusuf; the Mayor of Colombo, Vraie Cally Balthazar; and Navya Singla, First Secretary (Political) of the High Commission of India, along with other representatives of the Indian High Commission.

Also in attendance were G. M. R. D. Aponsu, Senior Additional Secretary to the President; Ranjith Ariyaratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing; and Mr. Sampath Manthrinayake,, Secretary to the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, together with the Chairman and senior officials of the Urban Development Authority.

--PMD--

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has announced that it will issue its decision on the Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) proposal to increase electricity tariffs by the end of the second week of this month.

The CEB submitted the proposal to the PUCSL on 10 September 2025, requesting a 6.8% increase in electricity tariffs.

Accordingly, the PUCSL commenced obtaining the public opinions through public consultations in the Eastern Province on the 18 September, 2025.

The PUCSL has received public comments from eight provinces across the island, with participation exceeding 500 people, PUCSL’s Director of Communications, Jayanath Herath, stated.

He further stated that the final session for public consultations will be held on 8 October 2025, focusing on the Western Province.

The PUCSL is reviewing the submitted public comments while taking into account the estimated cost of electricity generation by the CEB, the cost of fuel procurement for power plants, distribution expenses, and the revenue collected from electricity tariffs for debt repayment.

Accordingly, after considering all relevant factors, the final report on the proposed revision of electricity tariffs is scheduled to be released.

A total of 731 individuals have been selected for appointment to the post of Postal Assistant Grade III under the Primary Non-Skilled Service Category of the Department of Posts.

The permanent appointment letters for the selected group are scheduled to be issued tomorrow (06) at the Temple Trees premises under the patronage of the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.

The Department of Posts has not made any permanent recruitment for Postal Assistants since 2021, resulting in 1,982 vacancies by the end of last year.

With such a substantial number of vacancies, the operations of the Department were facing a serious crisis. To address this, the Cabinet of Ministers, at the request of Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, approved the recruitment of 1,000 of the relevant vacancies on 19 August 2025.

Accordingly, the 731 individuals were selected for recruitment from among those who met the requisite qualifications and had been registered as substitute employees of the Department of Posts to date.

The Ministry of Health and Mass Media is also taking measures to recruit 269 additional Postal Assistants in the near future.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Sri Lanka’s economic reform program continues to make “impressive progress,” with the country showing strong signs of recovery under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement.

Speaking at a press briefing in Washington on October 2, IMF Communications Director Julie Kozack said Sri Lanka’s inflation remains low, government revenue collection has improved, and international reserves continue to rise.

She noted that the post-crisis economic rebound has been significant, with growth reaching 5 percent in 2024.

“The revenue-to-GDP ratio in the budget improved to 13.5 percent of GDP from 8.2 percent in 2022, which is also a significant increase, although still work to be done,” Kozack stated, adding that the country’s debt restructuring process is “nearly complete.”

The IMF Board completed the Fourth Review of Sri Lanka’s EFF arrangement on July 1, releasing US$350 million in support and bringing total disbursements to US$1.74 billion.

Kozack confirmed that an IMF mission is currently in Sri Lanka conducting the Fifth Review of the EFF.

“Given that the team is now currently in discussions with the authorities, I won’t say more other than to say that, of course, the team will communicate at the end of the mission,” she said.

She added that program performance remains strong and that the Sri Lankan government is “committed to the program’s objectives,” which include restoring macroeconomic stability, ensuring debt sustainability, and promoting structural reforms to boost growth.

A suspect wanted by the police in connection with an attempted murder by shooting in Panchikawatta area of Maradana, has been arrested by officers of the Colombo North Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau.

The suspect was arrested yesterday (04) on Abeysingharama Road, within the Maradana Police Division, following a tip-off received by the bureau.

At the time of the arrest, police also recovered 22 grams and 200 milligrams of the narcotic substance known as ‘Ice’ from his possession.

The suspect has been identified as a 40-year-old resident of the Embilipitiya area, police said.

Further investigations have revealed that the suspect is the gunman involved in the attempted murder by shooting that took place in the Panchikawatte area, within the Maradana Police Division, on September 6, 2025.

The Colombo North Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau had launched an investigation into the incident, during which three suspects including the motorcyclist involved in the crime were previously arrested and remanded after being produced before the court.

The Colombo North Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau is conducting further investigations into the incident.

(adaderana.lk)

The bulletproof vehicle assigned for the protection of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been officially returned, according to a statement issued by his media spokesperson, Attorney-at-Law Manoj Gamage.

Gamage said the vehicle was handed back to the relevant company on Thursday (3), following instructions from the Presidential Secretariat. He explained that, after the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Act came into effect, the Presidential Secretary had informed on September 24 that all official assets — including vehicles and the official residence — belonging to the fifth Executive President must be surrendered.

He added that the support vehicle used by Rajapaksa’s security personnel was also returned.

Gamage warned that the move has compromised the former President’s security, noting that discussions will be held next week with the Inspector General of Police, the Defence Secretary, and heads of the security forces to request the necessary vehicles to ensure Rajapaksa’s safety.

At least three people have been killed and three others injured in a tragic road accident involving a lorry and a bus near Narammala town on the Narammala–Kurunegala main road this morning (05), according to police.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the lorry, which had been travelling from Kurunegala towards Narammala, veered off the right side of the road after its driver reportedly lost control. The vehicle then collided head-on with a Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus en route from Katunayake to Akkaraipattu.

Six people, including the driver, two women, two children, and another male who were in the lorry, sustained injuries and were rushed to the Narammala and Kurunegala hospitals. However, the lorry driver, a male passenger, and one woman later succumbed to their injuries.

Police said the deceased—aged 41, 80, and 82—were residents of Polonnaruwa. Meanwhile, a 40-year-old woman and two girls aged 16 and 9 remain under treatment at the Kurunegala Hospital.

The bodies of the victims have been placed at the Narammala and Kurunegala hospital morgues. The driver of the bus has been arrested, while Narammala Police have launched further investigations into the fatal crash.

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has issued a statement clarifying that the proposed amendment to the Penal Code (Section 19) concerning corporal punishment of children has not been enacted into law.

The Minister said that while Parliament held a second reading debate on the Penal Code Amendment Bill on September 24, it was only a discussion and not a passage into law.

He further noted that in order for such an amendment to take effect, a corresponding change would also have to be made to the Code of Criminal Procedure. Since that has not yet been done, the Bill remains pending.

Nanayakkara added that changes to the Bill could still be taken up during the committee stage in Parliament where amendments can be brought forward.

The Minister reiterated that the amendment regarding corporal punishment remains at the debate stage and has not been passed as legislation.