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The 'Dinana Dakuna Collective' states that building right-wing political unity cannot be done by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the United National Party (UNP) two parties coming together; to achieve it better, a political alliance based on right-wing ideological unity is essential.

Issuing a press release, it states that the 'Dinana Dakuna Collective' is not just an alliance aimed at gaining political power but one which emphasizes the need to build a political movement with a more right-wing ideological basis.

The statement also claimed that their main proposal is that the ability to overcome future economic challenges will be possible only through a correct right-wing vision of economic development and wealth distribution.

The Collective also proposes accepting the free market economy as a primary tool for wealth generation, emphasizing individual freedom and responsibility, evidence-based policymaking, and a liberal welfare system.

According to the MET Department, rainy condition is expected to continue further in Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces.

Cloudy skies are expected over most parts of the island.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Northern, Eastern, North-central, Uva, Central and Southern provinces.

Very heavy showers above 150 mm can be expected at some places in Eastern and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district.

Heavy showers above 100 mm can be expected at some places in Northern province and in Matale, Nuwara-Eliya, Polonnaruwa, Galle and Matara Districts.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places elsewhere.

Fairly strong winds of (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Eastern slope of the central hills and Northern, North-central, Eastern and North-western provinces and in Hambantota and Monaragala districts.

The inaugural ceremony to mark the Chinese New Year festival was held under the patronage of Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya in Colombo on Sunday (Jan 19).

According to the PM’s Office, the event was jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Colombo.

The inaugural ceremony took place at the Cinnamon Life Hotel, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

During the event, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya delivered a congratulatory message from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, for the occasion of the Chinese New Year.

The celebration was attended by former President Maithripala Sirisena, former PM Dinesh Gunawardena, Industry Minister Sunil Handunnetti, Deputy Minister Finance and Planning Dr. Harshana Sooriyapperuma and other political dignitaries, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong, the PM’s Secretary Pradeep Saputhanthri, as well as a large gathering of Sri Lankans and Chinese nationals.

A special delegation comprising 34 members from the Henan Art Troupe and the Sichuan Chef Team also arrived in Sri Lanka as part of the New Year celebrations.

The PM’s Office further said that in addition, the festivities will feature the “Chinese Food Festival” and the “Port City Chinese Cultural Night,” scheduled to take place from January 20 to 23.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has arrived in the island, a short while ago, following the conclusion of his four-day state visit to China.

On the final day of his visit, President Disanayake held a meeting this morning with Wang Xiaohui, the Secretary of the Communist Party of China for the Sichuan Province.

Subsequently, the President toured the Dongfang Electric Corporation located in the Chengdu City, the capital city of the province of Sichuan.

Marking the conclusion of his state visit, President Disanayake also visited the Shanqi Model Village, which showcases sustainable rural development and revitalization efforts, as well as the National Science, Technology, and Agriculture Centre in Sichuan.

The delegation accompanying the President included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath and the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, Bimal Rathnayake, who participated in these engagements..

All government schools in the North-Central Province will remain closed tomorrow (20 January) due to adverse weather conditions, according to the Provincial Education Secretary.

The Governor of the Eastern Province has announced that all schools in the province will remain closed tomorrow (20) due to the prevailing adverse weather conditions.

The Ministry of Energy has issued a special announcement regarding the revision of electricity tariffs recommended by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) today.

Accordingly, it states that once the new electricity tariff revision recommended by the PUCSL is officially received, it will be implemented by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) following the advice of the Ministry of Finance.

The PUCSL today announced that it has decided to reduce electricity tariffs by an average amount of 20% overall with effect from midnight today (17) and that this is for the first 06 months of the year.

Former Minister Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa has been taken into custody by the Walana Anti-Corruption Unit for allegedly possessing an illegally assembled truck, police reported.

The arrest took place following an investigation led by the anti-corruption authorities, who discovered that the truck in question had been assembled in violation of legal standards. Further inquiries into the incident are currently underway, officials added.

The former minister is expected to be presented before the relevant magistrate court as investigations continue.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, currently on a four-day state visit to China, met with the Secretary of the Communist Party of China for Sichuan Province, Wang Xiaohui this morning (Jan 17).

According to a President’s Office statement, Chengdu, one of the happiest cities in China, is the capital of Sichuan Province and a leading city where the blend of cultural heritage and development harmoniously flourishes, offering its residents a high quality of life.

During the discussions, both sides explored the potential to elevate economic, trade, cultural, tourism, and intergovernmental relations between Sichuan and Sri Lanka to new heights.

Sichuan’s significant achievements in various sectors, including energy, were acknowledged, and the President invited the Secretary of the Sichuan province to share their expertise and success stories with Sri Lanka.

President Dissanayake emphasized that Sri Lanka is currently on a path to economic stabilization under a transparent and investor-friendly administration.

He noted that the country is at a critical political turning point, with the current government empowered by a two-thirds majority granted by a united population from the north, east, west, and south. “The government is fully committed to meeting the expectations placed upon it by its citizens,” he said.

Additionally, the President underscored Sri Lanka’s attractiveness as a destination for Chinese tourists and extended a warm invitation to the people of Sichuan to visit the island and experience its exceptional hospitality.

Joining the discussions were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath and Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake.

Veteran journalist and former Editor of the ‘Ravaya’ newspaper, Victor Ivan has passed away at the age of 75, family members confirmed to Ada Derana.

He had reportedly passed away while receiving treatment at a hospital, where he had been admitted for several months due to an illness.

A prominent investigative journalist, political critic, theorist and social activist, he was also an author of several books.

A Marxist rebel in his youth, Victor Ivan later became the Editor of the controversial Sinhalese newspaper ‘Ravaya’. He served as the Editor of the Ravaya for 25 years consecutively since its inception.

He entered the field of journalism in 1986, at a time when the country was in turmoil with the outbreak of violent youth insurrections.

“The Ravaya”, the monthly magazine that he launched soon became popular among the readers and turned out to be the magazine of highest demand at that time. He later upgraded the Ravaya magazine into a tabloid size weekly newspaper, committed to exposing the corruptions and wrongdoings taking place in the country.

Famous books authored by him include “Chaurya Rajina” in Sinhala on former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaranatunga and the period of her rule. The English translation of it was published under the title “The Queen of Deceit”. He also authored “Pansale Viplawaya”, which was translated into English titled “Revolt in the Temple-The Buddhist Revival up to Gangodawila Some Thera –”

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Power and Energy and China’s Sinopec Corporation have signed an agreement to build an oil refinery in Hambantota with an investment of USD 3.7 billion.

The agreement was signed during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s current state visit to China, marking the highest foreign investment secured by the government, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

The proposed oil refinery has a capacity of 200,000 barrels of oil, of which a significant amount is planned to be exported.

This massive investment received by Sri Lanka from China will contribute to the economic growth of the country as well as strengthening the livelihoods of the low-income people in the Hambantota area, and the entire Sri Lankan people very soon, the PMD said in a statement.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Ratnayake, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong, and Sri Lankan Ambassador to China Majintha Jayasinghe also participated in this event.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said that it is the Government’s intention to provide justice to the people who are deprived of the same due to rewards and sponsorships.

She made this statement at the occasion of declaring the renovated Court of Appeal building to the public yesterday.

The renovations of the building were carried out by the expense of People’s Republic of China in the form of a total donation.

Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further expressed her gratitude to the People’s Republic of China for their generosity and support in providing justice to the people of Sri Lanka.

The Colombo High Court today sentenced Gampola Vidanalage Samantha Kumara, also known as "Wele Suda," his wife, and another woman to eight years of rigorous imprisonment each.

The sentences were handed down by High Court Judge Aditya Patabendige following a lengthy trial.

The trio was found guilty under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act for possessing assets worth millions of rupees, which were acquired through heroin trafficking.

In addition to the prison sentences, the court imposed fines on the convicts and ordered the confiscation of illegally acquired assets, including money and gold.