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Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa stated that despite Sri Lanka producing 2.8 million metric tons of rice annually while the country’s requirement amounts to only 2.4 million metric tons, rice continues to be imported — a matter he described as a national tragedy. He expressed these views during the parliamentary debate on agriculture, with a particular focus on paddy cultivation.

Ensuring financial strength is a duty of the government

“The so-called National Agricultural Policy being formulated by the present government should not remain confined to paper; it must be realized in practice. Until such time, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya will stand firmly for the rights of the farming community. We must reflect on the factors that have contributed to the decline in productivity of paddy cultivation. During a period when Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector was performing at a high level, the ban on chemical fertilizer was introduced. As a result, paddy production dropped by 34%. Even today, fertilizer usage remains 35% lower than the recommended level. Therefore, it is the duty of the government to provide the necessary financial strength to encourage farmers to apply fertilizer at the recommended levels in upcoming seasons, and such support must be extended through extension services.”

The issue of guaranteed prices

“There continues to be a problem with the guaranteed price. Although it is claimed that farmers are offered Rs. 120 per kilogram, this is not a true guaranteed price but rather a controlled price mechanism. No government has ever purchased the entire harvest; what is bought is a limited quantity, also under price control. Even ministers of the government themselves have acknowledged that this stable price should be between Rs. 140 and Rs. 150.

Rising costs of paddy cultivation

“Although there has been talk of enacting a guaranteed price law through parliamentary regulations, this has not materialized. Meanwhile, the farmer continues to suffer due to high costs ranging from seed, fuel, fertilizer, and equipment to other necessary activities. Hence, there must be a program to dismantle monopolies and empower small- and medium-scale mill owners. The government should take the lead in strengthening them, both through clear programs and financial support. In addition, key actors within the value chain must be properly managed.

“There is also a shortage of certified seed paddy. While only 16% of the requirement is currently met, this must be increased to 25%, and better varieties should be developed.”

The need for modern technology

“Modern technology must be utilized to secure high-quality harvests similar to those achieved in the Netherlands. To this end, fertilizer subsidies must be provided adequately and on time. The reality is that the financial allocation for fertilizer subsidies at present is insufficient. Although the country has storage capacity for 350,000 metric tons, the facilities within the state sector too must be expanded.”

Addressing the human–elephant conflict

“Moreover, effective solutions must be found to the human–elephant conflict, in order to minimize crop damage, loss of life, and property destruction. A comprehensive program addressing these concerns should be implemented.

“In the broader cycle of agriculture, from production through to marketing, the government must establish a well-coordinated and structured approach. A National Crop Plan and a National Agricultural Plan are essential to ensure long-term stability and productivity within the sector.”

Leader of the Samabima Party, Deepthi Kumara Gunarathne, has raised serious concerns over the growing trend of crime becoming commercialised, with potentially devastating consequences for the society.

During a discussion on the Ideas Front Youtube channel, he noted that society is approaching a dangerous point where criminals are being humanised to the extent that their wrongful actions risk being normalised.

Gunarathne criticised what he described as a “new narrative” portraying criminals as ordinary people with families and aspirations, calling it a “mistaken and harmful” approach.

Meanwhile, political analyst Vipula Karunathilaka, who also participated in the discussion, highlighted troubling practices within the police force, particularly self-promotion and internal promotions without proper institutional checks.

He warned that such actions pose significant risks to law enforcement integrity and noted that no effective institution globally permits such unchecked behaviour.

The discussion was moderated by journalist Narada Bakmeewewa.

(lankaleader.lk)

OREM, Utah (AP) — Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump who played an influential role in rallying young Republican voters, was shot and killed Wednesday at a Utah college event in what the governor called a political assassination carried out from a rooftop.

“This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation,” said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. “I want to be very clear this is a political assassination.”

No suspect was in custody late Wednesday, though authorities were searching for a new person of interest, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss the situation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. Two people were detained earlier in the day but neither was determined to have had any connection to the shooting and both have been released, Utah public safety officials said.

Authorities did not immediately identify a motive but the circumstances of the shooting drew renewed attention to an escalating threat of political violence in the United States that in the last several years has cut across the ideological spectrum. The assassination drew bipartisan condemnation, but a national reckoning over ways to prevent political grievances from manifesting as deadly violence seemed elusive.

Videos posted to social media from Utah Valley University show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent emblazoned with the slogans “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.” A single shot rings out and Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as a large volume of blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators are heard gasping and screaming before people start to run away. The Associated Press was able to confirm the videos were taken at Sorensen Center courtyard on the Utah Valley University campus.

Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by his nonprofit political organization. Immediately before the shooting, Kirk was taking questions from an audience member about mass shootings and gun violence.

“Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” the person asked. Kirk responded, “Too many.”

The questioner followed up: “Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?”

“Counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk asked.

Then a single shot rang out. The shooter, who Cox pledged would be held accountable in a state with the death penalty, wore dark clothing and fired from a building roof some distance away to the courtyard where the event took place.

Some 3,000 people were in attendance, according to a statement from the Utah Department of Public Safety, which also said the university police department had six officers working the event along with Kirk’s own security detail.

The death was announced on social media by Trump, who praised the 31-year-old Kirk, the co-founder and CEO of the youth organization Turning Point USA, as “Great, and even Legendary.” Later Wednesday, he released a recorded video from the White House in which he called Kirk a “martyr for truth and freedom” and blamed the rhetoric of the “radical left” for the killing.

Utah Valley University said the campus was immediately evacuated and remained closed. Classes were canceled until further notice. Those still on campus were asked to stay in place until police officers could safely escort them off campus. Armed officers walked around the neighborhood bordering the campus, knocking on doors and asking for information on the shooter.

Officers were seen looking at a photo on their phones and showing it to people to see if they recognized a person of interest.

The event, billed as the first stop on Kirk’s “The American Comeback Tour,” had generated a polarizing campus reaction. An online petition calling for university administrators to bar Kirk from appearing received nearly 1,000 signatures. The university issued a statement last week citing First Amendment rights and affirming its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue.”

Last week, Kirk posted on X images of news clips showing his visit was sparking controversy. He wrote, “What’s going on in Utah?”

The shooting drew swift condemnation across the political aisle as Democratic officials joined Trump, who ordered flags lowered to half-staff and issued a presidential proclamation, and Republican allies of Kirk in decrying the violence.

“The attack on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile, and reprehensible,” Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who last March hosted Kirk on his podcast, posted on X.

“The murder of Charlie Kirk breaks my heart. My deepest sympathies are with his wife, two young children, and friends,” said Gabrielle Giffords, the former Democratic congresswoman who was wounded in a 2011 shooting in her Arizona district.

The shooting appeared poised to become part of a spike of political violence that has touched a range of ideologies and representatives of both major parties. The attacks include the assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband at their house in June, the firebombing of a Colorado parade to demand Hamas release hostages, and a fire set at the house of Pennsylvania’s governor, who is Jewish, in April. The most notorious of these events is the shooting of Trump during a campaign rally last year.

Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, a Republican who was at Wednesday’s event, said in an interview on Fox News Channel that he heard one shot and saw Kirk go back.

“It seemed like it was a close shot,” Chaffetz said, who seemed shaken as he spoke.

He said there was a light police presence at the event and Kirk had some security but not enough.

“Utah is one of the safest places on the planet,” he said. “And so we just don’t have these types of things.”

Turning Point was founded in suburban Chicago in 2012 by Kirk, then 18, and William Montgomery, a tea party activist, to proselytize on college campuses for low taxes and limited government. It was not an immediate success.

But Kirk’s zeal for confronting liberals in academia eventually won over an influential set of conservative financiers.

Despite early misgivings, Turning Point enthusiastically backed Trump after he clinched the GOP nomination in 2016. Kirk served as a personal aide to Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, during the general election campaign.

Soon, Kirk was a regular presence on cable TV, where he leaned into the culture wars and heaped praise on the then-president. Trump and his son were equally effusive and often spoke at Turning Point conferences.

AP News

The owner of the bus involved in the accident on the Ella–Wellawaya road has been taken into custody for failing to properly maintain the vehicle.

The bus, carrying a group of passengers on an excursion from Tangalle, veered off the road and plunged into a precipice near the 24th kilometer post along the Ella–Wellawaya main road, within the Ella Police Division, on the 4th. The accident claimed the lives of 15 individuals.

Among the deceased were the Secretary of the Tangalle Municipal Council, Mr. T.W.K. Rupasena, and 12 other employees of the Council.

Prime Minister and Minister of Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya yesterday (09) assured Parliament that no student of the Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine will face injustice as the government moves to resolve ongoing issues at the institution.

Responding to a question from MP Ramanathan Archchuna, the Prime Minister confirmed that a committee appointed to investigate the matter has submitted two key recommendations - either to affiliate existing courses with other universities or to continue operating the university independently with enhanced resources.

“Discussions are ongoing to select the most appropriate path forward. Whatever the decision, it will be implemented in a way that protects every student’s right to complete their education without disruption,” Dr. Amarasuriya told Parliament.

She emphasized that existing course specializations would not be changed, and where programs are unique to the university, further consultations will be held to ensure academic and professional viability.

The government is also addressing broader challenges. Consultations have been held to revise curricula for programs under the Faculty of Indigenous Health Sciences & Technology, particularly in Indigenous Medicinal Resources and Indigenous Pharmaceutical Technology. Similar reviews are planned for other faculties.

Efforts are underway to link degree programs with employment opportunities, including curriculum changes for programs lacking clear job pathways.

Infrastructure upgrades are also planned, including relocating the Nugegoda-based faculty to a more suitable facility in Gampaha.

New admissions to three faculties — Indigenous Health Sciences & Technology, Indigenous Social Sciences & Management, and Graduate Studies — have been temporarily suspended, following instructions from the University Grants Commission.

The Prime Minister also added that investigations into alleged irregularities in academic staff recruitment are ongoing and that legal action will be pursued where appropriate.

(lankaleader.lk)

SriLankan Airlines has suspended all flights to Nepal following the closure of Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Tuesday due to escalating violence. The shutdown, announced via a NOTAM(Notice to Air Missions/Men), forced airlines—including Indian carriers and several international operators—to cancel or divert flights, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. TIA, which normally handles over 250 daily flights from carriers such as Air India, IndiGo, Fly Dubai, and Singapore Airlines, will remain closed until the NOTAM is lifted.

Sri Lanka’s judiciary took a step toward digitalisation on Tuesday as the Supreme Court launched a facility to accept case-related payments via debit and credit cards.

The system was inaugurated under the patronage of Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena at the Supreme Court premises in Colombo.

It enables lawyers and the public to settle payments such as fines, case fees, stamp duties, and charges for certified copies through both card transactions and online platforms.

Officials said the move marks the initial phase of automating payments in the court system, with plans to extend the facility from magistrates’ courts to the Supreme Court.

The launch was attended by members of the Judicial Service Commission, Bar Association of Sri Lanka President Rajiv Amarasuriya, and court registrars.

Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry announced that a fast-track programme for digitising court services will formally commence on September 12, under the guidance of Chief Justice Surasena and with the participation of Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara at the Judicial Training Institute in Hulftsdorp.

The Central Bank inaugurated the Financial Literacy Month on 10 September, signifying a pivotal milestone in the nation’s progressive journey toward financial inclusion.

This initiative is being carried out under the framework of the Financial Literacy Roadmap, aligned with the Central Bank’s overarching vision of creating a ‘Financially Literate Sri Lanka’.

Throughout the month, a series of impactful activities unfold, underscoring the Central Bank’s steadfast commitment to equipping the public with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for transforming financial behavior, fostering prudent decision-making, and advancing sustainable economic well-being.

As part of its continuous efforts to strengthen financial literacy across the country, the Central Bank implements a series of nationwide initiatives targeting diverse groups, including schoolchildren, university students, youth, women, and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

These initiatives ensure inclusive and accessible financial education for all segments of society. Key highlights of the initiative include insightful financial literacy discussions disseminated through mainstream media channels such as television, radio, and YouTube, along with the telecast of educational videos to extend outreach to wider audiences.

Six regional level “Financial Literacy Day” Programmes and one “Economic and Financial Literacy Forum” are conducted, facilitating direct interaction with local communities.

In addition, specialized awareness sessions are organized with a strong emphasis on empowering youth, women, and MSMEs to make informed and confident financial decisions.

Moreover, in collaboration with the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka, the Central Bank introduces the “Certified Trainer in Financial Literacy” programme, aimed at cultivating a cadre of qualified trainers. A 'Training of Trainers' initiative delivered in Tamil medium also broadens accessibility for Tamil-speaking communities.

To reinforce awareness at the grassroot level, the Central Bank disseminates notebooks, name-tag stickers, and bookmarks imprinted with vital financial literacy messages.

Complementing these efforts, the Central Bank facilitates the “Investment Week” programme organized by the University of Kelaniya, to promote a culture of savings, investment, and responsible financial behavior among the public.

The Central Bank encourages the general public to actively engage in these financial literacy initiatives and contribute to building a financially literate and inclusive Sri Lanka.

(lankaleader.lk)

The second reading of the Bill to Abolish Presidential Privileges was debated in Parliament today (10).

At the conclusion of the vote, the Bill secured 151 votes in favor, while only 01 vote was cast against.

Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne informed Parliament that the Bill to Abolish Presidential Privileges was passed with a majority of 150 votes.

Pursuant to Article 121(1) of the Constitution, the Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, today (09) notified Parliament of the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the “Revocation of Former Presidents’ Privileges” Bill, which had been challenged before the Court.

The Supreme Court determined that the bill does not contravene any constitutional provisions and may be passed by a parliamentary majority. Furthermore, the petitioner had failed to comply with the mandatory procedures outlined in Article 121(1) when seeking judicial intervention, leading the Court to dismiss the petition (SC/SD/29/2025).

The National People’s Power party, during the previous presidential election, pledged to revoke the privileges of retired presidents and parliamentary ministers once in office. Following his election as President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake submitted the relevant proposal to the Cabinet. A committee, chaired by President Dissanayake, was subsequently appointed to determine the legal procedures required for this revocation.

At the recent Cabinet meeting, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa confirmed that the “Revocation of Former Presidents’ Privileges” Bill will be presented to Parliament.

Privileges to be Revoked

 The following privileges will cease from the date the Act comes into effect and will no longer be provided or paid:

 - Any residence or monthly allowance provided to a former president or their spouse;

 - Any monthly secretarial allowance, official transport, and other facilities provided to a former president or their spouse; and

 - Any monthly pension paid to the spouse of a former president.

Who Will Lose the Privileges?

If the new bill is passed by Parliament, the privileges currently enjoyed by living retired presidents and the spouses of deceased retired presidents will no longer be granted.

Sri Lanka’s first executive president, J.R. Jayewardene, and the third executive president, D.B. Wijetunga, along with their spouses, are no longer alive.

Hema Premadasa, the widow of Ranasinghe Premadasa (who served as the second executive president), is still alive, and if the bill is passed, she could lose these privileges.

Similarly, the living former presidents—Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and Ranil Wickremesinghe—will also lose all such privileges if the new bill is approved by Parliament.

https://documents.gov.lk/view/bills/2025/8/627-2025_E.pdf

Former Mayor of the Moratuwa Municipal Council Saman Lal Fernando has been arrested.

He has been arrested by officers attached to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) at around 12:50 p.m. today (10).

The Bribery Commission stated the former Mayor has been arrested in connection with an allegation of causing losses to the government by awarding road development projects of the Moratuwa Municipal Council to his associates.

He has reportedly granted 112 contracts using his own discretion and issued payments in violation of accepted procedures.

Former Mayor of the Moratuwa Municipal Council Saman Lal Fernando is scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate today, the Bribery Commission stated.

(adaderana.lk)

The Bribery Commission informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama that indictments have been filed in the High Court against former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, his wife, three daughters, and son-in-law under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Following this notification, proceedings in the case before the Magistrate’s Court were formally concluded.

The individuals named in the indictment are:

Keheliya Bandara Dissanayake Rambukwella

Kusum Priyadarshani Epa Weihena (wife)

Chamithri Jayanika Rambukwella (daughter)

Chandula Ramali Rambukwella (daughter)

Amali Nayanika Rambukwella (daughter)

Isuru Pulasthi Bandara Polgasdeniya (son-in-law)

The charges relate to allegations that, during his tenure as Minister of Mass Media, Health, and Environment between 2021 and 2023, Rambukwella appointed several associates to his personal staff and used their salaries and overtime payments—funded by the ministry—for personal and political activities.

The alleged misuse of public funds is estimated to have caused a loss exceeding Rs. 8 million to the government.

(english.newsfirst.lk)