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A Gazette notification has been issued by the Ministry of Sports announcing the temporary suspension of the registration of five National Associations/Federations of Sports.

The Gazette has been issued by Sports Minister Harin Fernando dated December 22, 2023.

The five National Associations/Federations of Sports are;

Sri Lanka Archery Association Sri Lanka Kabbadi Association Sri Lanka Wrestling Federation Sri Lanka Bridge Federation Sri Lanka Roller Skating Association

Veteran Sri Lankan actor and film director Rex Kodippili has passed away at the age of 85, family sources confirmed.

Primarily acting as a villain for the most of his career, Kodippili appeared in more than 150 films and produced two films.

He was also honored with Janabhimani Honorary Award in 2019.

Kodippili made his debut film appearance in Kathuru Muwath in 1971. Some of his most notable character roles came through the characters such as: ‘Kadira’ in the film Muwan Pelessa, ‘Daanu’ in the film Raktha, ‘Ratne Ayya’ in the film Sagarika and ‘Sergeant Silva’ in the film Koti Waligaya.

The Japanese Finance Ministry has announced that Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki will embark on a visit to Sri Lanka in January 2024, it was reported.

According to foreign media, the Japanese Finance Minister will visit Sri Lanka alongside his tour to Cambodia from 09-12 January.

During these visits, Suzuki aims to address economic challenges and strengthen financial cooperation between Tokyo and the two nations.

The Japanese Finance Minister is set to emphasize the critical need to advance debt restructuring efforts in Sri Lanka.

Suzuki is also reportedly expected to hold talks with President Ranil Wickremesinghe during his visit to Sri Lanka.

All wine shops and liquor sales outlets will be closed on 25 and 26 December, in view of Christmas Day (Dec.25) and Unduwap Full Moon Poya Day (Dec.26), as per the directives of the Commissioner General of the Excise Department.

However, the Excise Department noted that in consideration of the influx of tourists, and on behalf of their convenience, it has been decided to allow all star-class hotels approved by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) with valid liquor licenses to sell liquor on December 25.

However, all liquor stores including the SLTDA-approved establishments with valid liquor licenses will remain closed on Poya Day (Tuesday).

Cash offerings by devotees to Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devale has dropped by around half after a revelation that its custodians were claiming the gold and cash collections.

Instead, they are now donating to the Apeksha Hospital development fund at the main office of the Devale.

Also, they are not visiting the Maha Devale, but patronizing the Devale behind Kiri Vehera and at Abhinavaramaya.

This follows the order by the attorney general to arrest the chief custodian and his assistant over the disappearance of a gold plate.

Chief custodian Somipala Ratnayake has reportedly gone missing since.

The collection from a till in the past 11 months alone is Rs. 345 million, and the cash offerings could have been a few times higher than that.

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The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO), Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC) and Sinopec Energy Lanka have been directed to maintain 50% of their relevant fuel stocks, at minimum, at all filling stations.

Accordingly, State Minister of Power and Energy D.V. Chanaka disclosed that the relevant directive was issued by Minister Kanchana Wijesekera in a bid to avoid any shortages during the festive season.

Meanwhile, the Fuel Distributors’ Association, too, guaranteed that fuel supply at all filling stations will remain uninterrupted during the festive season.

On Friday (22 Dec.), Minister Wijesekera revealed that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has been instructed to suspend all planned power interruptions for non-essential maintenance work on weekends and during the holiday season, in order to ensure an uninterrupted supply of electricity.

The Ministry of Health announced on Monday that, according to current data, the spread of the new Covid-19 sub-strain JN-1 is minimal in Sri Lanka.

The statement highlighted a consistently low number of reported Covid-19 cases based on tests conducted over the past couple of months.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed several new Ministry Secretaries and two Chief Secretaries.

The appointments will be effective from the 1st of January 2024, said the President's Media Division.

Ms. Wasantha Perera has been appointed as the Secretary to the Ministry of Education

M. N. Ranasinghe was appointed as the Secretary for the Ministry of Justice, Prisons & Constitutional Reforms. He was the Former Education Ministry Secretary.

Gunadasa Samarasinghe has been appointed as the Secretary for the Ministry of Wildlife & Forest Resources Conservation

A.C. Mohammad Nafeel was appointed as the Secretary for the Ministry of Water Supply & Estate Infrastructure

W.P.P. Yasaratne has been appointed as the Secretary for the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils & Local Government

Saman Darshana Pandikorala has been appointed as the Secretary for the Ministry of Irrigation.

In addition, B. K. P. Chandrakeerthi was appointed as the Secretary to the Ministry of Education.

Dr. Sulakshana Jayawardena was appointed as the Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy.

Engineer Ranjith Rubasinghe was appointed as the Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Highways.

Dr. Dharmasri Kumaratunga was appointed as the Secretary to the Ministry of Technology.

Moreover, the President appointed several new Chief Secretaries as well.

R. M.W. S. Samaradiwakara was appointed as the Chief Secretary of the North Central Province.

S. L. D. K. Wijesinghe was appointed as the Chief Secretary of the Western Province.

In a Christmas message to the nation, President Ranil Wickremesinghe urged Sri Lankans to embrace the season's true meaning of hope, responsibility, and spiritual transformation.

While acknowledging the festive atmosphere, the President emphasized the importance of remembering the "authentic significance" of Jesus Christ's birth and the theme of "Sharing a meal with the less fortunate."

FULL MESSAGE:

Christmas represents the celebration of hope. “The individuals who traversed in obscurity, burdened with tears and sighs, have witnessed a profound light.” In the pursuit of revitalizing that hope, I extend my wishes for all of us to conscientiously fulfil our responsibilities and duties, fostering a Christmas that instils fresh hopes in our nation.

Amid our celebratory mood, it is crucial to maintain focus on the authentic significance of Jesus Christ’s birth in a manger, encapsulated by the theme “Sharing a meal with the less fortunate.”

Christmas serves as a reminder of the birth of Jesus Christ, who, in self-sacrifice on the cross, redeemed humanity from sin. Guided by Christian teachings, we are urged to forgive those who oppose us, those who have wronged us and to relinquish all feelings of animosity and resentment.

While the external festivities of Christmas may be apparent, I posit that its true significance remains elusive unless accompanied by a profound spiritual transformation within us. This year, as we commemorate Christmas amidst a backdrop of numerous challenges burdening our society, I extend an invitation to everyone to unite in shouldering their responsibilities, recognizing the genuine adversities confronting our nation.

I wish you all a blessed and meaningful Christmas!

Ranil Wickremesinghe President Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

New High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha on Friday (Dec.22) expressed his commitment to strengthening the special friendship between the two countries, while fostering closer collaboration in trade, investment, energy, connectivity and other areas.

Mr. Jha presented credentials to Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe in a diplomatic ceremony held at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo earlier in the day, marking the official commencement of his tenure here.

His most recent assignment prior to the posting in Sri Lanka was at the Embassy of India in Brussels, where he served from July 2020 until December 2023. Jha has the experience of serving as a member of negotiating teams for Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with Sri Lanka and the European Union respectively.

As the new high commissioner to its neighbouring island nation, Mr. Jha is poised to further strengthen the bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka, fostering cooperation and collaboration in various domains, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said in a press release.

In the guest book of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mr. Jha conveyed that India and Sri Lanka share deep-rooted bonds in history, geography, culture and people-to-people ties.

He highlighted the growth of ties in political, economic, and security fields over the decades, emphasizing India’s role as Sri Lanka’s close neighbour, largest trade partner and a key development partner.

Mr. Jha aligned his goals with the Vision Statement agreed upon by the leaders of both nations, expressing confidence that their cooperation will lead to shared prosperity, progress and regional stability.

The new Indian envoy thanked President Wickremesinghe for the warm welcome and looked forward to constructive engagements in the future.

A meeting was convened recently at the Presidential Secretariat, Chaired by Mr. Sagala Ratnayaka, Senior Adviser to the President on National Security and Chief of the Presidential Staff.

The focus of the discussion was on the on-going responsibilities of the Sri Lanka Police Special Task Force on the country’s highways, addressing issues related to accidents, fires and crimes.

The conversation delved into the possibility of reassigning these tasks formally, withdrawing the Police Special Task Force from its current duties. The participants explored the creation of an alternative system to handle these responsibilities. Mr. Sagala Ratnayaka emphasized the need for a specific program, urging Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva to spearhead its prompt preparation.

The goal is to ensure a more responsible and formal execution of these tasks, with proper oversight from the Road Development Authority (RDA). During the meeting, Mr. Sagala Ratnayaka instructed officials to develop and submit the program swiftly. In attendance were Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva, along with a group of senior officers from the Road Development Authority and the Sri Lanka Police Special Task Force. (PMD)

President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced today that the district decentralized budget for this year amounts to Rs. 11,250 million, marking a significant allocation after a hiatus of three years. The funds are slated to be disbursed to all district secretaries during the initial week of January.

This declaration came during a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat earlier this morning (21) with the District Coordinating Committee Chairpersons. President Wickremesinghe underscored the adverse impacts of the economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic on the rural economy and the tourism sector, attributing the setbacks to the absence of a decentralized budget for districts over the past three years.

Expressing the government’s commitment to expedite projects and support rural communities, the President directed the committee chairpersons to prioritize development activities aimed at uplifting the rural economy. He emphasized the importance of unity among officials, urging them to collaborate on a cohesive development agenda without division between the central government and provinces.

In line with the 2024 budget estimate, the district committee chairpersons were briefed on the planned distribution of development funds for each district.

Expressing his views further President Wickremesinghe said;

For the past three years, there has been a significant absence of government capital expenditure, affecting both the central government and all provincial councils. This hiatus has led to a substantial economic downturn at the village level, causing the collapse of numerous local businesses and exacerbating the challenges faced by the tourism industry.

We must reconstruct the grassroots economy and this time, a substantial decentralized budget has been allocated. These funds are distributed to every district. At the regional division level, it is imperative to engage with representatives and solicit proposals for development activities.

In addition to the funds allotted to each district, extra financial support will be directed towards the upcountry areas. We anticipate allocating these resources for the development of the upcountry areas over the next 05 to 06 years, with a specific focus on the advancement of underdeveloped Sinhalese and Tamil villages in the upcountry area.

Furthermore, funds have been earmarked for provincial councils, ministries have been allocated capital funds, and various projects are underway with foreign aid. It is crucial to eliminate obstacles hindering the resumption of these projects and ensure that facilities are provided at the grassroots level.

Restarting development work that has been dormant for the past 03 years is a challenging task. There are also projects being carried out under foreign debt concessions that need to be recommenced. Although these projects have different timelines, we must initiate them simultaneously, requiring the collaboration of all officers. Additionally, the insights and suggestions of MPs and political representatives are essential.

In this endeavour, the chief secretary of each province, district secretaries, and central government officials should work harmoniously as a cohesive team. The governor, chief secretary, chairpersons of the new provincial committee, and chairpersons of the district coordination committees should oversee these activities on a monthly basis.

The primary aim of all these endeavours is to bring about tangible benefits for the villagers. This program needs to be executed in a manner that injects financial resources into the villages. While advancing the overall national economy, it is equally crucial to uplift the economic status of the villages.

Furthermore, through the agricultural modernization program, we anticipate a significant increase in agricultural production over the next two years. The goal is not only to boost agricultural output but also to establish a competitive agricultural sector, with the mid-term benefits directly impacting the village economy.

To ensure the effective implementation of these activities with a focus on the village economy, the responsibility is placed on the chairmen of the district coordination committees. In instances where there are unresolved issues, these can be brought to the attention of the committee led by the Prime Minister for solutions. Failing that, I propose discussing these matters in the Cabinet.

Mr. Prasanna Ranatunga, Minister of Urban Development and Housing and Chief Government Whip;

The concept, as envisioned by the Honourable President, has undergone extensive discussions among the Cabinet and ruling party members regarding the decentralized budget distribution. A committee, headed by the Prime Minister as per the President’s instructions, has been established to coordinate these activities.

The President has expressed a desire to identify priority projects that align with the needs of the people in a transparent manner. A draft has been meticulously prepared, covering the technical aspects comprehensively. The next step involves discussing the implementation method and devising a detailed plan.

It is imperative that everyone collaborates under a unified program. The provincial councils need to align with this approach. The provincial committees should actively engage and leverage their full potential, cascading the initiative from the district level down to the rural areas and eventually reaching the villages. This ensures a coordinated and inclusive approach to implementing the identified priority projects.

Director General of the National Planning Department Mr. W.A. Kumarasiri;

In unveiling the 2024 budget statement, the Honourable President has earmarked Rs. 11,250 million for the districts. The implementation of decentralized budgeting had been on hold for three years due to economic challenges and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, a substantial amount has been allocated for decentralized budgeting this year. A draft has been meticulously prepared based on discussions at the official level, led by the Prime Minister. We anticipate further deliberations today, with the goal of forwarding it to district secretaries in the first week of January.

Once these projects gain approval in the district coordination committee meeting and are received by the National Planning Department, it is anticipated that the necessary allocations will promptly be released to the districts through the President’s Office.

Additionally, several small projects at regional and community levels had stalled midway. The priority is to resume and swiftly complete these projects, delivering their benefits to the people. Simultaneously, initiatives such as implementing small-scale water schemes, expanding small-scale electricity connections, and installing solar panels in government institutions and religious centres are on the agenda. These activities are expected to greatly benefit the rural economy. Projects focusing on provincial and rural small roads, as well as small bridges in plantation areas, have been identified for completion this year.

Furthermore, proposals have been put forth for projects aimed at boosting the rural economy, including the development of primary and secondary level schools, enhancing schools and religious places, promoting the tourism industry, mitigating damage caused by animals, and uplifting low-income families.

In attendance at this discussion were all District Coordination Committee Chairpersons, Provincial Governors, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, Prime Minister’s Secretary Anura Dissanayake, President’s Senior Adviser on Economic Affairs Dr. R. H. S. Samaratunga, district secretaries, provincial chief secretaries and other officials.