June 05, Colombo (LNW): With most of India’s 640 million votes counted following the country’s six-week-long election, the world’s largest democratic exercise has delivered some unexpected results.

The governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is projected to win 240 seats, falling short of the 272-seat majority needed in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India’s Parliament, which has 543 seats. However, with its allies, the BJP has still secured a majority. The opposition INDIA alliance, led by the Indian National Congress party, has won 222 seats.

These results mark a significant shift from the 2019 election, when the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 353 seats, with the BJP alone securing 303.

A series of political tremors appear to have reshaped India’s political landscape, leading to these surprising outcomes.

In Uttar Pradesh (UP), a state governed by the BJP since 2017 and holding 80 parliamentary constituencies, dramatic changes unfolded. UP, as India’s most populous state with over 240 million people, is crucial in determining the nation’s leadership. Both Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi contested elections from different constituencies in this state.

In 2019, the NDA won 64 seats in UP, with the BJP taking 62, the Congress one, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ten, and the Samajwadi Party (SP) five.

The 2024 election saw a starkly different outcome. The SP secured 37 seats and the Congress six, totaling 43 for the INDIA alliance. The BJP, along with its allies, won 33 seats, with three additional seats likely to be secured by its allies. Notably, the BJP lost in the Faizabad constituency, home to the Ram temple in Ayodhya, a central element of the BJP’s campaign.

June 05, Colombo (LNW): Multiple spells of showers are expected in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, and North-western provinces.

Showers or thundershowers may also occur in a few other areas of the island during the evening or night.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

By: Staff Writer

June 04, Colombo (LNW): In a significant step towards sustainable energy solutions, Regen Solar, specialists in the solar PV sector, has inaugurated a ground-breaking project.

The installation consisted of 1893 Nos. DAS Solar 570Wp solar panels are projected to yield 1,425 MWh of solar energy annually into the national grid.

The St. Jones Fish Market, once nestled in the bustling heart of Pettah before relocating to Peliyagoda in 2011, embodies a rich history. Established in 1894 by the Colombo Municipal Council along St. Johns Road, Pettah, initially catered to residents but evolved into a wholesale trade hub over time.

 Today, the Peliyagoda Fish Market (PFM) boasts modern amenities, including 148 stalls for wholesale transactions, 20 stalls for retail operations, banking facilities, shops for fishing paraphernalia, a contemporary eatery, and two flake ice plants capable of producing 25 tons of ice daily.

The agreement, a milestone event, was formally endorsed by Fisheries Ministry Secretary K.N. Kumari Somarathna, and Regen Renewables Ltd., Managing Director and CEO Dr. Lakmal Fernado.

Regen Renewables, represents some of the globe’s premier brands within Sri Lanka. The panels installed at the CFM are from DAS Solar – world’s leading manufacturer of N-type solar modules and with Inverters from Sunways – another leading brand. Regen Solar with a track record of installing over 75 MW of systems and ongoing projects exceeding 10 MW, maintains a firm commitment to engineering excellence and product quality.

Both entities share a profound dedication towards sustainable development, envisioning a greener future for generations to come. This collaboration is poised to offset over 1,566,000kg of CO₂ emissions, marking the Colombo Fish Market Project as an environmentally conscious undertaking.

The entire project was proposed and lead by Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ Minister Douglas Devananda and the ministry officials and financed and owned by Regen Renewables Ltd., on a revenue sharing basis.

This is the 8th such project financed and owned by Regen Renewables. With the pressing need for low-cost energy for businesses and energy wheeling being legalised Regen Solar is fast expanding its wingspan into similar market opportunities.

1. Cabinet approves a plan to aid victims of adverse weather, including rebuilding homes, funded by the government and supported by Tri-Forces: President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s proposal received approval: Immediate aid will be provided without delays, and financial support will be increased: Funds earmarked for World Environment Day will be directed to weather relief: State Minister Janaka Wakkumbura confirmed the cancellation of national Environment Day celebrations.
   
2. Eight suspects including former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, who were arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department over the alleged involvement of the importation of substandard human immunoglobulin further remanded till June 14: The 4th suspect to the case was released with two sureties of Rs. 500,000 and a cash bail of Rs. 100,000: The ex-Health Minister was arrested by the CID on February 02, 2024.
   
3. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announces the Supreme Court deems the Electricity Amendment Bill inconsistent with the Constitution: Opposition calls for debate postponement, ruling party pushes for scheduled discussion with promised amendments: Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera assures compliance with the Court’s ruling: MP Harsha de Silva proposes extending debate to two days.
   
4. Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera reveals progress in discussions with the CEB’s tariff division to finalise electricity tariff revisions: asserts the government aims to implement a cost-reflective tariff system, with quarterly revisions: adds the tariff proposal for July will be submitted to the Public Utilities Commission this week.
   
5. State Minister Dilum Amunugama announces Sri Lanka attracted over US$ 1 bn in FDIs in Q124, fulfilling the quarterly target: However, concerns arose regarding the realisation of these investments, especially with delays in the Adani Solar project: The progress review meeting aimed to address project issues and provide support: The dissolution of th BOI aligns with the Economic Transformation Act, establishing the New Economic Commission to oversee economic activities and trade zones: Amunugama assures the BOI’s role will remain intact, focusing on global marketing and preserving employee rights.
   
6. Litro Gas Chairman, Muditha Peiris, declares a price reduction for domestic LP gas cylinders starting midnight today (04): The 12.5 kg cylinder will decrease by Rs. 150 to Rs. 3,790, the 05 kg cylinder by Rs. 60 to Rs. 1,522, and the 2.3 kg cylinder by Rs. 28 to Rs. 712.
   
7. UGC Chief Prof. Sampath Amaratunge urges the public against sharing 2023 (2024) GCE Advanced Level Exam results on social media to prevent misuse of personal data and safeguard university placements: warns that unauthorised use of index and NIC numbers could cause delays for genuine applicants: With 173,444 candidates qualifying for university admission out of 269,613, caution is urged in disseminating results online.
   
8. The University Trade Union Joint Committee (UTUJC) highlights today’s importance for potential trade union actions by university non-academic staff: Following discussions with the Minister of State for Higher Education, UTUJC Co-Chairman, Dhammika S. Priyantha, emphasised addressing staff demands and professional concerns: Next steps involve deliberations with union representatives to discuss outcomes and future strategies. UTUJC plans to update on decisions and actions by the end of the day.
   
9. During the recent National Mosquito Control Week, alarming reports surfaced regarding mosquito breeding in private institutions: Over 1,200 establishments were flagged for breeding grounds, prompting legal action against many: Nationwide inspections reveal thousands of premises with mosquito larvae, emphasising the urgency of stringent control measures amidst rising Dengue cases: Authorities urge public vigilance.
   
10. South Africa secures a comfortable six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup match held at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York: Anrich Nortje shone with career-best figures of 4 for 7: Despite some early setbacks, South Africa reached the target of 78 in 16.2 overs, with Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen guiding them to victory: Sri Lanka’s batting struggled, managing only 77 runs, with Nortje’s stellar performance earning him the Player of the Match award.

June 04, Colombo (LNW): Chairperson of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Prof. Sampath Amaratunge has issued a plea to the public, urging them to abstain from sharing the outcomes of the 2023 (2024) GCE Advanced Level Examinations on social media platforms.

Amaratunge cautioned that disseminating such information on social media channels could potentially hinder students’ chances of securing university placements.

He highlighted the risk associated with divulging personal details like index numbers and National Identity Card (NIC) numbers, as this data could be misused by unauthorised individuals for university admission purposes.

Emphasising the repercussions of such actions, Prof. Amaratunge noted that if an unauthorised application is submitted using these details, the genuine applicant may face delays and challenges in rectifying the situation, leading to prolonged waiting periods.

In light of these risks, Amaratunge reiterated the importance of refraining from sharing A/Level results, particularly on platforms like Facebook, and urged students and their families to exercise caution in this regard.

The results of the 2023 (2024) GCE Advanced Level Examinations were unveiled on May 31.

According to the Department of Examinations, out of the total 269,613 candidates, 173,444 applicants (equivalent to 64.33 per cent) qualified for university admission.