July 25, Colombo (LNW): Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne, the distinguished leader of the Nawa Sama Samaja Pakshaya (NSSP), has died at the age of 81.

Renowned for his unwavering dedication to socialist ideals and social justice, Dr. Karunaratne was a significant presence in Sri Lankan politics.

Karunaratne’s political journey began in his youth, marked by a steadfast commitment to Marxist principles. He emerged as a vocal critic of capitalist structures and an advocate for the working class.

Throughout his career, he championed numerous causes, including workers’ rights, anti-imperialism, and social equity.

His leadership in the NSSP was characterised by efforts to mobilise grassroots movements and challenge established political norms.

Dr. Karunaratne’s contributions to Sri Lankan politics were not confined to his party. He engaged in various coalitions and political alliances, striving to create a broader leftist front.

His intellectual rigor and eloquence made him a respected figure amongst both supporters and opponents.

Despite facing political and personal adversities, Karunaratne remained a staunch advocate for his beliefs, leaving a lasting legacy in the country’s socio-political landscape.

July 25, Colombo (LNW): The Supreme Court yesterday (24) evening issued an injunction preventing Deshabandu Tennakoon from performing his duties as Inspector General of Police (IGP).

In response, the government convened a Cabinet meeting this evening to address the issue.

The Cabinet decided to announce the government’s response to the Supreme Court’s decision within the next two days, following a comprehensive review of all legal aspects involved.

July 26, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Police has announced the suspension of the ‘Inspector General of Police’s (IGP) Public Relief Day’ programme this Friday.

In a statement, the Police indicated that the weekly programme, usually held every Friday, will not take place on 26th July due to unavoidable circumstances.

Reintroduced in December 2023 after being halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, this initiative allows the public to meet senior Police officers, including the IGP, to address unresolved complaints.

July 25, Colombo (LNW): The National Election Commission will meet today (25) to finalise the dates for the upcoming Presidential Election and the calling of nominations.

Chaired by R.M.A.L. Rathnayake, the Chairman of the Election Commission, the meeting aims to agree on these essential dates.

At a press conference yesterday (24), Rathnayake indicated that the election date would be revealed before the weekend, and that the preliminary arrangements for conducting the polls have already been completed.

July 25, Colombo (LNW): The All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association (ACBOA) is set to announce a possible reduction in the price of bread tomorrow (26).

Association president N.K. Jayawardena noted that a significant discussion was held yesterday (24) regarding the potential price cut, but no conclusive agreement was reached.

The deliberation on price reduction follows recent remarks by Minister of Trade Nalin Fernando, who cautioned that a control price for bread would be enforced if bakery owners did not reduce prices.

This has led bakery owners to reconsider the pricing of their products, including bread.

Jayawardena indicated that a final decision on the matter is anticipated to be made tomorrow.

July 25, Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe has reiterated his dedication to promoting Buddhist education in Sri Lanka, despite various challenges.

Speaking at a scholarship award ceremony at Temple Trees on 24th July, he announced that 3,000 scholarships had been granted to student monks, Seela Mathas, and lay students across the country.

Part of the “Presidential Scholarship Program” 2024, organised by the President’s Fund, these scholarships provide financial aid to student monks studying up to the Piriven (Ordinary Level), Seela Matha, and lay students up to the G.C.E. (Ordinary Level).

An initial sum of Rs. 9,000 has been deposited into the accounts of these students, with monthly instalments of Rs. 3,000 to follow.

Further, students who pass the Piriven (Ordinary Level) or G.C.E. (Ordinary Level) exams and progress to the Piriven Pracheena or G.C.E. (Advanced Level) exams will receive Rs. 6,000 per month until they sit the exams.

The scholarships are valid for 24 months, with Rs. 18,000 credited on the ceremony day to cover outstanding instalments.

Unattended scholarship recipients will receive their payments directly into their bank accounts soon.

The selection process was overseen by the Pirivena Education Division of the Ministry of Education, with each Piriven Parivenadhipathi Thero or Institute Director involved in the selection.

The President’s Fund allocates nearly Rs. 300 million annually for this programme.

During the ceremony, President Wickremesinghe highlighted the economic hardships faced in recent years and stressed the importance of supporting Buddhist education.

He mentioned other government initiatives like “Aswesuma” and “Urumaya” aimed at providing relief and support to low-income families and emphasised the need to preserve and enhance the Buddhist education system.

Key dignitaries, including Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, several ministers, MPs, and senior officials, attended the event.

July 25, Colombo (LNW): Showery condition is expected to enhance to some extent in the south-western part of the Island from tomorrow (26) in the next few days, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (25).

Several spells of showers will occur in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts, with a few showers being expected to occur in the North-western province.

Strong winds of about 50 kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee, Monaragala and Hambantota districts.

Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times elsewhere of the island.

July 24, Colombo (LNW): At a special Cabinet meeting held this evening at the President’s Secretariat in Colombo, chaired by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Cabinet decided to study the legal aspects of the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and announce its response within the next two days.

During the meeting, opinions were exchanged about the Supreme Court’s decision to issue an interim order preventing Deshabandu Tennakoon from functioning as the IGP. It was noted that there are several legal issues with the Court’s decision.

Cabinet Spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardena stated that the Cabinet received the Supreme Court’s decision this afternoon and requires time to conduct a thorough study of the related legal issues. He added that the Cabinet unanimously agreed to announce its response to the legal issues raised by the Supreme Court’s decision within the next two days.

July 24, Colombo (LNW):The Agrarian Development Department announced that 61,075 hectares of Keeri Samba rice have been cultivated during this year’s Yala season. This update was provided during a discussion held by Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera on Monday (22) to review the progress of paddy cultivation in the Yala season.

Recently, the country experienced a shortage of Keeri Samba rice, prompting the government to import a substitute variety. In response to this shortage, the Agriculture Department has planned to increase the cultivation of Keeri Samba paddy. Minister Amaraweera has instructed officials to implement measures to expand Keeri Samba cultivation in more paddy lands this year.