High Commissioner (HC) of New Zealand for Sri Lanka HE Mr. Michael Appleton who will be completing his tenure in Sri Lanka, paid a farewell call on the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne at the Defence Ministry, Defence Headquarters Complex, Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte today (Jan 04).

Gen. Gunaratne warmly received the High Commissioner on the arrival to the Defence Ministry.

During the cordial meeting held between the two high officials, New Zealand HC expressed his gratitude to the Defence Secretary for the cooperation extended by the Defence Ministry during his tenure.

Meanwhile, Gen. Gunaratne praised the outgoing HC for his cooperation extended to the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry and its staff while also commending for his assistance that led to further strengthening the existing ties between two countries.

Military Liaison Officer of the Defence Ministry Maj. Gen. Dhammika Welagedara was also present at the occasion.

January 05, Colombo (LNW): Nishantha Anurudda Weerasinghe, the Commissioner General of the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT), proudly announced a groundbreaking milestone for the department in 2023, achieving an unprecedented income of Rs.8.9 billion. This remarkable feat, achieved despite the pause in vehicle imports, represents the highest revenue ever recorded by the DMT, marking a staggering 317% increase from the previous year. The month of December alone accounted for a staggering income of Rs.1 billion.

Weerasinghe highlighted that this historic income, generated with 23,698 vehicle registrations, stands as a testament to the department’s resilience and adaptability amid challenging circumstances. Notably, in 2018, the highest income recorded by the DMT stood at Rs.4.3 billion, accompanied by 480,799 registered vehicles.

He accredited the visionary leadership of Transport, Highways, and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana and State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna for their invaluable guidance and support, which played a pivotal role in achieving this extraordinary financial milestone.

The DMT’s exceptional performance in revenue generation despite the cessation of vehicle imports underscores its operational efficiency and strategic measures, reflecting its commitment to service excellence and fiscal viability.

January 05, Colombo (LNW): Several spells of showers will occur in Northern, North-central and Eastern provinces.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places elsewhere after 2.00 p.m.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces during the morning.

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

January 04, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan Embassy in Germany marked the beginning of 2024 by unveiling its new online consular appointment system, aimed at enhancing services for the Sri Lankan community across 16 federal states of Germany.

This initiative caters to various consular functions, including passport renewals, birth registrations, marriages, deaths, and document attestations.

The introduction of this system is poised to optimize consular services by offering applicants the flexibility to choose convenient dates while reducing waiting times. With the implementation of this new system, the Embassy anticipates catering to a larger number of applicants efficiently.

Applicants can now schedule appointments through the Embassy’s official website (https://www.srilanka-botschaft.de/) and will receive a confirmation email upon submitting the necessary documents. Additionally, a new electronic queuing system has been integrated into the Consular Section of the Mission.

The inaugural ceremony featured the hoisting of the national flag by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Germany, Varuni Muthukumarana. The event included the singing of the national anthem, a two-minute silence honoring war heroes and those who sacrificed for the country, and the administration of the oath of public service.

January 04, Colombo (LNW): Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, overseeing Agriculture and Plantation Industries, directed the Agriculture Department to furnish a comprehensive technical report on the impending paddy harvest for the current season. This directive came during discussions held recently regarding the harvesting and procurement of paddy.

The primary aim behind soliciting this technical report is to assess any potential damage incurred by the paddy crops slated for harvest.

In response, Agriculture Department Director General Malathi Parasuraman pledged efforts to swiftly compile and provide the necessary technical report. The objective is to facilitate the sale of paddy held in warehouses owned by the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) to small-scale rice mill owners ahead of the main harvest season.

Minister Amaraweera further urged PMB Chairman Buddhika Iddamalgoda to expedite ongoing investigations into allegations of fraud and corruption leveled against certain officials. He emphasized the immediate need for disciplinary actions against those implicated in such activities.

During a recent event commemorating Child Abuse Prevention Day, Education Minister Dr. Susil Premajayantha underscored the pressing need to regulate children’s internet usage, drawing parallels to measures taken in developed nations to address the adverse impacts of digital technology.

Highlighting the global prevalence of internet regulation in developed countries due to the social challenges stemming from digital misuse, including instances of child abuse, the Minister emphasized the necessity of implementing similar measures.

Amidst societal competition and escalating social and economic issues, the Minister noted a resultant rise in mental depression and stress among the younger generation. He stressed the importance of integrating psychiatry into future training programs to address these burgeoning challenges.

Identifying familial issues as a key catalyst for problems like child abuse and youth substance addiction, the Minister cited factors such as child isolation, parental disputes, lack of parental attention, and inadequate education as contributing factors. He urged for comprehensive surveys to better understand and tackle these issues.

Addressing the debate surrounding sex education in schools, the Minister advocated for a more suitable integration of this crucial aspect into the curriculum. He affirmed that upcoming education reforms would prioritize this matter, aiming for a balanced and effective approach.

January 04, Colombo (LNW): During the inauguration of a new three-story restroom for train drivers at Maradana Railway Station, Transport, Highways, and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana emphasized the crucial need for a shift in attitude to rebuild investor trust in the country.

Reflecting on the Railways Department’s dire state upon assuming office, the Minister highlighted the initial perception of its irrecoverability and potential privatization. However, through collaborative agreements with all trade unions, he initiated a process to address these challenges.

Acknowledging the economic strain faced by major construction companies, he underscored the exhaustive expenditure on materials, infrastructure, and machinery, predominantly funded by domestic and foreign loans. Notably, current circumstances pose hurdles in obtaining further foreign financial support.

Highlighting the halted reform of the North railway line, originally slated under the 2019 Indian Credit Scheme, he outlined the need to pivot toward private sector investment in managing existing assets to generate revenue. The proposed Station Plaza concept, featured in the Budget, aims to leverage private investment opportunities in projects like tourist hotels, supermarkets, and railway towns while maintaining Railways Department ownership over stations.

While similar proposals for stations like Colombo Fort and Maradana have previously lacked investor interest, the Minister called for collective efforts to transform the Railway Department into an efficient and effective organization for future generations.

The event saw participation from Railways General Manager H.M.K.W. Bandara, Deputy General Managers, representatives from trade unions, and various stakeholders.

January 04, Colombo (LNW): Amidst escalating tensions, Athula Galkatiya, Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services Limited (AASL), took decisive action yesterday, interdicting 28 prominent leaders associated with the Joint Trade Union Alliance at Katunayake Airport.

Notably, among those interdicted is the President of the Trade Union Alliance.

Dhammika Fernando, President of the Joint Trade Union of Airports, declared unified support from employees across international airports, domestic terminals, and the Piduruthalagala Radar station.

According to the AASL Chairman, the union’s secretary orchestrated attempts to obstruct air services linked with Sri Lanka, prompting immediate action. The Chairman condemned this action as lacking both legal standing and moral justification, necessitating an immediate investigation.

In response, the interdicted union leaders are mandated to surrender their airport entry permits and all relevant equipment to their respective department heads.

Furthermore, until the completion of the investigation, these leaders are barred from accessing any premises under the Airport and Aviation Services Company Limited’s jurisdiction.

January 04, Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe chaired a recent progress review meeting where positive news emerged regarding the containment of dengue in the Western and Central Provinces. The meeting, held at the Presidential Secretariat, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of dengue control programs in these regions.

Collaborative efforts directed by the President’s Office, in line with health protocols, involving the armed forces and police, have successfully reined in the spread of dengue. Various control and awareness initiatives, especially within Medical Officer of Health (MoH) divisions, were credited for effectively managing the situation.

While acknowledging the containment in the Western and Central Provinces, the meeting highlighted the need to shift focus to districts like Jaffna, Trincomalee, and Batticaloa. Targeted interventions are slated for areas with high dengue incidence, including government institutions, schools, religious sites, public spaces, and private establishments.

President Wickremesinghe praised the ongoing nationwide efforts to combat dengue, emphasizing diverse program implementations.

To further combat the spread, a decision was made to establish an operational unit supervised by the Ministry of Health. A special meeting, chaired by the Health Ministry Secretary and attended by heads of the armed forces and the Acting Police Inspector on January 3, outlined plans for a reporting system to monitor daily progress, focusing on the province and future strategies for dengue control.