May 02, Colombo (LNW): With local authority elections set to take place on May 06, 2025, the Election Commission has released an official set of instructions aimed at guiding voters through the correct procedures for casting their ballots.

These measures are intended to safeguard the integrity of the voting process while ensuring clarity and consistency at polling stations across the island.

Addressing the public ahead of the polls, the Chairman of the Election Commission, R.M.A.L. Ratnayake, clarified that each eligible citizen will be issued a single ballot paper, reinforcing the principle of one person, one vote.

The design of the ballot has been standardised to include only the names and emblems of registered political parties, and where applicable, the identifying number and symbol for each independent group. No individual candidates or ward numbers will be listed.

The commission has specified that electors are required to indicate their preference by placing a single cross (X) within the box adjacent to the party or independent group of their choice.

Marking more than one box or placing any alternative symbol or annotation on the ballot paper could result in the vote being declared invalid.

Such actions may be interpreted as an attempt to compromise the anonymity of the vote, and therefore fall outside the bounds of electoral procedure.

Voters are strongly urged to take care when completing their ballot, ensuring that no stray marks or identifying features are added, intentionally or otherwise. Any deviation from the standard marking method may lead to the ballot being rejected during counting.

In preparation for polling day, the Commission has also reiterated the list of documents that may be used to confirm voter identity. A broad range of identification options will be accepted, including the National Identity Card, a valid passport, a current driving licence, as well as identity cards issued for retirees, members of the clergy, or senior citizens.

Additionally, temporary ID cards provided by the Election Commission for persons with disabilities or others lacking standard documentation will be deemed valid. A temporary driving licence featuring a photograph will also be considered acceptable.

Importantly, the Commission clarified that a polling card is not essential to exercise one’s franchise. As long as a recognised form of identification is presented, voters will not be turned away from the polls.

The Election Commission has also called on the public to assist in upholding the transparency and credibility of the election by following all stipulated procedures without deviation.

May 02, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is set to embark on a state visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from May 04 to 06, 2025, marking a pivotal moment in the deepening of bilateral relations between the two nations.

The invitation was extended by Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, as both countries commemorate 55 years of formal diplomatic engagement.

During his visit, President Dissanayake will engage in a series of high-level discussions with key figures in the Vietnamese government, including President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and other senior leadership figures such as the General Secretary of the Communist Party.

These meetings are expected to focus on strengthening cooperation across a range of sectors, including trade, tourism, education, and regional security.

The visit takes on added cultural and diplomatic significance as President Dissanayake has been invited to serve as the Chief Guest at the United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City.

Vesak, which commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha, holds great spiritual and symbolic importance for many nations across Asia.

President Dissanayake is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the event, underlining Sri Lanka’s historic and spiritual contributions to global Buddhist heritage and interfaith understanding.

A series of formal agreements and memoranda of understanding are anticipated to be signed during the state visit, reflecting a shared commitment to enhanced cooperation.

These documents are expected to cover a spectrum of interests including technological collaboration, labour mobility, tourism development, and academic exchange.

Additionally, the itinerary includes a business forum where President Dissanayake and his delegation will engage with members of Vietnam’s private sector, aiming to foster greater economic collaboration and explore opportunities for joint ventures.

With both economies currently undergoing significant transformation, the meeting offers a timely platform for strategic partnerships that align with their respective national development agendas.

Accompanying the President on this diplomatic mission will be Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, who also oversees the portfolios of foreign employment and tourism, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government departments.

May 02, Colombo (LNW): The sudden and tragic death of a young undergraduate at the University of Sabaragamuwa has ignited a wave of concern and condemnation, with academic unions, student bodies, and government authorities calling for a full and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The deceased, a 23-year-old student enrolled in the Department of Engineering Technology, was discovered having taken his own life under deeply troubling circumstances.

The case has sparked widespread suspicion that the suicide may be linked to a suspected ragging incident—a practice long condemned but still reportedly prevalent in some corners of the university system.

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA), voicing its dismay over the incident, issued a strongly worded statement urging an independent inquiry, stressing the need for absolute transparency and credibility in the investigative process.

According to FUTA Secretary and Senior Lecturer Charudatta Ilangasinghe, the death, believed to be associated with peer abuse or intimidation, must be thoroughly examined without institutional bias or delay.

He warned that academic institutions risk becoming complicit in a culture of silence unless proactive measures are taken to address violence disguised as tradition.

Further raising the alarm, a fellow student has formally filed a complaint at the Samanalawewa Police Station, suggesting that the deceased may have been driven to suicide by prolonged psychological and possibly physical torment under the guise of ragging.

This allegation has intensified public scrutiny and reinforced longstanding concerns about the failure to root out toxic initiation rituals from campuses across the country.

In response to the growing pressure, the Ministry responsible for higher education issued a statement confirming that a formal Board of Inquiry has been appointed to examine the incident.

Officials pledged that if evidence confirms that ragging played a role in the student’s death, those found responsible—whether directly or through negligence—would face the full weight of legal consequences.

The University Management and the University Grants Commission are reportedly awaiting the findings of this inquiry to determine further disciplinary or legal action.

This tragedy is the latest in a series of similar incidents over the years that have shaken confidence in the safety and ethical standards of Sri Lanka’s university system.

Whilst several institutions have instituted codes of conduct and zero-tolerance policies against ragging, implementation remains inconsistent, and many cases are thought to go unreported due to fear of retaliation or institutional inaction.

Human rights advocates and mental health professionals have also weighed in, pointing to the urgent need for reform. They stress that the emotional wellbeing of students cannot be treated as an afterthought, and that universities must create environments where abuse is neither tolerated nor obscured by administrative red tape or misplaced loyalty to campus hierarchies.

May 02, Colombo (LNW): The Intertropical Convergence Zone (where winds from the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere converge) affects the island’s weather, and showers or thundershowers, therefore, will occur at several places in Western, Central, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva and Eastern provinces during the afternoon or night, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (02)

Fairly heavy falls above 50 mm are likely at some places.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at a few places elsewhere of the island during the afternoon or night.

Showers may occur in Western provinces and Galle and Matara districts in the morning too.

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

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

Marine Weather:

May 01, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Higher Education has pledged decisive action should it be established that the recent death of a student from Sabaragamuwa University was the result of ragging.

In a statement released to the media, the Ministry confirmed that a formal investigation is now underway and that a dedicated inquiry team has been appointed to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The case concerns the tragic death of a second-year undergraduate from the Faculty of Technical Engineering, who was found dead by suicide at his residence in Gampola on April 29.

The student had reportedly returned home after participating in the university’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year festivities. Allegations have since emerged suggesting that the student endured significant emotional distress linked to degrading treatment by fellow students during the celebration, with some relatives and friends claiming that this humiliation may have directly contributed to his death.

Responding to the growing public concern and extensive media coverage, the Ministry acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and confirmed that it is working in close coordination with both the University Administration and the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Should the findings of the investigation substantiate the claims of ragging, the Ministry assured that firm disciplinary and legal measures would be imposed against all those implicated.

This incident has reignited public debate over the ongoing presence of ragging within Sri Lankan universities—a practice that has been widely condemned yet persists in various forms across institutions.

Whilst once dismissed as a rite of passage, ragging has increasingly been associated with patterns of psychological and physical abuse, with calls intensifying for stricter enforcement and preventative measures.

The Ministry’s latest remarks appear aimed at sending a strong message, not only to university communities but also to the wider public, about the zero-tolerance policy it claims to uphold regarding student harassment and abuse.

Officials have stressed the importance of fostering a safe and respectful environment within higher education institutions, whilst reiterating that mental health and student welfare must be central priorities.

May 01, Colombo (LNW): A leading organisation representing digital media professionals has condemned a new regulation introduced by Sri Lanka’s Department of Government Information, describing it as a direct assault on press freedom and democratic transparency.

According to the Professional Web Journalists Association, a recent decision by the department now makes it compulsory for journalists to obtain official government-issued media accreditation in order to gain access to post-Cabinet media briefings—an event traditionally open to a broader spectrum of media personnel, including independent and online platforms.

In a strongly worded statement, the association criticised the new measure as an unjustifiable barrier to journalistic practice, warning that it undermines the public’s fundamental right to information.

The group expressed grave concern that this development signals an alarming shift towards state control over media access, which could pave the way for selective inclusion and censorship.

“This requirement not only restricts journalistic activity but also casts a shadow over the government’s commitment to democratic principles,” the association noted. “Any attempt to filter who may or may not cover vital governmental proceedings betrays the spirit of transparency that must underpin any functioning democracy.”

The association further called upon the authorities to reverse the decision without delay, insisting that such restrictive practices risk alienating independent journalists and digital media outlets—many of whom play an increasingly vital role in delivering real-time, investigative, and community-based news to the public.

They warned that shrinking space for independent media would not only damage the international perception of Sri Lanka’s democratic institutions but also foster a climate of self-censorship, fear, and institutional mistrust.

Reaffirming its commitment to defend the principles of free expression, the group pledged to continue advocating for unrestricted access to public information and to uphold the tenets of ethical journalism.

In an age where digital platforms have become central to shaping public opinion and holding power to account, the association argued, the government must recognise that media diversity is not a threat but a necessity in a healthy democratic society.