November 16, Colombo (LNW): Leader of the House Minister Bimal Rathnayake told Parliament yesterday (15) that certain members of the parliamentary secretariat have been travelling abroad far more often than necessary, raising concerns about accountability and value for money.

He observed that a number of officials had undertaken several overseas visits yet failed to bring back a single meaningful proposal or recommendation that could support national development.

At the same time, he said, many capable officers who could genuinely benefit from international exposure had never been afforded such opportunities.

Rathnayake remarked that a small cluster of staff appeared preoccupied with perks rather than public service, reminding the House that Parliament ultimately operates under the mandate of the people, not personal entitlement.

Addressing delays in administrative matters, the Minister noted that the Speaker had instructed the Secretary-General on September 30 to submit a report on salary restructuring and related appeals.

However, he pointed out that the report had still not been tabled and said he had no explanation as to why the directive had been ignored.

November 16, Colombo (LNW): Pottuvil Police have appealed to the community for information that could help identify a man suspected of harassing a foreign visitor in Arugam Bay on October 25.

Officers have opened a formal investigation and urged anyone who may have witnessed the incident or recognised the individual to contact the Pottuvil Police Station via 063 2248022, or the Officer-in-Charge on 071 8591168.

The inquiry was prompted by widely circulated social-media footage in which a female tourist, travelling alone in a hired tuk-tuk, is confronted by a man after pulling over. In the recording, the man behaves indecently by exposing himself and attempts to approach her, prompting the visibly distressed tourist to raise her voice in fear.

The traveller, who had been filming her journey as part of a personal travel log, inadvertently captured the encounter. Speaking in the video, she reflects on her shock, remarking that although she had experienced great warmth from locals, the incident had shaken her confidence for the remainder of her stay.

Police said they are treating the matter with urgency and have stepped up efforts in the area to ensure the safety of visitors and residents alike.

November 16, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Mahishini Colonne, has praised Gujarat’s development trajectory following a meeting with the state’s Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel, noting that Sri Lankans have long watched Gujarat’s rise with interest.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Colonne highlighted the shared maritime character of both regions, remarking that their historic and geographical ties naturally lend themselves to deeper cooperation.

She conveyed the greetings of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Sri Lankan government, adding that Gujarat’s transformation—observed since the period when Narendra Modi served as Chief Minister—had often been viewed in Sri Lanka as an instructive example of economic progress. According to her, the “Gujarat model” had generated considerable attention among policymakers in Colombo.

Colonne went on to underline the longstanding links between Gujarat and Sri Lanka, noting that both possess extensive coastal traditions and rely heavily on maritime commerce. She observed that Sri Lanka’s ports play a crucial role in handling India’s transhipment cargo, a point that had also been underscored by Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya during her recent visit to India. At the time, the Prime Minister had suggested that Sri Lankan ports could serve as strategic gateways for India’s global trade routes.

Discussions between Colonne and the Chief Minister reportedly covered a range of potential collaborations, from textiles and pharmaceuticals to tourism and hospitality—sectors she described as ripe for investment and knowledge exchange.

A significant development during the Sri Lankan delegation’s visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Colonne said the agreement could mark the beginning of a “robust, forward-looking partnership” that would benefit both economies.

The MoU was formalised during an interactive session hosted by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with business leaders from both sides expressing optimism about new commercial avenues that may open in the months ahead.

November 16, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Finance has circulated revised instructions to District Secretaries concerning this year’s allocations under the Decentralised Capital Budget Programme, granting officials additional time to complete their approved development proposals.

The new directive specifies that all projects endorsed for funding under the 2025 programme must be finalised by December 15 next year.

This represents a notable adjustment to the Ministry’s earlier circular, MF/02/2025, which had set today as the deadline for the completion of works.

In the updated notice, which amends paragraph 3.3 of the guidelines first issued on January 29, Finance Secretary Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma emphasised that district authorities should ensure projects are delivered within the revised timeframe.

November 16, Colombo (LNW): Governor of Sri Lanka’s Southern Province Bandula Harischandra has died unexpectedly at the age of 62, according to official sources.

He is said to have fallen critically ill and passed away while undergoing treatment at Colombo National Hospital late last night, despite efforts by medical staff to stabilise his condition.

Harischandra was widely regarded as a seasoned public servant, having spent more than three decades in government administration. A former pupil of Sri Palee College in Horana, he later read for his degree at the University of Kelaniya before embarking on a long career in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service.

Beginning his service in 1991 as Assistant District Commissioner of Elections in Ampara, he went on to hold a succession of posts, including a similar role in Galle. His administrative journey took him through several key appointments in the Galle District, among them Divisional Secretary of Galle Four Gravets, Additional District Secretary, and eventually Acting District Secretary.

His leadership experience later broadened with appointments as District Secretary for Ratnapura and subsequently Hambantota. Harischandra also occupied senior posts at the national level, including Secretary to the Ministry of Social Empowerment, Welfare and Kandyan Heritage, Secretary to the Department of Wildlife Conservation, and Additional Controller General at the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

November 16, Colombo (LNW): A parliamentary committee has urged the government to explore the creation of a sturdier, eco-friendly paper carrier as a practical alternative to the polythene bags still widely used across the country.

The recommendation came from the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability, which revisited the recent move to introduce a fee for polythene bags at the point of purchase.

Committee members said the proposal had stirred both public interest and uncertainty, prompting a closer look at whether the charge would genuinely curb reliance on polythene.

Committee chair Hector Appuhamy told officials that the policy’s effectiveness must be assessed carefully, noting that similar measures abroad had succeeded only when combined with accessible substitutes.

He added that environmentally sound paper bags—properly designed to withstand heavy use—could help both consumers and retailers transition away from single-use plastics.

Appuhamy also pressed for clarity on who had established the pricing mechanism for the proposed polythene charge. Officials replied that, contrary to public perception, the relevant Gazette notice did not actually stipulate a mandatory payment, suggesting that implementation details remain unsettled.

The Committee signalled that it will continue monitoring the issue, with several members hinting that broader reforms may be needed to meaningfully cut plastic waste in the long term.

November 16, Colombo (LNW): In a significant reshuffle of top-tier police positions, the National Police Commission has reassigned several senior officers.

Under the changes, Senior Deputy Inspector General Sanjeewa Dharmaratne leaves his role overseeing the Western Province to take charge of Police Administration. His successor in the Western Province will be Senior DIG S. C. Medawatte, who previously headed Training and Advanced Training.

Senior DIG Ranmal Kodituwakku has been handed additional responsibilities, now supervising the Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women alongside his existing command of the Crime and Traffic Directorate.

Further north, Senior DIG T. C. A. Dhanapala has been reassigned from the Northern Province to lead policing in the North Central Province. Replacing him in the Northern Province is Senior DIG G. M. H. B. Siriwardena, who had been covering duties at Police Headquarters as well as the North Central Province.

In another key appointment, DIG N. L. C. Sampath Kumara has taken charge of the elite Special Task Force.

Earlier in the day, it emerged that Senior DIG Lalith Pathinayake had been relieved of his acting role overseeing the Police Administration Division pending disciplinary proceedings. Despite this, he will remain in his substantive post as Senior DIG in charge of the Central Province.

November 16, Colombo (LNW): The low-level atmospheric disturbance to the East of the island developed in to a low pressure system, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (16).

Cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Northern, North-central and Eastern provinces.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the other areas of the island after 1.00 p.m.

Heavy falls above 100 mm are likely at some places in Northern and Eastern provinces. Fairly heavy falls above 50 mm are likely at some places elsewhere.

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

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

Marine Weather:

Condition of Rain:
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Pottuvil to Mannar via Trincomalee and Kankasanthurai. Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in other sea areas around the island during the afternoon or night.

Winds:
Winds will be north-easterly and speed will be (20-30) kmph. Wind speed can increase up to 40 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Trincomalee to Colombo via Kankasanthurai, Mannar and Puttalam.

State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Trincomalee to Colombo via Kankasanthurai, Mannar and Puttalam will be fairly rough at times. The other sea areas around the island will be slight.

Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.

Sri Lanka’s infrastructure development drive has suffered another blow, with a parliamentary oversight committee revealing that the long-delayed Kelani Valley Railway Line Project made virtually no progress in 2024 despite receiving Rs. 250 million in public funds. The finding raises serious concerns over chronic inefficiency in state institutions and casts doubt over whether the Rs. 840 million allocated for 2025 will also go unused.

According to the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development, officials from the Department of Railways failed to show any meaningful physical advancement when questioned. The Committee’s report, issued through the Parliament Secretariat, notes that the project’s performance represents not just administrative weakness but a systemic failure in the public sector’s ability to execute priority national projects.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has already voiced frustration at the sluggish state of infrastructure implementation, repeatedly asking why agencies fail to deliver despite receiving the required funds. The Kelani Valley Railway Line intended to modernise a vital commuter corridor—has now become a symbol of stalled development.

Committee members warn that without a detailed, time-bound execution plan, even the Rs. 1 billion total allocation will be of little use. “Targets will never be met unless institutions come with clear deliverables and deadlines,” the Committee observed, signalling that Parliament is losing patience with vague explanations.

The situation is not limited to one project. The Committee also scrutinised the Thambuttegama Railway Station Development Project, where officials again failed to provide satisfactory technical or financial justification. The repeated inability of agencies to present coherent data or progress updates suggests deeper structural issues ranging from poor project management capacity to weak accountability systems.

Chaired by SJB MP S.M. Marikkar, the Committee examined progress across key ministries: Energy; Ports, Shipping and Civil Aviation; Housing, Construction and Water Supply; and Transport, Highways and Urban Development. Across these sectors, members identified a recurring pattern delays, incomplete data, and lack of coordination. Institutions were instructed to return with actionable plans rather than “generic technical narratives” that fail to answer fundamental questions on timelines and outcomes.

The Committee has summoned the Department of Railways, Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), and other agencies for a follow-up appearance, demanding accurate progress reports and updated implementation plans. The SLTB’s slow bus procurement process, delayed rural bridge construction, and overdue maintenance of Colombo apartment complexes under the UDA were also flagged as areas of concern.

The Ports Authority was directed to table its long-pending report on turning Galle Port into a financially viable operation another case where bureaucratic inertia has stalled decision-making.

Not all agencies performed poorly. The National Water Supply and Drainage Board was singled out for previous strong performance, highlighting that some institutions still meet expected standards when proper planning, leadership, and accountability structures are in place.The broader implications, however, are clear: Sri Lanka’s development agenda risks derailment not due to lack of funding, but due to entrenched public-sector inefficiency. Unless ministries adopt modern project management practices and enforce strict timelines, billions in taxpayer money will continue to be allocated but not actually spent on the people it is meant to serve