November 13, Colombo (LNW): A special media briefing was held at the Department of Government Information to provide updates on preparations for Sri Lanka’s upcoming general elections. Key officials, including the Chairman of the Election Commission, R.M.A.L. Rathnayake, and Police Spokesperson DIG Nihal Thalduwa, presented details on the voting process, security protocols, and other election-related matters.

Voting Process
Election Commission Chairman Rathnayake outlined the voting process, highlighting differences in ballot paper formats across districts. Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, and Kegalle districts will use a single-column ballot, while other districts will utilize a two-column format. Voters are instructed to mark their preferred party or independent group on the ballot and can select up to three preferences.

Security Measures
DIG Nihal Thalduwa announced that approximately 64,000 police officers, with support from an additional 70,000 auxiliary officers, will be deployed for election security. Up to 10,000 Army personnel may also be mobilized if required, and 11,000 Civil Defense Force officers will conduct mobile patrols to secure polling stations and maintain order.

Election Duty Compliance
Chairman Rathnayake emphasized the importance of strict attendance for election duties, warning that officials assigned to election roles must report on time or face penalties. Additionally, voters can obtain polling cards from post offices or the Election Commission’s website, though they are not mandatory if voters have valid identification.

Strict Campaigning Regulations
All regulations align with the Parliamentary Elections Act, enforcing strict compliance to ensure fair elections. This includes restrictions on campaigning near polling stations and a crackdown on campaign-related SMS messaging, which the Commission is addressing with the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission.

Election Results and Timeline
Rathnayake noted that the first election results, including postal votes, are expected by midnight on election day, though he advised against early result announcements to avoid confusion.

With a comprehensive security and operational plan, the Election Commission aims to ensure a safe and fair voting process for all Sri Lankans.

November 13, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Education has ordered an investigation following the discovery of five questions referencing a political party in an Advanced Level term paper at a school in the Kalutara district.

The exam, prepared by the school for A-level students’ second-term assessments, included content that raised concerns over potential political bias, prompting the Ministry to take immediate action.

Education Ministry Secretary Thilaka Jayasundara stated that a formal inquiry would be conducted to evaluate the issue and determine whether guidelines were breached in the preparation of the examination paper.

1. The National Election Commission has received a total of 490 complaints related to election law violations via social media within the month from October 11, 2024 to November 11, 2024. Issuing a statement, the Election Commission said after being informed social media companies had removed links and content related to 184 complaints.
2. The Department for Registration of Persons has announced that all public services including its one-day service will be unavailable on November 14, 2024. The statement explains that, due to the General Election being held on that day, department staff have been assigned to election duties and therefore, the services will not be operational.
3. The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SL CERT) says the Department of Meteorology’s official website, which underwent a cyberattack last week, is being restored. According to SLCERT, the cyberattack was reported on November 01, which resulted in the disruption of the website’s services.
4. The International Election Observers (IEO) present in the island noted that a peaceful election process throughout the island would pave the way for a free and fair election. Besides, a peaceful post-election season is expected even after the upcoming Parliamentary elections, they added. IEOs representing 10 countries announced this at a joint Press Conference in Colombo.
5. The Ministry of Defence has informed former MPs, former Provincial Councillors, political party leaders and political organizations, as well as officers who held executive appointments in the government to surrender the firearms and ammunition issued to them at various periods, before December 30, 2024.
6. The Court of Appeal today rejected the bail request of Randev Dinendra John, a director of W.M. Mendis Company, who has been sentenced to imprisonment. The bail application was heard before the bench of Court of Appeal Justices Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Mahen Gopallawa.
7. The Ministry of Education (MoE) announced the launch of an immediate investigation at the ministerial level regarding the inclusion of questions of a political nature in a school term exam paper. In a statement, the Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. J.M. Thilaka Jayasundara, noted that relevant officials have already been provided with instructions to address the issue.
8. The Department of Examinations has issued a special notice regarding the issuance of exam certificates. Accordingly, the department announces that the issuing of exam certificates will not be carried out on November 14 due to the departmental staff being deployed for election duties.
9. The Supreme Court has ordered the extension of the interim injunction issued preventing the execution of a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation under the previous government to release 168 acres of land from the Vidataltivu Nature Reserve associated with the Wilpattu National Park for the establishment of a shrimp farm.
10. Sri Lanka Cricket appointed former South African batsman Neil McKenzie as the National Team’s Consultant Coach for a short stint. Accordingly, he will work with a group of Sri Lankan players who departed for South Africa last night to participate in a pre-series camp ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa.

November 13, Colombo (LNW): A low-pressure area is formed over the south west Bay of Bengal. Under its influence, atmospheric conditions are favorable for afternoon thundershowers in most parts of the island, today (November 13) and in the next few days.

Several spells of showers will occur in Northern Province. Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places elsewhere during the evening or night.

Heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, and Southern provinces and in Kalutara district.

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

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

By: Staff Writer

November 12, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan government is establishing a special unit at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to improve passenger experiences during flight delays.

The new unit, designed to provide real-time flight updates and maximize passenger comfort, will operate 24/7.

This initiative follows complaints about delays, especially on SriLankan Airlines flights, which prompted Minister Vijitha Herath to visit the airport in Katunayake.

During his visit, the minister toured various airport sections and held discussions with staff to understand the challenges firsthand. He instructed authorities to take immediate action to minimize delays and improve services for travelers.

BIA is now gearing up for a busy winter season, is seeing a significant recovery in air traffic. The airport is on track to return to pre-pandemic levels, with 28 airlines currently operating scheduled services connecting BIA to 50 destinations across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

According to Dr. Sumith De Silva, Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd., BIA is rapidly rebuilding its global connectivity after a sharp decline in passenger numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, BIA has already registered 6.63 million passengers, marking a 20% increase compared to the previous year. Aircraft movements have risen by 22%, and cargo volume has grown by 25%.

To meet the rising demand, particularly during the winter months, BIA has introduced seasonal and charter flights.

Notable additions include Enter Air, offering three weekly flights from Poland; Edelweiss Air, launching weekly flights from Zurich through May 2025; and Azur Air, resuming services from five Russian cities to Colombo.

Additionally, new routes from Jetstar Asia and Centrum Air will strengthen connections to Singapore and Uzbekistan, with Jetstar’s Singapore service starting in November.

BIA’s expansion is supported by an extensive network of airlines, including Aeroflot, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Air India, and SriLankan Airlines, among others. These airlines offer seamless connections to major international cities like London, Paris, Sydney, and Dubai, reinforcing BIA’s status as one of the most well-connected airports in the region.

As BIA continues to recover and grow, Dr. De Silva emphasized the airport’s commitment to safety, adhering to international aviation standards to ensure passenger confidence.

With enhanced security, a growing network of flights, and improved services for travelers, BIA is poised to remain a key hub for international travel as it welcomes more global passengers this winter.

November 12, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has issued instructions for all depots to deploy their current bus fleets to ensure smooth transportation operations throughout the upcoming week, until Monday (18).

This move comes in response to the heightened demand for public transport during the election period and the long weekend that follows.

According to SLTB Chairman, Ramal Siriwardana, provincial depots have been directed to operate buses as per the existing schedules to facilitate passenger movement to and from Colombo.

In addition, the SLTB has made arrangements to deploy extra buses in key regions.

Today (12), an additional 70 buses will serve the Gampaha, Kalutara, and Colombo areas, while another 80 buses will be stationed at Colombo Fort tomorrow to address the increased passenger volume.

These extra buses are set to complement the regular bus schedules, ensuring that the public is well served during this busy period.

In parallel with these efforts, the SLTB has allocated 1,017 buses to transport election officials and ballot boxes to various locations across the island, ensuring that all logistical requirements for the election are met.

Another 290 buses have been designated for the transport of police personnel tasked with election duties.

These buses are being deployed on a payment basis, with the understanding that they will be available for public transport once the election-related duties are completed.

Given the long weekend, which coincides with the general election, provincial depots have also been instructed to schedule buses for travel to Colombo on Sunday (17) and Monday (18) to accommodate the public’s travel needs.

By: Isuru Parakrama

November 12, Colombo (LNW): The website of Sri Lanka’s Meteorological Department is undergoing restoration following a cyber attack that disrupted its services earlier this month.

The attack, which occurred on November 01, caused alterations to the department’s official site, prompting immediate action by the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT), the country’s principal cyber security authority.

Charuka Damunopola, Senior Information Officer at SLCERT, confirmed that the cyber attack had been swiftly reported, and initial investigations revealed that changes were made to the Meteorological Department’s website.

In response, SLCERT has been leading the recovery and mitigation efforts, working diligently to restore the website’s normal functionality.

Damunopola reassured the public that while the attack had impacted the website, no data breaches or theft of sensitive information had been detected.

He stressed that CERT’s team continues to monitor the situation rigorously to ensure the site’s full restoration, both in terms of its operation and security.

Preliminary measures have been implemented to recover the website, and further investigations are underway to determine the full extent of the attack.

The SLCERT team is collaborating closely with the Meteorological Department to assess any lasting effects and to bolster the security of the site against potential future threats.

Cyber attacks on web portals operated by public bodies in Sri Lanka had been prevalent during the consecutive years, but remained un-evident since April, 2024. The reemergence of the trend, however, raises grave concerns on data security and accessibility.