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.

November 12, Colombo (LNW): Abby Finkenauer, the United States State Department’s Special Envoy for Global Youth Issues, is set to visit Sri Lanka from November 12 to 15, 2024.

This visit underscores the US commitment to empowering youth across South Asia, with a particular focus on fostering civic engagement, enhancing youth leadership, and addressing critical issues like cultural preservation and community resilience.

During her visit, Finkenauer will experience firsthand the positive effects of the US-Sri Lanka partnership, especially through programmes that support education, leadership, and community engagement.

These initiatives are designed to empower young leaders and drive social and economic development in Sri Lanka.

Accompanied by US Ambassador Julie Chung, Finkenauer will meet with participants from the Embassy’s Youth Forum and alumni from the Emerging Leaders Academy, a USAID-backed programme aimed at promoting civic engagement and leadership skills, particularly amongst underrepresented groups.

The programme offers a platform for young people to develop leadership capabilities and contribute actively to their communities.

The Special Envoy will also engage with the Women in Motion initiative, a US Embassy-supported project that encourages young women to explore careers in creative industries.

Additionally, Finkenauer will visit young entrepreneurs whose success stories highlight the effectiveness of US-supported skills-building programmes in fostering innovation and business growth amongst the youth.

Through this visit, Finkenauer aims to strengthen relationships with youth leaders in Sri Lanka and across South Asia.

She will seek to deepen collaborative efforts on global issues affecting young people, from leadership development to the challenges of navigating an ever-evolving cultural and economic landscape.

By: Isuru Parakrama

November 12, Colombo (LNW): The Election Commission has laid out a clear and detailed process for the counting of votes in the forthcoming general election, scheduled for Thursday, November 14.

Addressing the media at a briefing, Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake outlined the procedures and timelines for how the vote counting will unfold on election day.

The counting of postal votes will commence at precisely 4:15 p.m. on the day of the election, Rathnayake confirmed.

Meanwhile, the counting of regular votes is anticipated to begin around 7:15 p.m., though this will be dependent on when the ballot boxes arrive at the designated counting centres.

The counting process will follow a systematic approach:

1. Initial Count: The ballots in each box will first be counted individually.
2. Party Vote Tally: Once the ballots have been counted, the votes for each political party or independent group will be tallied to determine the number of parliamentary seats allocated to each.
3. Preferential Vote Count: After the party votes are tallied, the preferential votes for individual candidates will then be counted, with candidates receiving the highest number of preferential votes in their respective parties or groups being elected to Parliament.

The results from each district and voting area will only be publicly announced after they have been thoroughly reviewed and approved by the Election Secretariat, ensuring that all processes are accurate and transparent.

In addition to the procedures, the Election Commission has also issued a request to the public, urging them to refrain from gathering near the counting centres or in the surrounding areas during the counting process.

Rathnayake specifically emphasised the importance of avoiding unnecessary presence around these locations.

“We urge the public not to congregate around the counting centres or on the roads in the vicinity for any reason,” he stressed, highlighting the need for a smooth and disturbance-free counting process.

November 12, Colombo (LNW): Colombo Additional Magistrate Bandara Ilangasinghe has instructed the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) to expedite its investigation into actress Piumi Hansamali and Viranjith Thambugala, Chairman of Aura Lanka, following a case filed under Section 190 of the Inland Revenue Act.

The investigation aims to determine whether the two individuals have committed any tax-related offences, as outlined by the Inland Revenue Act.

During the court proceedings held on November 11, the legal representative of the Inland Revenue Department informed the court that a search warrant had been obtained to examine documents at the residences of both Hansamali and Thambugala.

However, it was revealed that neither of the individuals was present at their respective homes when the searches were conducted.

The case has drawn significant public attention, as it involves two high-profile figures in Sri Lanka’s entertainment and business sectors.

With the court now pushing for a swift resolution, the IRD is under pressure to complete its investigation and determine whether any violations of tax laws have occurred.

The investigation, which centres on potential violations under Section 190 of the Inland Revenue Act, will scrutinise financial records and tax filings to ascertain if Hansamali and Thambugala have been involved in any form of tax evasion or fraudulent activity.

Should any wrongdoing be identified, the two individuals could face legal consequences in line with Sri Lanka’s strict tax laws.

The IRD has yet to provide further details on the specifics of the case or any evidence found during the initial searches.

However, the case highlights the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with tax regulations, particularly amongst prominent public figures and business leaders.

By: Isuru Parakrama

November 12, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has confirmed that the country’s ongoing debt restructuring process is expected to be completed by December, marking a significant milestone in efforts to restore financial stability.

Addressing supporters at a public rally in Gampaha yesterday (11), the President reassured the nation that the government’s plans to stabilise the economy were well under way, despite the ongoing challenges.

“We are very close to finalising the restructuring process, with only a small portion left to be completed,” President Dissanayake said, providing an optimistic outlook for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.

The President further outlined that, based on the current trajectory, Sri Lanka would be in a position to begin repaying its restructured debt by 2028. He emphasised that detailed calculations are already in place to manage these future repayment obligations, ensuring that the country remains on a sustainable path to economic growth.

In addition to the progress on debt restructuring, Dissanayake provided an update on Sri Lanka’s engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He revealed that an IMF delegation would be arriving in Sri Lanka shortly after the forthcoming general election to conduct the third review of the nation’s economic recovery programme.

This review, according to the President, is expected to be completed by the end of January or early February 2025.

With the IMF’s assessment, Dissanayake believes Sri Lanka will have the opportunity to establish a more robust economic foundation, positioning the country for long-term growth and stability.

He expressed confidence that the outcomes of this review would help further solidify the efforts made to stabilise the national economy and improve financial management.

The announcement comes at a critical time for Sri Lanka, as the nation continues to grapple with the economic fallout from previous crises.

Nevertheless, the government’s commitment to restructuring its debt and working alongside international partners like the IMF has generated a sense of optimism amongst economic experts and the public.