January 01, London (LNW): Ranil Jayawardena, the former Member of Parliament for North East Hampshire and ex-deputy leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC), has been recognised in the 2024 New Year’s Honours List, receiving a knighthood for his outstanding contributions to public service.

Born in London to Sri Lankan parents, the 38-year-old’s career in politics spans over a decade, from his early days as a local councillor to his service in the UK Parliament.

Jayawardena represented North East Hampshire from 2015 until his recent loss in the 2024 general election, making him a familiar and respected figure in his constituency, where he had lived for most of his life.

His commitment to public service, both at the local and national levels, has earned him this prestigious honour.

Expressing his gratitude for the knighthood, Jayawardena commented, “I am deeply humbled to receive this recognition from His Majesty The King. It is a reflection of the journey I’ve taken in public service, from serving as a local councillor to holding key Cabinet positions in government.“

Jayawardena’s political path began in Basingstoke, where he served as a councillor for the BDBC from 2008 until 2015. His rise through the ranks of local government saw him become the deputy leader of the council, a position that laid the groundwork for his later national political career.

“It was an immense privilege to serve as MP for the area where I grew up, attended local state schools, and where I continue to live with my family,” he said.

After securing a degree in Government from the London School of Economics in 2008, Jayawardena took his first steps into national politics, becoming the Member of Parliament for North East Hampshire in 2015.

Over the years, he built a reputation as a dedicated and effective politician, holding several important roles in government.

Between 2020 and 2022, he served as the International Trade Minister, where he was instrumental in negotiating trade agreements to strengthen the UK’s economic position, particularly during the challenging period of the Covid-19 pandemic.

His leadership during this time helped ensure the resilience of global supply chains, a key factor in the UK’s recovery.

In September 2022, following the appointment of Liz Truss as Prime Minister, Jayawardena was promoted to Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

In this capacity, he spearheaded initiatives to tackle water pollution and protect the UK’s natural environment—issues that remain close to his heart.

In his message of thanks, Jayawardena expressed his gratitude to his family, colleagues, and constituents, acknowledging the crucial role they played in his achievements.

“I am incredibly thankful to my family, colleagues, and especially the people of North East Hampshire for their unwavering support over the years. It has been an honour to serve them, and I will always be proud of the work we’ve done together.“

January 01, Colombo (LNW): In a significant step towards national transformation, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake officially launched the much-anticipated ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative at a ceremony held at the Presidential Secretariat a short while ago (01).

The initiative, which aims to address critical environmental, social, and ethical challenges, was unveiled with the promise of fostering a cleaner, more sustainable future for the nation.

The ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ programme has been designed to encourage citizens to take an active role in improving their communities by promoting a cleaner and more sustainable future addressing critical environmental, social and ethical challenges befallen the island nation.

The launch event saw a strong emphasis on unity and collective action, with President Dissanayake calling on every Sri Lankan to contribute to the success of the initiative.

Addressing the gathering, the President expressed his belief that a clean nation is essential not only for the well-being of the people but also for the country’s broader development goals.

January 01, Colombo (LNW): As Sri Lanka welcomes the year 2025, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya delivered a hopeful and reflective message, drawing attention to the nation’s transformative journey over the past year and the optimism that surrounds its future.

She celebrated the significant strides taken towards a more inclusive, forward-thinking society, where citizens have come together in their shared commitment to embrace change and foster unity.

The Prime Minister emphasised that the nation’s collective decision to pursue a new direction was not just about political change, but about the broader desire to build a society rooted in empathy, respect, and inclusivity.

“The people of Sri Lanka have made it clear that they are ready for change—change towards a political culture that is clean, people-centered, and grounded in compassion. Unity, not division, is the path they have chosen,” she remarked.

She went on to highlight her government’s unwavering commitment to improving critical areas such as the economy, industrial growth, and education.

“Our vision is clear: we want to build a future where every citizen can live with dignity, freedom, and peace. A future where no one is held back by their race, gender, ethnicity, or religion,” she asserted, underlining the importance of creating equal opportunities for all.

While reflecting on the challenges of the past, Prime Minister Amarasuriya acknowledged the missed opportunities for achieving national unity in previous years. She stressed that this was not a moment for regret, but rather a call to action.

“In the past, we have had moments when unity was within our reach, yet we failed to fully seize those chances. But this time, we cannot afford to let this opportunity slip away,” she stated, urging the nation to unite and safeguard the progress made.

“We must work together to preserve and build on the gains we have achieved, ensuring that we continue moving forward as one nation.“

Full Statement:

“This year has been a truly transformative year for us Sri Lankans. The citizens of this country have chosen change: a clean and people centered political culture and empathetic society, unity as opposed to division.

As a responsible government, we remain committed to uplifting the nation in various critical areas, including the economy, industry, and education. Our vision is to create a future where every citizen can live a peaceful, free, dignified and fulfilling life, transcending barriers of race, gender, ethnicity, or religion.

We have had several opportunities in the past to unite as a nation, but we failed to fully realize the benefits of those moments. However, we must now ensure that this opportunity is not missed and that we work collectively to preserve it. At this critical time, as the state is fully committed to serve the public, I urge everyone to step forward with determination as we enter the year 2025. 

While the journey towards a brighter future is challenging, we have already taken significant steps towards achieving that goal. As we approach the threshold of a new year filled with hope and promise, I extend my sincere best wishes to all citizens for a peaceful, happy, and prosperous 2025.

I invite everyone to come together with a shared purpose, setting aside all differences, as we embark on this new year to ensure its success and work towards building a better future for the Sri Lanka. Our collective focus should be to restore the name of “Sri Lanka” as a proud and prosperous nation on the global stage.”

January 01, Colombo (LNW): General Shavendra Silva, the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of Sri Lanka, delivered a poignant farewell message, reflecting on his over four decades of service in the Sri Lanka Army.

Having retired after a distinguished military career, General Silva marked the end of his tenure as the 8th CDS, a role he assumed on 1 June 2022, following a period of significant national turmoil.

During his farewell address, General Silva spoke candidly about his actions during the ‘Aragalaya’ protests of 2022, a period of intense civil unrest in Sri Lanka. He stressed his intention to minimise civilian casualties during the protests, explaining that he had directed the military to use only minimal force in response to the demonstrators.

“I had no desire to harm or kill unarmed civilians. My instructions were clear: to avoid unnecessary violence,” General Silva stated, adding that his approach had been misinterpreted by those in power at the time, which, he felt, led to a misunderstanding of his strategy.

Reflecting on the circumstances surrounding his appointment as CDS, General Silva explained how he had transitioned from his role as the 23rd Commander of the Sri Lanka Army to the country’s top defence position.

“When I was appointed CDS, I had just seven months remaining before my retirement as Army Commander. Shortly thereafter, the political situation took a dramatic turn, with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fleeing the country. At the time, I was overseas attending a national security conference, with official permission,” he recalled.

Despite the intense political and military challenges of the period, General Silva made it clear that his loyalties lay firmly with the nation. “I did not seek power for personal gain or betrayal, nor did I act as a pawn for foreign interests,” he said, referring to the accusations that sometimes arose during the protests. He went on to explain that his decision to deploy the Air Mobile Brigade to rescue the then Prime Minister, who was trapped by protesters, was a testament to his commitment to safeguard national leadership during a crisis.

Throughout his career, General Silva had earned the trust of several Sri Lankan Presidents, who recognised his disciplined approach to military service. In addition to his military duties, he held prominent civilian roles, including as the Deputy Adviser on National Security, Chairman of the National Sports Selection Committee, and Chief Operations Officer of the Presidential Task Force on Green Agriculture.

His military career was equally distinguished, having risen through the ranks from Second Lieutenant to the highest military office in the country. General Silva served in various key positions, including as Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army and Colonel of the prestigious Gajaba Regiment, the Special Forces Regiment, and the Commando Regiment.

His leadership in commanding the 58 Division during the final stages of the Sri Lankan civil war in 2009 was particularly notable. Under his command, the division played a pivotal role in the Wanni Humanitarian Operation, a decisive campaign that led to the conclusion of the three-decade-long conflict and the restoration of peace in Sri Lanka.

Known for his expertise in infantry tactics and battlefield strategy, General Silva also earned a reputation for his strong leadership and discipline. His tenure saw him become one of the most successful divisional commanders, with his regiment achieving significant success in military operations, making him a respected figure both within Sri Lanka’s military circles and internationally.

Reflecting on his career, he expressed pride in his service to the nation, saying, “My aim was always to serve with honour and integrity, and I leave with no regrets, having done my duty to the best of my ability.”

January 01, Colombo (LNW): Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa assured the public yesterday (31) that children’s savings accounts with monthly earnings under Rs. 150,000 would not be subject to any withholding tax on interest.

His comments followed inquiries from the media regarding the controversial 10 per cent withholding tax imposed on interest earned from accounts held by children under the age of 18.

The Minister clarified that this tax would only be applicable in cases where the child’s total monthly income, including interest from savings, exceeds the Rs. 150,000 threshold.

In such instances, the interest earned on the savings would be included in the taxable income.

He stressed, however, that this would not affect the majority of children’s accounts, where the interest typically falls below this threshold.

Further addressing concerns raised by journalists, Dr. Jayathissa mentioned that the government was actively working to streamline and ease the process of tax recovery.

“We are developing a new system that will simplify the process of refunding withholding tax, which will come into effect from April 1 of the coming year,” he explained. “This measure will ensure that the public faces minimal challenges when dealing with the Inland Revenue Department.“

Additionally, the Minister pointed out that extensive consultations are taking place with Sri Lanka’s banking sector to ensure that the tax-related processes are made as convenient as possible for account holders.

By coordinating with the banks, the government intends to create a seamless experience for the public, allowing them to manage their tax matters efficiently through banking channels.

Dr. Jayathissa concluded by expressing confidence that these measures would ultimately benefit the public by making tax procedures more transparent, accessible, and straightforward.

January 01, Colombo (LNW): The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) has confirmed a reduction in the price of kerosene, with effect from midnight on December 31.

The revised price sees a decrease of Rs. 5 per litre, bringing the cost of a litre of kerosene to Rs. 183.

This move comes as part of ongoing adjustments to fuel prices in the country, though the CEYPETCO has asserted that no changes will be made to the prices of other fuel varieties at this time.

Specifically, the prices of Petrol Octane 92, Petrol 95 Octane Euro 4, Lanka Auto Diesel, and Lanka Super Diesel 4 Star Euro 4 will remain unchanged.

January 01, Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Eastern and Uva provinces and in Matale, Nuwara-Eliya, Polonnaruwa, Hambantota and Matara districts, the Department of Meteorology said in its first daily weather forecast in the New Year 2025.

Heavy showers above 100 mm can be expected at some places in Eastern and Uva provinces and in Matale, Nuwara-Eliya and Hambantota districts.

Several spells of showers may occur in the Northern province and in Anuradhapura district.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places elsewhere during the afternoon or night.

Fairly heavy showers above 75 mm can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle district.

Fairly strong winds of (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Northern, Eastern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces.

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