By: Isuru Parakrama

December 15, Colombo (LNW): The Colombo Magistrate’s Court on December 13 directed the Fraud Investigation Bureau (FIB) to launch an investigation into candidates and their representatives who failed to submit proper election expense reports, as required by the Election Expenditure Regulation Act, following the 2024 Presidential Election held on 21 September.

The order was issued by Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Ratnayake, after reviewing information presented by the FIB in response to seven complaints filed by the Election Commission.

These complaints highlighted non-compliance with the Election Expenditure Act, which mandates the submission of detailed reports by candidates regarding their campaign expenses.

The Court has instructed the FIB to submit a detailed progress report on the ongoing investigation by 14 March 2025. During the proceedings, the FIB informed the Court that, under the provisions of the Election Expenditure Act No. 03 of 2023, all candidates and their representatives were required to provide a comprehensive breakdown of their election-related spending to the Election Commission by 13 October 2024.

However, the Commission has raised concerns that several candidates and their teams have yet to comply with this requirement.

The failure to submit these reports has prompted the Election Commission to file formal complaints, urging the authorities to address the issue swiftly.

December 15, Colombo (LNW): The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued urgent landslide warnings for multiple regions across the island, as heavy rain continues to lash various parts of the country.

These alerts are set to remain in place until 4.00 p.m. on Monday (16).

The NBRO has issued a Level 1 (Yellow) warning for areas at risk of landslides due to the ongoing adverse weather conditions.

The affected regions include several Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSDs) in the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, and Matale.

These areas are being closely monitored, as the continuous rainfall has already raised concerns about potential soil instability and the heightened threat of landslides.

In Badulla District, areas including Hali Ela, Ella, Haputhale, and Passara are under watch, with the surrounding regions also at significant risk.

Similarly, in Kandy, the Divisional Secretariats of Medadumbara and Pathadumbara have been flagged, as well as nearby areas.

In Kurunegala, the Rideegama area is on alert, and in Matale, the Ambanganga Korale and Rattota regions are being closely monitored for signs of instability.

Local authorities have urged residents in these areas to remain vigilant, avoid travel through potentially dangerous zones, and adhere to any additional safety instructions issued by the relevant authorities.

People living in areas prone to landslides are being advised to take preventive measures to safeguard themselves and their property.

By: Isuru Parakrama

December 15, Colombo (LNW): A low-pressure area is likely to form southeast Bay of Bengal today (15), and it may become a well-marked low pressure and move west-northwestwards towards the Tamil Nadu coast, close to North of Sri Lanka during the subsequent two days, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Eastern province. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere during the evening or night.

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

Misty conditions can be expected in Central, Sabaragamuwa, and Southern provinces during the morning.

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

Marine Weather:

1. President’s Secretary Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake officially informed the Secretary General of Parliament that Speaker Ashoka Ranwala’s resignation has been accepted by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake: Ranwala tendered his resignation on December 13 amid controversy over his educational qualifications, marking the first resignation of a Speaker in the country’s history: Ranwala clarified the issue, stating he could not immediately provide certain documents related to his doctorate: A new Speaker is expected to be elected on December 17.
   
2. Political sources indicate that following the resignation of Speaker Asoka Ranwala, three candidates—Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih, MP Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, and MP Nihal Galappaththi—have been proposed for the position: This comes after controversy over Ranwala’s doctorate.
   
3. The Sri Lanka Police Headquarters disclosed that Rs. 1.1 billion is spent annually on the security of former presidents, with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa receiving the largest allocation of over Rs. 326 million: The government has decided to limit security personnel to 60 officers, with periodic reviews by a committee: Armed forces personnel also support these security arrangements.
   
4. The Sri Lankan Parliament is re-checking and updating MP information on its website after discovering fake titles: The authorities are investigating those responsible for updating the site: An error was found where the title “Dr.” was mistakenly placed before the name of Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, despite him not holding a doctoral degree: The mistake has been corrected.
   
5. The Customs has detected weevils in 50,000 kg of imported rice and labelling issues in another 25,000 kg: Importers have been ordered to re-export the affected consignments or face confiscation: The government authorized private rice imports starting December 4, with 2,300 metric tons received by December 13: About 90% of these imports have been cleared by Customs.
   
6. The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has initiated an investigation into nearly 6,000 vehicles fraudulently registered in Sri Lanka, allegedly imported without paying customs duties: The vehicles have been seized and handed over to Sri Lanka Customs for further inquiry: An online portal has been launched to allow the public to verify the legal import status and duty payments of vehicles.
   
7. The Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) has started studying electricity tariff revisions, following a report from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation on fuel prices for electricity generation: The commission confirmed that the study is underway and will release a detailed report on December 17: A 21-day public consultation period will also begin on the same day.
   
8. The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) projects that over 311,000 Sri Lankan workers will go abroad for employment in 2024, marking the highest departures in a year: As of December 13, 300,162 workers have left, with a notable increase in male workers (60%): Kuwait remains the top destination: Remittances from migrant workers have totalled $5.96 billion by November 2024.
   
9. The Ministry of Finance announced the successful expiration of its Consent Solicitation and Exchange Offer for International Sovereign Bonds (ISBs), with a 98% participation rate: This marks a significant step in Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring, showing investor confidence in the country’s recovery plan: The bond exchange results will be released on December 16, with finalisation on December 20, 2024: President Anura Kumara Disanayake highlighted the debt relief’s role in supporting economic recovery and long-term fiscal stability.
   
10. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) have suspended all payments to Sri Lanka’s National Olympic Committee (NOCSL), except for Olympic scholarships for athletes: This decision follows concerns over ethics violations, including allegations against Secretary General Maxwell de Silva: In response, NOCSL held a meeting and decided to hold an early election before March 2024, following IOC recommendations.

The Sri Lankan government has approved the reclamation of 45 hectares within the Bay of Galle to transform the Port of Galle into a major tourism and real estate hub, similar to Colombo Port City. 

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) received clearance from the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resources Management Department (CCCRMD) after an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) deemed the project feasible.

 However, differing environmental reports have raised concerns over its impact on the region’s delicate marine ecosystem.

This ambitious project will involve constructing two offshore breakwaters—850 meters and 150 meters long—to ensure calm waters in the Bay of Galle and the harbor. 

A modern cruise terminal will also be built, alongside facilities for cruise ships, superyachts, and water sports, making the port a key attraction for both local and foreign visitors. 

The EIA asserts that, with proper mitigation measures, potential environmental impacts during the construction and operational phases can be minimized.

Despite this approval, a Supplementary Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) highlights significant risks, particularly to the Rumassala Marine Sanctuary (RMS), a protected area known for its coral reefs. 

The report warns that reclamation efforts, which will extend 300 meters seaward from Dewata Beach—a world-renowned surfing destination—could severely affect coral ecosystems due to increased sedimentation, water quality changes, and circulation disruptions.

Reclamation will require 1.9 million metric tonnes of filling material to be dredged from the Bay of Galle seabed. 

The project, financed and operated under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, also encroaches on the marine protected area and its influence zone. Public comments are being sought on the proposal.

The SEIA emphasizes the vulnerability of Rumassala’s coral reefs, noting that their survival depends on careful adherence to mitigation measures. Without these, the area’s marine biodiversity and long-term ecological balance could face irreversible damage.

While the project promises economic benefits, such as boosting tourism and creating state-of-the-art infrastructure, it underscores a broader dilemma: balancing development goals with environmental preservation. 

Stakeholders, including environmentalists and the local community, remain divided on whether the benefits outweigh the ecological risks.

The Galle Port City project represents an effort to enhance Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, but its success hinges on responsibly addressing the environmental challenges posed. As discussions unfold, the need for sustainable development practices has never been more critical.

Sri Lanka’s former Deputy High Commissioner to Australia, Himalee Arunatilaka, has been ordered to pay an additional $117,000 to Priyanka Danaratna, a domestic worker whom she paid less than 90 cents a day over three years in Canberra.

Ms. Danaratna, who arrived in Australia in 2015 to work for the Deputy High Commissioner, endured grueling conditions from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm daily, with only two days off during her employment. Unable to speak or read English and having her passport confiscated upon arrival, she performed all domestic duties, including cooking, cleaning, and laundry, sometimes working until 1:00 am during official events.

The Federal Court previously ordered Ms. Arunatilaka in August to pay $374,000 in unpaid wages and $169,000 in interest, citing the exploitative arrangement as a breach of Australian employment laws. Justice Elizabeth Raper described the $11,212.70 Ms. Danaratna received over three years as a “paltry sum” under an unlawful contract.

In its latest judgment, the court imposed an additional penalty of $117,000 on Ms. Arunatilaka to deter similar practices and criticized her lack of engagement with the legal proceedings. The former diplomat, now Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva, has yet to pay any of the court-ordered amounts.

Ms. Danaratna managed to escape the abusive arrangement in 2018 with assistance from the Salvation Army, which took her to a safe house in Sydney. The Sri Lankan High Commission has not responded to requests for comment on the case.