May 27, Colombo (LNW): A formal indictment has been filed against former Cabinet minister Mervyn Silva, following an investigation into his financial activities during his time in office. The charges, brought by Sri Lanka’s Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), concern the alleged accumulation of wealth disproportionate to his declared earnings.

According to the commission, the alleged offences occurred between March 2010 and March 2012, a period during which Silva reportedly acquired a substantial portfolio of assets, including luxury vehicles, high-value properties, and significant bank holdings. CIABOC has raised concerns that these acquisitions were inconsistent with his officially declared income.

The indictment outlines specific financial transactions under scrutiny. Among these are the purchase of a plot of land in the Kadawatha area for approximately Rs. 13.9 million and another in the prestigious Colombo 07 neighbourhood—specifically on Sir Ernest de Silva Mawatha—costing Rs. 71.3 million. In addition to these real estate investments, Silva is also accused of spending Rs. 32.375 million on a Mercedes-Benz vehicle for his son, Malaka Silva, along with Rs. 5.5 million for a Hyundai and Rs. 8.85 million on a Defender SUV.

The charges are framed under provisions of the Bribery Act, which criminalise the holding or acquisition of assets that significantly exceed known income sources of a public servant or elected official. CIABOC maintains that Silva’s lifestyle and asset acquisitions during the two-year window far surpassed what could be reasonably justified by his official salary and income declarations.

This case adds to the long-standing controversies surrounding the former minister, who was a highly visible and often provocative political figure during his time in government. Known for his brash style and frequent run-ins with the media, Silva had once enjoyed close ties with the ruling establishment but later receded from the political limelight.

Legal experts suggest the indictment marks a renewed attempt by oversight bodies to hold former public officials accountable for unexplained wealth accumulation. While the legal process is expected to be protracted, the case is likely to reignite debate about transparency and corruption within Sri Lanka’s political sphere.

The commission has filed two separate charges against Silva under the Bribery Act. If convicted, he could face penalties ranging from heavy fines to possible imprisonment, along with the confiscation of unlawfully acquired assets. Proceedings are expected to proceed before the relevant High Court in the coming months.

May 27, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan government has announced increased surveillance and preventative measures in response to the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant that is beginning to spread in parts of the world, including neighbouring India.

Speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing, Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa stated that whilst the current domestic situation remains under control, authorities are taking no chances.

He confirmed that precautionary protocols are already being implemented, particularly at international entry points.

“Though we are not facing a critical threat at this moment, the relevant health and airport authorities have been instructed to remain on alert. Enhanced screening is in place at the country’s airports to help prevent any potential spread of this new variant,” he said.

Dr Jayatissa added that recent reports from India and Singapore have highlighted the growing concern around this latest mutation of the virus. In India, over a thousand cases linked to the new variant have been identified, with at least four associated fatalities reported.

These developments have raised alarms across South Asia, leading governments to intensify their monitoring efforts.

The minister emphasised that whilst there is no indication of a crisis on the scale of previous pandemic waves, early intervention and strict monitoring are vital to containing any future risk.

He also reassured the public that the Ministry of Health is in constant communication with international health bodies to remain updated on developments.

The re-emergence of the virus comes at a time when many countries have relaxed most of their pandemic-era restrictions. However, the rise of new subvariants has reminded regional authorities of the unpredictable nature of COVID-19 and the need for robust preparedness.

Sri Lanka, which was severely impacted by earlier waves of the pandemic, particularly in 2021, has since worked to improve its pandemic response infrastructure. The government has upgraded facilities at Bandaranaike International Airport to accommodate enhanced health checks, and hospitals across the island have been placed on standby should there be a sudden surge in cases.

Dr Jayatissa urged citizens to remain vigilant but not alarmed. “We are not returning to lockdowns or severe restrictions,” he clarified. “But we do encourage the public to remain cautious, particularly when travelling abroad, and to adhere to basic health practices such as hand hygiene and voluntary mask use in crowded areas.”

May 27, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan government has addressed public and media inquiries regarding the official nature of state involvement in the funeral arrangements for celebrated film icon Malini Fonseka, following recent confusion about the type of honours afforded to her.

Speaking at the weekly Cabinet press briefing, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa explained that while the ceremony at Independence Square was held with full state patronage, it did not constitute a “full state funeral” in the formal sense as defined by government protocols.

His remarks were made in response to questions from journalists over the apparent shift from an earlier announcement which suggested that Fonseka would be honoured with full state honours.

Dr Jayatissa clarified that the process of granting state recognition at funerals follows specific guidelines, and such decisions are based on criteria that determine the appropriate level of state involvement.

He noted that state patronage is itself a high form of recognition and, in Fonseka’s case, included the provision of all essential facilities, ceremonial arrangements, and appropriate official support in keeping with her status.

Importantly, the Minister emphasised that the wishes of the late actress’s family played a pivotal role in shaping the final arrangements. “Our approach went beyond strict formalities,” he said, adding that the government engaged directly with Fonseka’s relatives to ensure the proceedings reflected their expectations and desires.

“We believe that what was offered, with their consent, was the highest form of honour possible under the circumstances,” he stated.

Malini Fonseka, affectionately known as the ‘Queen of Sinhala Cinema’, passed away earlier this month, prompting a nationwide outpouring of grief. With a career spanning over five decades, she was an icon in Sri Lanka’s cinematic and theatrical traditions, earning international acclaim and numerous awards.

Amidst the discussions over her final rites, Minister Jayatissa also responded to separate questions raised in Parliament about financial support received from the President’s Fund.

He stated that a disclosure was made regarding disbursements amounting to Rs. 1.22 billion, a portion of which had been allocated to several Members of Parliament. Among the names cited were Keheliya Rambukwella, Rajitha Senaratne, Dinesh Gunawardena, and Dayasiri Jayasekara.

He clarified that his parliamentary statement focused on broader patterns of fund allocation from the President’s Fund, not on any individual grant made to Fonseka herself.

The context of these disclosures, he suggested, was intended to increase transparency around the use of public funds, particularly during periods when national priorities must be carefully managed.

May 27, Colombo (LNW): Authorities have issued a heightened weather alert as intense rainfall continues to batter several regions of Sri Lanka, driven by a surge in southwest monsoon activity.

The Department of Meteorology has released an amber-level advisory warning of persistent downpours across the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces, as well as in the districts of Galle, Matara, Nuwara-Eliya and Kandy. The alert will remain in effect for the next 24 hours.

Forecasters have cautioned that some areas could experience rainfall exceeding 100 millimetres within this period. The ongoing monsoonal conditions have already led to widespread disruption, with waterlogged roads, increased risk of landslides in elevated regions, and delays to public transport services reported in several locations.

The meteorological department attributes the adverse weather to intensified southwest monsoon currents, which are expected to maintain their influence over the island’s southwestern quadrant.

Authorities are advising the public to remain vigilant, particularly in low-lying and landslide-prone areas, and to limit non-essential travel during periods of heavy rain.

Communities living near hillsides and riverbanks are being urged to take precautionary measures and heed any evacuation notices if issued.

By: Staff Writer

May 27, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka is moving closer to launching its long-awaited biometric national identity system, with the final batch of high-security polycarbonate cards expected to arrive by the end of June.

The Department for Registration of Persons has confirmed that the remaining 400,000 cards, supplied by French technology firm Thales, will soon be in hand, paving the way for the full-scale deployment of the Electronic National Identity Card (e-NIC) initiative.

The e-NIC project represents a major technological leap in the country’s approach to identity verification, promising to replace traditional paper-based documents with tamper-proof cards embedded with biometric data. Each card will store the holder’s fingerprint, iris scan, and facial features—data that will be used to uniquely identify individuals across public and private sector systems.

M.S.P. Suriyapperuma, Director General of the Department for Registration of Persons, noted that the legal foundation for this transformation already exists under the current National Identity Card Act. However, the biometric features can only be officially activated once the President, who also holds the Digital Ministry portfolio, issues the relevant gazette notification. Suriyapperuma confirmed that this activation is now imminent, with the necessary provisions soon to be formalised.

The new identity system goes beyond mere security enhancements. It is designed to integrate with the broader Sri Lanka Unique Digital ID framework, consolidating disparate forms of identification under a single system. In addition to basic personal data, the card will link to other official records such as birth certificates, tax identifiers, and even electoral information, creating a centralised database intended to support streamlined service delivery and improved governance.

According to officials, the digitisation of identity is seen as a foundational step towards enabling more efficient and accountable policymaking. By enabling data-driven governance, authorities hope to better allocate resources, monitor compliance, and facilitate inclusive access to state services. The cards will also play a key role in the verification of citizens in a variety of contexts, from healthcare and education to financial transactions and welfare disbursements.

To ensure the success of the rollout, extensive awareness campaigns are currently being undertaken. These are targeted not only at state institutions but also at private enterprises that may be called upon to verify identity in areas such as banking, insurance, and telecommunications.

Officials from the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) stressed the importance of building institutional readiness and public understanding to support the transition.

Thales, the French multinational contracted to deliver the physical cards, is among the global leaders in secure digital identification systems. The company claims to be responsible for one in three civil IDs produced globally each year and has worked with numerous governments to develop secure identity infrastructures. The firm’s Civil Identity Suite has been deployed worldwide to facilitate both digital and physical ID issuance.

With Sri Lanka edging closer to adopting a fully digital identity framework, the initiative is being closely watched both domestically and abroad. It represents not just a technical upgrade, but a significant shift in how identity is conceptualised, authenticated and managed in the modern state.

Once implemented, the e-NIC is expected to serve as the cornerstone of a digital society—one in which access to rights, benefits and opportunities is underpinned by secure, verifiable identity.

May 27, Colombo (LNW): As Sri Lanka continues to navigate its fragile path to economic stability, a high-level diplomatic visit from New Zealand has injected fresh momentum into bilateral relations.

Winston Peters, New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, arrived in Colombo this week for a five-day official visit aimed at strengthening cooperation across a range of sectors, including trade, agriculture, tourism, and education.

During a formal meeting held in the capital, Peters engaged in discussions with Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Vijitha Herath. The two sides reportedly explored a roadmap for enhanced collaboration between the two countries, focusing on both immediate and long-term partnerships.

Particular attention was given to trade diversification, with a strong emphasis on boosting Sri Lanka’s capacity to access international markets and reducing bureaucratic obstacles that hinder trade at entry points.

The talks took place against the backdrop of Sri Lanka’s ongoing efforts to recover from the devastating economic collapse it suffered in recent years—a crisis driven by unsustainable debt levels, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the collapse of key revenue streams such as tourism and foreign remittances.

The country defaulted on its debt in April 2022 and has since entered into a bailout agreement with the International Monetary Fund. Under this deal, Colombo has committed to a series of structural reforms and is currently seeking substantial debt relief totalling approximately $17 billion.

Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector was a focal point during the bilateral talks, with both parties expressing a desire to bolster collaboration in dairy production and food processing.

Minister Herath noted that New Zealand’s involvement in modernising Sri Lanka’s dairy industry had already contributed to positive change in rural communities, although domestic production continues to fall short of national demand.

Currently, Sri Lanka still relies heavily on imported dairy goods, a significant portion of which originate from New Zealand.

Trade figures from 2024 reveal the asymmetry in economic exchanges between the two nations. New Zealand’s exports to Sri Lanka amounted to around $335 million, predominantly in dairy, whilst Sri Lanka’s exports to New Zealand were valued at $64 million and included products such as tea, garments, rubber goods and spices.

Both countries expressed a mutual interest in rebalancing this trade relationship by broadening the range of Sri Lankan products entering the New Zealand market.

The two governments also highlighted the growing presence of New Zealand-based enterprises seeking investment opportunities in Sri Lanka. Peters underscored the potential benefits of partnerships in tourism, agriculture, and health services—sectors that could not only attract investment but also generate employment and foreign exchange earnings for Sri Lanka.

May 27, Colombo (LNW): The Election Commission has issued a final warning to all Local Government election candidates, urging strict compliance with the statutory requirement to disclose campaign expenditures.

Candidates who fail to meet the deadline will face legal consequences, in accordance with the Election Expenditure Regulation Act No. 03 of 2023.

The Commission’s Chairman, R.M.A.L. Rathnayake, confirmed that all candidates and affiliated political parties must submit a complete financial statement outlining campaign expenses within 21 days following the conclusion of the poll.

This includes those who incurred no costs, who are nevertheless required to submit a formal declaration stating as much.

All declarations must be handed in to the appropriate Returning Officers by midnight tonight. To facilitate this process, the Election Commission has extended operating hours of all district election offices and has launched an official online portal, allowing candidates to file digitally if physical submission is not feasible.

Rathnayake emphasised that the deadline is final, with no extensions permitted under any circumstance. He warned that failure to comply would result in the names of defaulters being immediately referred to local police authorities.

Offending candidates will then be prosecuted in line with the provisions laid out in the election law.

May 27, Colombo (LNW): With intense rainfall persisting across several regions, authorities have issued early warnings for potential landslides in multiple parts of Sri Lanka.

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has cautioned residents in specific localities to remain vigilant, as conditions remain conducive to slope instability and earth slips.

The alert, categorised as a Level 1 (Yellow) early warning, is currently in place for vulnerable zones in four districts—Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, and Kegalle. The warnings are expected to remain effective until 10:00 p.m. on May 28, depending on how weather patterns evolve over the coming hours.

In the Southern Province, particular attention has been drawn to the Elpitiya Divisional Secretariat Division and its environs in the Galle District, an area historically prone to waterlogging and minor landslides following prolonged rainfall.

In the Western Province, authorities have warned of possible slope failures in the Palindanuwara Division of the Kalutara District, where recent downpours have saturated the soil, heightening the risk of embankment collapses and road blockages.

Meanwhile, central highland areas are facing increased risks as well. In Kandy District, the Ganga Ihala Korale and Pasbage Korale Divisional Secretariats have been highlighted as vulnerable. These hilly terrains are known for their susceptibility to sudden landslides during the monsoon season.

Similarly, the Kegalle District has been placed on alert, with warnings issued for Bulathkohupitiya, Ruwanwella, Aranayake, and Yatiyanthota. Notably, Aranayake experienced a catastrophic landslide in 2016, a tragedy that has left lingering concerns over the region’s slope stability.

A Level 1 warning implies that conditions are conducive to landslides and that people residing in high-risk areas—particularly those living near slopes, cuttings, or steep terrain—should be prepared to evacuate if instructed.

The NBRO urges residents to remain alert to early signs such as cracks in the ground, leaning trees or utility poles, and sudden changes in water flow.

Disaster management officials have already been mobilised to monitor the situation and coordinate with local authorities to ensure swift response capabilities. Emergency services have been placed on standby, and temporary evacuation centres are being identified in case of worsening conditions.

The public is advised to stay tuned to official announcements, avoid unnecessary travel through affected areas, and report any signs of earth movement to local authorities without delay.

May 27, Colombo (LNW): A fresh wave of industrial unrest is sweeping through Sri Lanka’s health sector, as professionals from key allied medical fields initiated a strike action today over longstanding grievances.

Beginning at 8.00 a.m., medical laboratory technologists and physiotherapists—classified under the Supplementary Medical Services—have withdrawn from their duties, demanding redress on five core issues that they say have been ignored for far too long.

The strike, coordinated by the Joint Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine (JCPSM), underscores growing discontent among health sciences graduates who claim they have been subjected to years of systemic injustice, particularly in relation to career advancement and promotional pathways.

According to JCPSM General Secretary Chanaka Dharmawickrama, unless the government acts decisively and swiftly to address these concerns, the trade union action is likely to continue indefinitely.

This disruption adds further strain to an already overburdened healthcare system, which has been grappling with medicine shortages, disease outbreaks, and administrative inefficiencies in recent months.

The professionals participating in this strike play a critical role in patient care, from diagnostics to rehabilitation, and their absence is expected to have significant ripple effects across public hospitals and medical institutions.

In a sign of growing solidarity, other unions aligned with the supplementary health services have indicated their readiness to join the strike if the authorities fail to initiate a dialogue.

The JCPSM’s leadership has already begun informal coordination with several of these groups to explore the possibility of a broader mobilisation, should the standoff escalate.

Meanwhile, tensions are also simmering within the ranks of the medical doctors. The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), one of the most influential trade unions in the healthcare sector, has issued its own warning to the authorities. Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe, the organisation’s media spokesperson, has demanded the issuance of a revised circular that clearly sets out the amended guidelines on doctors’ overtime and holiday allowances.

According to the GMOA, a failure to resolve this issue within the coming week could lead to yet another phase of trade union activity, compounding the existing unrest.