By: Staff Writer

September 01, Colombo (LNW): A pioneer in the region, the airline has always remained resilient in the face of turbulence and has consistently championed true Sri Lankan hospitality globally.

“Forty-five years is a long time in any industry, but achieving this milestone in the commercial airline sector is an even greater feat. SriLankan Airlines is one of the oldest commercial airlines in this region, and we are incredibly proud of our journey over the past 45 years, despite the regular challenges we have faced.

Through it all, SriLankan has remained steadfast in its commitment to our loyal customers and in supporting Sri Lanka through every high and low,” SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ashok Pathirage reflected.

Over the years, SriLankan Airlines has proven its versatility in an ever evolving and testing environment. Today, SriLankan continues to be one of the major international airlines from South Asia, having achieved numerous milestones and accolades along the way.

“On this occasion, it is important to express our gratitude to our people. We owe our successes and resilience to every individual within the airline, both current and past, who has dedicated themselves and made sacrifices for our success.

As we celebrate our achievements, we will also focus on our vision for the future, striving to be the airline of choice for travellers seeking an authentic Sri Lankan experience, personified by the warmth and hospitality of our people,” SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Richard Nuttall added.

SriLankan Airlines provides convenient connections to a global network (including codeshare partners) of 114 destinations in 62 countries around the world.

The airline’s direct route map covers major cities across the Europe, Australia, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and the Far East. SriLankan operates an all-Airbus fleet consisting wide-bodied A330 aircraft, A321 aircraft and mid-range A320s.

Notable achievements include the 1999 rebranding from Air Lanka to SriLankan Airlines and joining the oneworld alliance in 2014.

The airline has also been recognised with multiple awards, such as the World Travel Awards for “World’s Leading Airline to the Indian Ocean” (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) and APEX’s 4-star rating in the Major Airline category (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023).

Other accolades include the PATA Gold Award for Marketing-Carrier (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) and the Golden City Gate Awards for various marketing campaigns.

SriLankan Airlines has also been at the forefront of innovation, introducing South Asia’s first self-service check-in and bag drop facility in 2023.

Additionally, the airline’s commitment to sustainability was recognised with the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Aviation Award for Best Aviation Sustainability Programme in 2022.

1. President Ranil Wickremesinghe announces plans to introduce new legislation allowing individuals to choose burial or cremation based on personal and religious preferences: Addressing past grievances, he expressed regret for the mandatory cremation policy enforced during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly affecting the Muslim community: A special committee will investigate the policy, and compensation will be provided to affected families.
   
2. Presidential Candidate Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha says anyone from his party Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) who pledged their support to any other candidate during the 2024 Presidential Election will not be accepted into membership of the party.
   
3. The National People’s Power (NPP) lodges a complaint with the Elections Commission against MP Rajitha Senarathne: NPP’s Sunil Handunnetti accuses Senarathne of issuing a threatening statement aimed at deterring expatriate workers from returning to Sri Lanka to vote in the upcoming Presidential election: claims this violates election laws and hinders a free and fair electoral process.
   
4. SLPP Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa announces a temporary suspension of political activities in Jaffna to respect the Nallur Ther festival’s cultural and religious significance: emphasises the importance of preserving regional traditions during this sacred period, allowing the festival to proceed without political disruption: The Nallur Ther festival is a highly revered Hindu event in the Northern Province.
   
5. Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. announces no price change for September, retaining the August pricing structure: Chairman Muditha Peiris emphasised that this decision aims to provide stability for consumers amidst fluctuating global energy prices: Litro Gas is closely monitoring the market and will reassess the pricing if needed, prioritising consistency and affordability for households.
   
6. The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation announces starting from midnight (31), fuel prices across Sri Lanka will be lowered: The price of Petrol 92 will see a reduction of Rs 12 per litre, while Petrol 95 will drop by Rs 2 per litre: Diesel prices will be reduced by Rs 10 per litre, and Super Diesel will decrease by Rs 3 per litre.
   
7. An extraordinary gazette notification has been released, formally listing the public and bank holidays for the year 2025: This announcement provides an official schedule, ensuring that institutions, businesses, and the general public are well-informed and can plan accordingly for the upcoming year.
   
8. The Election Commission reports 1,592 complaints regarding the upcoming Presidential election between 31 July and 31 August, with 112 cases filed in the past month: Amongst these, 947 complaints were recorded by District Centres, and 645 by the National Centre for Election Complaint Management, including eight incidents of violence: The Commission is committed to investigating each case to ensure a fair election.
   
9. Sri Lanka’s transparency in large foreign-funded infrastructure projects remains inadequate, with only 40% of required information disclosed in 2024, according to Verité Research: The Infrastructure Watch dashboard reveals just 20% of procurement-related data was shared, raising corruption concerns: suggests linking foreign loans to compliance with the Right to Information Act to improve transparency and reduce risks for lenders and contractors.
   
10. Sri Lanka struggled in their first innings, reaching 129 for 7 at tea on day two of the second Test at Lord’s: Despite Asitha Fernando’s five-wicket haul and a brief partnership between Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, the top order faltered: England, led by Gus Atkinson’s maiden century, posted 427, leaving Sri Lanka trailing by 298 runs and facing a potential follow-on.

September 01, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s adherence to transparency laws in large infrastructure projects funded by foreign loans and grants remains significantly lacking, according to a recent statement from Verité Research.

The law mandates that all projects exceeding USD 100,000 must disclose relevant information online; however, in 2024, the government fulfilled only 40 per cent of this obligation.

The findings, revealed in the 2024 update of the Infrastructure Watch dashboard on PublicFinance.LK—Sri Lanka’s foremost economic insights platform—underscore ongoing transparency challenges.

This platform has been monitoring the government’s compliance with the proactive disclosure requirements of the Right to Information (RTI) Act since 2022.

Public procurement, a frequent target of corruption in public spending, saw even poorer compliance.

The dashboard reported that only 20 per cent of the legally mandated procurement-related information for foreign-financed projects was disclosed, raising concerns about the integrity of these projects.

Subhashini Abeysinghe, an economist and Director at Verité Research, suggested that foreign lenders could improve transparency by tying project financing to the government’s compliance with the RTI Act.

She emphasised that increased transparency is beneficial not only for the Sri Lankan public but also for the foreign lenders and contractors involved.

“Greater transparency fosters fair competition, reduces corruption risks, and minimises reputational risks for lenders and contractors,” Abeysinghe noted.

The RTI Act, specifically Section 9, along with guidelines from the RTI Commission, requires the proactive disclosure of information across five key areas: project details, rationale and beneficiaries, budget and financial details, approvals and clearances, and procurement and contracts.

The 2024 assessment focused on compliance concerning 50 major infrastructure projects.

September 01, Colombo (LNW): An extraordinary gazette notification has been released, formally listing the public and bank holidays for the year 2025.

This announcement provides an official schedule, ensuring that institutions, businesses, and the general public are well-informed and can plan accordingly for the upcoming year.

The detailed calendar outlines significant dates for both public observances and banking operations across the country.

September 01, Colombo (LNW): UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, marks its ten-year presence in Sri Lanka, reflecting on a decade dedicated to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Ramaaya Salgado, Head of Office at UN Women Sri Lanka, underscores the ongoing need to promote gender equality across the country.

UN Women commenced its operations in Sri Lanka on 1 September 2014, initially as a small team focused on advising the United Nations on gender equality issues.

Over the years, the organisation has expanded its efforts, growing into a robust team committed to addressing gender disparities in various sectors.

The organisation’s mission is centred around ensuring that women have equal opportunities in governance, economic autonomy, safety from violence, and participation in peacebuilding initiatives.

The mandate of gender equality is pivotal as it encompasses the upholding of human rights. According to Salgado, achieving gender equality is essential for creating a just society where everyone, regardless of gender, enjoys the same rights and opportunities.

This involves empowering women, who are often the most affected by inequality, and ensuring that they are active participants in decision-making processes that impact their lives.

Reflecting on the past decade, Salgado highlights several key moments, including the successful multi-party dialogues that brought together first-time elected officials from diverse backgrounds to discuss issues affecting their communities.

Additionally, UN Women’s work in empowering women entrepreneurs and contributing to Sri Lanka’s first National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security are noted as significant achievements.

However, the journey towards gender equality is fraught with challenges, particularly in the face of economic constraints and global pushbacks against women’s rights.

Salgado warns that without adequate resources and political will, the progress made in gender equality could stall, especially as Sri Lanka continues to recover from its economic crisis.

As Sri Lanka looks towards the future, UN Women emphasises the importance of gender-responsive planning and budgeting to address the unique needs of all citizens.

This approach requires a strong commitment from the government, as well as continuous efforts to change societal attitudes that perpetuate gender-based violence.

Salgado also points out that while the current policy frameworks in Sri Lanka are adequate, they must be implemented in a way that ensures they complement each other in the fight for gender equality.

The organisation remains committed to reflecting on its first decade of operations, with the goal of improving and building upon the programmes that have been implemented so far.

UN Women plans to take a step back to evaluate its past efforts, understanding what has worked and what needs improvement.

The organisation aims to refine its strategies to better serve the communities it works with, ensuring that its next decade of service in Sri Lanka is even more impactful and effective in promoting gender equality.

September 01, Colombo (LNW): Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. has announced that there will be no adjustment to gas prices for the month of September.

Chairman Muditha Peiris confirmed that the company has decided to retain the pricing structure set in August, extending it into the new month.

This decision comes as part of Litro’s ongoing assessment of market conditions, with the company opting to maintain stability for consumers amidst fluctuating global energy prices.

The continuation of August’s prices is intended to provide consistency and avoid any sudden financial burden on households.

Litro Gas Lanka has been closely monitoring global gas markets and local demand, and the decision to keep prices unchanged reflects a commitment to balancing affordability with market realities.

The company reassured customers that it would continue to evaluate the situation and make necessary adjustments if required in the future.

September 01, Colombo (LNW): The Election Commission has reported a significant rise in complaints related to the forthcoming Presidential election, with 112 new cases filed in the past month.

This surge brings the total number of complaints to 1,592, spanning from 31 July to 31 August.

The National Centre for Election Complaint Management registered 645 of these cases, whilst District Centres for Election Complaint Management recorded 947 complaints.

The complaints primarily concern breaches of election laws, and notably, eight incidents of violence were reported amongst them.

As the election draws closer, the Election Commission has been vigilant in monitoring and addressing these issues.

The complaints cover a range of infractions, from illegal campaigning tactics to direct violations of electoral regulations.

The incidents of violence, although relatively few, have heightened concerns about the fairness and safety of the electoral process.

The Commission has reiterated its commitment to ensuring a transparent and orderly election, promising to investigate each complaint thoroughly.

The increase in reported cases highlights the need for stringent oversight and enforcement of election laws to maintain public confidence in the democratic process.

The Election Commission is expected to take further measures to prevent the recurrence of such violations and to ensure that the upcoming election proceeds without disruption.

The public and political stakeholders alike are urged to adhere to the legal frameworks in place, with the Commission warning of serious consequences for those found guilty of electoral misconduct.

September 01, Colombo (LNW): SLPP Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa announced that he would temporarily suspend all political activities in Jaffna until the conclusion of the Nallur Ther (chariot) festival.

Rajapaksa explained that this decision stems from a deep respect for the cultural and religious significance of the festival and the Nallur Temple.

In his statement, Rajapaksa emphasised the importance of honouring and preserving the traditions of the region, particularly during such a sacred period.

“I have chosen to step back from political engagements in Jaffna during the Nallur Ther festival as a mark of respect for the community’s cultural heritage. It is crucial that we recognise and uphold these customs, allowing the festival to proceed without disruption,” Rajapaksa remarked.

The Nallur Ther festival, one of the most revered Hindu celebrations in the Northern Province, draws thousands of devotees each year.

September 01, Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced plans to introduce new legislation that will allow individuals to choose between burial and cremation based on their personal preferences and religious beliefs.

Speaking at the “Puluwan Sri Lanka” victory rally in Kattankudy, the President addressed the challenges faced by the Muslim community during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly the government-enforced mandatory cremation policy.

During his address, President Wickremesinghe expressed deep regret for the anguish caused to Muslim families who were unable to bury their deceased in accordance with Islamic practices.

He acknowledged the emotional toll this policy took on the community and assured that steps would be taken to prevent such situations in the future.

To address these concerns, the President revealed that a special committee would be established to investigate those responsible for the mandatory cremation policy.

Additionally, he promised that compensation would be provided to the families affected by the enforced cremations, as a gesture of reconciliation and to acknowledge their suffering.

The proposed legislation is expected to uphold the rights of all individuals to perform last rites according to their religious beliefs, marking a significant step towards greater inclusivity and respect for cultural diversity in the country.