By: Isuru Parakrama

December 16, Colombo (LNW): A low-pressure area likely to form over southeast Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours is is likely to intensify further and move west-northwestwards towards the Tamil Nadu coast, close to North of Sri Lanka during the subsequent two days, the Department of Meteorology warned in its daily weather forecast today (16).

Cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Northern, Eastern, North-central, Uva and North-western provinces and in Matale and Nuwaraeliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere during the evening or night.

Heavy showers about 100mm are likely at some places in Northern, Eastern, North-central and Uva provinces and in Matale district.

A few showers are likely over the western coastal areas during the morning too.

Fairly strong winds of about 40 kmph can be expected at times over Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Matale and Trincomalee districts.

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. During his three-day visit to India, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met key officials, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval: Discussions focused on boosting Indo-Sri Lankan economic cooperation, expanding investment, enhancing tourism, modernising agriculture, and strengthening regional security: Sri Lankan officials also participated in the meetings.
   
2. SJB MP Nalin Bandara says the stepping down of Asoka Ranwala from his position as the Speaker of Parliament following false claims of possessing a doctorate is not enough, stressing that he should be stepping down from his position as an MP as well: He added that the Opposition no longer feels credibility from the government’s end in appointing a speaker representing the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP): He criticised the government for misleading the public by making such false claims.
   
3. Former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa stated that a doctorate or educational certificate is not necessary to become Speaker of Parliament, emphasising that anyone elected to Parliament can assume the role: He noted that the issue would arise only if former Speaker Ashoka Ranwala had falsely claimed to have a doctorate: Rajapaksa praised Ranwala for resigning amid the controversy, calling it “not a big issue”.
   
4. The Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) announced that public consultations on the proposed electricity tariff revision for January to June 2025 will begin on December 17 and continue until January 8: The public can submit comments via email or WhatsApp: After consultations, the Commission will review the proposal and publish a draft for further feedback.
   
5. The Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation (SLECIC) is facing a crisis amid corruption scandals and leadership failures, as it marks its 46th anniversary: A forensic audit is underway, revealing financial mismanagement, unethical practices, and corruption over the past 12 years: Suspended General Manager, irregular recruitment, unauthorised discounts to large corporates, and destruction of crucial audit documents have exposed deep-rooted issues: Probes suggest systemic corruption persists despite efforts for reform, raising concerns about the corporation’s future in supporting Sri Lanka’s export sector: Staff and whistleblowers urge an immediate audit to restore SLECIC’s integrity.
   
6. The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has identified over 300 traders violating rice price control regulations during recent raids since December 10: CAA Director of Information Asela Bandara announced that these traders will face legal action, with proceedings beginning from December 15: The operations aim to enforce compliance with rice pricing regulations.
   
7. The All Ceylon Egg Traders’ Association has announced a significant reduction in egg prices for the festive season, with retail prices ranging from Rs. 30 to 35: Regular eggs under 50 grams will cost Rs. 30-32, while larger eggs will be priced at Rs. 33-35: This follows increased egg production, leading to a market surplus and stabilised prices, after prices reached Rs. 65-70 last year.
   
8. The United Nations has pledged support for Sri Lanka’s development, focusing on peace, unity, and sustainable progress: UN Resident Representative Marc-André Franche made this commitment during a meeting with Sri Lanka’s Minister of Health, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday (15): The UN’s support aims to contribute to the country’s overall development goals.
   
9. The Department of Railway has launched an investigation into a collision at Beliatta Railway Station on December 15, involving the ‘Rajarata Rajina’ and ‘Sagarika’ trains: The collision occurred when the ‘Rajarata Rajina’ engine collided with the stationary ‘Sagarika’ train, causing significant damage: As a result, the ‘Sagarika’ train will not operate on December 16, and the ‘Rajarata Rajina’ service has been delayed.
   
10. The government has introduced a new requirement for all local and foreign NGOs, including those registered under the Companies Act, to re-register with the National Secretariat for NGOs: This directive, under the Volunteer Social Service Organisations Act, aims to centralise registration and enhance oversight of NGOs operating in Sri Lanka: NGOs must comply with the new regulations by re-registering with the Secretariat.

By: Staff Writer

December 15, Colombo (LNW): In his policy statement at the inauguration of the 10th Parliament, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pledged to overhaul Sri Lanka’s public sector to enhance efficiency and satisfaction among citizens and employees.

He emphasized that the overwhelming support from public servants in the 2024 election signaled a mandate for reform.Sri Lanka’s public sector, one of the largest in Asia, has long been a financial strain on the economy.

Previous administrations, including that of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, proposed measures such as voluntary retirement schemes to reduce the workforce amid fiscal constraints.

 Between 2020 and 2022, the public service shrank from 1.528 million to 1.393 million employees due to layoffs, retirements, and the introduction of a scheme allowing workers to take extended leave for overseas employment

 Over 2,000 employees have already opted for this five-year leave program to pursue foreign job opportunities.

Despite these measures, Sri Lanka’s public sector still consumes a significant portion of government revenue. In 2023, Rs. 701 billion was allocated for public sector salaries, following a 2022 expenditure of Rs. 956 billion.

A report by the Manpower and Employment Ministry revealed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, only 50% of the workforce was essential, indicating that drastic downsizing could enhance efficiency. The report suggested cutting up to 850,000 jobs to streamline operations, but such measures risk exacerbating poverty and unemployment.

To address this challenge, the government has indefinitely suspended new recruitments and reduced the retirement age from 65 to 60. However, concrete plans for further workforce reductions remain unclear

 Analysts note that the previous government failed to make progress in re-skilling the public sector workforce, leaving room for significant reforms under the current administration.

President Dissanayake acknowledged the widespread dissatisfaction with state services among both citizens and employees. “

We face a dual challenge: an unsatisfied public and a discontented workforce. Our responsibility is to establish a public service that meets the needs of both,” he stated. The President highlighted the critical role of a competent public sector in implementing political and economic reforms, emphasizing the need for a people-centered approach.

Dissanayake’s reform agenda aims to rebuild trust in state services while addressing inefficiencies. He argued that a well-structured and responsive public sector is essential for achieving national progress.

The President reaffirmed his commitment to creating a public service that prioritizes the welfare of citizens and the professional fulfillment of its employees, noting that the strong electoral mandate reflects public support for these changes.

 While the President’s vision for a transformed public sector is ambitious, critics point out the lack of concrete plans for restructuring or rightsizing.

As the government grapples with fiscal challenges and public expectations, Dissanayake’s ability to deliver meaningful reforms will be critical in shaping Sri Lanka’s economic future.

December 15, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Customs has instructed the re-export of a sub-standard batch of rice recently imported into the country.

The shipment, which consisted of 75,000 kilograms of rice, was found to be of inferior quality and not in compliance with the required standards.

Customs spokesperson Seevali Arukgoda confirmed that the fault lay with the company responsible for the rice shipment, and the company will be required to refund the payment for the consignment.

Despite the discovery of the sub-standard stock, Arukgoda reassured that the importer would not be blacklisted, though they would be held accountable for the poor quality of the goods.

The rice, brought in by private importers, arrived in three containers at the Port of Colombo.

Upon inspection, it was found that in one of the containers, stickers had been applied over the production and expiry dates on the rice packages, altering the original dates.

In addition, the Food Control Unit of the Ministry of Health reported that insects were discovered in the rice found in the other two containers, further compounding the quality concerns.

Arukgoda also provided an update on the overall rice supply situation, noting that approximately 6,500 metric tons of rice imported into Sri Lanka have already been successfully distributed to meet market demand.

December 15, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has departed for India today (15) for a three-day state visit, confirmed the President’s Media Division (PMD).

The visit, which will conclude on December 17, marks a significant diplomatic engagement between Sri Lanka and India.

During his time in India, President Dissanayake is expected to hold high-level talks with key Indian leaders, including President Smt. Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

These discussions will focus on a wide array of bilateral issues that are of importance to both nations, with the aim of strengthening ties and enhancing cooperation across various sectors.