By: Isuru Parakrama

December 05, Colombo (LNW): The World Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to assisting Sri Lanka with the implementation of its “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, a new national initiative aimed at improving environmental standards across the country, announced the President’s Media Division (PMD).

This assurance was made by World Bank Executive Director Parameswaran Iyer during a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (04).

Iyer congratulated President Dissanayake on his recent appointment and the establishment of the new government, expressing his confidence in Sri Lanka’s potential to move forward with its development goals.

He confirmed that all ongoing projects backed by the World Bank will continue without disruption, ensuring that key initiatives in infrastructure, education, and health are carried forward.

The meeting also provided a platform for President Dissanayake to present his government’s priorities for the coming years, with a focus on key areas such as reducing rural poverty, advancing digitalisation, and implementing the ambitious Digital Identity Card initiative.

These initiatives are seen as crucial steps towards modernising the country’s infrastructure and improving governance.

Another major issue discussed during the meeting was the need to address longstanding challenges in the Northern and Eastern provinces, particularly concerning land and housing issues affecting the plantation communities.

The President outlined his administration’s commitment to resolving these matters, alongside efforts to strengthen sectors like agriculture, fisheries, tourism, education, and health—areas he sees as vital for the nation’s economic growth and the enhancement of citizens’ livelihoods.

In response to these priorities, Iyer expressed the World Bank’s readiness to assemble an advisory group that will work closely with the Sri Lankan government to map out strategies for supporting these development objectives.

He also praised the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, recognising its importance for fostering a cleaner and more sustainable future for the nation.

The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Professor Anil Jayantha; Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma; and Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

By: Isuru Parakrama

December 05, Colombo (LNW): Lohan Ratwatte, the former State Minister, and his wife Shashi Prabha Ratwatte have been granted bail by the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court today (05) in connection with an ongoing investigation into an illegally imported luxury vehicle.

The court set a cash bail of Rs. 25,000 for each defendant, along with two personal bonds, each valued at Rs. 1 million. Additionally, Lohan Ratwatte has been subjected to an overseas travel ban, preventing him from leaving the country whilst the investigation continues.

The couple had been arrested earlier in connection with the luxury car, which was found to have been imported and assembled in Sri Lanka without the necessary legal authorisation.

The vehicle was discovered by police during an inspection at a three-storey property in Mirihana, Embuldeniya, which is owned by Shashi Prabha Ratwatte.

The police had been alerted to the presence of a luxury car without number plates, prompting a closer investigation.

During the police inquiry, both Lohan and Shashi Ratwatte explained that the property where the car was found belonged to Shashi’s mother, and that the vehicle had been brought to the location by Ratwatte’s private secretary.

However, the situation took a tragic turn when it was revealed that the private secretary had recently been found dead from gunshot wounds in Katugastota, Kandy, adding an element of mystery to the case.

December 05, Colombo (LNW): A thorough audit has been completed on the scheme designed to facilitate the import of fully electric vehicles (EVs) for Sri Lankan expatriate workers.

Speaker Ashoka Ranwala confirmed that the detailed report on the findings will be tabled in Parliament today (05), offering insights into the management and execution of the programme.

The scheme, which was introduced as part of an initiative to encourage sustainable transportation, ran from May 01, 2022 to September 15, 2023.

During this period, permits were issued to expatriate workers, enabling them to import electric vehicles under specific conditions.

The audit was conducted to assess the efficiency, transparency, and overall effectiveness of the permit distribution process, ensuring that the scheme was executed in line with established regulations.

December 05, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan government has announced plans to launch an investigation into whether any members of the previous Parliament, or individuals closely connected to them, received liquor licences as part of political bribery schemes under the former regime.

A government spokesperson confirmed this move yesterday, following concerns raised by opposition figures.

Chief Government Whip Nalinda Jayatissa spoke to the media in Parliament, stating that the government would immediately commence an inquiry into the matter.

He clarified that while the liquor licences in question were not directly issued in the names of any MPs, it remains possible that these licences were obtained through proxies or for the benefit of their close associates.

“While none of the licences appear to be issued in the personal names of any MPs, it is highly likely that these individuals may have used others’ names or secured licences for their allies,” Dr. Jayatissa explained. “We are committed to investigating the situation fully to clarify all these concerns.”

The issue surfaced after Leader of the House, Bimal Ratnayake, revealed in Parliament that 361 liquor licences had been issued since January 1, 2024.

According to Ratnayake, these licences were distributed across various provinces, with the highest number being allocated to the Western Province, which received 110 licences.

Other provinces received varying numbers, including 48 for the Southern Province, 45 for the Central Province, and 30 each for the North Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Uva Provinces.

A breakdown of the licences revealed that a significant portion, around 172, were issued for wine stores under the FL 4 category.

These licences were distributed across multiple districts, with notable concentrations in Colombo, Gampaha, and other key urban areas.

In addition to these, licences were also issued to Sathosa outlets and some to the Chairman of Sathosa, as well as to several companies and individuals.

Minister Ratnayake has raised serious concerns about the motivations behind these licences, suggesting that they were part of a larger scheme of political bribery. His allegations are based on a comment made by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, which implied that such actions were politically motivated.

Ratnayake stressed that the distribution of these licences appeared to be an attempt to secure political favours in exchange for access to lucrative liquor trade privileges.

Should any MPs or officials be found to have engaged in corrupt practices, further legal action will be considered.

By: Isuru Parakrama

December 05, Colombo (LNW): The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has announced that air quality in several regions across Sri Lanka is expected to improve further in the coming days.

According to the latest data released by the CEA, the air quality index (AQI) across the country ranged from 44 to 106 as of 6:00 a.m. today (05), indicating a generally moderate air quality level.

Despite the overall positive trend, the CEA reported a slight decline in air quality in the capital, Colombo, where the AQI ranged between 98 and 106.

Whilst this still falls within the “moderate” category, it is a slight drop compared to the previous days.

In contrast, other areas across the island have seen an improvement, with air quality remaining in the moderate range, which is considered acceptable for the general population.

Notably, in Nuwara Eliya, a region known for its cooler and cleaner air, the air quality has returned to normal levels, following some recent fluctuations.

The CEA has assured the public that the overall air quality is expected to stabilise, thanks to favourable weather conditions, including reduced dust and pollutant levels.

December 05, Colombo (LNW): Donald Lu, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, has arrived in Sri Lanka today (05) as part of an official visit aimed at enhancing bilateral ties between the two nations.

Accompanied by a senior official from the U.S. Department of State, Lu touched down at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at 2:55 a.m., aboard Qatar Airways flight QR-662, which had arrived from Doha.

Upon his arrival, Lu’s delegation was warmly welcomed by representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, as well as officials from Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The visit is expected to pave the way for strengthening cooperation between the United States and Sri Lanka in key areas such as economic growth, governance, and combating corruption.

During his stay in Sri Lanka, Lu will engage in discussions aimed at furthering joint efforts to promote sustainable economic development, bolster anti-corruption initiatives, and foster stronger people-to-people connections, according to a statement released by the U.S. Embassy.

The visit will see Lu joined by other prominent officials, including USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Anjali Kaur and U.S. Department of the Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary Robert Kaproth. Together, they will meet with Sri Lanka’s newly formed government and representatives from civil society.

The diplomatic talks are expected to focus on enhancing bilateral relations, particularly in support of Sri Lanka’s ongoing governance and economic reform agenda.

The U.S. delegation will explore ways to provide tailored technical assistance, capacity-building programmes, and development support to Sri Lanka as it strives to achieve its reform goals.

By: Isuru Parakrama

December 05, Colombo (LNW): The government has presented a vote on account to Parliament a short while ago, seeking approval for an expenditure of Rs. 1,403 billion (Rs. 1,402,886,263,000) to cover the period from January 01 to April 30, 2025.

The proposal, which was formally introduced by Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha, aims to secure the necessary funds for essential public services and ongoing government projects during the first four months of the year.

The vote on account is a critical financial measure, allowing the government to continue operations smoothly until the full national Budget is finalised and approved.

It covers a wide array of expenditures, from recurrent government spending to the allocation for development projects and services that the public relies on.

Deputy Minister Jayantha presented the request to Parliament earlier today, noting that the funds would be essential in ensuring that the government meets its financial obligations and maintains stability during the early months of 2025.

The Parliamentary debate on the Vote on Account is currently ongoing.

December 05, Colombo (LNW): Renuka Perera, the Administrative Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), has been taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with allegations of spreading false information.

The arrest follows claims that Perera had posted misleading content related to the ‘Mahaviru’ commemorations in the Northern Province on social media platforms.

According to police sources, Perera is accused of sharing unverified and potentially harmful details about the annual remembrance events, which are held to honour the fallen soldiers of the Tamil militant group during the civil conflict.

The posts in question allegedly misrepresented key aspects of the commemorations, leading to concerns about the possible incitement of unrest or public confusion.