January 31, Colombo (LNW): The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a former Managing Director of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) in connection with the alleged embezzlement of Rs. 6.1 million.
The arrest took place yesterday in the Malabe area, according to Police Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manathunga.
This latest arrest follows the earlier detention of former Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and his wife, who were also implicated in the alleged misuse of the same sum of money from the CEYPETCO, dating back to 2014.
The couple was subsequently granted bail by the Colombo Additional Magistrate.
January 31, Colombo (LNW): N.B.M. Ranatunga has reportedly resigned from his position as Chairman of the Board of Directors at the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA).
Ranatunga, who had taken up the role on October 10, 2024, has stepped down following a series of high-profile resignations within key government positions.
His resignation marks the third instance of a senior official relinquishing their post since the current government came into power.
Earlier this week, Ramal Siriwardena, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), also resigned, further adding to the growing list of departures.
Additionally, Dr. Senesh Bandara stepped down as Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) last month.
January 31, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Customs, in collaboration with joint trade unions, has initiated a four-day accelerated container clearance process starting January 30.
The move is aimed at addressing the growing backlog of containers at examination yards.
The goal is to clear the backlog by February 02, 2025.
Customs Media Spokesperson and Additional Director General Seevali Arukgoda confirmed that all examination yards and the Valuation Directorate will operate with full staffing levels throughout this period.
This push is expected to expedite the clearance of containers that have been piling up, ensuring that the process runs smoothly and efficiently.
To facilitate this, consignees, clearing agents, and transporters are being urged to fully cooperate by attending to their respective tasks in a timely manner, ensuring that the clearance process meets its target deadline.
In addition to the efforts by Customs, all other relevant government agencies have been notified and asked to provide their support in this time-sensitive operation.
January 31, Colombo (LNW): The College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka (CCPSL) has expressed grave concern over the role of social media in the increasing number of child suicides in the country.
According to the organisation, the surge in cases of child suicide is a significant public health issue, with more than 200 incidents reported in 2024 alone.
Dr. Kapila Jayaratne, the Chairperson of the CCPSL, revealed that the number of suicides among children under the age of 18 has seen a troubling rise.
In 2022, 133 child suicides were recorded, but unofficial reports suggest that figure nearly doubled in 2023, reaching an alarming 270 cases.
Dr. Jayaratne highlighted that while there are various contributing factors to these tragic events, the influence of social media has been identified as a key concern.
“We are currently exploring measures to address this growing problem, including the potential for regulating or even limiting social media access for children,” Dr. Jayaratne said. “We have gathered substantial information on the matter and plan to share further recommendations within the next week or two.“
Whilst acknowledging that social media can offer educational and social benefits, the CCPSL is particularly concerned about its negative impact on children’s mental health, with many of the younger generation experiencing cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and pressure to conform to unrealistic online standards.
The CCPSL is working on developing a set of guidelines aimed at better regulating social media use, to help safeguard children from its adverse effects.
January 31, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to visit the Jaffna District today (31), confirmed the President’s Media Division (PMD).
This visit aims to address the concerns of the people in the Northern Province and engage with local communities.
During his time in Jaffna, the President will attend the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee Meeting, where key issues affecting the region will be discussed.
He is also expected to participate in various public meetings, giving him an opportunity to interact directly with citizens and gain insight into their ongoing challenges.
It is anticipated that discussions will centre on socio-economic development, infrastructure needs, and other critical concerns specific to the region.
January 31, Colombo (LNW): Priyantha Mayadunne, the former Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, was granted bail yesterday (30) after being arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with alleged financial misappropriation.
Mayadunne was taken into custody over suspicions surrounding the misuse of funds linked to a commemorative event held in 2011.
The Fort Magistrate’s Court set Mayadunne’s bail at Rs. 200,000, and he was released on a personal bond after being formally presented before the court.
The arrest relates to ongoing investigations into the alleged misappropriation of Rs. 183 million, which was obtained from the Cooperative Fund for the ‘Isuru Saviya’ event in Kurunegala, held to mark International Cooperative Day.
The CID submitted key details of their investigation to the Attorney General (AG), who concluded that there was sufficient evidence to charge Mayadunne in relation to the financial irregularities, according to Police Media Spokesperson, SSP Buddhika Manatunga.
At the time of the alleged misappropriation, Mayadunne held the position of Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Co-operatives and Internal Trade.
January 31, Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Uva province and in Batticaloa, Ampara, Matale, Nuwara-Eliya and Hambantota districts, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (31).
Several spells of showers will occur in Northern and North-central provinces and in Trincomalee district.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara and Kandy districts in the evening or night.
Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Southern provinces during the morning.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Trincomalee to Galle via Batticaloa and Hambantota. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the other sea areas around the island during the evening or night.
Winds:
Winds will be north-easterly and speed will be (25-35) kmph. Wind speed can increase up to (40-45) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Negombo to Kankasanthurai via Puttalam and Mannar and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coasts extending fromNegombo to Kankasanthurai via Puttalam and Mannar and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota will be fairly rough at times. Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.
January 30, Colombo (LNW): The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has explained the deviation of inflation from the target in the second and third quarters of 2024, attributing it primarily to temporary supply-side factors, particularly significant reductions in energy prices.
The bank has presented a detailed report to Parliament on these deviations, which are part of the Monetary Policy Framework Agreement (MPFA).
According to Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe, inflation is set to be 5 percent under the MPFA, with a margin of ±2 percentage points. However, inflation fell much below this range, recording 1.4 percent in Q2 and 0.8 percent in Q3 of 2024.
The sharp drop in inflation during this period was primarily caused by a fall in energy prices. Significant reductions in electricity tariffs, domestic fuel, LP gas, and water prices in March and July 2024 contributed to this decline.
Additionally, an 8.2 percent appreciation in the Sri Lankan rupee against the US dollar further helped moderate inflation by reducing import costs.
Despite these drops in headline inflation, core inflation, which excludes food and energy, remained relatively stable at 3.8 percent, indicating that demand-side pressures stayed consistent. The Central Bank emphasized that monetary policy alone cannot effectively manage supply-side shocks such as energy price fluctuations.
Since June 2023, the Central Bank has maintained an accommodative monetary policy aimed at stimulating economic recovery, with interest rates reduced by 7.25 percentage points and an additional 50-basis-point cut in November 2024 to encourage private sector credit growth.
Although inflation is expected to stay low in the short term, the Central Bank predicts a return to the target range by the third quarter of 2025 as the effects of supply-side factors dissipate.
The ongoing deflation is linked to the previous reductions in energy prices, and it is anticipated that the negative inflation trend will continue for several months before gradually adjusting toward the target by mid-2025. The January 2025 reduction in the electricity tariff is expected to deepen deflation temporarily.
The Central Bank’s Monetary Policy Board will continue monitoring the situation and adjust its policy as necessary to maintain price stability and support economic growth. Despite the deflationary trends, economic growth remains strong, with GDP projected to increase by 5.5 percent in Q3 2024, following a 4.7 percent growth in Q2. The Central Bank’s current focus is on managing inflation and supporting the economy’s recovery.
January 30, Colombo (LNW): The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) is introducing a mandatory International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) registration system to block unauthorized mobile phones.
Effective January 29, 2025, all SIM-enabled devices must be registered with TRCSL to function on local networks. Devices connected before January 28, 2025, are exempt.
To check compliance, users can send an SMS to 1909 with the format: IMEI <15-digit IMEI number>. TRCSL urges the public to purchase only TRCSL-approved mobile phones.
TRCSL Director General, Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Bandula Herath, stated, “We request the public not to buy unapproved mobile phones. A new automated system will soon be implemented to block such devices. This initiative aims to reduce illegal activities and protect users.”
The IMEI registration system is designed to curb unauthorized phone imports, strengthen individual identification, and enhance security. TRCSL expects that, over time, legally approved mobile phone prices will decrease due to wider market availability.
All radio frequency (RF)-emitting devices, including cell phones, wireless networks, drones, and industrial and medical applications, must be registered with TRCSL by January 28, 2025. Without registration, these devices will be prohibited from operating in Sri Lanka.
To comply, users must obtain permission by submitting the relevant model number. This measure aims to ensure high-quality, certified electronic devices in the market and prevent the sale of illegal imports.
The government has suffered significant tax losses due to unregistered electronic devices flooding the market, making regulatory enforcement a priority.
TRCSL’s primary responsibility is to take legal action against illegal traders and prevent the sale of unregistered devices. An automated system to identify registered devices will be operational by the end of January 2025.
Unregistered IMEI-enabled RF-emitting devices will no longer function on Sri Lankan telecom networks after January 28. However, foreigners visiting Sri Lanka will not be affected when using their personal electronic devices.
If individuals bring new IMEI-enabled RF-emitting devices into Sri Lanka, they must register them through TRCSL’s online system. This requirement does not apply to devices already connected to local networks before January 28.
An IMEI is a unique 15-digit number assigned to every mobile phone, typically found inside the device or displayed by dialing *#06# on the keypad.
This number helps identify the device’s manufacturer and marketing name. To verify a phone’s IMEI, users can send an SMS to 1909 in the format: IMEI <15-digit IMEI number>.
By implementing this system, TRCSL aims to streamline mobile device tracking, improve security, and ensure compliance with telecommunications regulations in Sri Lanka.
January 30, Colombo (LNW): SLT-Mobitel has made history by conducting Sri Lanka’s first-ever trial of 5G-Advanced (5G-A), an enhanced version of fifth-generation (5G) wireless technology.
This landmark event, held on January 12 at SLT-Mobitel’s headquarters in Colombo 8, demonstrated cutting-edge advancements in telecommunications, achieving speeds exceeding 5 Gbps (gigabits per second).
The successful trial underscores the company’s leadership in digital innovation and its commitment to advancing Sri Lanka’s connectivity landscape.
Understanding 5G-Advanced Technology
5G-Advanced, often referred to as 5G-A, builds upon existing 5G technology by incorporating several improvements for better speed, efficiency, and reliability.
The trial used:3CC Carrier Aggregation – This technique combines multiple frequency bands to increase data transmission rates, ensuring smoother connectivity and higher speeds.
Massive MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) – A system that uses multiple antennas at both transmission and reception points, significantly improving network coverage and capacity.
1024QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) – A sophisticated method that allows more data to be transmitted over the same bandwidth, further enhancing speed and efficiency.
C-Band Spectrum – A range of mid-frequency radio waves that balance speed and coverage, making it ideal for next-generation mobile networks.
The trial was powered by advanced radio equipment from ZTE, a global telecom technology leader, and utilized a Xiaomi 14 Ultra smartphone for the demonstration.
A Leap Forward for Sri Lanka’s Digital Future
SLT-Mobitel’s Chief Operating Officer, Sudharshana Geeganage, emphasized that this achievement reinforces the company’s commitment to spearheading Sri Lanka’s digital transformation.
He highlighted the vast potential of 5G-A in revolutionizing industries such as healthcare, transportation, entertainment, and smart cities by enabling faster and more reliable communication networks.
Similarly, ZTE Sri Lanka’s CEO, Yang Min, expressed the company’s enthusiasm for collaborating with SLT-Mobitel on this milestone. He reaffirmed ZTE’s dedication to advancing telecommunications technology and strengthening digital connectivity in Sri Lanka.
Bringing 5G to the Public
Beyond this milestone trial, SLT-Mobitel has also launched a 5G pre-commercial trial network, allowing customers with compatible devices to experience 5G speeds in five major cities: Colombo, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Galle, and Jaffna. This initiative enables users to explore the potential of 5G technology firsthand.
Since 2019, SLT-Mobitel has been at the forefront of 5G development in Sri Lanka.
The company previously conducted South Asia’s first 5G trial deployment over a mobile network and was the first in the country to test a hybrid model of standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) 5G technologies.
Conclusion
SLT-Mobitel’s successful 5G-A trial marks a significant step in Sri Lanka’s telecommunications evolution.
By harnessing cutting-edge advancements in wireless technology, the company is paving the way for a more connected, efficient, and technologically advanced future.
This milestone signals the beginning of an era where ultra-fast, high-capacity networks will transform industries and improve digital experiences nationwide.
