By: Isuru Parakrama

October 22, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has firmly dismissed media claims suggesting that Sri Lanka refrained from backing a joint statement in support of the United Nations Secretary General, following Israel’s decision to designate him “persona non grata.”

In an official statement released on Monday (21), the Ministry clarified that it had formally expressed its intent to be a signatory to the letter supporting the Secretary General.

This was communicated via a Note Verbale, dated October 11, 2024, to the Permanent Mission of Chile in New York, which coordinated the joint letter.

The Ministry reiterated Sri Lanka’s consistent advocacy for the Palestinian cause, emphasising the nation’s long-standing solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Sri Lanka has frequently raised concerns about the severe humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza and has consistently backed calls for an immediate ceasefire in international forums.

The statement also underscored the country’s continued support for vital humanitarian efforts in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, particularly through its contributions to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Furthermore, Sri Lanka condemned a recent attack on UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura, South Lebanon, where two Sri Lankan peacekeepers were injured, stressing the importance of safeguarding UN personnel and facilities.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, addressing the diplomatic corps in Colombo on October 14, highlighted the global responsibility to ensure the security of UN staff and the inviolability of UN premises.

He emphasised Sri Lanka’s role as the Chair of the UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices, established in 1968, which monitors human rights issues concerning Palestinians and other Arab populations in the Occupied Territories.

In light of these commitments, Sri Lanka confirmed its full support for the joint letter, defending both the UN Secretary General and the broader UN mandate in the face of recent criticisms.

October 22, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan Department of Immigration and Emigration has begun issuing its new ‘P’ series passports, which come with advanced security features and a sleek, updated design.

This marks the replacement of the older ‘N’ series passports, as the stocks of the maroon-coloured travel documents have nearly been depleted.

As of today, approximately 1,100 machine-readable passports were issued under the department’s one-day service. The new ‘P’ series passport, now in a navy blue cover, will be available for those applying through this expedited service.

One of the significant changes in the new passports is the reduction in pages, with the new model containing 48 pages compared to the previous 64. This sleeker design is paired with cutting-edge security features, ensuring greater protection for travellers.

Despite the adjustments, the new documents remain fully compliant with international standards for machine-readable passports.

The production and supply of these new passports are being managed by Thales DIS Finland Oy, a trusted Finnish provider of passports, ID cards, and other official documents.

The Finnish company won the tender to supply 750,000 machine-readable passports to Sri Lanka after the original plan to purchase five million e-passports was temporarily halted by a Court of Appeal ruling, which is expected to be addressed by November 06.

According to Public Security Minister Vijitha Herath, the first batch of 47,500 ‘P’ series passports was scheduled for arrival between 15 and 20 October, whilst a second consignment of 100,000 will follow by the end of November.

The final remaining stock of the older ‘N’ series passports, around 1,200 in total, will be distributed to applicants who had previously requested passports under the regular service, which costs Rs. 10,000.

October 22, Colombo (LNW): The Catholic Church is set to formally denounce recent allegations against two government officials, as revealed in the Presidential Commission’s report on the Easter Sunday attacks, disclosed by former MP Udaya Gammanpila.

An official statement is expected from the Church today (22), addressing both the report and accusations made against Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.

The Archdiocese of Colombo’s Director of Communications, Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando, confirmed the Church’s position, stating, “We will release an official statement today, outlining our response to the Presidential Commission’s findings and the claims made by Mr. Gammanpila against Cardinal Ranjith.”

Despite the anticipated statement, the Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith had already refuted the accusations during a sermon on Sunday, particularly regarding the allegations involving two state officials.

The Cardinal expressed his dismay, highlighting what he perceived as an attempt to distort the facts.

He criticised the actions of certain individuals who had remained silent but had recently begun discussing the Easter Sunday attacks, turning themselves into “overnight heroes.”

“The committee tasked with reviewing the Presidential Commission’s report deliberately implicated two current government officials to mislead the public,” the Cardinal stated during a sermon at Hapugoda.

He voiced frustration over the manipulation of information, which he believes was intended to distract from uncovering the full truth behind the 2019 attacks.

Cardinal Ranjith remains resolute in his pursuit of justice for the victims of the Easter Sunday bombings, stressing that the Church will continue its efforts to discover who supplied arms to the perpetrators and how they were trained in explosives.

“We will not rest until we find out why prior warnings were ignored, and those responsible for fleeing the country after receiving such warnings will be held accountable as well,” he emphasised.

In his remarks, the Cardinal also noted that the victims of the attacks included individuals from diverse religious backgrounds, including Buddhists and Muslims, further underlining the tragedy’s broader impact on Sri Lankan society.

By: Isuru Parakrama

October 22, Colombo (LNW): The Election Commission has announced that certified copies of the Election Expenditure Reports from candidates who participated in the 2024 Presidential Election are now accessible for public inspection.

These documents, submitted by the candidates, political party secretaries, and relevant coordinating voters, have been prepared in compliance with the Election Expenditure Act No. 3 of 2023.

In line with Section 03 of the Act, the reports provide a detailed account of the financial activities undertaken by each candidate during their campaigns, ensuring adherence to spending limits and promoting transparency in the electoral process.

From 24 October 2024, the public will be able to review these reports on weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at specified locations.

By facilitating access to this information, the Election Commission aims to reinforce accountability amongst candidates and political parties, ensuring that all expenditure is in line with the stipulated regulations.

October 22, Colombo (LNW): 21,160 postal voting applications have been rejected out of the total of 759,210 for the upcoming General Election, the Election Commission said.

Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake revealed that the process of accepting postal voting applications has now been completed, adding that an increase of 25,731 postal votes compared to the recent Presidential Election is recognised, bringing the total number of accepted votes to 738,050.

He added that the delivery of ballot papers for postal voting will commence tomorrow (23), with the official ballot papers being expected for release on October 26.

Arrangements have been made to allocate airtime for the candidates tomorrow at the Colombo District Secretariat Auditorium, and authorised representatives of all political parties and independent groups have been informed in this regard, Ratnayake further noted.

1. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructs the Attorney General to intervene in addressing allegations and Fundamental Rights cases against law enforcement officers tackling the underworld: This followed a request from security chiefs during a National Security Council meeting, where it was revealed that pending cases against officers, particularly from the Special Task Force, hinder anti-underworld operations, prompting the need for urgent action.
   
2. Actress turned political activist Damitha Abeyratne announces her resignation from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and joins the Democratic National Alliance (DNA), which is contesting the upcoming general election: cited dissatisfaction with SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, claiming he did not uphold her democratic rights after her name was controversially removed from the SJB’s candidate list for the Ratnapura district.
   
3. SLPP former MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena declares he would withdraw from politics and resign from his candidacy in the upcoming elections if allegations regarding seized vehicles are proven against him: denies involvement with the vehicles confiscated by the Kandy Criminal Investigation Bureau from his son-in-law’s residence, accusing the claims of being part of a smear campaign.
   
4. Former MP Udaya Gammanpila calls for the immediate removal of Ravi Seneviratne from his post as Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, accusing him of being implicated in reports on the Easter Sunday attacks: criticises the government for concealing information and threatens to release the documents if the President failed to act: vows an impeachment will be brought upon President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, if he fails to publicly apologise for concealing these documents.
   
5. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs refutes reports that Sri Lanka did not sign a joint letter supporting the UN Secretary General: confirms Sri Lanka expressed its desire to be a signatory and reiterated its support for the Palestinian cause: The statement highlighted Sri Lanka’s advocacy for a Gaza ceasefire, UN humanitarian efforts, and the safety of UN personnel.
   
6. Sri Lanka’s inflation rate, measured by the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), dropped to -0.2% in September 2024 from 1.1% in August: Food inflation also decreased to 0.5% from 2.3%: The NCPI stood at 203.1 in September, marking a 1.0 index point decline: Non-food inflation also fell, with the report indicating reduced spending in the “market basket.”
   
7. The Department of Immigration and Emigration begins issuing the new ‘P’ series passports, featuring enhanced security measures and a navy blue cover: Around 1,100 passports were issued under the one-day service, replacing the exhausted stocks of the maroon ‘N’ series: The new machine-readable passports offer a refined look and improved safety features.
   
8. The Supreme Court will review a petition today (22) from the Democratic National Alliance seeking to overturn the rejection of their Vanni District nomination paper for the 14 November parliamentary elections: The petition was filed by party representative Pararajasingham Udayarasa: The court, led by Justices Surasena, Gunaratne, and Obeysekera, granted time for the Election Commission to provide details.
   
9. The Election Commission rejects 21,160 postal voting applications out of 759,210 submitted for the 2024 General Election: Commission Chief R.M.A.L. Rathnayake notes 738,050 applications were accepted, a 25,731 increase from the recent presidential election: Postal ballot paper delivery begins on 23 October, with official ballots released on 26 October: Candidates will receive airtime allocations soon.
   
10. A post-mortem on the bodies found in a burnt house in Chilaw revealed that the deceased mother and daughter had their throats slit before being set on fire: Conducted by Specialist Judicial Medical Officer I.M. Ilangarathna Banda, the examination determined the cause of death as severe blood loss: The father’s post-mortem examination remains ongoing.

By: Isuru Parakrama

October 22, Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North-western and Northern provinces and in Kandy and Nuwara-eliya districts, with fairly heavy showers above 50 mm expected to occur at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Northern provinces, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (22).

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the other areas of the island during the evening or night and fairly heavy showers above 75 mm are likely at some places.

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: