November 16, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organizer Namal Rajapaksa conceded defeat in the 2024 Parliamentary Election and extended his congratulations to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the National People’s Power (NPP) party’s decisive win.

In a message posted on X, Rajapaksa acknowledged the NPP’s victory as a reflection of the people’s choice for a new path and fresh approach. “Wishing you success as you accept the people’s mandate and work toward the change they have sought. This marks a new path and a fresh approach chosen by the people,” he stated.

Rajapaksa reaffirmed the SLPP’s commitment to its values and to its supporters, emphasizing the importance of healthy political competition. “We remain committed to the values our supporters stand for, those who voted for us, and those who believe in our vision. We will continue to stand with you and uphold these principles,” he added.

November 16, Colombo (LNW): The BOI is in the process of turning the existing factories and the coming industries in the future into environmentally-friendly green industries. 

Thus, the BOI has started the process of converting several investment promotion zones into green industrial zones. Indsignals under the purview of the BOI are currently in the process of upgrading the machinery used in their factories to minimize the quantum of carbon emission released to the environment. 

Approval is considered by the BOI only for the use of environmentally-friendly machines for industries under the BOI, with proper guidance according to regulations.

In addition, the Environment Management Department of BOI has taken steps for internship training to be provided for students of the Faculty of Technology in collaboration with the University of Jayawardenepura, Sri Lanka, with the express intent of providing theoretical and practical knowledge to new professionals entering the environment management field.

The team that completed the internship of the Environment Management Department presented their research outcomes conducted based on the BOI industries at the BOI Auditorium recently. The Director General of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Renuka M. Weerakoone chaired this proud event, and all internal department heads of BOI participated.

The Director General Renuka M. Weerakoone who spoke here, stated that the research, knowledge, and concepts of these new professionals are more important for sustainable industrial development. 

She also underscored the importance of incorporating this knowledge into the work of the BOI, and stressed the effectiveness of providing such experiences to future professionals.

This theoretical, practical, and research training for the internship students focused on several detailed aspects that are highly relevant and significant to the industrial sector in Sri Lanka. 

During this conference, guidelines to assess industrial boiler fuels for sustainable boiler operations, the development of a green rating system for a sustainable industrial zone, the calculation of the water footprint for optimising the organic latex mattress manufacturing industry were presented by the internship students of the Environment Management Department of the BOI., 

 They also displayed  the way in enhancing the calorific value and palletisation of biologically treated sludge for sustainable energy production, and assessing and reducing the carbon footprint of organic rubber mattress manufacturing—a comprehensive life cycle analysis.

1. The National People’s Power (NPP) has already secured a two-thirds majority in Parliament after winning a total of 123 seats in the House in the 2024 General Election. NPP had confirmed its majority power in parliament, which it sought during the election campaigning, after winning a whopping 16 out of the 19 available seats in the Gampaha District.
2. National People’s Power (NPP) Gampaha District Team Leader Vijitha Herath has received the highest number of preference votes in the history of Sri Lanka’s parliamentary polls with an unprecedented 716,715 votes polled at the 2024 General Election.
3. Several prominent Ministers and Members of Parliament of the former government have already lost their seat, as the results of the 2024 General Election are being released. The former MPs who have already been ousted from the 10th Parliament are as follows;Kanchana Wijesekera – Matara, Nipuna Ranawaka – Matara, Mahinda Amaraweera – Hambantota, Manusha Nanayakkara – Galle, Ramesh Pathirana – Galle. Shasheendra Rajapaksa – Monaragala, Asanka Navarathna – Kurunegala, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa – Kurunegala, Johnston Fernando – Kurunegala, Shantha Bandara – Kurunegala, D. B. Herath- Kurunegala, Pramitha Tennakoon – Matale
4. Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organizer Namal Rajapaksa while conceding the defeat at the Parliamentary Election yesterday congratulated President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the 2024 Parliamentary Election which was held on Thursday. Rajapaksa in a post on X said that the NPP’s victory at the parliamentary election marks a new path and a fresh approach chosen by the people.
5. Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Manjula Gajanayake said that the result achieved in Thursday’s Parliamentary Election represents the electoral mandate of the March 2022 youth uprising known as the ‘Aragalaya’.
6. United National Party (UNP) Chairman Vajira Abeywardena stated yesterday that, for the first time, the people in the North have shown unprecedented trust in a party from the South, which he views as a positive development. “This is a very special occasion in the election history of the country. The people in the north have placed trust in a political party in the South even though different political parties with various forces are operating in the North and East, he said.
7. The new government has decided to conduct audits on all State institutions following its establishment. These audits aim to thoroughly investigate alleged fraud and corruption that may have occurred during previous administrations.
8. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) while acknowledging the decision made by the people yesterday said that the party is ready to give its fullest co-operation to the government in the interest of the people and the country. SJB Chairman and former Minister Imtiaz Bakeer Markar said the people have given an unprecedented mandate to the National People’s Power to fulfill the commitment made to them during the election campaign.
9. Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary and National People’s Power (NPP) founding member Tilvin Silva yesterday said, with a huge mandate, the people of Sri Lanka have entrusted his party with a great responsibility and assured that the NPP will live up to people’s expectations.
10. Sri Lanka has made a strong impression at the ongoing 6th Carrom World Cup in the United States, securing two bronze medals in the Men’s and Women’s Doubles events. In the Men’s Doubles, Sri Lanka’s Shaheed Hilmy, the team captain, and Anas Ahamed clinched the bronze after a close contest. Both players are former Royal College Colombo students, with Hilmy also representing the Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning during thundershowers as the atmospheric conditions are favorable further for afternoon thundershowers in most parts of the island.

Showers or thundershowers will occur in the most parts of the island after 2.00 p.m.

Showers may occur at few places in the Northern and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota district during the morning too.

Fairly heavy showers about 75 mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Southern provinces.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Galle and Matara districts during the morning.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

The National People’s Power (NPP) has won two (02) seats in the Vanni District under the Preferential Voting System.

Preferential Vote Results:

• National People’s Power (NPP) – 2 seats
  1. Selvathambi Thilakanathan – 10,652 votes
  2. Arumugam Jegadishwaran – 9,280 votes
• Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) – 1 seat
  1. Thurairasa Ravikumar – 11,215 votes
• Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) – 1 seat
  1. Rishad Bathiudeen – 21,018 votes
• Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) – 1 seat
  1. A. Adaikkalanathan – 5,695 votes
• Sri Lanka Labour Party (SLLP) – 1 seat
  1. Cader Masthan – 13,511 votes

The National Peoples’ Power (NPP) has won two (02) seats in the Trincomalee District under the Preferential voting system.

The preferential votes for the Trincomalee District are as follows;

NPP – 02 seats

Arun Hemachandra – 38,368 votes

A.G.R. Priyasanjana – 25,814 votes

SJB – 01 seat

Imran Maharuf – 22,779 votes

ITAK – 01 seat

K.S. Kugadasan – 18,470 votes

The National Peoples’ Power (NPP) has won three (03) seats in the Jaffna District under the Preferential voting system.

The preferential votes for the Jaffna District are as follows;

NPP – 03 seats

Karunanathan Ilankumaran – 32,102 votes

Sri Bhavanandaraja Shanmuganathan – 20,430 votes

Rajeewan Jayachandramurthy – 17,579 votes

ITAK – 01 seat

S. Sridharan – 32,833 votes

ACTC – 01 seat

Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam – 15,135 votes

IG 17 – 01 seat

Ramanathan Archuna – 20,487 votes

In a pioneering initiative in the Sri Lankan hospitality industry, Kandy-based Madulkelle Tea and Eco Lodge Chairman Philippe Gomez is diversifying into exports of agro-based value additions manufactured from the produce at his hotel. 

Gomez, a French national, said that they have so far planted 4,500 vanilla trees, 4,000 coffee plants, and 1,000 pepper plants. More than half of the land of the hotel has been given for this, while it is planned to be extended by another six acres as an export-oriented venture. 

This is a project that began some time ago but is now ready for more structured exports, particularly targeting the European market from early next year. 

They also aim at supporting the local community with an out-grower system whereby local products are planning to enter into the export market.

The company has also hired undergraduate Mahisha Rathnakumara from Wayamba University’s Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management in its pursuit of developing organic farming. 

In Madulkelle Tea and Eco Lodge, he will be involved with landscape designs, cultivation of tea and vanilla and promoting the eco-friendly concept.

Gomez first visited Sri Lanka during a European tour over four decades ago. He fell in love with the country then and had since been coming back repeatedly. 

He was a frequent visitor, more so during the height of the LTTE War, and found that the country was seriously lacking in good boutique hotels. Hence, he purchased a 24-acre tea estate and introduced the concept of “glamping” to Sri Lanka. 

This luxury boutique hotel consists of 19 shelters and is able to accommodate 45 guests in total. It successfully integrates both French and local tastes into its design by having a kitchen, bar, dining area, and reception. 

It contains an infinity pool that depicts a panoramic view of the Knuckles Mountain, a modern gym, spa, and helipad for high-end clients.

In its effort to assist the community in the area, Madulkelle Tea and Eco Lodge has set aside space to sell artefacts by local artisans. Thissa Ruberu, General Manager, formerly a member of the Chamber administration said, 

“EU, UK, and Australian clients from the high-end segment patronize the hotel in large numbers.” The lodge provides facilities for bespoke menus, private dining areas, and special nature trail attractions, which are sought after.”Madulkelle Tea & Eco Lodge Ventures into Agro-Based Exports and  Luxury Hospitality