September 01, Colombo (LNW): An extraordinary gazette notification has been released, formally listing the public and bank holidays for the year 2025.

This announcement provides an official schedule, ensuring that institutions, businesses, and the general public are well-informed and can plan accordingly for the upcoming year.

The detailed calendar outlines significant dates for both public observances and banking operations across the country.

September 01, Colombo (LNW): UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, marks its ten-year presence in Sri Lanka, reflecting on a decade dedicated to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Ramaaya Salgado, Head of Office at UN Women Sri Lanka, underscores the ongoing need to promote gender equality across the country.

UN Women commenced its operations in Sri Lanka on 1 September 2014, initially as a small team focused on advising the United Nations on gender equality issues.

Over the years, the organisation has expanded its efforts, growing into a robust team committed to addressing gender disparities in various sectors.

The organisation’s mission is centred around ensuring that women have equal opportunities in governance, economic autonomy, safety from violence, and participation in peacebuilding initiatives.

The mandate of gender equality is pivotal as it encompasses the upholding of human rights. According to Salgado, achieving gender equality is essential for creating a just society where everyone, regardless of gender, enjoys the same rights and opportunities.

This involves empowering women, who are often the most affected by inequality, and ensuring that they are active participants in decision-making processes that impact their lives.

Reflecting on the past decade, Salgado highlights several key moments, including the successful multi-party dialogues that brought together first-time elected officials from diverse backgrounds to discuss issues affecting their communities.

Additionally, UN Women’s work in empowering women entrepreneurs and contributing to Sri Lanka’s first National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security are noted as significant achievements.

However, the journey towards gender equality is fraught with challenges, particularly in the face of economic constraints and global pushbacks against women’s rights.

Salgado warns that without adequate resources and political will, the progress made in gender equality could stall, especially as Sri Lanka continues to recover from its economic crisis.

As Sri Lanka looks towards the future, UN Women emphasises the importance of gender-responsive planning and budgeting to address the unique needs of all citizens.

This approach requires a strong commitment from the government, as well as continuous efforts to change societal attitudes that perpetuate gender-based violence.

Salgado also points out that while the current policy frameworks in Sri Lanka are adequate, they must be implemented in a way that ensures they complement each other in the fight for gender equality.

The organisation remains committed to reflecting on its first decade of operations, with the goal of improving and building upon the programmes that have been implemented so far.

UN Women plans to take a step back to evaluate its past efforts, understanding what has worked and what needs improvement.

The organisation aims to refine its strategies to better serve the communities it works with, ensuring that its next decade of service in Sri Lanka is even more impactful and effective in promoting gender equality.

September 01, Colombo (LNW): Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. has announced that there will be no adjustment to gas prices for the month of September.

Chairman Muditha Peiris confirmed that the company has decided to retain the pricing structure set in August, extending it into the new month.

This decision comes as part of Litro’s ongoing assessment of market conditions, with the company opting to maintain stability for consumers amidst fluctuating global energy prices.

The continuation of August’s prices is intended to provide consistency and avoid any sudden financial burden on households.

Litro Gas Lanka has been closely monitoring global gas markets and local demand, and the decision to keep prices unchanged reflects a commitment to balancing affordability with market realities.

The company reassured customers that it would continue to evaluate the situation and make necessary adjustments if required in the future.

September 01, Colombo (LNW): The Election Commission has reported a significant rise in complaints related to the forthcoming Presidential election, with 112 new cases filed in the past month.

This surge brings the total number of complaints to 1,592, spanning from 31 July to 31 August.

The National Centre for Election Complaint Management registered 645 of these cases, whilst District Centres for Election Complaint Management recorded 947 complaints.

The complaints primarily concern breaches of election laws, and notably, eight incidents of violence were reported amongst them.

As the election draws closer, the Election Commission has been vigilant in monitoring and addressing these issues.

The complaints cover a range of infractions, from illegal campaigning tactics to direct violations of electoral regulations.

The incidents of violence, although relatively few, have heightened concerns about the fairness and safety of the electoral process.

The Commission has reiterated its commitment to ensuring a transparent and orderly election, promising to investigate each complaint thoroughly.

The increase in reported cases highlights the need for stringent oversight and enforcement of election laws to maintain public confidence in the democratic process.

The Election Commission is expected to take further measures to prevent the recurrence of such violations and to ensure that the upcoming election proceeds without disruption.

The public and political stakeholders alike are urged to adhere to the legal frameworks in place, with the Commission warning of serious consequences for those found guilty of electoral misconduct.

September 01, Colombo (LNW): SLPP Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa announced that he would temporarily suspend all political activities in Jaffna until the conclusion of the Nallur Ther (chariot) festival.

Rajapaksa explained that this decision stems from a deep respect for the cultural and religious significance of the festival and the Nallur Temple.

In his statement, Rajapaksa emphasised the importance of honouring and preserving the traditions of the region, particularly during such a sacred period.

“I have chosen to step back from political engagements in Jaffna during the Nallur Ther festival as a mark of respect for the community’s cultural heritage. It is crucial that we recognise and uphold these customs, allowing the festival to proceed without disruption,” Rajapaksa remarked.

The Nallur Ther festival, one of the most revered Hindu celebrations in the Northern Province, draws thousands of devotees each year.

September 01, Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced plans to introduce new legislation that will allow individuals to choose between burial and cremation based on their personal preferences and religious beliefs.

Speaking at the “Puluwan Sri Lanka” victory rally in Kattankudy, the President addressed the challenges faced by the Muslim community during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly the government-enforced mandatory cremation policy.

During his address, President Wickremesinghe expressed deep regret for the anguish caused to Muslim families who were unable to bury their deceased in accordance with Islamic practices.

He acknowledged the emotional toll this policy took on the community and assured that steps would be taken to prevent such situations in the future.

To address these concerns, the President revealed that a special committee would be established to investigate those responsible for the mandatory cremation policy.

Additionally, he promised that compensation would be provided to the families affected by the enforced cremations, as a gesture of reconciliation and to acknowledge their suffering.

The proposed legislation is expected to uphold the rights of all individuals to perform last rites according to their religious beliefs, marking a significant step towards greater inclusivity and respect for cultural diversity in the country.

September 01, Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts, and fairly heavy showers about 75 mm are likely at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (01).

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Eastern and Uva provinces during the evening or night. Showers may occur over the southern coastal areas during the morning too.

Strong winds about (40-50) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills, Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Hambantota and Trincomalee districts.

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

The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka during 28^th of August to 06^th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion. The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (01) are Habarana, Higurakgoda, Ipalogama and Thabbowa about 12.10 noon.

Marine Weather:

August 31, Colombo (LNW): The 79th Independence Day anniversary of Vietnam was celebrated in Colombo on Thursday (29). Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda served as the Chief Guest, while the event was organized by Vietnam’s Ambassador, Trinh Thi Tam.

Among those present were Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Secretary General of the Sri Lanka-Vietnam Solidarity Association Sudasinghe Sugathapala, Chief Librarian of Colombo Public Library Waruni Gagabadaarachchi, diplomats, religious leaders, members of the Vietnamese community, and officials and families of the Embassy.

August 31, Colombo (LNW): Executive Director of the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE), Manas Makeem, stated that his organization has deployed 26 District Coordinators—one in each district, with two in Ampara—and 160 Long Term Observers. He added that CaFFE plans to deploy 3,500 observers on election day.

Makeem reported that up to midnight on August 29, CaFFE had received 393 election-related complaints. Despite this, he expressed optimism that the September 21 poll would be peaceful, free, and fair. He also noted that CaFFE is closely monitoring areas identified by District Coordinators as having a higher risk of election-related violence.