August 20, Colombo (LNW): The passenger ferry service between India and Sri Lanka, recently revived between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai, has received significant financial backing and concessions from both governments to ensure its sustainability.
The service, operated by IndSri Ferry Services’ vessel Sivagangai, completed its first voyage last week with around 50 passengers on board.
To make the service more accessible, the Indian government has committed over LKR 25 million in monthly financial assistance for a year to cover operational costs and port charges at Nagapattinam.
Simultaneously, Sri Lanka has eased the deviation tax typically imposed on passengers departing by sea.
The ferry service had faced several interruptions since its launch in October 2023 due to adverse weather and logistical issues.
However, the recent revival aims to enhance connectivity between the two nations, further reinforcing the bilateral ties emphasised during President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to India in July 2023.
Consul General Sai Murali personally welcomed passengers at Kankesanthurai port, underscoring the ferry’s role in strengthening economic and cultural ties.
The service is seen as a step towards realising the shared vision for deeper regional cooperation outlined in the July 2023 economic partnership agreement.
August 20, Colombo (LNW): The recently introduced luxury shuttle service connecting Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with Colombo Fort Railway Station and the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre (MMC) has been temporarily halted as of 19th August.
Launched on 15th August, the service immediately faced resistance from transport unions, leading to a bus strike by the Airport-Fort Bus Employees’ Union on 16th August.
Union leaders expressed discontent, arguing that the luxury shuttle undermined their operations.
The protest quickly gained momentum with support from BIA taxi associations and formal complaints lodged with both the Ministry of Transport and the Election Commission.
In light of these pressures, the decision was made to suspend the service after just four days of operation.
Indika Gunasekara, President of the Airport-Fort Bus Employees’ Union, announced plans to replace the luxury shuttles with ten of the union’s own buses, ensuring continued service from BIA to Colombo Fort and Makumbura MMC.
The situation underscores the complexities of introducing new transport initiatives in the face of existing industry resistance and labour union influence.
August 20, Colombo (LNW): Former Minister Harin Fernando has been named Presidential Advisor on Sports, Lands, and Tourism by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, exercising powers under Article 41/1 of the Constitution.
Fernando, originally an MP from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), aligned with the Government to back President Wickremesinghe, leading to his appointment as Minister for Tourism, Lands, Sports, and Youth Affairs.
However, his decision to side with the Government resulted in the SJB terminating his party membership. The Supreme Court later upheld the party’s move, leading to the loss of both his parliamentary seat and ministerial post.
Despite this setback, the new advisory role marks Fernando’s continued influence within the Government, allowing him to contribute to key sectors where he held prior ministerial experience.
The appointment signals an effort by the President to leverage Fernando’s expertise, even as political tensions continue within the broader opposition landscape.
August 20, Colombo (LNW): A committee overseeing the security of candidates in the upcoming Presidential election has revealed that 22 out of the 39 contenders have been granted Police protection.
Sources indicate that a comprehensive security evaluation for all candidates is currently underway, with potential adjustments to the protection levels expected.
The committee, led by Viyani Gunathilaka, Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security, aims to ensure that security measures are adequately aligned with the risks associated with each candidate.
While the President’s protection remains under the Presidential Security Division, additional security has been extended to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, given the heightened sensitivity surrounding the election.
The decision to allocate police protection reflects the increasing concerns regarding candidate safety amidst the politically charged atmosphere.
As the security landscape continues to evolve, the committee’s ongoing assessments will play a critical role in maintaining order and safeguarding the electoral process.
This approach is part of broader efforts by the authorities to uphold democratic integrity, with careful attention paid to ensuring a fair and secure election environment for all participants.
August 20, Colombo (LNW): Pope Francis has officially accepted the resignation of the Bishop of Batticaloa, Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Ponnaiah, according to a statement from the Vatican yesterday (19).
In his place, Rt. Rev. Dr. Anton Ranjith, currently serving as the Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo, has been appointed as the Apostolic Administrator for the Batticaloa Diocese.
The transition marks a significant shift for the Batticaloa Diocese, which has been under Bishop Ponnaiah’s guidance for several years. His resignation, which aligns with the Church’s customary practice of allowing bishops to step down after reaching a certain age, paves the way for fresh leadership in the region.
The appointment of Bishop Ranjith as Apostolic Administrator signals the Vatican’s intent to ensure continuity and stability within the diocese while a permanent successor is considered.
Bishop Ranjith, known for his extensive pastoral experience and administrative capabilities, will oversee the diocese’s affairs temporarily.
The move comes as part of the broader organisational changes in the Church’s administration in Sri Lanka, reflecting the Vatican’s strategic response to the evolving needs of the local Catholic community.
August 20, Colombo (LNW): Excise Commissioner General M.J. Gunasiri firmly refuted claims that excise licences have been granted to politicians, emphasising that no such requests have been made by political figures.
Responding to concerns that liquor permits are being used to gain favour ahead of the upcoming Presidential Election, Gunasiri stressed that the licensing process remains transparent and strictly within legal boundaries.
Addressing the controversy, Gunasiri clarified that licences are issued under Excise Notifications 902 and 2/2024. He pointed out that the department, which has a 110-year history, increased licence fees after 15 years based on a carefully studied rationale.
Additionally, the government decided to expand the number of licensed shops, driven by factors like population growth, tourism expansion, and rising illegal alcohol sales.
Gunasiri highlighted that some districts are underserved in terms of licensed liquor outlets, necessitating an increase in legally sanctioned establishments.
In a significant first, the government introduced substantial one-time fees for obtaining a licence: Rs. 15 million within Municipal Council areas, Rs. 12.5 million in Urban Council zones, and Rs. 10 million for Pradeshiya Sabha jurisdictions. This initiative is expected to generate Rs. 2 billion in revenue for 2024, of which Rs. 1.75 billion has already been collected.
Explaining the broader context, Gunasiri noted that the Excise Department, along with Inland Revenue and Sri Lanka Customs, is among the top three revenue-generating agencies for the government.
This year’s revenue target for the Excise Department is Rs. 232 billion, marking a 29.6% increase from last year.
Despite facing a shortage of 429 officers, the department is on track to meet its goals, contributing significantly to public welfare and national development.
Gunasiri underscored that critics should recognise the department’s efforts and the role that excise revenue plays in sustaining essential government functions and public services.
August 20, Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe cautioned that even if current economic recovery efforts succeed, a failure to complete essential reforms would lead to another economic collapse.
He stressed that the upcoming presidential election should focus on long-term economic stability rather than immediate gains.
Speaking during the ‘Ask Ranil’ programme, where he engaged with questions from the public, the President urged voters to prioritise stability and the nation’s future when making electoral decisions.
He emphasised that while critics argue previous leaders did little for national progress, economic growth has been hampered by inward-looking ideologies like those of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), which promoted a strictly domestic focus.
Wickremesinghe revealed that he intends to run as an Independent candidate in the election, reflecting the public’s growing disillusionment with traditional party politics.
Explaining his decision to adopt the ‘Gas Cylinder’ as his election symbol, he noted that the symbol represents an alternative approach amid current challenges.
He further addressed scepticism regarding his ties to the Rajapaksas, clarifying that although he gained support from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) during a critical phase of governance, that chapter has ended, and they will now contest separately.
The President also acknowledged that while Sri Lanka possesses significant resources like the Pulmoddai mineral sands, Trincomalee Harbour, and Hambantota Airport, inadequate policy directions over the past decades have prevented optimal utilisation.
He argued that the path to prosperity requires openness to global economic integration, drawing examples from nations like Singapore.
On anti-corruption measures, Wickremesinghe contended that the revamped legal framework targets both minor and major offenders alike, countering public perceptions that only low-level wrongdoers are held accountable.
He outlined plans to enhance the legal system’s capabilities, including improved training for officials.
The President also addressed the rising influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), highlighting the need to regulate its use within society.
He projected that AI will be a defining issue in the coming decade, with both potential benefits and risks.
Regarding public service efficiency, Wickremesinghe acknowledged the challenge of balancing staff redundancies with societal needs.
He stressed that reforming public administration requires careful planning to avoid social unrest while improving workforce skills through targeted training initiatives.
In closing, the President reiterated the importance of completing ongoing reforms, warning that halting mid-process would only lead to another economic downturn.
August 20, Colombo (LNW): The Election Commission has reported receiving 631 complaints related to the forthcoming presidential election between 31 July and 18 August.
Among these, 65 complaints were lodged just on 18 August, primarily concerning breaches of election laws.
The National Centre for Election Complaint Management registered 346 cases, while District Centres handled 285.
Most issues involved legal violations, with only one incident of violence reported.
This surge in complaints highlights growing concerns over the adherence to election regulations. Authorities are expected to intensify their monitoring efforts to ensure a fair election process.
The Election Commission continues to encourage the public to report any irregularities, emphasising the importance of a transparent and credible election.
August 20, Colombo (LNW): The Election Commission is set to issue a Gazette notification outlining a limit on campaign spending per voter for the upcoming presidential election.
According to Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake, candidates will be restricted to a maximum expenditure of Rs. 109 per voter.
The introduction of this cap is part of broader campaign finance reforms aimed at ensuring fairer elections.
These regulations will apply to all future national elections, imposing stricter limits on campaign spending for candidates, political parties, and independent groups.
In preparation for the presidential election, the Election Commission has held consultations with various stakeholders to discuss the new legislation.
The objective was to determine the spending limit and establish a framework for effective implementation, drawing on feedback and recommendations from these discussions.
This marks a significant step towards more transparent and regulated election campaigns in Sri Lanka, aligning with global standards on campaign finance governance.
August 20, Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts, with heavy showers above 100 mm being likely to occur 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 (20).
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Eastern, Uva and North-Central Provinces during the evening or night.
Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Hambantota district.
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 times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle. Showers or thundershowers will occur at a few places in the other sea areas around the island during the afternoon or night.
Winds:
Winds will be south-westerly and wind speed will be (30-40) kmph. Wind speed can increase up to (55–60) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Kankasanthurai to Puttalam via Mannar and from Hambantota to Pottuvil. Wind speed can increase up to 50 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coasts extending from Kankasanthurai to Puttalam via Mannar and from Hambantota to Pottuvil will be rough at times. The sea areas off the coasts extending from Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle may be fairly rough at times. The swell wave heights may increase (about 2.5m–3.0m) in the sea areas off the coast extending from Kalpitiya to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle (this is not for land area). Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.
