August 12, Colombo (LNW): The Wages Board has officially approved an increase in the daily minimum wage for estate workers in Sri Lanka’s tea and rubber sectors to Rs. 1,700.

Former Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara confirmed that this decision was made during a Wages Board meeting at the Labour Department today.

This increase follows legal challenges and opposition from plantation companies, which argued that the previous wage was unsustainable.

The Supreme Court’s intervention, which resulted in the cancellation of a previous Gazette notification, has led to today’s revised wage determination by the Wages Board.

1. President Ranil Wickremesinghe initiates a groundbreaking initiative to grant land rights to residents of line rooms by reclaiming plantation land from companies: Announced at a Nuwara Eliya business meeting, the plan includes housing development, public amenities, and support for local businesses: also pledges to address social justice issues for Tamil communities and plans a conference early next year.
   
2. Former MP Dr. Jayampathi Wickranaratne PC, together with his party the United Leftist Front will back Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming Presidential Polls: Wickranaratne had been a strong advocate for the adaptation of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which enforced restrictions to the powers of executive presidency, during the 2015-2019 Good Governance regime.
   
3. NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake formalises his candidacy for the upcoming Presidential Election: The nomination papers were signed today (11) at the JVP headquarters, witnessed by key NPP figures, including General Secretaries Nihal Abeysinghe (NPP) and Tylvin Silva (JVP): The Presidential Election is scheduled for 21 September.
   
4. Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says pensioners will receive an additional Rs. 6,000 with their October payments, comprising a Rs. 3,000 interim allowance for October and Rs. 3,000 in arrears from September: This follows a Cabinet-approved proposal presented by the President: The Rs. 3,000 interim allowance will continue monthly until salary anomalies are addressed, adding to the Rs. 2,500 extra payment already provided in April: The Finance Ministry has granted formal approval, and the Public Administration Ministry is expected to issue a circular to facilitate the disbursement, but the Election Commission objected to the allowance being distributed in September due to the election announcement.
   
5. The Committee on Public Accounts (CoPA) expresses concerns over a Rs. 254 million increase in the Basnagoda Reservoir project’s bid, now totalling Rs. 2,347 million, questioning the Irrigation Department’s adherence to financial regulations: also scrutinises irregularities involving Rs. 352.4 million in cheques and discussed issues with the Ging Nilwala project: Officials acknowledges errors and promised corrective measures.
   
6. Minister Ali Sabry has been appointed as the new Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs, and Constitutional Reforms, officially taking oaths before President Ranil Wickremesinghe: The appointment adds to his current role as Foreign Minister: Sabry assumes these responsibilities following the resignation of Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, who stepped down from his positions to participate in the forthcoming Presidential Election.
   
7. The Election Commission reports a significant influx of complaints related to the upcoming Presidential Polls: reveals between 31 July and 11 August, a total of 337 complaints were lodged, encompassing various violations of election laws, including one instance of violence and seven other types of infractions: The National Centre for Election Complaint Management received 220 of these complaints, while 117 were recorded by the District Centres for Election Complaint Management.
   
8. Sri Lanka’s remittances rose to $566.8 million in July 2024, contributing to a total of $3.71 billion for the year-to-date, a 10.3% increase from last year: This trend highlights the role of remittances in stabilising the economy, alongside recovering tourism and eased commodity prices: The Central Bank’s currency float in March 2022 has also boosted remittance inflows.
   
9. Sri Lanka to formally adopt the Sinhala and Tamil translations of the Geneva Conventions, marking their 75th anniversary: The move aims to enhance awareness of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) within the island nation: expected to reflect Sri Lanka’s commitment to disseminating the principles of the conventions, which uphold human dignity during conflicts: A commemorative event themed “75 Years of the Geneva Conventions: Global and Sri Lankan Perspectives” will be held on 14 August in Colombo, featuring a panel discussion and a public photo exhibition at BMICH.
   
10. Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu wins the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for July 2024, besting India’s Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma: Her outstanding performance led Sri Lanka to their first Women’s Asia Cup title: Athapaththu, now a three-time winner of the award, played a crucial role with notable innings and key wickets, inspiring future female cricketers.

August 12, Colombo (LNW): On the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, Sri Lanka will formally adopt the Sinhala and Tamil translations of the Conventions, enhancing awareness of international humanitarian law (IHL) within the nation.

This initiative reflects Sri Lanka’s commitment to disseminating the principles of the Geneva Conventions, which uphold human dignity during conflicts.

A commemorative event themed “75 Years of the Geneva Conventions: Global and Sri Lankan Perspectives” will be held on 14 August in Colombo, featuring a panel discussion and a public photo exhibition at BMICH.

August 12, Colombo (LNW): MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the National People’s Power (NPP) and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), has formalised his candidacy for the upcoming Presidential Election.

The nomination papers were signed today (11) at the JVP headquarters, witnessed by key NPP figures, including General Secretaries Nihal Abeysinghe (NPP) and Tylvin Silva (JVP).

The Presidential Election is scheduled for 21 September.

August 12, Colombo (LNW): The Election Commission has reported a significant influx of complaints related to the upcoming Presidential election.

Between 31 July and 11 August, a total of 337 complaints were lodged, encompassing various violations of election laws, including one instance of violence and seven other types of infractions.

The National Centre for Election Complaint Management received 220 of these complaints, while 117 were recorded by the District Centres for Election Complaint Management, according to a media release from the Commission.

August 12, Colombo (LNW): Pensioners in Sri Lanka will receive an additional Rs. 6,000 with their October payments, comprising a Rs. 3,000 interim allowance for October and Rs. 3,000 in arrears from September, announced Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya.

This follows a Cabinet-approved proposal presented by the President.

The Rs. 3,000 interim allowance will continue monthly until salary anomalies are addressed, adding to the Rs. 2,500 extra payment already provided in April.

The Finance Ministry has granted formal approval, and the Public Administration Ministry is expected to issue a circular to facilitate the disbursement.

However, the Election Commission objected to the allowance being distributed in September due to the election announcement.

August 12, Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe has unveiled an unprecedented initiative granting residents of line rooms the right to live in villages, with the government reclaiming land from plantation companies by terminating lease agreements.

During a meeting with the Nuwara Eliya business community on August 10, the President announced plans to provide land rights, assist in housing development, and create public amenities such as playgrounds for these residents.

He was also briefed on the challenges facing local businesses and reviewed regional development proposals.

The Nuwara Eliya business community expressed strong support for President Wickremesinghe, backing his efforts to guide the nation out of its economic crisis and pledging their endorsement in the upcoming Presidential Election.

President Wickremesinghe also met with scholars and professionals from the district, who stressed the importance of continuing the country’s economic recovery and supported his re-election.

The President announced plans for a conference early next year to address social justice issues for Tamil communities in the hill country, with a forthcoming Social Justice Commission set to investigate these concerns.

Various issues and proposals were presented by school principals and professionals during the meeting, and MP Vadivel Suresh highlighted the President’s significant contributions to the plantation community.

The meeting was attended by prominent local figures, including former MP K.K. Piyadasa and Hindu Priest Committee Chairman Rev. Velu Suviswara Sharma.

August 12, Colombo (LNW): The Committee on Public Accounts (CoPA) has raised concerns over a significant increase in the bid for the Basnagoda Reservoir construction project.

The contractor’s bid of Rs. 2,093 million was raised by Rs. 254 million, reaching Rs. 2,347 million, based on recommendations from the Technical Evaluation Committee.

CoPA questioned the Irrigation Department’s payment processes, which reportedly did not comply with government financial regulations.

The committee highlighted that previous recommendations to rectify these procedures had not been implemented, prompting further scrutiny.

Additionally, CoPA examined irregularities involving 1,177 cheques worth Rs. 352.4 million issued in 2022, including issues with a Divisional Assistant improperly cashing payments.

The officials present admitted to calculation errors and double entries, assuring that corrective measures had been taken.

The Committee also discussed the Ging Nilwala project, which received an advance of 4.35% of the estimated cost, despite the project not commencing as planned.

The meeting was chaired by State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna and attended by several Members of Parliament.