By: Isuru Parakrama

December 02, Colombo (LNW): Justice Murdu Fernando was officially sworn in as the 48th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka this (02) morning, taking the oath before President Anura Dissanayake.

In a momentous ceremony, she became the second woman in the country’s history to hold this esteemed position, following in the footsteps of Shirani Bandaranayake, who served in the role in 2011.

Justice Fernando’s appointment follows the retirement of Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, and her elevation to the highest judicial office in the land was approved by the Constitutional Council. As the most senior serving Justice of the Supreme Court, her appointment is seen as a continuation of her significant contributions to Sri Lanka’s judiciary.

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By: Isuru Parakrama

November 02, Colombo (LNW): Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa held a productive meeting with Japan’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Akio Isomata, yesterday (01), to discuss the resumption of key development projects that were put on hold by the previous government.

The focus of the discussions was on revitalising these important initiatives, which are crucial for Sri Lanka’s long-term infrastructure and economic development.

Premadasa assured Ambassador Isomata of the Opposition’s full support in reactivating the stalled projects, particularly those funded by Japan, and pledged to cooperate closely with the Japanese government to ensure their smooth progress.

He expressed confidence that these projects could significantly contribute to the country’s recovery and future growth.

The timing of this meeting comes on the heels of a recent statement by Japan, indicating that it would only consider new development initiatives in Sri Lanka after a thorough assessment of the government’s requests and the country’s overall economic situation.

This cautious approach reflects Japan’s desire to ensure that any future investments align with Sri Lanka’s economic realities.

According to the Japanese Embassy, the immediate priority is to complete 11 ongoing projects that have been revived following successful debt restructuring discussions.

These projects, which include the expansion of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), are reportedly making steady progress.

The Embassy has emphasised that Japan remains committed to supporting Sri Lanka’s development efforts, but only within the framework of careful financial consideration and strategic planning.

December 02, Colombo (LNW): A significant number of luxury vehicles assigned to Members of Parliament (MPs) and Ministers remain unused, mainly due to their high fuel consumption, Speaker Dr. Asoka Ranwala disclosed.

Speaking at an event at the Nāgānanda International Institute for Buddhist Studies, the Speaker explained that these vehicles, while luxurious, are deemed unsuitable for Sri Lanka’s current circumstances.

Ranwala told reporters that many MPs and Ministers have chosen not to use these vehicles because of their poor fuel efficiency, making them impractical in the context of the country’s fuel challenges.

He highlighted that despite the presence of a large fleet of such vehicles in storage, they are not being utilised.

He also noted that no MP has officially requested a luxury vehicle through Parliament, emphasising the reluctance of elected officials to use such high-maintenance cars.

The Speaker further elaborated that even vehicles assigned to his own office have not been put into service due to their high fuel consumption.

When asked if the unused luxury vehicles could be sold, Dr. Ranwala responded that any decision regarding the auctioning of these vehicles would need to be made at a national level.

Regarding government-owned residences for Ministers, the Speaker clarified that no Minister had requested an official residence for personal use. Ranwala asserted that residences owned by the government should be used for official purposes only, and it is the government’s responsibility to maintain these properties.

By: Isuru Parakrama

December 02, Colombo (LNW): Justice Murdu Fernando is poised to take the oath as Sri Lanka’s 49th Chief Justice today (02).

The event is expected to take under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

This follows the retirement of the previous Chief Justice, Jayantha Jayasuriya, who served in the position until recently.

Fernando’s appointment marks a significant milestone in the country’s judicial history, as she becomes the second woman to hold the prestigious office of Chief Justice, following in the footsteps of Shirani Bandaranayake, who held the role in 2011.

With a distinguished legal career spanning over three decades, Justice Fernando began her journey in the Attorney General’s Department, where she joined as a state counsel.

Over the years, she climbed the ranks, demonstrating exceptional legal expertise and leadership, eventually being promoted to senior state counsel.

Her career continued to flourish as she took on key roles, including deputy solicitor general, additional solicitor general, and senior additional solicitor general.

Fernando’s impressive track record in these capacities led to her appointment as a President’s Counsel.

In March 2018, during the presidency of Maithripala Sirisena, Fernando’s judicial career reached a new height when she was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court, cementing her place among the nation’s highest legal authorities.

By: Isuru Parakrama

December 02, Colombo (LNW): The announcement for the upcoming Local Government (LG) Elections is expected to be made after the conclusion of the 2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level examinations.

The Election Commission has explained that releasing the election details before the exams could lead to candidates launching their campaigns during the critical exam period, potentially causing disruptions.

In light of this, it has been decided that no official election announcements will be made until after the exams have finished.

The move is aimed at preventing any interference with the exam process, which could cause unnecessary distractions for students.

The Advanced Level exams, which had been delayed due to adverse weather conditions, are set to resume this week after several days of postponements.

As the examination period progresses, the focus will be on ensuring that no external activities impact the integrity of the exams.

In a related development, a crucial meeting of political party leaders is scheduled for tomorrow (03). The meeting will be chaired by the Leader of the House, Bimal Rathnayake, and is expected to address several key issues regarding the upcoming LG Elections. Notably, party leaders will make final decisions on when to call for nominations for the elections.

It has also been confirmed that earlier nominations for the LG elections will be cancelled. The decision stems from the fact that many candidates who had initially been nominated have either switched political parties, retired from politics, or left the country.

As a result, political parties will now move forward with a fresh slate of nominations for the upcoming elections.

By: Isuru Parakrama

December 02, Colombo (LNW): Several spells of showers will occur in Northern province, with a few showers being expected to occur in Galle and Matara districts, the Department of Meteorology said in a statement.

Mainly fair weather will prevail elsewhere.

Strong winds of (40-45) kmph can be expected at times over Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Central and Southern provinces.

Marine Weather:

1. The Road Development Authority (RDA) will assess the damage to roads and bridges, with a special team appointed for this task: Director General S.M.P. Suriyabandara stated that immediate action would be taken to repair the affected infrastructure, ensuring timely restoration of damaged roads and bridges to maintain safety and functionality.
   
2. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa emphasised the need for unity across all differences to ensure justice for Palestinians: Speaking at the UN Day for Solidarity with the Palestinian People conference, he called for action, not just rhetoric, in support of Palestinian rights: Premadasa condemned state terrorism, urged global leaders to take decisive action, and advocated for peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine.
   
3. Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed support for the government’s economic programme in partnership with the IMF to strengthen Sri Lanka’s economy: Speaking at the opening of a new five-star hotel in Colombo, he praised the initiative: The event was attended by figures including Minister Vijitha Herath and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, and marked a significant investment by a prominent gem businessman.
   
4. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath invited nine newly appointed Ambassadors and a High Commissioner to attend Sri Lanka’s Independence Day celebrations: The diplomats, who recently presented credentials to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, expressed interest in strengthening diplomatic ties and enhancing economic and trade relations with Sri Lanka: The Minister agreed to review potential new agreements to support these initiatives.
   
5. The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development announced a reduction in the Special Commodity Levy on imported big onions from Rs. 30 to Rs. 10 per kilo, effective until December 31, 2024: However, the levy on imported potatoes will remain unchanged at Rs. 60 per kilo: These changes were initially introduced in a gazette notification on October 2, 2024.
   
6. Senior Economic Advisor Duminda Hulangamuwa stated that the new government is encouraging the private sector to lead economic development while retaining control over strategic public sectors: Discussing state-owned enterprise (SOE) restructuring, he emphasised a careful approach, analysing which SOEs burden the treasury: He also mentioned ongoing efforts to restructure SriLankan Airlines’ finances, ensuring the country’s priorities come first.
   
7. The Vehicle Importers’ Association of Sri Lanka is confident that vehicle imports will resume in February 2025: During a press briefing, the association announced upcoming discussions with the President to ensure a smooth process: The President and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka have promised support, while the IMF has also granted approval for the resumption of imports.
   
8. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasised that combating the drug problem requires inspiring positive change in children and youth, not just relying on laws: Speaking at the 2024 All-Ceylon Art and Animation Video Competition, she highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive program to address drug addiction and rehabilitation, alongside strong law enforcement efforts to combat drug trafficking.
   
9. The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) will submit a revised electricity tariff proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) on December 6th: CEB spokesperson Eng. A.D.K. Parakramasinghe confirmed the report is nearly complete: Previously, the CEB proposed a 6-11% tariff reduction for the last quarter of 2024, but the PUCSL rejected it, requesting a revision for the first half of 2025.
   
10. Sri Lanka dropped to 5th place in the WTC 2023-25 standings after a heavy 233-run defeat to South Africa in the first Test, with a points percentage of 50%: South Africa moved to 2nd place, with Marco Jansen’s match-winning figures of 11/86 earning him Player of the Match: India remains top, while South Africa trails with 59.26%.