June 04, Colombo (LNW): Chairperson of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Prof. Sampath Amaratunge has issued a plea to the public, urging them to abstain from sharing the outcomes of the 2023 (2024) GCE Advanced Level Examinations on social media platforms.

Amaratunge cautioned that disseminating such information on social media channels could potentially hinder students’ chances of securing university placements.

He highlighted the risk associated with divulging personal details like index numbers and National Identity Card (NIC) numbers, as this data could be misused by unauthorised individuals for university admission purposes.

Emphasising the repercussions of such actions, Prof. Amaratunge noted that if an unauthorised application is submitted using these details, the genuine applicant may face delays and challenges in rectifying the situation, leading to prolonged waiting periods.

In light of these risks, Amaratunge reiterated the importance of refraining from sharing A/Level results, particularly on platforms like Facebook, and urged students and their families to exercise caution in this regard.

The results of the 2023 (2024) GCE Advanced Level Examinations were unveiled on May 31.

According to the Department of Examinations, out of the total 269,613 candidates, 173,444 applicants (equivalent to 64.33 per cent) qualified for university admission.

June 04, Colombo (LNW): During the recent National Mosquito Control Week, conducted by the Epidemiology unit of the Health Ministry from May 26 to June 1, concerning revelations emerged regarding mosquito breeding in private institutions.

This has sparked a cascade of legal actions and raising profound concerns regarding public health standards.

Out of a total of 4,599 private establishments inspected, a substantial 1,220 were flagged for harbouring mosquito breeding grounds.

This flagrant disregard for mosquito control protocols has ignited public outcry, leading to legal proceedings against 981 of these entities, with an additional 3,121 receiving official notices to rectify the situation.

Simultaneously, across the nation, from a comprehensive inspection of 93,874 premises, close to 5,000 were found to host mosquito larvae, with over 25,000 households being identified as potential breeding sites.

The inspection efforts during the week extended across 15 districts in Sri Lanka, including prominent areas such as Colombo, Kalutara, Kandy, Gampaha, Jaffna, and Ratnapura.

The gravity of the situation is underscored by the alarming report from the Epidemiology unit, which indicates a total of 25,095 reported dengue cases island-wide as of June 3.

This concerning trend highlights the urgent need for stringent mosquito control measures to safeguard public health across Sri Lanka. The adverse weather conditions are attributed to the spreading of seasonal diseases, including Dengue, and the public, therefore, is urged by the health authorities and medical specialists to exercise caution.

June 04, Colombo (LNW): Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena today (04) announced that the Supreme Court has ruled the Electricity Amendment Bill to be inconsistent with the Constitution.

However, the Court suggested that this inconsistency could be rectified through amendments aligning with its proposals.

The Supreme Court’s determination led to a parliamentary standoff, with the Opposition advocating for the debate’s postponement.

Meanwhile, the ruling party pressed for the scheduled debate on Thursday, vowing to incorporate necessary amendments.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella urged for a delay in the debate and the submission of the Bill to the Sectoral Oversight Committee, citing the need for thorough examination.

Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera assured that amendments would be made in accordance with the Supreme Court’s ruling, advocating for proceeding with the debate as scheduled.

In the midst of discussions, MP Harsha de Silva proposed extending the debate to two days instead of one.

June 04, Colombo (LNW): The Cabinet has approved a proposal aimed at offering assistance to victims of adverse weather conditions, including the reconstruction of completely destroyed homes, funded by the government and with support from Tri-Forces personnel.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe submitted the proposal to the Cabinet of Ministers on the previous day (03), which received approval.

Additionally, it was suggested to provide immediate aid to affected individuals without bureaucratic delays and to enhance financial support for them.

Wickremesinghe has directed the allocation of funds initially intended for World Environment Day celebrations towards providing relief to those impacted by recent severe weather.

State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government of Sri Lanka, Janaka Wakkumbura, also confirmed the cancellation of the national World Environment Day celebrations scheduled for the following day.

June 04, Colombo (LNW): The University Trade Union Joint Committee (UTUJC) has announced that today (04) marks a crucial juncture for deciding on potential trade union actions by the university’s non-academic staff.

UTUJC Co-Chairman, Dhammika S. Priyantha, underscored the significance of recent developments following a dedicated meeting held with the Minister of State for Higher Education on the preceding day (03).

During this session, pertinent issues including the staff’s demands and broader professional concerns were addressed comprehensively.

Priyantha further elaborated on the next steps, stating that deliberations with trade union representatives will ensue to discuss the outcomes of the aforementioned meeting.

It is anticipated that these discussions will centre on the agreements reached and the strategies to be implemented moving forward.

UTUJC aims to provide an update on the decisions made and outline the prospective course of action by the end of today.

June 04, Colombo (LNW): Discussions were conducted with the tariff division of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) yesterday to conclude the proposal for revising electricity consumer tariffs, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera disclosed.

In a statement shared on ‘X’, he highlighted that the Government had established a policy mandate last year to enforce a cost-reflective tariff system, with tariffs scheduled for quarterly revision annually.

Subsequently, the tariff proposal for July will be presented to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) this week, the Minister noted.