May 14, Colombo (LNW): The National Physical Planning Department has announced plans to gazette an additional twenty places of religious worship as sacred areas this year, with nine places already gazetted thus far.

Among the sites slated for gazettement are the Uddhakandara Rajamaha Viharaya in Hambantota, Dambadeniya Rajamaha Viharaya in Kurunegala, Kotasara Piangala Rajamaha Viharaya in Moneragala, and others spanning various regions across Sri Lanka.

The upcoming National Vesak festival, scheduled from May 21 to May 27 in Matale, will witness the inauguration under the auspices of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

During this event, the President will present the communique‘, known as Sannas Pathra, for the development of the Kshetrarama Rajamaha Viharaya in Matale as a sacred area to the temple authorities.

Notifications for the Henekadua Rajamaha Vihara in Hambantota and the Gonnawa Sri Vishnu Dewalaya in Kurunegala have been forwarded to Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga for approval.

Minister Ranatunga underscored the three criteria guiding the declaration of a sacred site and instructed relevant departments to assess requests for such declarations, address any existing issues, and initiate necessary measures to resolve them.

To date, Sri Lanka has gazetted 130 places of worship as sacred areas, with Kataragama being the first such designation on October 16, 1961.

The impending gazettement of the Kshetrarama Rajamaha Vihara in Matale will mark the 130th sacred area in Sri Lanka.

Approval from the Department of Archaeology, the Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs, and survey plans of the respective areas are imperative for the publication of gazettes designating them as sacred areas.

May 14, Colombo (LNW): Only 6,000 out of 34,000 pre-school teachers and assistant teachers in Sri Lanka possess diplomas, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha disclosed today (14) in Parliament.

Highlighting the statistics, the Minister noted that there are 18,800 pre-schools across the country, expressing concern over the significant portion of teachers and assistant teachers lacking formal diplomas.

In response to a query from SJB MP Hesha Vithanage, Premajayantha remarked that the terminology employed, particularly the terms “Montessori” and “pre-school,” ought to be replaced with the more accurate term “Early Childhood Development Centres.“

He underscored the crucial role of Early Childhood Development (ECD) in education, citing examples from developed nations like the US and Japan, where ECD receives paramount importance.

Quoting a UNICEF report, he lamented the accessibility gap, revealing that 20 per cent of children who should have access to pre-school education are currently deprived of it.

May 14, Colombo (LNW): Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu held discussions with representatives of the National People’s Power (NPP) at the Galle Face Hotel yesterday (13) evening, highlighting the party’s growing significance on the political landscape in Sri Lanka.

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung was also present at the meeting, along with NPP MP Vijitha Herath and NPP Executive Committee Members Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa and Wasantha Samarasinghe.

The discussions centred on various pressing issues, including the current economic situation in Sri Lanka and the country’s engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Additionally, the participants addressed concerns regarding the integrity of electoral processes and security dynamics within the Indian Ocean region.

Lu’s engagement with the NPP underscores the increasing relevance and influence of the JVP-led party, indicating a shift in the political landscape of Sri Lanka.

May 14, Colombo (LNW): In response to growing concerns over criminal activities, particularly drug trafficking, linked to temporary residences, law enforcement authorities conducted a nationwide operation spanning two days, gathering data on over 178,600 temporary residents.

Initiated under the directive of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, the operation took place over the weekend of May 11 and 12, targeting individuals residing in rented accommodations outside their permanent police jurisdictions.

Operating in accordance with Section 76 of the Police Ordinance Act, the police aimed to gather and verify information on temporary residents within each Grama Niladhari division.

The operation yielded data on 112,963 individuals from 37,183 families residing in rented houses and on lease, alongside information on 34,133 individuals from 10,755 families residing in rented rooms.

Among the recorded individuals were 31,517 temporary residents, including house watchmen, housemaids, and caregivers.

Each individual’s information will undergo thorough scrutiny, cross-referencing with databases such as the Arrested Monitoring Information System (AMIS), the Automated Fingerprints Identification System (AFIS), and the Police Narcotics Bureau database to ascertain any potential involvement in criminal activities.

May 14, Colombo (LNW): Farmers cultivating lime in the Anuradhapura District find themselves in a challenging situation due to the lack of a lucrative market for their produce, while urban areas witness a surge in lime prices attributed to the activities of middlemen.

Asela Sampath, representing the National Consumers’ Organisation, addressed the media following an event at the Thalawa Divisional Secretariat, highlighting the exploitation faced by farmers who are compelled to sell their produce at significantly low prices to middlemen.

The wholesale purchase price of lime in the Anuradhapura area stands at Rs. 50.00 per kilo, yet the current market rate has escalated to Rs. 2,000.

This disparity has led farmers to refrain from harvesting their yield to avoid substantial losses, resulting in surplus produce left unattended under trees, according to Sampath.

He added that similar challenges plague other agricultural products.

He advocated for the establishment of mechanisms to preserve lime and other surplus agricultural goods abundant during the harvesting season for sale during off-peak periods.

“Yesterday at the Thambuttegama Economic Centre, mangoes were being wholesaled at Rs. 150 per kilo, yet middlemen acquire them to sell in towns after chemical treatment, fetching prices ranging between Rs. 500 and Rs. 600 per kilo. During the harvesting season, farmers arrive with cartloads of mangoes only to receive Rs. 150 per kilo from middlemen.”

“Watermelon faces a similar fate, with substantial quantities in the Rajarata area discarded in jungles and left for animals to consume. Urgent government intervention is needed to procure these surplus goods for distribution to hospitals, army camps, and schools, thereby supplementing the midday meals of schoolchildren,” he emphasised.

Sampath expressed concern over authorities’ apparent indifference towards the plight of farmers in the face of the ongoing exploitation by middlemen and the absence of a lucrative market for their produce.

May 14, Colombo (LNW): United States’ Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday (13) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

The meeting revolved around extensive discussions concerning Sri Lanka’s economic recovery strategies, according to a statement.

The President’s Media Division highlighted the appreciation for President Wickremesinghe’s steadfast dedication and commitment to implementing the economic reform programme.

President Wickremesinghe was accompanied by Senior Advisor on National Security and Chief of Staff, Sagala Ratnayaka, Secretary to the President, Saman Ekanayake, and US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung.

May 14, Colombo (LNW): Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development Minister Jeevan Thondaman assured that the government is prepared to address any legal challenges should estate companies contest the government’s decision to raise wages for estate workers.

Previously, plantation companies asserted an inability to raise workers’ basic salary by even a single rupee.

However, following the government’s announcement of a daily wage of Rs. 1700, Minister Thondaman revealed that companies proposed a Rs. 200 increase in the basic salary for estate workers.

He underscored the companies’ capability to enhance wages for estate workers.

Speaking at a press briefing at the President Media Centre (PMC) on Monday (13), themed ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country’, the minister highlighted the acute shortage of drinking water in the Jaffna peninsula, necessitating urgent measures.

Presently, only 11 per cent of the peninsula has access to clean drinking water.

However, with the ongoing construction of a desalination plant, approximately 40 per cent of the Jaffna peninsula will soon have access to drinking water, marking a significant development in addressing water scarcity, he noted.

Amidst a severe economic crisis impacting the nation, estate workers are among the hardest hit.

Enduring prolonged hardships amidst economic turmoil, their main struggle centres on wage issues, Thondaman emphasised.

In response, the government has taken decisive action by officially mandating a daily wage of Rs. 1700 for estate workers under President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s leadership, through a gazette notification.

It is now imperative for estate companies to comply with this official directive.

Moreover, the government stands ready to confront any legal challenges from estate companies disputing the wage increase for plantation workers, he asserted.

Previously, plantation companies claimed an inability to raise their workers’ basic salary by even a rupee. However, upon the issuance of a government gazette notification setting the daily wage for plantation workers at Rs. 1700, the same companies promptly increased the basic salary by Rs. 200.

This underscores their capacity to uplift the wages of estate workers, he contended.

“Simultaneously, the government is actively improving the estate community’s quality of life by addressing housing shortages among plantation workers, expanding educational and employment opportunities, and now, by increasing salaries. This concerted effort undeniably benefits our estate community, providing tangible advantages to our people.”

“However, as the election season approaches, certain parties often make numerous promises to our people. Among these commitments, some pledge to transform estate workers into small estate owners. However, they frequently fail to elaborate on the mechanisms behind such proposals,” he remarked.

May 14, Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe conveyed his best wishes to the Sri Lankan Cricket Team as they prepare to participate in the upcoming Twenty-20 World Cup Cricket Tournament, slated to be held in the U.S. and the West Indies from June 1st to June 29th.

During a meeting convened at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (13) afternoon, the President engaged in an affable exchange with the team, led by Wanidu Hasaranga.

He offered words of encouragement and extended congratulations to the players for representing the nation with distinction, reported the Presidential Media Division (PMD).

The Sri Lankan cricket squad, comprising 15 players, is scheduled to depart the island on the morning of the 14th.

Wickremesinghe commended the team for their dedication to achieving success on the international stage.

In addition to the cricket team, President Wickremesinghe had the opportunity to meet with the Sri Lankan Rugby team, who emerged victorious in the Asian Rugby Championship held in Sri Lanka, competing in the first division.

Expressing profound pride in this significant rugby triumph, President Wickremesinghe lauded the team’s exceptional skills and congratulated them on their remarkable achievement.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Tourism, Lands, Sports, and Youth Affairs, Harin Fernando, Minister of State, Arundika Fernando, and the President’s Senior Advisor on National Security and Chief of Staff, Sagala Ratnayaka.

By: Isuru Parakrama

May 14, Colombo (LNW): Due to a low-level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, showery condition is expected to be continue further, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (14).

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in most provinces of the island after 1.00 p.m., with heavy showers about 100mm being likely to occur at some places in Southern, Central, Eastern and Uva provinces.

Showers may occur at Western and Southern provinces during the morning as well.

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

Marine Weather: