August 05, Colombo (LNW): The National Election Commission has dismissed reports suggesting that voters will be able to cast their ballots at any polling station for the forthcoming Presidential Election.
In a statement, the Commission clarified that such claims are inaccurate and misleading.
Voters will be required to vote at their designated polling stations within their registered divisional areas, as per the electoral register.
August 05, Colombo (LNW): The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has highlighted the crucial role of Sri Lanka Police and state officials in providing impartial legal protection, as mandated by Article 12 of the Constitution.
The HRCSL has announced that it will now accept complaints regarding breaches of election laws by police and other government personnel in connection with the Presidential Election.
Complaints can be lodged via telephone at 0767914696 or by fax at 0112505566.
This move aims to uphold the integrity of the electoral process. Additionally, the HRCSL has appointed specialised officers at its Head Office and regional branches to address allegations of human rights violations promptly.
The Commission has also issued new guidelines to reinforce the constitutional duties of Sri Lanka Police and state officials.
August 05, Colombo (LNW): State intelligence services have alerted the government that overseas Sri Lankans and the Retired Tri-Forces Forum of the National People’s Power (NPP) significantly contributed to the NPP’s recent successes, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday (04).
During a convention of the NPP’s tri-forces forum in Colombo, Dissanayake revealed that the intelligence report urged the government to investigate these influences.
The report indicated that the mobilisation of overseas Sri Lankans and retired military personnel has been pivotal to the NPP’s achievements, he asserted.
Dissanayake noted that the retired military personnel have played a particularly strong role in bolstering the NPP’s victory.
August 05, Colombo (LNW): Minister of Transport, Highways, and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardena clarified his stance on the Central Bank bond scam, stating he had ‘never accused’ President Ranil Wickremesinghe of involvement.
Speaking at Arukwatta in Padukka, Gunawardena emphasised that he should not be held responsible for the malpractice of individuals appointed by him.
The Minister further stated that their support lies with the national policy introduced by Wickremesinghe, rather than Wickremesinghe himself.
“I shall not be held accountable for something bad committed by a person appointed by me. The scenario is as similar as that,” Gunawardena said. “The Presidential Candidate, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, is the only person who has developed a programme to develop the country. He’s the only one who executes such a programme by law.”
The Minister went on: “I never said on any occasion that the the Central Bank Bond Scam was committed by Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe. That happened due to the individuals he had appointed.”
These remarks stand in stark contrast to his 2015 and 2018 comments as an Opposition MP, where he accused Wickremesinghe, who was serving as the Prime Minister then, and the United National Party (UNP) of orchestrating the ‘Great Bond Scam committed in broad daylight,’ a term coined by Gunawardena himself for his subsequent election campaign, and demonstrated Wickremesinghe’s attempts to cover it up.
August 05, Colombo (LNW): The first public rally for President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Presidential Election campaign will take place on August 17 at Salgado Stadium in Anuradhapura, Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe announced.
Semasinghe highlighted the President’s success in steering the country out of a socio-economic crisis and expressed that the SLPP should support him to maintain this progress.
This announcement was made during a meeting with local government representatives from the Anuradhapura District, which included former Minister S.M. Chandrasena, S.C. Muthukumarana, former North Central Province Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith, and SLPP Local Authority members.
August 05, Colombo (LNW): Pradeep Nilanga Dela, the Diyawadana Nilame of Kandy Dalada Maligawa, has expressed concerns about businessmen selling seats for the Kandy Esela Perahera at prices ranging from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 50,000.
He warned that these unfair and excessive prices could severely damage the reputation of the Perahera organisers, both locally and internationally.
Neither the Sri Dalada Maligawa nor the four Devalayas are involved in this exploitation, Dela clarified.
He urged authorities to intervene, emphasising that without control, public blame might unjustly fall on the Dalada Maligawa and the Devalayas.
Dela’s comments came during a discussion at the Dalada Maligawa premises regarding the organisation of the Esala Perahera Festival.
The Diyawadana Nilame stressed that while the Perahera is managed by the Dalada Maligawa and the four Devalayas, they do not engage in the commercial sale of seats.
Complaints about unfair pricing should be directed to the Perahera Trust.
August 05, Colombo (LNW): Senior Vice President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, has announced plans for legal action against those misusing the party’s name to deceive supporters.
Speaking at a meeting in Agunakolapelessa, Amaraweera emphasised that the legal rights to the SLFP belong to his faction.
He accused individuals like Dayasiri Jayasekara and Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, who lack legal rights to the party, of falsely claiming to be the general secretary and chairman, respectively, and declaring support for the Samagi Jana Balawegaya in the upcoming Presidential Election.
He highlighted that the court has prohibited these individuals from interfering in party affairs, thereby stripping them of any legal right to use the SLFP’s name or positions to mislead members.
Consequently, legal proceedings are being initiated against them.
August 05, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka achieved a remarkable 32-run victory against India in the second ODI in Colombo on Sunday, August 4, marking their first ODI win over the world’s top-ranked team in over three years, leading the three-match series 1-0.
Kamindu Mendis and Avishka Fernando guided Sri Lanka to a challenging total of 240.
Spinner Jeffrey Vandersay then delivered a stellar performance, taking six wickets as India collapsed to 228 all out in 42.2 overs.
Rohit Sharma’s rapid fifty initially put India in a strong position. However, a dramatic collapse from 97/0 to 147/6 ensued, with Vandersay’s exceptional spell playing a crucial role.
Sri Lanka’s last ODI victory against India was in July 2021 at the same venue, with their previous series win against India dating back to August 1997.
India will aim for their 100th ODI win against Sri Lanka in the third match on Wednesday.
India XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.
Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (c), Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay, Akila Dananjaya, Asitha Fernando.
August 05, Colombo (LNW): Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena affirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to minimising trade barriers to enhance cooperation, trade, and investment within South Asia.
Speaking at the South Asian Trade Fair 2024, he encouraged regional private sector businesses to explore the renewable energy sector, citing its significant economic potential.
The trade fair, organised by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka and the SAARC Chamber of Commerce, recently opened in Colombo.
The event saw attendance from notable figures including SAARC Secretary General Golam Sarwar, SAARC Chamber of Commerce President Jashim Uddin, FCCI President Keerthi Gunawardane, and various diplomats from South Asian nations.
A commemorative stamp and first-day cover were issued to mark the inauguration of the South Asian Trade Fair 2024.
August 05, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lankan sprinter Aruna Darshana has secured a spot in the semifinals of the Men’s 400m at the 2024 Paris Olympics, having finished third in his heat.
Darshana set a personal best with a time of 44.99 seconds in Heat 5, qualifying for the semifinals scheduled for Tuesday (06).
Grenada’s Kirani James won the heat with a time of 44.78 seconds, whilst Canada’s Christopher Morales-Williams was second at 44.96 seconds.
Darshana recently impressed by winning the Men’s 400m at the 2nd Belt and Road Invitational Athletics Championship in China.
He is regarded as a promising athlete, drawing comparisons to former Sri Lankan star Sugath Thilakaratne, and previously won the 400m event at the 2018 National Athletics Championships with a time of 46.16 seconds.