July 30, Colombo (LNW): The Cabinet has given the green light to draft legislation aimed at resolving issues within Sri Lanka Cricket, following recommendations from the K.T. Chitrasiri report.
A revised constitution for Sri Lanka Cricket has been prepared by the committee. Consequently, the Cabinet has endorsed a joint proposal from the Foreign Affairs,
Power and Energy, Labour and Foreign Employment, and Public Security Ministers.
The proposal instructs the Legal Draftsman to prepare a bill to officially implement the new constitution.
July 30, Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed his gratitude to all Members of Parliament who have supported him, in a special post on his official social media accounts last night (29).
His message acknowledged the MPs who have stood by him from the beginning, those who joined later, and those considering support in the future.
“I want to thank the MPs who’ve been with me on this journey. To those who stood by me from the start, your support made the first steps we took to recovery possible. You believed in me and my plan when the country was in crisis, with people struggling for fuel, medicine, and essentials. Your commitment kept us going when the challenges seemed insurmountable.
“To the MPs who joined midway, you saw the progress and chose to be part of the change. Thank you.
“To those now joining us, welcome. Your support shows the positive direction we’re heading. You understand the importance of putting aside party politics to unite as one. Together, we can achieve even more.
“To the MPs yet to join us, we’re ready to welcome you. Our mission to build a prosperous, united Sri Lanka is ongoing, and we need every willing hand to make it a reality.”
“This journey hasn’t been easy, but by coming together, we’ve started to turn the tide. Together, we will create the Sri Lanka we all believe in.
“Thank you for your dedication, courage, and commitment to our country’s future”.
July 30, Colombo (LNW): Showers will occur at times in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report today (30).
Fairly heavy showers above 50 mm are likely at some places.
Several spells of showers will occur in North-western province and in Mathale district.
Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places Badulla and in Ampara districts in the evening or night.
Strong winds of about (50-55) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee, Monaragala and Hambantota districts.
Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times elsewhere of the island.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Showers will occur at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Matara via Colombo and Galle.
Winds:
Winds will be westerly to south-westerly and wind speed will be (30-40) kmph. Wind speed can increase up to 60 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Kankasanthurai to Puttalam via Mannar and from Hambantota to Pottuvil. Wind speed can increase up to 50 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Trincomalee to Kankasanthurai via Mullaitivu and Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coasts extending from Kankasanthurai to Puttalam via Mannar and from Hambantota to Pottuvil will be rough at times. The sea areas off the coasts extending from Trincomalee to Kankasanthurai via Mullaitivu, and Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle can be fairly rough at times. Naval and fishing communities are requested to be attentive in this regard.
July 30, Colombo (LNW): Reliable sources have confirmed that rumours suggesting the presence of numerous ministry officials and politicians in the Sri Lankan delegation for this year’s Olympics are unfounded.
It has been verified that the subject Minister attended the inauguration ceremony briefly, funding this visit personally. However, sources also revealed that some attendees had not received approval from the National Olympics Committee chairperson but had instead been authorised by the Ministry through the Secretary of the National Olympics Committee.
Despite significant contributions from the Minister and the Director General towards the preparation of Olympic-qualified athletes, no medical officers from the Sports Medicinal Unit’s database were appointed to support the athletes at the event.
This oversight reflects previous instances in which the National Olympic Committee has neglected athlete welfare. A volunteer medical officer has now been added to the team following concerns raised by athletes and coaches.
Additionally, it has come to light that an individual serving the committee who had previously involved in an attempt to leave the country without the Olympic Chairman’s approval was nominated for travel to Paris whilst on bail but was ultimately not permitted to go.
Each athlete has the option to attend with their personal trainer, and managers for each sport have been appointed. The delegation includes the Director General of Sports representing both the Sports Ministry and the Department of Sports Development.
It is notable that the list does not feature a large number of politicians or observers.
Nevertheless, information has also emerged that certain officials have been given the opportunity to attend the Paralympics following the Olympics in Paris, potentially incurring additional expenses for return trips to Sri Lanka.
This matter will continue to be monitored closely.
July 30, Colombo (LNW): The Colombo District Court has prolonged the interim order preventing Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe from serving as Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Sarathi Dushmantha from acting as its General Secretary.
This extension lasts until 24 September 2024.
The court’s decision follows a complaint filed by SLFP members Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, and Duminda Dissanayake, which was heard yesterday (29).
The respondents have been directed to submit their objections by 24 September.
Among the defendants is Acting Chairman of the SLFP, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva.
In a related development, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe resigned from his role as Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs, and Constitutional Reforms.
July 30, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries has announced an increase in the tea fertiliser subsidy to Rs. 4,000, aiming to boost tea production.
Current annual production has dropped to 260 million metric tons, with a new target of 300 million metric tons.
Previously, a Rs. 2,000 subsidy was provided, but it proved insufficient to meet production goals.
As a result, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera instructed the Ministry Secretary, Janaka Dharmakeerthi, to double the subsidy to Rs. 4,000.
This enhanced subsidy will take effect from the upcoming Maha season, with the State Fertiliser Company reducing the price of tea fertiliser accordingly.
The initiative, funded by the Ceylon Tea Board, will allocate Rs. 2 billion towards this effort. Minister Amaraweera presented the related Cabinet paper yesterday.
July 30, Colombo (LNW): In recognition of its commendable efforts, the Ministry of Health lauded the Sri Lanka Navy for its support to people living with thalassaemia patients at a ceremony held on 29 July 2024.
The Navy has been instrumental in developing affordable thalassaemia infusion systems, a crucial tool for administering chelation therapy to remove excess iron from the body.
The event, attended by the Minister of Health, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, and the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, celebrated the Navy’s innovative approach.
Since the inception of this project in 2011, the Navy’s Research and Development Unit has produced and supplied 3,166 infusion systems to hospitals and people living with thalassaemia nationwide.
During the ceremony, 375 newly produced infusion systems were handed over to the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Pathirana and Vice Admiral Perera symbolically presented these systems to five people living with thalassaemia, highlighting the Navy’s ongoing commitment to healthcare.
The event also saw the attendance of other notable figures, including Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena and Secretary of Health Dr. P.G. Maheepala, along with senior Navy officials.
July 30, Colombo (LNW): The National Peace Council has urged the government to reconsider its stance on the Supreme Court’s interim order restraining Deshabandu Tennakoon and to respect the Court’s decision to uphold the integrity of the country’s democracy and rule of law.
In a statement, the Council criticised the government’s refusal to implement the Supreme Court’s judgment as reckless and irresponsible, warning that it poses a direct threat to the rule of law.
The statement highlighted the government’s announcement to disregard the Supreme Court’s order preventing Tennakoon from continuing as the Inspector General of Police.
Despite this ruling, the government has maintained that Tennakoon will remain in his position.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena asserted in Parliament that the Supreme Court cannot overturn the approval granted by the Constitutional Council for Tennakoon’s appointment, while President Ranil Wickremesinghe, a candidate in the upcoming presidential election, has stated he will not appoint an acting IGP to avoid potential election petitions.
The Council expressed concern that the government’s position undermines the fundamental principle of parliamentary democracy, which depends on the separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
They emphasised that ignoring judicial decisions sets a dangerous precedent, potentially eroding public trust in the legal system and encouraging similar actions by other elected officials.
Citing the philosophies of John Locke and Montesquieu on the necessity of separating governmental powers to prevent tyranny and despotism, the Council lamented that the government’s actions contradict these principles and threaten the balance crucial to Sri Lanka’s democratic system.
They called on the government to seek legal channels for their appeals rather than disregarding court orders and condemned political efforts to bypass Supreme Court rulings as unacceptable.
July 30, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has awarded the National Women’s Cricket Team US$ 500,000 in recognition of their recent triumph in the Asia Cup T20 tournament.
SLC announced the reward on social media, stating, “In honour of our Women’s Cricket Team’s outstanding victory in the Asia Cup 2024, we are delighted to present a reward of $500,000! Your dedication, teamwork, and relentless spirit on the pitch have brought immense pride to our nation.”
This historic win saw Sri Lanka Women secure their first Asia Cup title by defeating the defending champions, India, by 8 wickets in an exhilarating final at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
This victory not only secured the championship for Sri Lanka but also marked a significant milestone in the nation’s women’s cricket.
July 30, Colombo (LNW): Separate search operations conducted by the Navy and Coast Guard in the waters near Koneshwaram and Chapel Point, Trincomalee on 27 July resulted in the apprehension of 27 individuals involved in illegal fishing.
Five dinghies and unauthorised fishing gear were also confiscated.
The Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard are steadfast in their efforts to combat illegal fishing along the coast, promoting lawful fishing practices.
As part of these initiatives, the Eastern Naval Command’s Sri Lanka Naval Dockyard detained 17 individuals, along with three dinghies and unauthorised equipment, in the Koneshwaram area on the same day.
Additionally, the SLNS Mahaweli, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, apprehended 10 more individuals engaged in illegal fishing near Chapel Point.
Two dinghies and unauthorised fishing gear were seized during this operation.
The arrested individuals, aged between 17 and 71, are residents of Kinniya, Nilaveli, Trincomalee, Muthur, and Sampoor.
They, along with the confiscated dinghies and gear, were handed over to the Acting Fisheries Inspector of Cod Bay for further legal action.
