Ranil Wickramasinghe: Latest News

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Election Commission stated that it has sent a letter to President Ranil Wickramasinghe requesting that the necessary funds to conduct the local government election be provided.The Election Commission further mentioned that the letter was sent to the President who is also the Minister of Finance of the country.They added that the letter sent to the Minister of Finance was forwarded for approval by the secretary to the Ministry of Finance to the Finance Minister.Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Election Commission Nimal Punchihewa, says that with the current situation taken into consideration, the secretary of the Ministry of Finance has informed him that his approval itself is insufficient for the release of funds for the election.The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance has informed in his letter that the approval of the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance is mandatory to release the funds required for the local government election.Due to the lack of funds, the local government election scheduled to be held on the 9th of March was postponed indefinitely.The election is now scheduled to be held on 25th of April, 2023. 

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's President, Prime Minister, Speaker and other public representatives stood in unity with the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus for Global Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) on Thursday (1).A wristband given to Parliamentarians with the message “Let’s Unite to end Gender Based Violence” as a sign of support.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – President Ranil Wickramasinghe says that he intends to reduce the number of members of local Government bodies prior to the next election.The Presidential Media Division said that accordingly, the number of members of local councils, municipal councils and urban councils should be reduced from 8,000 to 4,000.The President's Media Division added that the President also intends to implement the Jana Sabha program.The President has also said that executive power of the Pradeshiya Sabhas should be given to a chairman-based committees instead of a single chairman, and draft laws will be prepared to incorporate these amendments prior to the next local government elections.Pointing out that the main cause for political corruption is the preferential system, President Wickremesinghe said that a non-preferential list system or a mixed electoral system should be adopted and restrictions should be imposed by the election law on the amount spent on elections.Furthermore, during a meeting with professionals held at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (09), President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that a proposal would be made to appoint a Parliament Select Committee to decide on the parliamentary voting system, and if this select committee fails to come up with a decision by July next year, a referendum would be held. 

COLOMBO (News 1st) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived in the island on Saturday (01) morning, concluding his official visit to Japan and the Philippines.President Wickremesinghe attended the funeral of the former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe during his official visit.Thereafter, President Ranil Wickramasinghe also visited the Philippines to preside over a meeting of the Asian Development Bank Governors.