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Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry is scheduled to make an official visit to India from the 2nd to the 4th of March 2023 to attend the 8 edition of the Raisina Dialogue, India’s premier conference on geopolitics and geo-economics which will be held in New Delhi.The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs of India.The Minister is scheduled to participate in two special panel discussions on the topics “Healing a Divided World” and “Bytes of Promise: How can Technology Lift Communities” which will be held on 03 March 2023 during the above conference.On the sidelines of the conference, the Minister will also meet with his counterparts from several countries for bilateral discussions focusing on new avenues to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation

COLOMBO (News 1st) ; A Bolivian woman was arrested by the officers attached to Narcotics Control Unit at the green channel customs area with 4.6 kg of substance suspicious to be cocaine concealed in cloth and backpack.Sri Lanka Customs said that this substance was soaked in cloth material used for the jackets and cloth bags.The suspected had arrived from Brazil via Dubai by the flight EK 650 operated by Emirates. She is 26 years old and this was her first overseas visit, said Sri Lanka Customs.The street value of the substance, suspected to be cocaine, estimated at Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Minister granted approval for the establishment of National Contributory Pension Fund.According to a document released by the Department of Government Information, the Cabinet has recognized that is appropriate to establish a fund named National Contributory Pension Fund to ensure an appropriate environment is created for public sector employees to spend their retired life without being a burden to the country as well as to provide a pension with a certain profit for the retired life of the state sector pensioners. Accordingly, 8% from the basic salary of the employee and 12% from the employer should be credited to the proposed fund when a state employee is recruited in the state service, it added.An independent entity governed by a board of management to manage the proposed contributory pension fund will be established and a fund manager with special skills will be appointed for management of the funds. The proposed national contributory pension scheme will be applicable to the individuals newly recruited  to the government service, said Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Bandula Gunwardena on Tuesday (28).Those recruited to government service after the month of January  2016 can contribute to the proposed national contributory pension scheme as per their consent, said the statement from the Departmnet of Government Information."Since 2000, all public sector appointment letters carry the clause that they would be moved to the National Contributory Pension Scheme in the future. Therefore, this National Contributory Pension Scheme applies to all those who were recruited since 2016.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Power and Energy to award an opportunity to other parties who are capable of supplying jet A-1 fuel to the country.The Jet A-1 Aviation Fuel is currently supplied by the Sri Lanka Petroleum Corporation. Due to the foreign exchange crisis that the country is currently facing, the operations of Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery, where Jet A-1 fuel is produced, were disrupted and the import of Jet A-1 fuel has also become a challenge for Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.Due to this, the supply of Jet A-1 fuel required for the cargo and passenger flights arriving at the airport was facing a crisis situation, and the focus on alternative measures to supply the required Jet A-1 fuel for those aircraft was considered.It has been accepted that it is appropriate to give the opportunity to supply Jet-A fuel to Sri Lanka under the maximum supply limits to the parties who supply Jet A-1 aviation fuel to the other countries so as not to hinder the supply of fuel produced at Sapugaskanda Refinery of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. As such, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Power and Energy to give that opportunity to other parties who are capable of supplying jet A-1 fuel to the country.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The opposition leader, and a group of opposition MPs met the Speaker on Tuesday (28) to discuss on the future steps that would be taken with regard to the letter sent by the Election Commission seeking intervention for funds.The meeting took place at the Parliament Complex.The opposition leader, and a group of opposition MPs had informed the Speaker that the Finance Secretary should be summoned to the Parliament for an inquiry over the letter sent by the Election Commission.They requested the speaker to summon parliament immediately to discuss this matter.SJB MPs and MPs representing the People's Freedom Alliance called on the speaker today for this meeting.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The man who was shot dead on Tuesday (28) morning close to the Pinwatte Public Cemetery was identified as a 56-year-old businessmen from Kadawatha.Two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle had carried out the shooting. It was reported that the victim was traveling along Galle Road in a luxury SUV, when the gunmen opened fire and fled the scene.Sri Lanka Police said the victim died in the driver's seat.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Application are called for the scholarship program offered by the Government of India for 2023/2024.The Indian High Commission in Colombo said Sri Lankan students can register for the program until the 8th of March 2023.The Government of India is offering more than 150 fully-paid scholarships to students from Sri Lanka.The Nehru Memorial Scholarship Scheme will be offering 75 undergraduate scholarships, 10 postgraduate scholarships, and 5 PhD scholarships.The Moulana Azad Scholarship Scheme will be offering 45 postgraduate scholarships in Engineering, Science, and Agriculture.The Rajiv Gandhi Scholarship Scheme will be offering 20 undergraduate scholarships in IT, Engineering, and Technology.Details can be obtained by emailing [email protected]  

COLOMBO (News 1st); A 42-year-old man was shot dead in Kuligoda, Ambalangoda on Tuesday (28) morning. Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa told News 1st that the suspects who carried out the shooting had targeted the man who was traveling on a motorcycle.

COLOMBO (News 1st); One person was shot dead in Pinwatte, Panadura on Tuesday (28) morning. Sri Lanka Police said that the shooting took place close to the Pinwatte Public Cemetery. A police investigation is underway over the shooting.

Sri Lanka was expecting its long-standing ties with Saudi Arabia to grow stronger, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said on Monday, after meeting with a delegation from the Saudi Fund for Development.Sabry hosted the Saudi delegation led by Mohammed Almasoud, the SFD’s director of central and west Asia operations, in the capital Colombo and said Sri Lanka was grateful for the fund’s “continuous assistance despite challenges” as well its support on an extension of an International Monetary Fund loan.“The longstanding Sri Lanka-Saudi bilateral relationship will grow from strength to strength,” Sabry said in a tweet.The minister visited the Kingdom last month, discussing with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan ways to boost economic and energy cooperation between the two countries.Sabry had then presented Sri Lanka as a gateway to not only south Asia but the rest of the continent – an “ideal place” to do business. His trip followed a series of high-level engagements by Sri Lankan officials with the Kingdom last year.During Monday’s meeting, the Saudi government pledged to continue providing financial assistance for projects in Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan lawmaker Mohamed Shariff Thowfeek said after taking part in the talks.“This was a great gesture from the Saudi government at a time when some countries have stopped their aid in the midst of the economic crisis,” Thowfeek told Arab News.The SFD has given at least 15 development loans worth $425 million to Sri Lanka, which have financed various projects in water, energy, health, roads, and education.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Ballot paper printing has been delayed indefinitely.The Government Printer said that issues surrounding the date of the Local Government Election, and the lack of facilities to continue printing ballot papers, prompted the decision to delay the printing of ballot papers indefinitely.The Government Printer also said that the ballot papers that have been printed already have been placed in a secure location.The printing of ballot papers faced continuous interruptions due to the lack of proper police protection, lack of funding and related issues.The Government Printer said that if the necessary facilities are provided, the printing of ballot papers can be completed between 25 and 30 days. 

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe signed a Gazette notification on Monday (27) night declaring transportation services as essential services.Accordingly, public transport services for passengers or goods, discharge, carriage, landing, storage, delivery & removal of articles of food or drink, or coal, oil, fuel from vessels within any port as defined for the purposes of the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235), the provision and maintenance of facilities for transport services by road, rail or air, including roads, bridges, culverts, airports, ports & railway lines, have been declared as essential services with immediate effect.   

COLOMBO (News 1st); Amnesty International says that Sri Lankan Authorities must exercise restraint in use of force and facilitate the right to peaceful assembly.Responding to the news that one protestor had been killed and dozens injured as a result of the unlawful use of water cannons and tear gas by the police in Colombo in Sri Lanka on Sunday, Harindrini Corea, Regional Researcher for the Right to Protest at Amnesty International said, “It is worrying that even after months of widespread protests in the country, the Sri Lankan police needs to be constantly reminded of their duty to facilitate the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and exercise restraint in the use of force while policing assemblies.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Convener of the Inter-University Students' Federation Wasantha Mudalige and sixty-one others who were arrested and remanded for allegedly trespassing into the Education Ministry were released on bail. They were produced to the Kaduwela Chief Magistrate on Monday (27) and were released on personal bail of Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st); An individual who was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital following the protest staged by the Jathika Jana Balavegaya in Colombo on Sunday (27) has died.General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva speaking to reporters in Colombo on Monday (27) said a peaceful protest by the JJB was attacked, and as a result of an attack around 28 people were hospitalized due to injuries. "Two people were in critical condition.

(Reuters) – The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank's investment arm, said it will provide Sri Lanka a $400 million cross-currency swap facility to help fund essential imports.Three private banks, which together deal with over 30% of Sri Lanka's remittances and exports, will receive the facility to fund essential imports, including medicine, food and fertiliser, the IFC said in a statement on Monday (27).The funds will provide a much needed foreign exchange cushion for Sri Lanka, which is grappling with its worst financial crisis in over seven decades partly triggered by a severe shortage of dollars.The island nation's economy is estimated to have contracted by 9.2% in 2022 and is expected to shrink a further 4.2% in 2023, according to World Bank data."We expect this financing to boost confidence in the investor community, attract fresh capital inflows to support the Sri Lankan economy," said Joon Young Park, IFC's Portfolio Manager, Financial Institutions Group for South Asia.IFC is also working on further plans to support client banks with other long-term funding and advisory services in the future, the statement added.Sri Lanka signed a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $2.9 billion bailout last September but has to put its debt on a sustainable repayment track before the funds can be disbursed.

  Concluding her official visit, ‘INS Sukanya’ will depart the island on 01st March and she is expected to engage in a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with a ship of the Sri Lanka Navy off Colombo.About INS Sukanya:The Sukanya Class offshore patrol vessels are in service with the Indian Navy. The first three ships were built by Korea Tacoma, while four were constructed at the Hindustan Shipyard in India.The lead ship in class, INS Sukanya (P50), was commissioned in August 1989.

COLOMBO (News 1st); SJB Parliamentarian Mayantha Dissanayake said that he will step down from the post of Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The quality report with regard to the consignment of eggs that will be imported to Sri Lanka from India is expected to be received on Tuesday (28).The report is expected from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying of India and once the report is approved, the shipment of 2 million Indian eggs will reach Sri Lanka.The Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Security said that the respective indian companies via laboratory tests have confirmed that there is no presence or risk of Bird Flu at their farms.The Ministry said that once the eggs reach Sri Lanka the country's Health Ministry will also conduct tests on the quality and standards.Thereafter, the eggs will be delivered to bakeries, and hotels in the country.The Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Security said that an eggs is expected to be sold for a price of Rs.

Colombo (News1st) – The Freedom People's Alliance staged a protest at the Welekade junction in Badulla on Sunday (26) demanding that elections be held. Parliamentarians representing the Freedom People's Alliance including Prof. G.L.

Colombo (News1st) – 28 people have been hospitalised following the protest march organised by the Jathika Jana Balavegaya in Colombo on Sunday (26).Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protest march which commenced at the Vihara Maha Devi Park in Colombo.The injured have been admitted to the National Hospital for treatment.The protest was held citing several concerns including delays in conducting the Local Government Election.Earlier in the day, the Fort Magistrate Court issued an order preventing a group of 26 including Leader of the Jathika Jana Balavegaya Anura Kumara Dissanayaka from entering areas around the President's Office, President House and Galle Face from 01 pm – 08 pm on Sunday (26).This was in reponse to a request made by the Fort, Kompannavidiya and Colpetty Police.The Police had made the request taking into consideration the inconvenience to the public owing to the JJB protest to be held in Colombo on Sunday (26) afternoon.Similarly, the Maligakanda Magistrate Court issued an order preventing a group including Leader of the Jathika Jana Balavegaya Anura Kumara Dissanayaka from protesting or marching around the Colombo Hospital Square.This was in response to a request made by the Maradana Police OIC.The Maradana Police had made the request considering the possible inconvenience to patients and people visiting the hospitals including the National Hospital and Eye Hospital.According to the court order, the protesters were prevented from marching from the Lipton Roundabout to Deans Road, as well as blocking the road and pavement leading upto the Seamans Road Junction.The court order applies to 26 including JJB Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, Tilvin Silva, Vijitha Herath, Nalinda

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva says a more predictable, timely, and orderly processes are needed for Sri Lanka.Speaking at the first meeting of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Bengaluru, India, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva said that it is  imperative for the G20 to strengthen the debt architecture.She said, "In light of rising debt vulnerabilities in many countries, I strongly endorse efforts to strengthen the debt architecture and improve the speed and effectiveness of debt resolution."She said that sovereign debt vulnerabilities is particularly the case for "developing and low-income countries with very limited policy space and huge development needs."Georgieva stressed that a more predictable, timely, and orderly processes are needed both for countries under the Common Framework (CF) and for those not covered by it, including Sri Lanka and Suriname.She added, "This means that we must enhance dialogue and collaboration on debt issues."

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Fort Magistrate Court has issued an order preventing a group of 26 including Leader of the Jathika Jana Balavegaya Anura Kumara Dissanayaka from entering areas around the President's Office, President House and Galle Face from 01 pm – 08 pm on Sunday (26).This was in reponse to a request made by the Fort, Kompannavidiya and Colpetty Police.The Police had made the request considering the inconvenience to the public owing to a JJB protest to be held in Colombo on Sunday (26) afternoon. The protest will be held citing several issues including the rise in electricity tariffs, unjust tax regime and delay in the local government election. 

MP Professor Channa Jayasuma says a group from the SLPP have requested the Freedom People's Alliance to support moves to appoint Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister.He was responding to questions raised at an event in Anuradhapura on Saturday (25).

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has denied reports claiming that he will resign.Prime Minister Gunawardena told News 1st that the false reports are a plot aimed at sobotaging the programs of the Sri Lankan government.He said that no such proposal or discussion had taken place.The Prime Minister was responding to a statement made by MP Prof.

COLOMBO (News1st) – In a letter to the speaker of Parliament, Parlimentarian Rohini Kaviratne has requested that disciplinary action be taken against the Minister of Education,Susil Premajayantha for insulting her in obscene language during parliamentary proceedings.The MP points out that the statement made by the relevant MP has made its rounds on different platforms and has affected her public image as a mother and a female. The MP has drawn the Speaker's attention as to how the people's attitudes would be towards Parliament and the MPs due to such incidents.Parliamentarian Rohini Kaviratne has further requested that the Speaker submit this issue to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges to take appropriate action.

Colombo (News1st) – The Chairman of the National Election Commission (NEC) Nimal Punchihewa stated that he has written a letter to the Speaker of Parliament seeking his intervention to secure funds for the 2023 Local Government Election.The Chairman said the letter was dispatched to the Speaker on Friday (24).The NEC announced on Friday (24) that the Local Government Election, which was due to be held on the 9th of March, had been postponed."The election was postponed due to reasons beyond the commission's control," the NEC said.The new date is to be announced on the 3rd of March."A request has been made to the Speaker to intervene to obtain funds from the Treasury, which are necessary to conduct the election," the commission added on Friday.

 

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said it is the duty of the sitting President to hold the election.However, he noted that if there are no funds with the state, an election cannot be held as well. The Former President said that his party is ready for an election at any given moment.Mahinda Rajapaksa said because he knew he would secure a win, he never delayed a single election during his time as the President.He said the present government is uncertain if it would win or not, thus the election too is uncertain.He said when an election is called for, it is possible to understand the pulse of the people. Commenting on the IMF funds, he said the government should be able to secure the funds.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The National Election Commission announced that the Local Government Election, which was due to be held on the 9th of March, has been postponed."The election was postponed due to reasons beyond the commission's control," the NEC said.The new date is to be announced on the 3rd of March."A request has been made to the Speaker to intervene to obtain funds from the Treasury, which are necessary to conduct the election," the commission added.

COLOMBO (News 1st); US Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen said that the Group of 20 countries need to work together to ease the debt overhang that is holding back too many countries, including Sri Lanka."The IMF estimates that around 55 percent of low-income countries are close to or in debt distress.

COLOMBO (News 1st);  The Sri Lanka Police Special Task Force arrested a close associate of notorious underworld criminal Stanley Kennedy Fernando also known as Bumma.The detained suspect was identified as 24-year-old Dilushan Kumarasiri.Sri Lanka Police said that the suspect is connected to the attempted murder of a person at the Galpotta Junction in Kotahena on the 21st of January.Police also said that the suspect is wanted for the murder of two other people in Mutuwal.The suspect was arrested based on information received by the OIC of the Police Special Task Force Intelligence Bureau.A locally manufactured revolver, weapons used to commit murder, a three-wheeler with fake license plates were also seized during the arrest.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Election Commission will meet on Friday (23) to reach a final decision on the 2023 Local Government Election due to the lack of financing and support from state agencies.Earlier, the Election Commission decided to conduct the Local Government Election on the 9th of March 2023.However, the Government Printer had refused to deliver the ballot papers owing to a payment issues, and this led to the National Election Commission to postpone the postal voting process that was scheduled for this wekk.The Chairman of the National Election Attorney Nimal Punchihewa said the Local Government Election was called for legally as per the country's constitutions and the election law.He told News 1st on Thursday (23) that all members of the National Election Commission consented to the Local Government Election Process.He said that given that funds were not being provided to continue with the election process, the National Election Commission will meet on Friday (24) to reach a final decision on the Local Government Election 2023. The statement came from the Elections Chief after Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament on Thursday (23) that the country's National Election Commission has not legally called for an election, and there are no funds to conduct an election.Commenting on the debate requested by the opposition on postponing the election, the President said there is no election for one to be postponed.The President said the proposed Parliament Select Committee must be appointed to inquire into the Election Commission and the Local Government Election.In the meantime, the petition filed by Retired Sri Lanka Army Colonel W. M.

 COLOMBO (News 1st); Prof. Ranjith Bandara, was re-elected as the new Chair of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) with a majority of votes. He was elected at the first meeting of the Committee on Public Enterprises held on Thursday (23) for the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament.The name of Prof.

COLOMBO (News 1st); One person died in a tragic accident that took place close to the Expressway Entrance in Kottawa.Sri Lanka Police said a car had rear-ended a lorry that was parked on the side of the road to change a tyre on Thursday (23) night.The 47-year-old driver of the car, identified as a resident from Akuressa, died in the accident.In addition, a 27-year-old Russian woman who was also traveling in the car was admitted to the Homagama Hospital for treatment.Sri Lanka Police said that the accident took place when she was on her way to the Katunayake Airport.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The distribution of China-aided school uniform material commenced on Thursday (23) in Colombo.First 3 million meters were dispatched to 1.34 million students in Northern, Eastern, North Central and Uva Provinces in Sri Lanka during an event attended by Education Minister Susil Premajanth and the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka.The Minister and the Ambassador were noted carefully inspecting the school uniform materials donated by China before the dispatchment to different provinces of Sri Lanka.A total of 3,420,714 students across Sri Lanka, regardless their gender, ethnicity or religious belief, will get the China-Aid school uniform for the coming school year 2023.Second batch of the donation comprising of  6 million meters had left China in 44 shipping containers, and will arrive Sri Lanka next week.

We note with deep concern the deteriorating situation in the country with regard to governance and the erosion of public confidence in the democratic process. We are all aware that the country was rendered bankrupt due to policy blunders, corruption, waste and mismanagement by those who were entrusted the task of governing the country. The people have now been burdened with very painful economic measures which could have been averted if the right thing was done at the right time.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Chairman of the National Election Attorney Nimal Punchihewa said the Local Government Election was called for legally as per the country's constitutions and the election law.He told News 1st on Thursday (23) that all members of the National Election Commission consented to the Local Government Election Process.He said that given that funds were not being provided to continue with the election process, the National Election Commission will meet on Friday (24) to reach a final decision on the Local Government Election 2023. The statement came from the Elections Chief after Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament on Thursday (23) that the country's National Election Commission has not legally called for an election, and there are no funds to conduct an election.Commenting on the debate requested by the opposition on postponing the election, the President said there is no election for one to be postponed.The President said the proposed Parliament Select Committee must be appointed to inquire into the Election Commission and the Local Government Election.In the meantime, the petition filed by Retired Sri Lanka Army Colonel W. M.

COLOMBO (News 1st); A criminal wanted for multiple crimes was killed in police fire on Thursday (23) morning in Medawala, Katunayake.Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa told News 1st that officers opened fire when the suspect attempted to hurl a bomb at them.The deceased was identified as Dinesh Buddhika, a 30-year-old man from Heenatiyana.It was reported that police officers were searching for a firearm that was use to commit a crime, and it was at that moment that the deceased suspect had attempted to hurl a bomb at the officers.Sri Lanka Police said that the deceased suspect was wanted for homicides, extortion and other crimes.

In a bid to maximize the use of government funds and ensure that resources are utilized efficiently, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake has issued a directive on the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, requiring officials purchasing airline for official travel abroad to be on Economy Class.This directive will take effect from March 1, 2023, and supersedes all previous circulars and instructions related to this subject.According to the new directive, officials such as the Hon. Chief Justice, Hon.

COLOMBO (News 1st); U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is urging other leading economies to move faster in resolving debt crises that threaten a growing number of countries.Yellen made the comments in a meeting Thursday with India’s finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, on the sidelines of a meeting of financial leaders of the Group of 20 major economies, the Treasury Department said in a statement.U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The petition filed by Retired Sri Lanka Army Colonel W. M.

While Pakistan grapples with an economic crisis that threatens life as many citizens know it, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S.

The mortal remains of Mali-based UN Peacekeeper of the Sri Lanka Army who recently died of a cardiac arrest while serving the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) were brought to the island on Wednesday (22 February) afternoon. Troops of the 6 Sri Lanka Army Service Corps troops received the coffin of late Lance Corporal M.G.L Deshapriya (42) in a military parade.At the Colombo International Airport, the UN flag-draped coffin was symbolically delivered by Lieutenant Colonel H.M.W.R Herath, Supply and Transport Officer of Mali-based 4th Combat Convoy Company (CCC) to Major General Hirosha Wanigasekara, Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Service Corps and Master General Ordnance who represented the Commander of the Army.The ceremonial parade afterwards handed over the UN flag back to Lieutenant Colonel H.M.W.R Herath, symbolizing the formal acceptance of the remains by the Troop-Contributing Country (TCC).Troops in accordance with laid down procedures draped the coffin in the National Flag and formally confirmed the acceptance of it by the TCC. Remains were afterwards taken to the Negombo Hospital.

COLOMBO (News 1st); A cyclist died after he was run over by a bus in Panadura on Thursday (23) morning.Reports suggested that reckless driving on the part of the bus driver resulted in the death of a father of two.40-year-old Ruwan Priyankara was serving as a civil employee at the Panadura Army Camp.As usual, he left for work on his bicycle, however, he was only able to reach the Cross Junction in Panadura.A private bus operating on route 452 from Thotupala to Panadura had collided with his bicycle.Eyewitness accounts revealed that the handle of the bicycle came into contact with the body of the bus, and thus pulling the rider to the ground.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament on Thursday (23) that the country's National Election Commission has not legally called for an election, and there are no funds to conduct an election.Commenting on the debate requested by the opposition on postponing the election, the President said there is no election for one to be postponed."The Election Commission had gone to court and said that it cannot conduct an election. However, an affidavit was provided. It states that the Commission has been informed by the Secretary of the Treasury that he is unable to provide the necessary funds to conduct the election.

COLOMBO (News 1st); An individual serving in the Sri Lanka Air Force was arrested by Police for stealing a weapon and ammunition from the Ratmalana Air Force Base armoury. A T-56 Assault Rifle and 120 rounds of ammunition and four ammunition holders were stolen by the 37-year-old suspect.Sri Lanka Police said the suspect will be produced to the Mount Lavinia Magistrate's Court on Thursday (23).

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka and Japan singed Exchange Notes for a humanitatrian grant of USD 46 Million.Mahinda Siriwardena, the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, and Mizukoshi Hideaki, the Ambassador of Japan, signed an Exchange of Notes to secure a humanitarian grant of USD 46 million. The purpose of the grant is to provide diesel fuel to public hospitals throughout Sri Lanka. The signing ceremony took place at the President's Office, with President Ranil Wickremesinghe in attendance.Under this agreement, the Government of Japan has committed to supplying 20 million litres of diesel fuel.