Sri Lanka’s Elections Chief writes to Speaker to secure funds for LG Election

A Lanarkshire charity that supports people's mental health through music has launched more meet-ups at a new location.

Colombo (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya stated on Saturday (4) that the government will honour the Supreme Court's interim order preventing funds allocated by the budget for the 2023 Local Government election from being witheld. He stated, accordingly, appropriate steps will be taken.Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Friday (3) issued an interim order on the country's Finance Secretary, and the Attorney General who represents the Finance Minister preventing them from withholding any funds allocated by the 2023 Budget for the Local Government Poll 2023.The interim order was issued after permission was granted to examine an application that was filed by General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya Ranjith Madduma Bandara.The application was taken up in the presence of Supreme Court Justices P.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The IMF Mission in Sri Lanka says that the decision taken by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to raise the policy rate is appropriate and in line with its objectives set under the inflation targeting framework.Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, and Masahiro Nozaki, Mission Chief for Sri Lanka noted that it reflects CBSL’s commitment to the inflation target and is an important part of the disinflation strategy in the EFF program, which is fully committed by the Sri Lankan authorities and supported by the IMF.   Sri Lanka’s inflation is declining but remains at a very high level, which has been disproportionally hurting the poor, the statement added. "Upside inflation risks could reverse the trend and lead to persistently high inflation which is extremely costly to the economy," they further added.Therefore, CBSL’s decision to raise the policy rate shows its commitment to reduce inflation more quickly and firmly towards the single-digit target. Durable disinflation would help boost market confidence, reduce excessive risk premia and ease the financing conditions for the corporates, especially the small and medium enterprises, which supports recovery.Sri Lanka is ready to adopt the IMF program within March 2023, said Central Bank Governor Dr.

SILVERDALE, Pa. - Bucks County officials have announced an arrest in the murder and kidnapping of a Sellersville man who has been missing since Oct. 2021. Matthew James Branning was last seen with a co-worker near their workplace in Silverdale Borough back on Oct.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Opposition alleges that MP Vajira Abeywardena had been appointed as the Acting Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance during Thursday's (2) COPF meeting, and that eight gazettes have been approved at the meeting.MPs Harshana Rajakaruna, and Chandima Weerakkody had opposed this move and walked out of the meeting.There was controversy surrounding the post of Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance, as MP Mayantha Dissanayake was appointed as Chair based on a proposal by the ruling faction, while the opposition had already proposed the name of Dr. Harsha De Silva for the post.Thereafter, MP Dissanayake resigned from the post, and the opposition once against proposed for Dr.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka is ready to adopt the IMF program within March 2023, said Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe on Friday (3) during the Monetary Policy Review."When we negotiated the staff level agreement with the IMF and finalized the agreement on the 1st of September, we had inflation projections from both the IMF and the Central Bank," he told reporters."At that time we were hoping to get the program unlocked somewhere in December (2022), and the end-year IMF inflation target was 70% and we had a little over that.

Economic Research Department to ensuring price and economic stability, and financial system stability, thereby assuring the normalisation of the interest rate structure no sooner the price pressures are sufficiently contained in the period ahead. 

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Friday (3) issued an interim order on the country's Finance Secretary, and the Attorney General who represents the Finance Minister preventing them from withholding any funds allocated by the 2023 Budget for the Local Government Poll 2023.The interim order was issued after permission was granted to examine an application that was filed by General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya Ranjith Madduma Bandara.The application was taken up in the presence of Supreme Court Justices P.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that a change of government can only be brought about through a parliamentary election and the streets is not an option for parliament.He made this comment on Friday (3) while participating in the Air Force cadets and other officers Passing Out Parade at the Trincomalee Air Force Base today."When you passed out today, you had to take an oath under the constitution. You also undertook an oath of the Sri Lanka Air Force in public. These two oaths underline your primary responsibility.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Election Commission will meet on Friday (3) to decide on the Local Government Election.The 2023 Local Government Election was scheduled to take place on the 9th of March, however, it was postponed indefinitely due to various issues, including the lack of funding.However, the Election Commission is expected to announce the next date of the Local Government Election following Friday's (3) meeting.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The International Monetary Fund Mission in Sri Lanka says that efforts to increase tax revenues should be pursued in a growth-friendly manner while protecting the poor and most vulnerable. Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, and Masahiro Nozaki, Mission Chief for Sri Lanka noted that it is however also important that those who can most afford it, make commensurate contributions to the financing of the necessary government expenditures. The tax package the authorities have introduced, including the new tax rate schedule for the personal income tax, helps to meet these objectives, the statement added.Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, and Masahiro Nozaki, Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, also noted that the tax rates proposed under the authorities’ program are also in line with international comparison.In response to recent media questions around income tax hikes in Sri Lanka, the statement noted that Tax reforms are needed to correct this imbalance. "Only with appropriate tax receipts will the Government will be able to fund essential expenditures, and avoid further slashing of critically important outlays. These reforms will also help regain confidence of creditors," it added."The current economic crisis has a number of origins, including the government’s inability to meet government spending needs through its revenue collections.

A Canadian intelligence officer has been fired for speaking publicly about what he felt were inadequate COVID-19 policies at CSIS headquarters during the height of the pandemic.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board said that Russia has put forward a proposal to build a nuclear power plant in Sri Lanka, and has also put forward an agreement for this purpose.Professor S.R.D. Rosa, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board, said this is a government to government program.Cabinet approval was given to consider nuclear energy as an alternative to meet Sri Lanka's future energy needs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) ; The first group of Chinese tourists to arrive via direct flight to Sri Lanka following the COVID-19 pandemic reached the Katunayake Airport on Wednesday (1) night.Accordingly, 125 Chinese tourists reached Sri Lanka from Guangzhou aboard a SriLankan Airlines flight at 11:10 PM.Tourism Minister Harin Fernando, State Foreign Minister Tharaka Balasuriya, and Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong welcomed them to Sri Lanka.From the 1st of April, 9 direct flights will operate between China and Sri Lanka per week.China was a leading source market for inbound tourism to Sri Lanka and one of SriLankan’s premier leisure traveller segments before the pandemic, and SriLankan is positioning for a strong comeback in China upon its return.With Chinese travellers eager to make up for lost time in globetrotting, SriLankan will be working closely with the local travel trade to reignite enthusiasm for Sri Lanka as a leisure destination in China. 

The 14th contingent of the Sri Lanka Force Protection Company (SLFPC) in the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) left for Lebanon early this morning on Thursday (02) amidst greetings and best wishes.The 14th SLFPC contingent, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel D.P.I.T Kaluaggala and 2nd in Command, Major W.M.C.K Wanninayake is composed of 125 Army personnel, including 10 Officers and 115 Other Ranks and four sniffer dogs, ‘Frank’ – (German Shepherd), Jupiter’ (Golden Retriever), ‘Tiger’ (German Shepherd) and Leena’ (German Shepherd) who have been well-trained for detection of narcotics, explosives and mines.Major General Asanga Perera, Director General Overseas Operations with few more senior officers was at the airport to extend best wishes on behalf of the Commander of the Army and to see them off to Lebanon.The Sri Lankan FPC is mandated to provide protection to the Headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Naqoura and VIPs as required by the UNIFIL. The first group of the 13th SLFPC contingent returned home on Wednesday (1).

COLOMBO; Sri Lanka Air Force Proudly Celebrates its 72nd Anniversary today (2). In the seven decades that ensued, the Sri Lanka Air Force has come under the leadership of 17 commanders. Today, its leadership is in the able hands of its 18th Commander, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana. The Sri Lanka Air Force has come a long way since its first flight in a humble Chipmunk and de Havilland DC 1, passing through Mig 27s, Kfir C7s, and F-7s today.

COLOMBO; The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is working together with the Ministry of Agriculture to increase the productivity and resilience of the rice-based ecosystems in the Dry and Intermediate Zones of Sri Lanka.Seventy-five percent of the 890,000 hectares of agricultural land used for Paddy farming in Sri Lanka is under smallholder farmers. Despite the country’s potential, the productivity in major growing ecosystems in Sri Lanka (the Dry and Intermediate Zones) has been stagnant or declining over the last 10 years. This is in contrast to the increase in productivity seen in other paddy-growing countries in Asia.If paddy productivity is increased by just 10 percent in the Dry and Intermediate zones, Sri Lanka will produce an extra 0.5 million tonnes.

The annual Kachchativu Feast is set to take place on the 03rd and 04th of March 2023 on the Kachchativu Island. Kachchativu is a small islet belongs to Sri Lanka, located near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) of Sri Lanka and India. The main mass of the annual feast will be conducted by the Bishop of Jaffna Diocese, Rt.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was provided “multiple” intelligence briefs regarding Beijing’s role in Canada’s 2019 and 2021 federal elections, Trudeau’s national security and intelligence adviser confirmed Thursday at a multi-partisan committee on foreign interference.

COLOMBO (News 1st); China says it will work with relevant countries and international financial institutions to jointly play a positive role in helping Sri Lanka navigate its current situation, ease its debt burden and achieve sustainable development.Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning on Tuesday (28) said the Export-Import Bank of China provided a financing support document to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies of Sri Lanka, saying the Bank is going to provide an extension on the debt service due in 2022 and 2023 to help relieve Sri Lanka’s short-term debt repayment pressure. "The Bank also noted that it will support Sri Lanka in its loan application to the IMF and continuously call on commercial creditors (including the International Sovereign Bondholders) to provide debt treatment in an equally comparable manner, and encourage multilateral creditors to do their utmost to make corresponding contributions," she added."What China did is first based on China’s existing policy and position on debt issue. At the same time, as a special arrangement, it also reflects the traditional friendship between China and Sri Lanka.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Human Rights Commission said it would be conducting a special investigation over the delay in conducting the Local Government Election. A spokesperson said that several complaints have been filed with the HRCSL over the matter, and thus an investigation will be carried out.The spokesperson said that members of the National Election Commission would be summoned to inquire in to the matter.

Police are searching for two people who they say dined and dashed at a King of Prussia café before fleeing and hitting one of the café employees with their car.  KING OF PRUSSIA - Police are searching for two people who they say dined and dashed at a King of Prussia café and hit one of the café employees with their car while fleeing. On Sunday, just before 2 p.m., the Upper Merion Township police responded to the Gateway Café on Flint Hill Road in King of Prussia for a reported vehicle accident involving a pedestrian.Upon arrival, officers say they located an employee of the café suffering from minor injuries. After speaking with the employee and witnesses on scene, responding officers quickly determined that a man and woman with two young children were attempting to flee the café parking lot after failing to pay for their meal. Authorities say as the suspects tried to flee the parking lot, the employee jumped onto the hood of the suspect's car in an attempt to thwart their escape. The employee was thrown from the hood of the car and officials say the suspects fled. MORE HEADLINESThe employee refused medical treatment on scene and no other employees were injured during the incident, according to police. Authorities describe the vehicle as a newer model maroon Kia, possibly an Optima, with tinted windows and preexisting damage to the driver's side door and a temporary license plate, possibly beginning with the letters "LRS." Witnesses told police the suspected vehicle fled southbound on Flint Road, heading towards Swedeland Road.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - Even for the Thunder Bay area, a perilous swath of northern Lake Huron off the Michigan coast that has devoured many a ship, the Ironton’s fate seems particularly cruel.The 191-foot cargo vessel collided with a grain hauler on a blustery night in September 1894, sinking both. The Ironton’s captain and six sailors clambered into a lifeboat, but it was dragged to the bottom before they could detach it from the ship.

public health units are calling on the government to stop using one-time funding to bridge a gap it created four years ago, and to provide them with a predictable source of money as they address a backlog of services built up over the COVID-19 pandemic.Premier Doug Ford’s government announced in 2019 it was cutting the provincial share of public health funding. It moved from a 75-25 cost-sharing formula with municipalities to 70 per cent from the province and 30 per cent from municipalities.Following an outcry, Ford backed down on in-year retroactive cuts and offered mitigation funding to help local governments transition to the new formula.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has urged the Government of Sri Lanka to hold free and fair local elections without delay.In a tweet, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee noted that any effort to take away the voice of the people of Sri Lanka is undeniably undemocratic & a direct violation of Sri Lankans’ rights.Sri Lanka's Election Commission recently said that the Local Government Election scheduled for March 9th was postponed due to reasons beyond its control.The Election Commission is expected to meet on Thursday (3) to reach a final decision on the Local Government Election that has faced numerous obstacles since it was announced.About the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee was established in 1816 as one of the original ten standing committees of the Senate.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Elite Police Force, the Police Special Task Force, celebrates its 40th anniversary on Wednesday (1).Here's a look at the history of this elite force, that was intrumental in countering terror attacks, and maintaining the peace.At the beginning of the early 1980s, with the emergence of terrorist activities in the North and East, the Police in the course of their duties had to face armed attacks carried out by the terrorists. The terrorist attacks resulted in the killing of police personnel, attacks on Police Stations and assassinations of VIPP. Hence the necessity arose for the formation of a special military arm within the Police Service to counter terrorist activities.In the light of the above situation, a Special Committee was appointed to investigate the police functions in the past to combat terrorism and its shortcomings.The Ranasinghe Committee report recommended the need to establish a Special Strike Force to assist the Police Department, as the existing special units were not effective to meet the terrorists’ attacks.Thereafter the Government of Sri Lanka requested the Police Department to release 60 personnel to form a Special Force and obtained the services of Major Ananda Weerasekara, Major Sumith Rohan Manawadu of the SLA (in 2015 both held the rank of Major General). After the initial training at Katukurunda combat training was given at Army Combat Training School at Ampara. After the training period, this group served under the leadership of ASP Bodhi Liyanage. Initially they were given training in the use of 303 Rifles and S.L.R.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Court of Appeal on Tuesday issued a writ order stating that the charges filed by the Attorney General against former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake at the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial at Bar under the Public Property Act cannot be sustained.Two cases were filed against Karunanayake alleging criminal misappropriation of public funds at two bond auctions conducted by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka on the 29th & 31st of March 2016.Two writ applications filed by Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunayake challenging the two cases filed with the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar were taken up on Tuesday (28), where Justices Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola issued a writ order.These cases were filed against Ravi Karunanayake and 10 others over the alleged criminal misappropriation of public funds to the tune of over Rs. 50 Billion  at two bond auctions conducted by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka on the 29th & 31st of March 2016.On the 4th of March 2022, the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar ordered to release Ex-Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and 10 other accused from the charge filed under the Public Property Act in the 2nd Bond Scam Case of 2016.However, the former Minister appealed to the Court of Appeal on the charges levelled against him, claiming that they were filed illegally and thereby cannot be maintained.

Representatives from the World Bank stated that the World Bank will continue to support Sri Lanka’s development reforms program.They stated that the World Bank will provide technical assistance in the drafting of laws for development policy operations, as well as work to provide additional guidance and support regarding the use of international media and welfare benefits.The delegation including the Vice President of the South Asian Region of World Bank, Martin Raiser, met President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday (28).The World Bank Development Policy Operational Program was fully investigated and the President and World Bank representatives commented on its progress.Improving financial supervision and credit management, improving tax administration, sovereign-financial sector linkages and reducing systemic risks; maintaining stability and confidence in the banking sector, restructuring and divestment, reducing policy uncertainty and increasing competitiveness in the economy, mobilizing private capital and competition in the broadband market, strengthening the social security institution, delivery system and targeting was discussed.Source: PMD

COLOMBO (News 1st); Leader of Political Parties represented in the Sri Lankan Parliament are expected to meet Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Thursday (1).The meeting will be centered on the letter addressed to the Speaker by the Election Commission that sought intervention to secure funding for the Local Government Election 2023.In addition, the next parliament week and the agenda are also likely to be discussed.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 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 for this meeting.

Unaware of the contest, Dawn Sagar ate the chip after taking a photo to send to her friends for Valentine’s Day. (Credit: Dawn Sagar) UNITED KINGDOM - A woman from England says she has eaten a heart-shaped chip that could have won her more than $100,000. Dawn Sagar, from Oswestry in Shropshire, told FOX Television Stations that she pulled the snack from a bag of Walkers but did not know the chip, known as a crisp across the pond, could be valuable. "At first I didn't realize that crisp would be worth money as I hadn't heard about the competition," Sagar shared.

Reading, PA - May 10: Pennsylvania State Rep and Democratic Leader Joanna E. McClinton speaks in front of Reading City Hall. After a tour through downtown Reading, Pennsylvania and Reading's Keystone Opportunity Zone with Pennsylvania House of Repres HARRISBURG, Pa. - Philadelphia state Rep.

HEBER CITY, Utah - A Utah middle school teacher has used the power of TikTok trends to raise more than $31,000 for students who owe lunch debt in his district.Garrett Jones, who teaches seventh and eighth graders in Heber City, Utah, said it all started when he noticed the TikTok trend of people saying, "If someone would Venmo me a dollar I could ________.""A lot of it was like, ‘pay for my wedding,' ‘take my kids to Disneyland,' ‘take six months off of work,'" he told FOX TV Stations in an interview. READ MORE: Family raises over $250,000 for pizza delivery worker who fell on their porchJones, however, asked his followers for $1 donations to pay the outstanding lunch fees for every student at his school, "because the last thing a kid should be worrying about is how much they owe for meals at a place they’re legally obligated to be," his video said."I kind of did it as a joke at first. I just thought it would be cool to put a more meaningful or positive spin on that trend," Jones recalled.When he first had the idea, Jones thought he could raise "$200 or $300 and maybe be able to help a couple of students.""I’d be thrilled with that, just helping a couple," he said.Rocky Mountain Middle School teacher Garrett Jones and his broadcasting class (Garrett Jones) But Jones’ plea resonated with people — by the thousands — and quickly took off.

WHO) chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan, in an interview with news agency ANI, has said, “There is a risk that the virus will mutate in a way that it can overcome the vaccine induced immunity. " Swaminathan has suggested that continued surveillance should be done to avoid another wave that could potentially kill millions of people like the Covid-19 did during the second wave that was dominated by the Delta variant of the virus.  Earlier in February, the WHO has estimated that 90 percent of the world population now had some resistance to Covid-19, but warned that a troubling new variant could still emerge.

CAPE MAY COUNTY, N.J. - A woman was walking her dog on a beach in Cape May County when she stumbled across an unfortunate discovery.She found a beached dolphin at 50th Street in Avalon on Monday.RELATED COVERAGE: 65-foot whale washes up on New Jersey beachIt is unknown what led the dolphin to wash ashore, or how long it was there before being found.This latest discovery comes as nine whales have been found dead along the coast of New Jersey and New York over the last few months.RELATED COVERAGE: Activists seek answers why so many whales have washed ashore on Jersey beachesActivists blame the animal deaths on survey vessels for potential offshore wind farms in the Atlantic Ocean.

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); 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.

TikTok on all government-issued mobile devices, Treasury Board President Mona Fortier announced on Monday.Effective Tuesday, TikTok “will be removed from government-issued mobile devices,” Fortier said in a statement.“Following a review of TikTok, the Chief Information Officer of Canada determined that it presents an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security,” she added.“The decision to remove and block TikTok from government mobile devices is being taken as a precaution, particularly given concerns about the legal regime that governs the information collected from mobile devices, and is in line with the approach of our international partners.” Read more: TikTok on government devices under assessment in Canada TikTok’s data collection methods on mobile devices provide “considerable access” to the contents of the phone, Fortier explained.“While the risks of using this application are clear, we have no evidence at this point that government information has been compromised,” she added.When pressed on the announcement during a press conference on Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government is “looking carefully at how to ensure Canadians are kept safe online.”“We’re making the decision for government employees, for government equipment, it is better to not have them access TikTok because of the concerns that people have in terms of safety,” Trudeau said.“This may be a first step.

Jagmeet Singh is calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to hold a public inquiry into alleged Chinese election interference, joining several high-profile officials making the same ask.Singh, whose party is upholding Trudeau’s Liberal minority government, said in a statement Monday that while his party accepts the outcome of the 2021 election, serious allegations of foreign interference made in recent media reports need a “thorough, transparent and independent investigation.” Read more: Liberals ignored CSIS warning on 2019 candidate accused in Chinese interference probe, sources say Read next: ‘We kind of missed the landing’: Alberta premier on awkward handshake with prime minister “When Canadians learn about possible foreign interference through leaked documents, confidence in our democracy is put at risk,” Singh said.“The way to stop alleged secret Chinese interference is to refuse to keep their secrets for them.

(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.