<ul><li>Overseas Lankans to be granted the SL franchise, multi-stakeholder comm. to examine legal amendments/new laws formulation</li></ul> The Election Commission (EC) has requested Rs. 10 billion through next year’s (2026) national Budget to conduct the long-delayed Provincial Council (PC) Elections.Speaking to The Daily Morning, EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said that funds for elections are sought on an annual basis and will continue to be requested until the polls are held. “When there is an election due, we request the necessary funds. Last year (2024), we requested money for the PC Elections, and since they have not yet been held, we made a request this year as well,” he said.As informed by Rathnayake, The Daily Morning contacted the EC’s Accounts Division to clarify the exact amount requested and an official from the division said that a sum of Rs. 10 billion had been sought to be allocated.The PC Elections have been postponed for several years due to a legal issue stemming from an amendment that the United National Front Government (2015-2020) sought to introduce. On an earlier occasion, Public Administration, PCs and Local Government (LG) Deputy Minister Ruwan Senarath told The Daily Morning that the Government intended to begin the legal reform process for PC Elections once the LG Elections were completed. However, the LG Elections, held on 6 May this year were not followed by any visible preparations either to hold the PC Elections or to initiate the necessary legal amendments.Meanwhile, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to examine the necessary legal amendments and formulate new laws to safeguard the voting rights of Sri Lankan citizens residing overseas.As per Article 3 of the Constitution, the sovereignty rights reserved with the people are used in an election. The right to vote is reserved only for the citizens living within Sri Lanka and who are registered under their names in the electoral register as per the elections law. According to the current elections law, there is no provision to secure any method to cast votes for the citizens residing overseas or no law has been formulated in this regard.&nbsp;However, it has been recognised as a timely requirement to amend such types of laws. Accordingly, the Cabinet granted their concurrence for the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils (PCs) and Local Governments (LG) to take action to appoint a committee comprised of officials in the EC, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment, the Ministry of Public Administration, PCs and LG as well as in the other Ministries and institutions to study particulars relevant to amending laws and the formulation of new laws to safeguard the voting rights of citizens residing overseas.

PC Polls: EC requests Rs. 10 b from 2026 Budget 

<ul><li> Comm. Member Dayasiri Jayasekara confirms Min. Secy.'s summoning&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul> In the wake of reports that he has been summoned before the Parliamentary Committee on High Posts, the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, retired Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Ravi Seneviratne said that he has not been informed to appear before the committee. When contacted by The Daily Morning, he said: “I have not been informed to appear.”It was however reported earlier this week that the said committee had decided to summon Seneviratne for an inquiry into legal cases pending against him, including one relating to an alleged incident of driving under the influence of alcohol. Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (16), Opposition Member of the said committee, Attorney Dayasiri Jayasekara confirmed that the committee has decided to summon him.The committee reviews the suitability of individuals appointed or nominated to positions determined by the Cabinet of Ministers and makes recommendations accordingly. At present, the committee examines three categories of officers: Secretaries to Cabinet Ministries, heads of Sri Lankan missions abroad, and the chairpersons of boards, corporations, and other state institutions. Once a nomination is received, the nominee must submit a bio-data and a declaration of assets and liabilities in the prescribed format. The Committee Secretary also publishes notices in newspapers in Sinhala, Tamil, and English, inviting the public to submit representations or petitions regarding such appointments. The committee is required to report to the Parliament periodically and continues its work even if the Parliament is prorogued.

High Posts Comm.: Public Security Secy. denies summoning 

<ul><li>Trade, Commerce, Food Sec. Min. accuses them of exploiting usual Oct.-Nov. shortage, decision to import yet unimplemented</li><li>PMB to buy Yala crop in P’naruwa, A’pura, Trinco, Rs. 5,288 m already spent in 16 Districts to buy 43,891 MT</li><li>Rs. 7,000/MT for fire-hit Sevanagala sugarcane farmers&nbsp;</li><li>SJB claims Govt. response to paddy farmers ‘counterproductive’&nbsp;</li></ul> The Ministry of Trade, Commerce, and Food Security claimed yesterday (16) that large-scale rice mill owners are attempting to exploit the usual shortage of Keeri Samba rice that emerges in October and November by raising prices above the Government’s maximum retail price (MRP). Speaking to The Daily Morning, Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce, and Food Security, R.M. Jayawardhana said that Keeri Samba production was lower last year (2024), and that the stock was purchased mainly by large-scale mill owners. He added that at present, small- and medium-scale millers do not have Keeri Samba stocks in their possession.&nbsp;“We said that a kilogram (kg) of Keeri Samba paddy should be purchased at Rs. 132. But, they (large-scale mill owners) bought it at prices like Rs. 170–175. At those prices, it became impossible for them to sell a kilo of rice at the Government’s set price of Rs. 260. They have therefore been trying to sell Keeri Samba rice at higher prices. Now, they are misusing the usual Keeri Samba shortage that arises in October and November to sell rice at higher prices,” he said. He added that while the Government has already decided to allow the import of Keeri Samba to ease the shortage, the said decision is yet to be implemented. Rice wholesalers in Pettah recently said that they are refraining from selling Keeri Samba rice because producers are supplying it to them at prices higher than the control price of Rs. 260. As a result, retailers are also holding back from selling the variety. In response to the situation, the United Rice Producers’ Association has called on the Government to remove the MRP imposed on Samba and Keeri Samba rice. However, the Sri Lanka Small- and Medium-Scale Paddy Mill Owners’ Association has opposed the move, alleging that large-scale mill owners are attempting to create an artificial shortage and profit from it.Meanwhile, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal to obtain additional provisions to implement the purchase of paddy from farmers in this year’s Yala season under the controlled prices announced by the Government. Accordingly, the Government has allocated Rs. 6,000 million for the programme to purchase paddy for the Yala season, and the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) has already purchased 43,891 metric tons (MT) of paddy, using Rs. 5,288 million in 16 districts. Therefore, the PMB has planned to purchase the paddy from the Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, and Trincomalee Districts, where the harvesting is still going on. Accordingly, the Cabinet has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation to obtain the additional provisions to implement the purchase of paddy from the farmers in the Yala season under the fixed prices of the Government.Moreover, the Cabinet has granted approval to the proposal to provide compensation of Rs. 7,000 per MT for sugarcane destroyed by the fire at the sugarcane plantations in Sevanagala. It has been reported that some individuals have allegedly set fire to the sugarcane plantations of the Sevanagala Sugar Factory that belongs to the Lanka Sugar (Private) Limited on 16, 20-22, and 24 August and 4-5 September this year.&nbsp;It has been estimated that approximately 19,000 MT of sugarcane that belong to 235 farmers have been destroyed or damaged due to this. Since the fire affected sugarcane should be ground only within the first 24 hours, the purchase and grinding of the fire-hit sugarcane had been winded up on 30 August. Due to this, there has been unrest among the sugarcane farmers, and therefore, the Government’s attention has been drawn to compensate them financially for the devastated crops. Accordingly, the Cabinet granted approval to the proposal jointly furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development and the Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development to appoint a committee comprised of officials from the Sugarcane Research Institute and the Lanka Sugar (Pvt.) Ltd. to obtain information on the precise extent of sugarcane area devastated by the fire and the number of farmers whose crops were devastated and to compensate those farmers with Rs. 7,000 per MT of sugarcane destroyed by the fire.However, the main Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), alleged that the Government has not succeeded in providing acceptable solutions to the ongoing protests and that the Government should therefore pay attention to providing sustainable solutions to them. SJB Parliamentarian Dr. Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana stated this during a press briefing held yesterday in Colombo. He pointed out the ongoing union action by farmers, teachers and Ceylon Electricity Board employees. “The Government has ignored the country’s needs and the people’s hunger. Oppression has been in place since the Government came to power and we have been losing the freedom for democracy,” he said.&nbsp; Among the key matters discussed by Dr. Jayawardhana was the Government’s response to the farmers’ demands. He opined that the Government’s response was counterproductive: “The Government said that it will reduce rice prices and will stop the importation of rice,” he said, claiming that the Government is enforcing the law against small-scale rice millers while giving more freedom to large-scale rice millers.

Keeri Samba shortage: Large-scale millers under fire for jacking up MRP

<ul><li>A total of 228,000+ arrested in 2024 linked to narco crime</li><li>Kehelbaddara Padme’s associate ‘Pas Deva’ nabbed with drugs/bullets; placed under PTA detention</li></ul> Arrests related to crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as ‘Ice’, in 2024, have increased 161% compared to 2023, the Police data showed. The Police noted that 228,450 people were arrested for drug offenses. Of them, 68,132 were arrested for offenses related to ‘Ice’. The authorities seized 832.3 kilograms (kg) of heroin, 8,359 kg of cannabis, and 1,364 kg of ‘Ice’ in 2024.Meanwhile, the Western Province North Crimes Division on Monday (15) informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that Devanmini Dissanayake, also known by the alias ‘Pas Deva’, an individual who is said to be a close associate of organised crime suspect ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’, who is currently in custody, is being detained and interrogated under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act as amended (PTA) on the orders of the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence. Accordingly, the suspect will be held and questioned for a period of 90 days, as informed to the Additional Magistrate H.D.D.J. Premarathna. The Police stated that during interrogation following Pas Deva’s arrest, they recovered 440 grams of narcotics and several live bullets from a hotel previously owned by ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’. Having considered the submissions, the Magistrate instructed the Police to report on the progress of the investigations to Court at a future date.Elsewhere, a total of 598 suspects have been arrested on suspicion of being involved in criminal activities and also over illicit liquor- and drug-related offenses during a special islandwide operation conducted on Monday. As part of the operation, 27,580 people were subjected to inspection, the Police Media Division said. Police have identified 24 suspects directly linked to criminal activities while 418 suspects with outstanding warrants were arrested during the operation. According to the report, a total of 45 drunk drivers were apprehended while a further 16 reckless drivers and 3,857 persons who violated various other traffic offences were identified. According to the Police, islandwide operations are conducted to apprehend small-, medium-, and large-scale drug traffickers, individuals involved in criminal activities, and those in the possession of illegal firearms.

Drugs: Majority of arrests in 2024 linked to ‘Ice’ 

<ul><li>Says not attending comms. including tender-related activities</li></ul> Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) Executive Committee Member Dhanushka Parakramasinghe announced that the union action launched in protest against the Government’s decision to divide the CEB into four entities, would be intensified from yesterday (16).He stated that the first phase of the ‘work-to-rule’ protest action, which was carried out to object to the proposed division, concluded on Monday (15), and that the union has now decided to move into the second phase of its union action.&nbsp;Parakramasinghe emphasised that the public will not be inconvenienced by these measures, noting that the actions have been carefully planned in a manner that ensures that the Government remains informed.&nbsp;Outlining the next steps, he explained that while routine work will continue, union members will refrain from participating in certain committee activities, including withdrawing from tender committees, as a way of demonstrating the escalation of their protest against the Government.&nbsp;He further stated that all employees are scheduled to report sick leave in two groups today (17) and tomorrow (18), during which a protest movement will also be organised to oppose the Government’s decision. However, he assured that no office closures or disruptions to essential services would occur as a result of the union’s protest actions.

CEB restructuring: CEBEU to fall sick today and tomorrow 

Noting that education is a sector that plays a key role in the country, the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) urged the Government to allocate the highest amount of funds to the education sector in the upcoming Budget for next year (2026).&nbsp; As an initial step towards the ideal fund allocation of 6% of the Budget, it urged the Government to allocate 3% in the upcoming Budget. IUSF Convenor Madushan Chandrajith made this statement while speaking to the media yesterday (16). He said that the IUSF has submitted suggestions to the Education Ministry with regard to allocating funds for several identified areas of the education sector, and that the same was submitted to the Finance Ministry.&nbsp; “The key concern that we are highlighting is that in the recent past, State funds allocated for the education sector were significantly reduced. Because of that, a serious decline in the education sector occurred, particularly in school education, university education and vocational education,” he said, claiming that although the Government vowed to increase fund allocations for the education sector, it has only increased around 0.1% of the gross domestic product (GDP) compared to the amount allocated by the former Government.&nbsp; Chandrajith further said that serious crises have arisen in the school, university and vocational education sectors, and that it is high time to pay attention to increasing the fund allocations for the education sector.&nbsp; Among the pressing needs that he pointed out included increasing the Mahapola Scholarship, resolving university hostel-related issues, identifying and addressing the issues of schools lacking basic facilities, and removing the Value Added Tax imposed on school supplies.

Budget allocation: IUSF wants 3% GDP for education

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to select a consultancy agency, through the procurement process, to conduct a detailed feasibility study aimed at formulating a sustainable solution to improve connectivity with major transport corridors and minimise traffic congestion at the Lotus Road crossing in Colombo, including the ramps of the Port Access Road and the extension of the Coastal Road.The decision has been taken considering the heavy traffic congestion at the Lotus roundabout area in Colombo, especially during peak hours.&nbsp;It has been found that the issue will be further aggravated with the completion of the Colombo Port City and the Port Access Road, and the completion of major development works currently underway in Colombo.Accordingly, taking these matters into consideration, the Cabinet has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports to select a consultation agency following the procurement procedure to do a detailed feasibility study to prepare a sustainable solution to improve the connectivity with the main corridors and to minimise the traffic congestion at the Lotus crossing including the ramps of the Port Access Road and the extension of the Coastal Road.

Connectivity and traffic congestion: Feasibility study on key roads in Col.

Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and several other defendants, accused of misusing Government funds through the purchase of substandard human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) vials during the tenure of the previous Government were indicted before a three-Judge bench of the Colombo High Court yesterday (16).&nbsp;After serving indictments, Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama informed the court that the Attorney General opposes granting bail to the defendants. Subsequently, the defence counsel commenced presenting facts in support of the defendants’ bail applications.

IVIG import scandal: Keheliya et al. indicted 

The Navy has taken hold of six Sri Lankans who were abandoned in the seas off Talaimannar by human traffickers.The group was illegally transported by sea from India and subsequently deserted in the sea area off the sand dunes, Talaimannar, the Navy stated. Acting on credible information received by the Sri Lanka Naval Service Thammanna of the North Central Naval Command, a search was carried out in the sand dune sea area of Talaimannar. The operation led to the discovery of the individuals on a remote sand dune, where they had been abandoned by human smugglers. The group was found to be suffering from severe dehydration. The individuals, aged between eight and 56, are residents of Vavuniya, Madhu, and Kokkadicholai. The group has subsequently been handed over to the Talaimannar Police for further legal proceedings.

PC Polls: EC requests Rs. 10 b from 2026 Budget

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