<ul><li>40% increase as President vows to cut recurrent spending</li></ul>President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced plans to allocate Rs 2 trillion for capital expenditure in 2027, marking an increase of approximately 40 per cent, while stressing the need to reduce recurrent Government expenditure and channel more public funds towards development.Addressing the Galle District Special Coordination Committee Meeting held at the Galle District Secretariat on Tuesday (28), President Dissanayake said the Government’s economic plans for next year have been prepared with the aim of reducing recurrent expenditure, which currently accounts for 9 per cent, while increasing capital expenditure, currently at 4 per cent, to boost development investment.He said public resources should be directed towards the country’s progress rather than being used merely to maintain Government operations.The President said the upcoming Budget will place special emphasis on improving public sector efficiency through digitalisation, allowing citizens to access Government services remotely. He added that the Government is considering extending the retirement age in selected sectors to retain experienced and skilled professionals within the public service.Emphasising the importance of responsible financial management, President Dissanayake said every Rupee received by the Treasury must be used effectively for national development, with the goal of building a financially disciplined country where future generations would not be burdened by debt repayments.He said Sri Lanka has shown positive progress in international assessments related to economic performance and social indicators, while gaining recognition for improvements in areas including economic stability and reducing corruption.During the meeting, progress on the Galle District Development Plan, projects implemented under the 2026 Budget and the district’s financial requirements for 2027 were reviewed.Discussions also focused on rural road development, poverty reduction initiatives, housing programmes, sports development, water supply projects, waste management and the Galle City Development Plan.Officials informed the meeting that 122 rural road projects had been approved with an allocation of Rs 250 million, of which 57 projects had already been completed.The progress of the “Ratama Ekata” national programme to combat the drug menace was also reviewed, with officials stating that 12,608 raids had been conducted in the Galle District since the launch of the operation, resulting in the seizure of 119.6 kilograms of illicit drugs.President Dissanayake instructed relevant institutions to work together through a coordinated approach to address development challenges and implement projects in line with a unified national plan.&nbsp;

Rs 2 t for capital projects in 2027

<ul><li>Age categories under consideration by Standing Committee</li><li>If approved, vaccination available only in private sector </li></ul> The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) is expected to make a decision soon on the approval of a Japanese dengue vaccine for limited use in Sri Lanka, with the relevant age categories and other criteria still being considered, Health Ministry Secretary Dr Anil Jasinghe said yesterday (29).Dr Jasinghe, responding to questions from The Daily Morning, said that if approved, the vaccine would initially be available only through the private sector and would not be purchased or provided by the Government through State hospitals. “The Government will not be purchasing the vaccine. Anyone who wishes to obtain it and can afford it will be able to take it,” he said.He categorically clarified that the dengue vaccine is intended for prevention and would not be administered to patients who are already suffering from dengue. “Vaccines aren’t given to people who are sick. They are given to prevent the disease,” Dr Jasinghe said.He said that the NMRA’s Standing Committee is currently evaluating the vaccine and that the approval process had not yet been completed. “The Committee will consider the relevant age categories and other requirements before a final decision is made,” he said.Meanwhile, a team of US dengue control experts is currently in Sri Lanka to assess the dengue situation and explore possible areas of cooperation, Dr Jasinghe said. He said that the team, consisting of around four experts including entomologists, an infectious disease physician and a health planner, met Sri Lankan officials on Monday (27). “They came to see whether they could assist us, whether we could assist them, or whether we could share expertise between the two sides. It could be any of these possibilities,” Dr Jasinghe said. The visiting experts are expected to visit the Health Ministry’s National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases Hospital as part of their assessment. Dr Jasinghe said that the team would prepare a report after reviewing the situation.According to the NDCU’s NaDSys Surveillance System, dengue cases in the country increased further to 83,661 by Tuesday midnight (28). The dengue-related death toll had also risen to 61, according to the surveillance data. The Western Province continues to record the highest number of dengue cases, accounting for 53.02 per cent of the total cases reported.

Dengue:  NMRA to decide on limited use of Japanese jab

<ul><li>Talks underway for protective measures in relief camps </li><li> 1,000 interim shelter constructions underway </li></ul> With the El Niño weather phenomenon expected to intensify hot and dry conditions across Sri Lanka, authorities are assessing urgent measures to protect people still living in Ditwah relief camps, after the Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Ministry identified the challenges they could face in the coming months.Officials confirmed that discussions are underway with relevant Ministries to determine immediate protective measures for the displaced communities.Speaking to The Daily Morning, Deputy Subject Minister Wasantha Piyatissa said a key meeting is scheduled for 3 August to assess the additional support required by camp residents.“We have provided them with the other facilities and infrastructure needed. We will be having discussions on 3 August to see what measures are to be taken regarding the particular issue of El Niño,” he said.Meanwhile, Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara, speaking to The Daily Morning, outlined the Government’s long-term accommodation plans for those still residing in camps. He said the Ministry has commenced a project to construct nearly 1,000 interim shelters for displaced persons.“The project has begun by now; 545 in Badulla, 150 in Kandy, 150 in Nuwara Eliya and the other 45 in Kegalle will be constructed,” he said.Attempts to contact Army Media Spokesperson Waruna Gamage for an update on the housing project were unsuccessful.The urgency of these measures comes as the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) confirmed that 1,311 people from 465 families, mainly in Badulla and Kegalle, remain in relief camps after their homes were destroyed by Ditwah.At the same time, the Meteorology Department has warned that the El Niño weather pattern is intensifying hot and dry conditions across Sri Lanka, while concerns have also been raised over difficulties in sourcing drinking water.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ditwah camp dwellers to face El Niño brunt 

The Government is planning to place the protection and day-to-day stewardship of archaeological sites in the hands of community conservation committees as part of a move to develop a more people-centred approach to preserving Sri Lanka’s archaeological heritage, according to the Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry.Speaking to The Daily Morning, Deputy Subject Minister Gamagedara Dissanayake said the initiative aims to reconnect local communities with the country’s archaeological heritage, noting that many sites and artefacts had become disconnected from the public over the years.“For many years, archaeological sites and artefacts have become somewhat detached from the public. People tended to believe that these were matters only for the Archaeology Department. That is why we have introduced a new concept of conserving archaeological sites together with local communities,” he said.Under the proposed programme, community conservation committees will be established around sites of archaeological value, while officers from the Department of Archaeology will provide the technical expertise, administrative assistance and professional guidance required for their preservation.“The committees are expected to oversee the protection, maintenance and management of the sites with the Department’s support. We believe that incidents of destruction, theft and illegal excavations can be reduced considerably when people feel that these heritage sites belong to them,” Dissanayake said.According to information released by the Department of Archaeology, 510 incidents involving the destruction of archaeological artefacts, 203 thefts of archaeological artefacts and 2,360 illegal excavations in search of archaeological artefacts were reported between 2015 and 2025.&nbsp;

Communities to guard heritage sites 

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa accused the Government of attempting to undermine judicial independence through a proposed constitutional amendment to change the retirement age of judges, claiming the move could weaken one of the key pillars of democracy.Speaking on the matter, Premadasa said President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had received a public mandate to reform the Executive Presidency through constitutional amendments, and not to interfere with the Judiciary by altering judges’ retirement age or making courts subordinate to the Executive.He claimed that the Government, which came to power promising systemic change and stronger democratic institutions, was instead pursuing measures that could pave the way for authoritarian rule through constitutional amendments.Premadasa alleged that the administration was attempting to weaken the Judiciary, which he described as one of the three fundamental pillars of democracy. He stressed that democracy depends on the separation of powers among the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary, supported by a system of checks and balances.He added that if the President or the Justice Minister failed to understand this principle, they should refer to The Spirit of Law by French jurist and political philosopher Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu.Premadasa further claimed that Executive interference in the Judiciary could threaten democracy and undermine public confidence in the independence, credibility and integrity of the courts.He added that the Government was proceeding with the proposed constitutional amendment despite concerns raised over its potential impact on judicial independence.&nbsp;

Sajith warns against judicial interference

A private hospital in Vavuniya was fined Rs 500,000 for charging patients above the Government-controlled price for a full blood count (FBC) test, according to the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA).The CAA said the violation was detected during a raid conducted by its investigation officers, who found that the hospital had charged patients more than the regulated price for the test.Following the investigation, legal action was filed against the hospital before the Vavuniya Magistrate’s Court.After considering the case, the Court imposed a fine of Rs 500,000 on the hospital.&nbsp;

Vavuniya hospital fined Rs 500,000

The Government has prepared a production cost report for paddy cultivated during the 2026 Yala season, with the cost of producing a kilogram of paddy ranging from Rs 76 to Rs 119 depending on the variety, Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister K D Lalkantha said.Addressing a special farmers’ meeting held in Anuradhapura, Lalkantha said the report was jointly prepared by the Agriculture Ministry, the Agrarian Development Department, the Department of Agriculture, the National Institute of Post Harvest Management and the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute.According to the report, the production cost of one kilogram (kg) of Red Nadu paddy is Rs 76, while White Nadu paddy costs Rs 87 per kg to produce. The production cost of Samba paddy has been calculated at Rs 97 per kg, while Keeri Samba costs Rs 119 per kg.Lalkantha said the Government has adopted a policy of determining a guaranteed purchase price by adding a 30% profit margin to the production cost of a kilogram of paddy, in response to a long-standing request by farmers’ organisations.He also noted that the Government’s fertiliser subsidy of Rs 30,000 per hectare has been taken into account when calculating production costs.The Minister further pointed out that Sri Lanka continues to import significant quantities of essential food items, including potatoes, big onions, wheat flour and rice varieties such as basmati rice.&nbsp;

Yala paddy costs Rs 76-119 per kg 

<ul><li>To be gathered to a single location and kept occupied with activities </li><li>Parents to pick up children between 5pm-5.30pm</li></ul> The Women and Child Affairs Ministry is launching a programme for an identified group of 38 vulnerable children from Ratmalana as a pilot project, an initiation of redirecting the children in unsafe places towards safety. The project is expected to be launched in September.Speaking to The Daily Morning, Ministry Secretary, Tharangani Wickramasinghe said that in the wake of it being reported that in some areas students face vulnerabilities as they come to the streets after school due to various reasons including their houses being unsafe.&nbsp;A pilot project starting from Ratmalana is to be launched to protect and redirect these children. "This is mostly happening in urban areas. It is reported that to some extent this is seen in villages also. Children come home after school, and, if the home is not safe enough for the child, or even if there is no activity to keep the child engaged, the child comes to the street. This child that comes to the street is vulnerable and can be harmed and they themselves can engage in harmful activities. We are planning to do a pilot project for that as well, and we will be able to start the project by September in Ratmalana," she said. She added the location for the aforesaid pilot project is under renovation under the Divisional Secretariat. “From some villages such incidents are being reported. In areas such as Divulagala, it is reported the child leaves the house because the father or the brother at home makes the home environment unsafe,” she added. "We have identified that after gathering these children after school to one place, and by providing them with activities till around 5.30 p.m. until the child's parents come to collect the child, it prevents the child from engaging in this practice. With the collaboration of the catholic fathers and sisters in the church from that area, we are hoping to build them a safe environment," she said. "In there, we can identify their skills and guide them towards a profession as well. Some children might not sustain in academics, yet, there will be other areas that they are passionate about," she added. She also said that as of now, children coming to beg in the streets from morning is not seen in the country. Yet, this practice of children coming to streets can happen in the evening at places like Borella, Ratmalana, and Maradana. She added these children that come out could be used by unfit parties for various purposes and that it is a must to protect the child. The initiative is expected to be spread to other needed areas as well.

Ratmalana pilot project: Safe haven for vulnerable schoolkids 

The Navy apprehended 12 suspects on Tuesday (28), during a search operation covering the South Bar beach and adjoining coastal areas in Mannar, seizing more than 14,000 sea cucumbers that were being smuggled by sea and prepared for overland transportation without the required permits. The operation also led to the seizure of three dinghies and two motorcycles. The operation was conducted by personnel attached to the Naval Service Gajaba of the North Central Naval Command, following credible information. During the search, Naval personnel inspected three suspicious dinghies and two motorcycles, uncovering this consignment of 14,072 sea cucumbers. The 12 suspects, aged between 24 and 46, were identified as residents of the Mannar area. The suspects, together with the seized stock of sea cucumbers, dinghies and motorcycles, were handed over to the Assistant Directorate of Fisheries in Mannar for onward legal proceedings.&nbsp;

Rs 2 t for capital projects in 2027

Dengue: NMRA to decide on limited use of Japanese jab

Dengue: NMRA to decide on lim ...

Ditwah camp dwellers to face El Niño brunt

Ditwah camp dwellers to face E ...

Communities to guard heritage sites

Communities to guard heritage ...

Sajith warns against judicial interference

Sajith warns against judicial ...

Vavuniya hospital fined Rs 500,000

Vavuniya hospital fined Rs 500 ...

Yala paddy costs Rs 76-119 per kg

Yala paddy costs Rs 76-119 per ...

Ratmalana pilot project: Safe haven for vulnerable schoolkids

Ratmalana pilot project: Safe ...

12 arrested with 14k sea cucumbers

12 arrested with 14k sea cucu ...

Dengue: NMRA to decide on limited use of Japanese jab

Dengue: NMRA to decide on lim ...

Ditwah camp dwellers to face El Niño brunt

Ditwah camp dwellers to face E ...

Communities to guard heritage sites

Communities to guard heritage ...

Sajith warns against judicial interference

Sajith warns against judicial ...

Vavuniya hospital fined Rs 500,000

Vavuniya hospital fined Rs 500 ...

Yala paddy costs Rs 76-119 per kg

Yala paddy costs Rs 76-119 per ...

Ratmalana pilot project: Safe haven for vulnerable schoolkids

Ratmalana pilot project: Safe ...

12 arrested with 14k sea cucumbers

12 arrested with 14k sea cucu ...

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Vavuniya hospital fined Rs 500,000

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Yala paddy costs Rs 76-119 per kg

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