<ul><li>Global industry expansion expected to drive worker shortage over next decade</li><li>Rs 600 m allocated for regional aviation training centre</li><li>Govt seeks ICAO accreditation to meet global standards&nbsp;</li></ul> Sri Lanka is preparing to tap into growing global demand for skilled aviation personnel, as the international aviation industry is expected to expand significantly over the next decade, creating a shortage of skilled workers worldwide, Deputy Civil Aviation Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku said.Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (17), Kodithuwakku said countries around the world were preparing to meet the expected demand for skilled personnel as the aviation industry enters a period of significant expansion.“This is an international industry. It has been forecast that there will be a shortage of workers around the world with the boom expected in the aviation sector over the next 10 years,” he said.He said Sri Lanka was also taking steps to ensure that it would be ready to benefit from the anticipated growth in the industry.“There is international interest in preparing programmes to face this situation. We are also working on several measures, including expanding educational opportunities, introducing training programmes and encouraging interest in aviation-related careers,” Kodithuwakku said.As part of these efforts, the Government has been pursuing the establishment of a regional aviation education and training centre in Sri Lanka with the support of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).Kodithuwakku had earlier said that discussions with the ICAO had progressed positively, with the organisation expressing willingness to support the establishment of the centre.The Government has secured approval for the proposed project through the National Planning Department and allocated Rs 600 million for it in the 2026 Budget.It is also working to obtain the international accreditation required to operate the centre in line with global aviation training standards.The proposed centre and the Government's wider efforts to expand aviation-related education and training are aimed at preparing Sri Lanka for the growing demand for skilled personnel expected as the global aviation industry expands over the next decade.

 SL eyes global aviation jobs boom  

The National Lotteries Board (NLB) has lodged a formal complaint with the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) regarding the recent Kotu Kepeema gambling racket, while simultaneously launching an awareness programme aimed at deterring public participation in the activity.Following the revelation that the NLB Act does not contain provisions enabling legal action against the racketeers, the Board has requested the Finance Ministry’s assistance in drafting regulations, either under the NLB Act or other relevant legislation, to facilitate action against the perpetrators.Speaking to The Daily Morning, NLB Chairperson Siril Anthony Perera said that the Board was unable to take action under the current Act to address the matter.“For this, we cannot work under this Act,” he said. “We can only act if any act is happening related to our institution.”He further noted that the Board had sought the Ministry’s assistance in drafting legislation to enable legal action.“It doesn't have to come under our Act. Previously, we had the Gaming Ordinance. But, it is no longer there. But, we have the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act. We have asked for amendments to this Act in order to address this issue legally,” Perera explained.When queried further, he clarified that these gambling games were not being conducted as organised or centralised operations, but were taking place in small, scattered groups across the country.Perera also said that Police officers had been deployed to raid these locations as part of efforts to address the issue, while awareness programmes were currently ongoing.The comments come in the wake of the NLB raising concerns over the spread of an illegal gambling racket based on lottery winning numbers called “Kotu Kepeema”.Speaking before a Parliamentary Committee, he had stated that the practice had expanded from small village-level bets to wagers of up to Rs. 100,000 in some areas.

NLB to crackdown on ‘Kotu Kapeema’ 

Parliament has yet to answer a Right to Information (RTI) request seeking details of expenditure and resources provided to three Speakers, nearly five months after it was submitted, with officials giving conflicting explanations over why the information remains undisclosed.&nbsp;Officials of Parliament’s RTI Division have given differing explanations for the delay, with the latest being that the Finance Division is unable to provide the information in the form requested.The RTI request was submitted by The Daily Morning on 19 March and registered under reference number P/I/26/0035. It sought information on expenditure and resources provided to Speakers Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Asoka Sapumal Ranwala and Dr Wickramaratne during their respective periods in office.The information sought included expenditure incurred by the Speaker’s Office; vehicles allocated to each Speaker; the number and designations of attached staff; the approved cadre; fuel allowances; salaries, allowances and other payments; foreign visits and related expenditure; official residences and maintenance costs; and other Government resources used by the Speakers and their monthly expenditure.Parliament’s RTI Division acknowledged the request on 23 March. On 24 April, the requester was informed that a further 21 days had been granted due to the volume of information and the time required to locate it.No response was provided after the extended period. Following several telephone inquiries, the requester was initially told that the request had been sent to the Finance Division. The Finance Division Director later informed the requester that the answers had been finalised and forwarded to the RTI Division. He was subsequently told that the RTI Officer was overseas and the response would be issued after his return.After further inquiries, the requester was told that the response had been forwarded to the Speaker’s Office and would be released after the Speaker’s approval.The explanation later changed. The requester was informed that Dr Wickramaratne had requested amendments to the answers and that the response had therefore been returned to the Finance Division. An RTI Division officer confirmed this on 3 August, saying the Finance Division’s amended response was pending.However, when contacted again yesterday (17), an officer gave a different explanation, saying Parliament did not have the information in the form requested because of the volume of information. The officer also said the relevant Division had no separate Information Officer and that officials handled RTI requests alongside their regular duties.The requester has appealed to Parliament’s Designated Officer under the RTI Act, pointing out the differing explanations and requesting that the information be released without further delay. He said nearly five months had passed without receiving either the requested information or a formal written decision identifying information that could not be disclosed and the legal basis for withholding it.Multiple attempts to contact the Speaker’s Office and Finance Division proved futile.The delay comes amid a complaint lodged with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption by Parliament’s Deputy Secretary General, attorney Chaminda Kularatne, against Dr Wickramaratne. The complaint alleges that Dr Wickramaratne sought to prevent the disclosure of information concerning the alleged misuse of public funds and resources and activities that may have caused financial loss to the Government.It further alleges that such conduct amounts to “corruption” under the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023.Kularatne claimed that civil society activists had sought information on the Speaker’s personal staff, Media Unit, equipment provided to the Unit, salaries and allowances, and official vehicles, but that Dr Wickramaratne and/or his Private Secretary had instructed Parliament’s Information Officers not to release such information, citing provisions of the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act, No. 21 of 1953.The complaint stated that the Act covers Parliament’s legislative functions and does not cover administrative matters concerning the Speaker. It also referred to several RTI application files submitted to Parliament, which it said could be examined to establish the relevant circumstances.

Request on Speaker spending: RTI response stops at Speaker's door?

Deputy Health Minister Dr Hansaka Wijemuni said health sector officers required to wear prescribed uniforms must perform their duties in those uniforms, while requests to modify them for cultural, climatic or other reasons should be referred to the Health Ministry’s Uniform Committee.Responding to questions from The Daily Morning on the recent controversy at the Kalmunai North Base Hospital, Dr Wijemuni said yesterday (17) that the Ministry had received the matter last week but had not become directly involved as he was unaware of the exact circumstances.“I don’t know exactly what happened in this incident or who stopped them from working. But, the issue is related to the uniform,” he said.Wijemuni said the Ministry had a clear policy on uniforms, with some categories of health workers required to wear prescribed uniforms while others were not.“There are nearly 300 professions in the health sector. Some have uniforms while others don’t. Those who don’t have uniforms can come to work in appropriate clothing. For example, clerical staff don’t have a prescribed uniform,” he said.However, he stressed that officers whose professions required them to wear uniforms had to wear the prescribed uniform while performing their duties.“There may be difficulties in wearing a uniform or there may be reasons for requesting a change. Sometimes, these could be due to climatic or cultural reasons. In such cases, they should appeal to the Uniform Committee and explain that they cannot wear the uniform in its existing form and request the change that they need,” Dr Wijemuni said.He stressed that individuals could not decide to modify a prescribed uniform on their own, adding that any requested change should be considered by the Uniform Committee.Dr Wijemuni cited the example of a Sikh person joining the health service, saying that if there was a cultural or religious requirement concerning an item of clothing, the matter should be referred to the Uniform Committee.He said such matters could eventually develop into sensitive ethnic issues and stressed the importance of following the proper procedure when requesting changes to prescribed uniforms.Meanwhile, the National Shoora Council (NSC), in a letter to Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, called for an immediate inquiry into the incident reported at the Kalmunai North Base Hospital on 10 August.The NSC urged the Prime Minister to issue immediate directives to the hospital administration to allow the affected officers to assume and discharge their duties in accordance with Public Administration Circular No. 13/2019(I).It also called on the Ministry to conduct an immediate inquiry and take appropriate administrative action against those responsible for allegedly obstructing the officers.The NSC further urged that a “re-clarificatory directive” be issued to all heads of public institutions and regional health authorities on strict compliance with the existing Circular provisions to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.

Health officers told to follow uniform rules  

The Nidahase Kanthavo (Free Women) organisation has condemned the persistent lack of female representation in Sri Lanka’s higher Judiciary, accusing successive Governments and appointing authorities of failing to address the severe gender imbalance in the country’s top courts.Speaking at a recent public forum in Kurunegala, organisation Convenor Suwanthi Weerasekara said the Supreme Court (SC) and Court of Appeal (CA) remained overwhelmingly male-dominated despite the availability of distinguished female legal professionals in the country.According to data presented by the organisation, only one woman currently serves among the 29 judges holding positions in the two Apex Courts, giving women a combined representation of just 3.4%.The organisation said the SC has 17 sanctioned positions, of which 13 are currently filled, with only one female judge, representing 7.6% of serving judges.The situation is even more stark at the CA, where 16 of the 20 sanctioned positions are currently filled, with no female judges, resulting in zero female representation.Weerasekara alleged that the failure to appoint qualified women to existing judicial positions raised concerns over the Constitutional guarantee of equality under Article 12.She also pointed to the limited representation of women in the lower Judiciary. According to the figures presented, women accounted for 21.2% of judges in the High Courts and 34.8% of judges in the District and Magistrate’s Courts as of 2021.The organisation further highlighted that a woman has never been elected President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka throughout its history.“While the Government moves swiftly to introduce constitutional amendments to grant service extensions to senior officials, it refuses to carry out the simplest, zero-cost task: filling existing judicial vacancies in accordance with non-discriminatory standards,” Weerasekara said.She argued that leaving judicial positions vacant while overlooking qualified female candidates directly undermined the principle of equal opportunity guaranteed under Article 12.The organisation called for greater attention to gender equality in judicial appointments and urged authorities to address the disparity in representation at the highest levels of the Judiciary.

Women’s group condemns severe gender imbalance in Apex courts 

<h3> </h3>Four Police officers attached to the Monaragala Division Crimes Unit have been arrested for allegedly accepting a Rs 500,000 bribe from a suspect to refrain from taking legal action against him over a cannabis cultivation in the Nikawewa-Demodara Wewa area of Thanamalwila.The arrested officers, who were subsequently released on bail by the Wellawaya Magistrate’s Court, include two Police Sergeants aged 37 and 45, a 39-year-old Police Constable driver and a 36-year-old Police Constable.The arrests followed an investigation launched after officers from the Thanamalwila Police raided a cannabis cultivation in the area on 11 August.The Officer-in-Charge of the Thanamalwila Police had received information about the cultivation, following which a Police team raided the location and arrested a suspect along with cannabis plants.A subsequent search of the surrounding area led Police to discover three more cannabis cultivations allegedly belonging to the suspect. Officers also found another cultivation that had been cut down and set on fire.During questioning, the suspect reportedly told Police that six officers attached to the Monaragala Division Crimes Unit had raided the location on 10 August and allegedly accepted Rs 500,000 from him in return for not taking legal action.He further claimed that the officers had destroyed only one of the five cultivations by setting it on fire, while taking the cannabis plants from the other cultivations with them.Meanwhile, another individual known as “Kalu”, a resident of the Nikawewa area, was arrested after being found in possession of cannabis during the investigation.During questioning, he reportedly told Police that six officers from the Unit had instructed him to dry the cannabis.The two suspects were produced before the Wellawaya Magistrate’s Court, which issued detention orders to facilitate further questioning.Based on information disclosed during the questioning, the Thanamalwila Police subsequently arrested the four officers allegedly involved in the incident.The officers were produced before the Wellawaya Magistrate’s Court and released on bail. The Court ordered each suspect to provide a cash bail of Rs 50,000 and two surety bails of Rs 200,000 each.The officers are alleged to have obtained the Rs 500,000 from the owner of the cannabis plantation during a raid in the Nikawewa area, which falls within the Thanamalwila Police Division.Investigations into the alleged bribery and the involvement of other officers are continuing.

Four cops held over Rs 500,000 cannabis bribe

Parents and adults have been urged to pay close attention to children’s safety when flying kites, as kite-related accidents are frequently reported during school holidays.Acting Director of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH), Consultant Dr Pradeep Rathnasekara, said kite flying had become increasingly popular among children amid the current dry weather and school holidays, but warned that careless practices could result in serious injuries and even fatalities.He cautioned against children flying kites from elevated locations, noting that they could lose their balance and fall, resulting in serious injuries.Accidents could also occur when children fly kites in groups, particularly due to collisions and falls, he said.Dr Rathnasekara stressed that flying kites near high-voltage power lines was extremely dangerous.If a kite string comes into contact with a power line, electricity can travel through the string to the person holding it, potentially causing severe damage to tissues, blood vessels and nerves in the hands, arms and chest.In serious cases, the injuries could be so severe that affected body parts may have to be surgically removed, he warned.He also cautioned against the use of kite strings made from electrically conductive materials, which could come into contact with high-voltage power lines and result in fatal electric shocks.Parents and adults therefore have a responsibility to ensure that children do not fly kites in areas where power lines are present, Dr Rathnasekara said.While children should be allowed to enjoy their school holidays, their safety must be given equal priority, he stressed, urging parents and the public to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to prevent kite-flying-related accidents.

LRH warns of kite-flying accidents 

Four managers of private commercial banks arrested over an alleged illegal transfer of USD 1 billion by a Colombo Fort-based money changer have been remanded until 20 August by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.The four suspects were arrested yesterday (17) by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), in connection with investigations into the alleged transfer of the funds without the import of any goods into Sri Lanka.The suspects, who are managers of four separate private commercial banks, were arrested while at their respective banks.Police said the arrests were believed to be the first of their kind in Sri Lanka in connection with an investigation of this nature.According to investigators, the main suspect allegedly involved in the transaction had made regular weekly payments to the four bank officials in return for their assistance.The officials had allegedly received varying amounts of Rs 30,000, Rs 50,000 and Rs 100,000 per week at different times. One of the arrested managers had reportedly received approximately Rs 1 million on a single occasion.The investigation is centred on an alleged transfer of USD 1 billion by the money changer without any corresponding import of goods into the country.Meanwhile, the Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) has warned the public of a separate financial fraud in which individuals are impersonating officials of institutions including the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) and the FCID.According to complaints received by the authorities, the fraudsters initially contact potential victims via mobile phones or social media platforms and seek information about their savings and fixed deposit accounts.The suspects then claim to have information about the victims’ bank deposits and allege that complaints have been lodged stating that the funds were obtained through fraudulent means.They subsequently threaten the victims with an FCID investigation and send forged letters bearing fake CBSL letterheads, purported officials’ signatures and rubber stamps.The victims are then instructed to transfer money to a specified private bank account, which the fraudsters claim belongs to an FCID officer. In some cases, victims are told to transfer half of their deposits to the account.After making the transfer, victims are asked to provide a copy of the bank deposit slip as proof of payment. They are also instructed to obtain a letter requesting that the money be returned to their original account after the purported investigation is completed.Authorities said the fraudsters reportedly possess Police uniforms, bank identification cards and rubber stamps to make their claims appear legitimate.The public has been urged not to provide financial information or transfer money in response to such requests, and to exercise extreme caution when contacted by individuals claiming to represent law enforcement or financial institutions.

Alleged $1 b transfer: Four bank managers remanded 

The 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill has been included in the Parliament Order Paper ahead of its scheduled presentation to Parliament today (18).The Bill is expected to be presented by Justice Minister, Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara.The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Judicature (Amendment) Act, No. 2 of 1978, including provisions relating to the retirement age of judges.The Government’s move to extend the retirement age of judges has faced opposition from the Chief Prelates of the three Buddhist sects, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Opposition political parties and several international organisations.The Government gazetted the proposed Bill on 7 August despite the objections.Under the Constitution, a Bill presented to Parliament can be challenged before the Supreme Court within 14 days. The Court is required to communicate its determination to Parliament within three to 21 days after considering such a petition.

SL eyes global aviation jobs boom

NLB to crackdown on ‘Kotu Kapeema’

NLB to crackdown on ‘Kotu Kape ...

Request on Speaker spending: RTI response stops at Speaker's door?

Request on Speaker spending: R ...

Health officers told to follow uniform rules

Health officers told to follow ...

Women’s group condemns severe gender imbalance in Apex courts

Women’s group condemns severe ...

Four cops held over Rs 500,000 cannabis bribe

Four cops held over Rs 500,000 ...

LRH warns of kite-flying accidents

LRH warns of kite-flying accid ...

Alleged $1 b transfer: Four bank managers remanded

Alleged $1 b transfer: Four ba ...

22A Bill to Parliament today

22A Bill to Parliament today

NLB to crackdown on ‘Kotu Kapeema’

NLB to crackdown on ‘Kotu Kape ...

Request on Speaker spending: RTI response stops at Speaker's door?

Request on Speaker spending: R ...

Health officers told to follow uniform rules

Health officers told to follow ...

Women’s group condemns severe gender imbalance in Apex courts

Women’s group condemns severe ...

Four cops held over Rs 500,000 cannabis bribe

Four cops held over Rs 500,000 ...

LRH warns of kite-flying accidents

LRH warns of kite-flying accid ...

Alleged $1 b transfer: Four bank managers remanded

Alleged $1 b transfer: Four ba ...

22A Bill to Parliament today

22A Bill to Parliament today

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NLB to crackdown on ‘Kotu Kapeema’

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Request on Speaker spending: RTI response stops at Speaker's door?

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Health officers told to follow uniform rules

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Women’s group condemns severe gender imbalance in Apex courts

Women’s group condemns severe ...

Four cops held over Rs 500,000 cannabis bribe

Four cops held over Rs 500,000 ...

LRH warns of kite-flying accidents

LRH warns of kite-flying accid ...