<ul><li>Govt blocks 3 November debate</li><li>Opposition refuses to amend or withdraw motion</li><li>Claims breach of parliamentary procedures</li></ul> The Opposition is to inform the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) of what it alleges to be the Government's violation of parliamentary procedures by preventing a debate on the no-confidence motion (NCM) against Speaker of Parliament Dr Jagath Wickramaratne, reliable sources said.The move comes after the Government decided that the motion would not be debated in Parliament tomorrow (3 November), with the Opposition insisting that neither party leaders nor the Government has the authority to compel it to amend or withdraw a motion that has already been submitted and included in Parliament's Order Paper. Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunathilleka said the Opposition had made its position clear at the party leaders' meeting and had no intention of amending, resubmitting or withdrawing the motion. "We informed the party leaders' meeting that we have absolutely no intention of amending this NCM, submitting it again or withdrawing it. Our position is that a party leaders' meeting has no right or authority to tell us to amend or withdraw an NCM once it has been submitted," he said. He further said the motion was already on the Order Paper and that removing it would require Parliament to follow one of the recognised procedures. "There are two or three ways to remove it from the Order Book, and those procedures must be followed. One is for those who submitted the motion to withdraw it. Another is for Parliament to pass a resolution. Alternatively, the Government must suspend the Standing Orders (SOs) and have the motion removed through a majority vote," he said. He accused the Government of attempting to keep the motion on the Order Paper without allowing it to be debated, despite not having followed any of those procedures. "The Government is trying to keep the motion on the Order Paper but prevent a debate on it. We want to make it clear that we are not prepared to draft an NCM according to the Government's wishes."&nbsp;&nbsp; Speaking further, Karunathilleka said the Secretary-General of Parliament was responsible for including motions on the Order Paper and that the Speaker had not initially objected to the inclusion of the present motion. "Earlier, when we submitted an NCM against the Deputy Minister of Defence, the Speaker had said it could not be included on the Order Paper. However, he has not done so in this case."The Chief Opposition Whip also said the Government had initially indicated that the Attorney General's advice would be sought on the motion but had subsequently changed its position and decided not to obtain that advice. Meanwhile, reliable sources familiar with the matter told The Daily Morning that the Opposition had decided to inform the IPU and the CPA of alleged restrictions on parliamentary debate on the NCM. The dispute follows a decision announced by Leader of the House and Minister Bimal Rathnayake that the NCM against the Speaker would not be debated on 3 November. He said the Opposition had failed to amend the motion in accordance with Parliament's SOs and resubmit it by the 28 October deadline. Parliament would therefore hold an adjournment debate on 3 November instead. He added that the motion could still be taken up before the Budget debate if the Opposition resubmitted it in accordance with the SOs.&nbsp;

Parliament: Opposition to take Speaker NCM to IPU, CPA

<ul><li>Nearly Rs 1.6 t is tied up in tax assessment appeals and other disputes</li></ul> Sri Lanka's total tax arrears recorded by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) had reached nearly Rs 2.1 trillion by the end of 2025, according to a new technical assistance report issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).The report found that nearly Rs 1.6 trillion of the outstanding amount was tied up in appeals against tax assessments or other disputes.Appeals have therefore emerged as the biggest obstacle to recovering outstanding taxes, the IMF said.The report also found that total tax arrears had stood at nearly Rs 1.1 trillion in 2024, of which approximately Rs 947 billion was subject to appeals or other disputes.Even tax arrears that are not under dispute have continued to accumulate over long periods, the report noted. Among the factors contributing to the problem are staff shortages, inadequate prioritisation and the absence of a risk-based system to distinguish between taxes that can realistically be recovered and those for which recovery is unlikely or would be impractical relative to the administrative costs involved.The report also pointed out that the IRD does not have the authority to write off unrecoverable tax debts directly under the Inland Revenue Act and the Value Added Tax Act. Such cases must instead be referred to the Ministry of Finance.The IMF further observed that sufficient recovery action had not been taken in some cases involving tax arrears outstanding for more than five years, even where the amounts were not subject to appeals or other disputes.To address these weaknesses, the report recommended introducing a risk-based tax arrears management system that classifies outstanding taxes according to how long they have remained unpaid, whether they are subject to appeals or other disputes, their recoverability and the administrative cost of collection.Such a system would allow greater priority to be given to recoverable tax arrears while enabling the authorities to separately manage those involving low-value amounts, disputed assessments, a low likelihood of recovery or collection costs that make recovery impractical, the report said.

IMF Finds: SL's tax arrears approach Rs 2.1t

<ul><li>&nbsp;Tax hikes may trigger protests but are vital for economic stability</li></ul> Necessary financial policies must be implemented regardless of whether the public supports them, Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe said.He made the remarks while delivering a lecture at the University of Kelaniya.He said the CBSL had already implemented difficult decisions and policies to safeguard the economy and would not hesitate to introduce further measures when necessary.He stressed that failing to implement such policies simply because they were unpopular could ultimately cause serious harm to the country as a whole.Dr Weerasinghe further said tax rates sometimes had to be increased to meet the country's needs, even though most people were opposed to higher taxes.The Governor acknowledged that such decisions could trigger public protests and create a degree of instability.He said the Government had a responsibility to clearly explain to the public how tax increases or reductions would affect the economy. Proper communication, he added, would help people understand the reasons for the decisions and support the successful implementation of economic policies.Dr Weerasinghe also stressed the importance of introducing tax changes at the appropriate time. The Government needed to recognise that there would always be sections of society opposed to tax increases, he said.Despite the severe political and economic crises Sri Lanka had faced in recent years, the economy had been kept relatively stable because necessary, albeit unpopular, decisions had been implemented at the right time, the Governor added.

CBSL Governor Says: Unpopular policies essential, says CBSL Governor

<ul><li>Litro November prices unchanged</li></ul> Litro Gas Lanka is discussing with LAUGFS Gas PLC the possibility of supplying Litro gas cylinders to LAUGFS customers amid continuing difficulties in obtaining supplies, as the company assures its own customers of uninterrupted availability, it is learnt.Litro Gas Lanka Chairman Channa Gunawardana told The Daily Morning that discussions were underway to identify a solution to ensure an adequate supply of gas, including for LAUGFS customers.“The Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security, Wasantha Samarasinghe, considering the issue faced by LAUGFS gas users who are not receiving supplies, has decided that Litro should explore the possibility of providing gas to LAUGFS customers as well. We are still looking at various options and discussing with LAUGFS whether there is any possibility of doing so,” he said. Gunawardana also assured Litro customers that the company had imported sufficient cylinders to meet local demand and would release them to the market soon. “Earlier, Litro users also experienced a shortage, but we have now imported enough cylinders. We will be releasing them to the market soon,” he said. Meanwhile, although global gas prices continue to rise, Litro has decided not to increase its domestic prices for November. The price of a 12.5 kg cylinder will remain at Rs 4,365, a 5 kg cylinder at Rs 1,750 and a 2.3 kg cylinder at Rs 815. Trade, Commerce and Food Security Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe had previously said that legal action had been initiated against LAUGFS Gas PLC over allegations that the company had misled consumers and caused public inconvenience by failing to maintain adequate supplies. For nearly three months, LAUGFS customers have struggled to obtain gas cylinders, causing frustration among households and putting pressure on distributors and dealeRs The prolonged shortage has reportedly led some customers to sell their LAUGFS cylinders at significantly reduced prices. When contacted by The Daily Morning, LAUGFS Chairman W K H Wegapitiya said tahe recent supply disruptions have arisen primarily due to extraordinary challenges in international LPG procurement, shipping and supply chains, particularly the disruptions affecting the Middle Eastern region. "These are circumstances largely beyond our control, and it would not be accurate to attribute the shortages simply to a failure or reluctance on our part to place orders." He further said they had been continuously engaging with the relevant government authorities to explain these challenges and explore practical solutions to restore and maintain a reliable supply of LPG to the domestic market.

LPG Supply:  Litro in talks to supply cylinders to LAUGFS customers

The reliance on single suppliers for certain pharmaceuticals and medical products is making it difficult for State hospitals to procure essential items locally, with some products unavailable even in the private market, sources within the State health services told The Daily Morning yesterday (1). The sources said hospitals sometimes struggled to purchase medicines, surgical consumables, medical devices and implants through local suppliers. In some instances, the same supplier served both the Government and private sectors, leaving hospitals with limited alternatives when stocks ran short. Although the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) had taken steps to address monopolies, certain products were still supplied by a single supplier, the sources said. They added that the registration of multiple suppliers did not necessarily guarantee a regular supply of the required products. The sources further said some registered suppliers failed to provide the items hospitals needed, while others reportedly waited until stocks in both the Government and private sectors were exhausted before supplying them. This made it difficult for hospitals to obtain essential items when they were urgently needed. The sources said the proposed Government-to-Government (G2G) procurement mechanism could help address some of these difficulties. However, uncertainty persisted over its implementation and the availability of supplies through the proposed arrangement, they added. The Cabinet approved the G2G procurement mechanism in July 2025, and discussions with potential partner countries, including India, were reportedly ongoing. Attempts to contact the Deputy Minister of Health and the Director General of the Medical Supplies Division for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.&nbsp;

Essential Medicines: Single suppliers leave hospitals struggling?

<ul><li>Fishing and naval communities advised to avoid specified areas&nbsp;</li><li>Showers and thundershowers forecast across several provinces</li></ul> The Department of Meteorology warned fishing and naval communities against venturing into specified deep-sea areas as Cyclone Murasu is expected to intensify and bring strong winds and rough seas. In a warning issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 3 p m yesterday (1), the Department stated the deep depression over the south-eastern Bay of Bengal had intensified into a cyclone named Murasu. The system was located near latitude 12.1° North and longitude 85.3° East at 11.30 a.m. yesterday. It is expected to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal around this morning. The cyclone is then expected to move northwestwards and cross the coast of Andhra Pradesh in India as a severe cyclonic storm between midnight today and the early hours of tomorrow (3).&nbsp;Wind speeds in the affected sea areas could reach 70 to 80 kmph at times, accompanied by heavy thundershowers and very rough seas.&nbsp;The warning covers deep-sea areas in the Bay of Bengal and the sea area extending from Mannar to Trincomalee via Kankesanthurai. Fishing and naval communities have been advised not to venture into the deep-sea area bounded by latitudes 10° North and 15° North and longitudes 80° East and 90° East until further notice. Those already operating in the affected areas have been advised to move to safer locations. Meanwhile, the general weather forecast issued at 4 p m yesterday said showers or thundershowers were expected at several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva and Southern provinces last night, with fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 50 mm possible in some locations.&nbsp;Today (2), showers or thundershowers are expected at several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, Uva, Eastern and North Central provinces, as well as in the Kurunegala and Mullaitivu districts, after 1 p m. Fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 50 mm is possible in some areas. Showers may also occur in the Western and Southern provinces during the morning. Mainly fair weather is expected elsewhere on the island. Misty conditions are possible in some areas of the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in the Kurunegala and Anuradhapura districts during the early hours of the morning. The public has been advised to take precautions against localised strong winds and lightning during thunderstorms. Meanwhile, according to the Disaster Management Centre, flooding, heavy rain, strong winds and landslides have affected 21,240 people from 5,768 families across 18 districts since 23 October. The affected districts are Matale, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Matara, Hambantota, Ampara, Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Puttalam, Kurunegala, Jaffna, Mannar and Mullaitivu. Three deaths and three injuries have been reported, with three people listed as missing. Eight properties have been completely damaged and another 737 have sustained partial damage.

Cyclone Murasu warning issued for deep-sea areas

The carcass of a wild elephant has been found in a wooded area near a paddy field adjoining Kayangollaewa Tank in the Meeminnawala area of Kahatagasdigiliya.Officers from the Kahatagasdigiliya Wildlife Office discovered the carcass and observed that the elephant's left tusk was missing.Wildlife officers suspect that someone may have cut off and removed the tusk. They also believe the elephant may have been dead for some time before its carcass was discovered.The Kahataagasdigiliya Wildlife Office, Divulwewa Police and the Army have launched further investigations into the incident.The discovery comes less than a month after the death of Kawanthissa, another prominent elephant.&nbsp;

Another tusker found dead 

The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs is exploring the possibility of introducing legal provisions to regulate “kidfluencing”, alongside proposed guidelines governing the use of children in social media content. Ministry Secretary Tharangani Wickramasinghe told The Daily Morning that the guidelines would soon be opened for public consultation, adding that the Ministry’s Legal Division had been asked to examine how legal provisions could be introduced.“We have drafted guidelines regarding reporting about children in the media. However, several incidents have emerged involving children being featured on social media, sometimes even by individuals other than their parents. Hence, we have amended some of the existing guidelines and introduced new guidelines to restrict the use of children in such content. The guidelines are being finalised and will be gazetted following public consultation,” she said.“We are also looking into whether a legal component could be incorporated into this. We have informed several parties to explore the possibility of introducing legal provisions to restrict such instances,” she added.The issue has gained attention as parents increasingly share photographs and videos of their children on platforms such as Facebook and TikTok, raising questions about the potential long-term effects on children.Following a viral video showing a woman leaving a child on grass while recording content for entertainment, the Ministry and the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) said they were finalising guidelines intended to promote a child-friendly media culture.A panel of experts drafted the guidelines, which are expected to be released soon.

Child Protection: Ministry explores legal provisions to regulate ‘kidfluencing’

A total of 11,970 children have been arrested during raids conducted under the national Ratama Ekata operation since 30 October 2025, according to available figures.The arrests include 11,737 boys and 233 girls.The Ratama Ekata operation continues across the country, with the Government planning a major crackdown on organised criminal networks, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala said.He said the operation had resulted in significant action to disrupt the supply of drugs in Sri Lanka, with the Police, Police Narcotics Bureau, Special Task Force, three armed forces and Coast Guard making substantial contributions."As a result, tonnes of drugs that were intended to be distributed among the public have been seized. If those quantities had not been intercepted, drug traffickers and dealers would have divided them into gram-sized portions and distributed them among children," he said. The Minister also linked drug trafficking to organised criminal groups, saying that underworld networks played a major role in the trade. "Drug trafficking is connected to the underworld. These organised criminals are the main players in this operation. A major operation against them is also being carried out alongside this programme."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Parliament: Opposition to take Speaker NCM to IPU, CPA

IMF Finds: SL's tax arrears approach Rs 2.1t

IMF Finds: SL's tax arrears ap ...

CBSL Governor Says: Unpopular policies essential, says CBSL Governor

CBSL Governor Says: Unpopular ...

LPG Supply: Litro in talks to supply cylinders to LAUGFS customers

LPG Supply: Litro in talks to ...

Essential Medicines: Single suppliers leave hospitals struggling?

Essential Medicines: Single su ...

Cyclone Murasu warning issued for deep-sea areas

Cyclone Murasu warning issued ...

Another tusker found dead

Another tusker found dead

Child Protection: Ministry explores legal provisions to regulate ‘kidf ...

Child Protection: Ministry exp ...

Ratama Ekata Operation: Nearly 12,000 children arrested within a year

Ratama Ekata Operation: Nearly ...

IMF Finds: SL's tax arrears approach Rs 2.1t

IMF Finds: SL's tax arrears ap ...

CBSL Governor Says: Unpopular policies essential, says CBSL Governor

CBSL Governor Says: Unpopular ...

LPG Supply: Litro in talks to supply cylinders to LAUGFS customers

LPG Supply: Litro in talks to ...

Essential Medicines: Single suppliers leave hospitals struggling?

Essential Medicines: Single su ...

Cyclone Murasu warning issued for deep-sea areas

Cyclone Murasu warning issued ...

Another tusker found dead

Another tusker found dead

Child Protection: Ministry explores legal provisions to regulate ‘kidf ...

Child Protection: Ministry exp ...

Ratama Ekata Operation: Nearly 12,000 children arrested within a year

Ratama Ekata Operation: Nearly ...

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