News
Main opposition SJB says masses still have unsullied faith in SC
Main opposition SJB told Parliament that all those who uphold the values of democracy have pinned their hopes on the Supreme Court decision on the local council polls.
Chief Opposition Whip and SJB Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella said that the Supreme Court has always stood by the rights of the people for their franchise and this time too it would do the same. “Entire nation today has pinned its hopes on the Supreme Court decision. Postponing elections means nothing but depriving people’s right to vote. It is our hope and wish that the Supreme Court will go by its precedence and give an order to government officials to release funds needed for the holding of local council polls on March 9,” Kiriella said.
He said that the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and the Government Printer have put the Constitution aside and are hanging onto a circular and a statement to delay the polls as per the wish of the government which fears elections. “A circular and a statement cannot go above the Constitution which is considered the supreme law of the land. Right to vote is a fundamental right and the Elections Commission by delaying the polls is denying the basic human right to people. No court of law would allow that to prevail,” the Kandy District MP said.
“As per the constitution sovereignty lies in the people and people exercise their sovereign power by the courts through parliament. Now people are awaiting to see how the courts would exercise their sovereign power. A sum of Rs 10 billion has been allocated by the last budget for elections. Of that amount only five billion rupees are needed to be released to the elections commission to hold the local council polls.
“At the last party leaders’ meeting we in the opposition demanded that time be allocated for a debate on the issue of delaying polls. The government members opposed allocating time for this. They are using their numerical superiority to hinder the prevailing democracy. The court is the last hope and resort people have at a time like this,” Kiriella said.
Based on the prevailing disaster situation and the upcoming festive season, arrangements have been made to provide a nutrition allowance worth Rs. 5,000 to pregnant mothers.
This allowance, which will be provided only once, will be given to pregnant mothers who were registered at maternal clinics on or before 30 November 2025.
The distribution will take place through the Divisional Secretariat offices from 16 December, as a program of the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
The Situation Report released by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) at 6:00 AM today (13th December 2025) confirms that 640 persons have died and another 211 persons are missing due to flooding and landslides that took place in Sri Lanka within the past two weeks.
A meeting between representatives of UNICEF and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya was held on the 10th of December at the Prime Minister’s Office.
During the discussion, an initial review of the new digitalization policy draft was conducted, and it was emphasized that the new digital policy must be formulated to align with the ongoing education reforms.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the digital policy should be developed in a way that supports all five core pillars of the current education reforms, including curriculum reform, infrastructure development, and administrative restructuring.
It was further noted that the current draft is primarily focused on curriculum-related matters, and the digital policy should be structured to influence the overall education reform process.
Extensive discussions were also held on the importance of digital literacy, NEMIS, the provision of digital infrastructure, and minimizing the existing digital divide.
Attention was also drawn to the gaps in the current teacher training mechanisms , and the Prime Minister stressed the need to reduce paper usage.
The meeting was attended by the UNICEF representatives Dr. Emma Brigham and Deborah Wyburn, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary A.B.M. Ashraff, and several other officials.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Pregnant Mothers to receive Rs 5000 Nutrition Allowance in December
640 deaths, 211 missing as at 6:00AM today (13)
New Digitalization Policy draft reviewed
The government is taking steps to streamline trade facilitation, customs processes, investment approvals, and improving export facilities – Prime Minister
Showers will occur in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Uva, Central and North-Western provinces.
Big fossil fuel companies are responsible for climate crisis but poor countries like Sri Lanka are battered by it – Greenpeace South Asia
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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