News
Bacterial infection claims two lives in Galle Prison
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Two inmates of the Galle Prison have died due to a rare bacterial infection, which has left 16 others hospitalised, according to prison officials.
Nine of inmates had been admitted to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital and seven were receiving treatment at the prison hospital, media spokesman for the Prisons Department, Chandana Ekanayaka, said.
“A team of doctors from the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital has been sent to the Galle Prison to investigate the matter. They have administered antibiotics to all inmates and officials. They have also been asked to wear masks, and prisoners continue to be produced in courts” he said.
Dr. G. Wijesuriya, Medical Director at the Ministry of Health said the prisoners are suffering from meningococcal disease. He said it was a bacterial infection.
“We are trying to figure out how the bacterium found its way into the prison. A week ago, a person who was released from Galle Prison, died at the Karapitiya Hospital. He was 24-years-old. We are also testing other members of his family and his associates,” he said.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to award the contract for printing and supplying vehicle number plates for the Department of Motor Traffic for a period of five (5) years to M/s South Asian Technologies based on the recommendations of the High-Level Standing Procurement Committee and the Procurement Appeal Board.
The National Lotteries board has been established subject to the Finance Act No. 11 of 1963. Having identified the requirement of amending that act which was imposed around 62 years to cater the current requirements of the lottery market, the Cabinet of Mnisters at their meeting held on 14.02.2017 granted approval to draft a new bill for the purpose.
Accordingly, the National Lotteries Board has recognized further amendments to be performed to the fundamental draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsmen.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the
resolution furnished by the President in his office as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to direct the Legal Draftsmen to finalize the formulation of the draft bill for the National Lotteries Board as soon as possible including the proposed new amendments as well.
The Werahara office of the Department of Motor Traffic performs issuance of temporary driving licenses in this country based on the driving licenses issued overseas, and measures have been initiated to render the service from a service window of the Department of Motor Traffic established at the Bandaranayake International Airport from 03.08.2025.
The fees charged for issuing temporary driving licenses have been published in Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 prepared under the provisions of the Motor Traffic (Authority 203) Act.
But, as the fee of Rupees 2,000/- charged for the service is not sufficient, the requirement of amending the regulations has been recognized.
The regulations for introducing the revised fees have been published in the government extraordinary gazette
notification No. 2463/04 dated 17.11.2025. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to
submit the regulations to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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M/s South Asian Technologies awarded contract to supply vehicle number plates
A new act for National Lotteries Board to be introduced
Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 to be amended
Mrs. P. K. L. S. Panduwawala appointed to the post of Surveyor General
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