News
Postal voting on 04 and 06 Sept.
Additional opportunity on 11 and 12 Sept.
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Postal voting for the upcoming Presidential Election would take place on 04 and 06 September, Saman Sri Rathnayake, Commissioner General of Elections, told The Island yesterday.
Voters who are unable to cast their votes during this period would have an additional opportunity on 11 and 12 September, he said.
“The ballot papers will be distributed on August 26. Officials directly involved in election duties, such as those in the Postal Service, Police, and Election Department, can cast their votes on 04 Sept. All others eligible for postal voting can vote on the subsequent days.”
Rathnayake said that 40 individuals had submitted deposits for contesting the presidential election. Of them, 23 represent political parties and others are independent candidates.
Nominations would be accepted on Thursday (15) from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Rathnayake said. “We have notified all candidates and their representatives of the security measures in place for Thursday. The police and security forces will be responsible for maintaining security,” he added.
On the last day for placing deposits, four candidates submitted theirs: MP Namal Rajapaksa from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Janaka Ratnayake from the United Sri Lanka People’s Party, Lalith de Silva from the United National Freedom Party, and independent candidate Sarath Kumara Gunarathne.
SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, who made the deposit on behalf of Rajapaksa, mentioned that they did so at an auspicious time. Commenting on SLPP MPs who had pledged support for President Wickremesinghe, Kariyawasam said, “Everyone with a conscience and courage will return to support Namal.”
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to the project to provide technological solutions to prevent wild elephants from being hit by trains was signed yesterday (01) afternoon at the President’s Media Centre, under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Coordinated through the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, the project is being implemented as a public-private partnership, with the Railway Department, the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Forest Conservation Department working together, with full financial support from People’s Bank.
The system consists of three-beam detection, passive infrared (PIR) sensors, automatic temperature sensors and a tamper alarm system to detect animals weighing more than 20 kilogrammes and unauthorised interference. Signal lights (red/yellow/green) installed on either side of the railway tracks, together with a special screen installed inside the locomotive cab, will alert the driver in advance to the exact location of an elephant.
A demonstration test of the system was successfully conducted at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage premises in the presence of the relevant officials, following which a report on the system was prepared.
The system will be implemented as a pilot project from next month at 13 locations where wild elephant accidents are frequent. A newly developed website is also scheduled to be launched to enable the progress of the project to be viewed live.
Additional General Manager of Railways P.D.S.B. Chandrasena, Director General of Wildlife Conservation M.S.L.R.P. Marasinghe, Conservator General of Forests S.C. Palamakuumbura and Chairman of People’s Bank Chandana Guniyangoda signed the relevant MoU. Officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, including Presidential Additional Secretary (Clean Sri Lanka) Engineer S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, as well as senior officials from the Railway Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Conservation Department and People’s Bank, were also present.
[President’s Media Division]
The Commissioner General of Examinations has announced that the results of the 2026 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination have been released online, and can be viewed on the department’s official website: www.doenets.lk
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed Sri Lanka on Monday, 31 August, to undertake an official visit to Bhutan to participate in the Global Conscious Food Systems Summit, scheduled to be held in Bhutan.
During her visit, Prime Minister Dr Amarasuriya participated in the opening plenary of the Summit on 1 September, where she delivered a keynote address under the theme “Rising to the Moment: Igniting Consciousness to Address the Polycrisis.”
The Prime Minister will also engage in discussions with international leaders and representatives on strengthening cooperation towards sustainable food systems, food security and resilient communities.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
MoU signed for technology to prevent wild elephant-train collisions
Grade 5 scholarship exam results released
Prime Minister participates in Global Conscious Food Systems Summit in Bhutan
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