News
Even lower voter turnout predicted at upcoming polls
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Executive Director, Institute of Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES), Manjula Gajanayake, attributes the low turnout at the 14 November election, to several factors contributed to this. “One of the reasons is that the election was held on Thursday. We usually have elections on Saturdays. Number of daily wage earners could not spare half a day on voting, many such people didn’t vote,” he said, calling on the government to ensure private sector employees were given paid leave on election days.
“We got thousands of complaints that workers are denied leave for voting. They are mostly from supermarkets, security firms, factories especially in Biyagama and Katunayake,” he said.
The voter turnouts at the next Provincial Council and Local Government elections were likely to be even lower, Gajanayake said. “Another causative factor is voter fatigue, as two elections have been held back to back. Many voters, particularly opposition supporters, feel the outcomes are already decided,” he added.
Gajanayake noted that all major political parties, except the NPP, showed signs of campaign fatigue, with most of them limiting their election rallies to indoor meetings. “This strain on parties and voters will be even more evident during local and provincial elections in early 2025,” he said.
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) has announced a reduction in the prices of Petrol 92 and Petrol 95, effective from midnight today (30).
The price of Petrol 92 has been reduced by Rs. 15 per litre, from Rs. 414 to Rs. 399 while the price of Petrol 95 Octane has been reduced by Rs. 20 per litre, from Rs. 495 to Rs. 475
There will be no change in the prices of diesel, Super Diesel and kerosene under the latest revision.
The book “Rathuwewi Mihimadala”, written based on the life story of Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Leader of the Democratic Left Front, was launched on Friday [August 28] at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.
Speaking to the media afterwards about Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:
“Vasudeva Nanayakkara is a prominent figure in Sri Lankan politics, particularly within the left-wing political movement. There were several influential figures within the left movement, and that left-wing influence also contributed to bringing the country to where it is today. Politically, there were areas where we agreed and areas where we did not. However, I have great respect for the contribution made by Vasudeva Nanayakkara to left-wing politics. When I entered Parliament in 2020, Vasudeva Nanayakkara was also in Parliament. We sat in the same row, and we spoke about many important as well as interesting moments in his political career. I believe some of these experiences have also been included in this book.”
The event was attended by members of the Maha Sangha, Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara, former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Speakers Karu Jayasuriya and Chamal Rajapaksa, as well as party members, family members and friends.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Latest News
Sun directly overhead Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon today (30)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (30) are Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and
Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon.
Petrol to cost less from midnight today (30)
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