News
Sri Lanka caught up in anti-Russia propaganda project controversy
Moscow seeks govt’s response
Russia has strongly protested against the National People’s Power (NPP) government’s decision to allow anti-Russia exhibits at the ongoing World Press Photo exhibition at the Independence Square Arcade, Colombo.
Russian Ambassador in Colombo Levan S. Dzhagaryan told The Island that he was quite surprised and disappointed over the development. He called the exhibition, which commenced on 10 January, an anti-Russia event.
The organisers have declared that the exhibition is open for the public from 10.30 am to 7 pm till 20 January.
The exhibition will also be held at the Jaffna Cultural Centre from 24 to 27 January. From Jaffna, the exhibition will be moved to the Galle Municipal mall (31 January to 02 February) before returning to Colombo. Cinnamon Life will accommodate the exhibition from 08 to 10 February.
The Russian Embassy in Colombo on Monday (12) issued the following statement: “The Embassy was perplexed by the anti-Russian photos at the exhibition in the Independence Square Arcade which was organized by the Sri Lanka Press Institute and the Embassy of the Netherlands in Colombo.
Those materials reflect the current events in the Ukraine zone in a biased and one-sided manner with the emphasis on the Western and Kiev interpretation. At the same time, the crimes of the Zelensky regime against the residents of Donbas, infringement of the rights of the Russian speaking population in Ukraine, targeted murders of Russian journalists and the treacherous violations of the Minsk agreements by Kiev Nazi junta, are hushed up.
Such non-subjective presentation of materials is further evidence of hypocrisy and double standards of the West.
In this regards, the Embassy expects an appropriate response from the official authorities of Sri Lanka, based on the fact that permission to hold such an anti-Russian event does not correspondent to the spirit of traditional Russian-Sri Lankan friendly relations.
As for the Dutch Embassy, we recommend that it focuses on continuing efforts to return to Sri Lanka the artefacts criminally taken by the Dutch colonizers which rightfully belong to the people of the island state.”
The exhibition was last hosted here in 2002 during the UNP administration.
A specialists committee has been appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation adhering to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 29.12.2025 for submitting appropriate recommendations analyzing the provisions of the draft bill formulation in regard to Animal Welfare.
Based on the recommendations of the said Committee, the Legal Draftsman has been instructed at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 18.05.2026 to prepare the final bill on the animal welfare.
Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the draft bill and the clearance of the Attorney General has been received in the connection.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to publish the said draft bill in the
Government Gazette Notification and subsequently forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Under the legal provisions for elections in this country since 2004, it is mandatory for voters who come to mark their votes to verify their identity through a valid identity card, and it is also mandatory for all such voters to be marked with an appropriate mark using indelible ink. The dual purpose of these two functions is to prevent a voter from voting more than once in a single election.
It has been observed that having to follow two different
methods at the same time to achieve the same objective hinders the efficiency of the duties performed at the polling stations and also incurs additional costs to the government.
Therefore, it has been deemed appropriate to remove the legal provisions regarding the use of indelible ink and marking the voter with the appropriate mark from all election acts.
Accordingly, the development activities of the province, as well as national security, will benefit. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the
President to take necessary steps to remove the legal provisions
• Section 36 of the presidential Election Act, No 15 of 1981
• Section 38 of the Parliamentary Election Act, No 01 of 1981
• Section 36 of the Provincial Council Election Act, No 02 of 1988
• Section 53 A of the Local Government Elections Ordinance (262 Authority)
• Section 21 of the Referendum Act No 7 of 1981
News
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 24 JUNE 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 24 June 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m.
Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expectedat times over the Western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Animal Welfare Draft Bill to be Gazetted
Legal provisions on marking voters using indelible ink during elections removed
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
Court vacancy row throws Parliament into turmoil; sittings disrupted
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