UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has turned down SJB leader Sajith Premadasa’s invitation for his party to join the SJB-led May Day rally at P.D. Sirisena ground.

On behalf of the UNP, its General Secretary and former MP Thalatha Atukorale has issued a letter explaining their decision not to join the rally.

Atukorale has said that as May Day falls on a Poya Day this year, the UNP has previously decided to dedicate the day to religious observances.

She has recalled that during his tenure as Prime Minister, the late Ranasinghe Premadasa emphasised that it was inappropriate to engage in political activities when May Day coincided with a Poya Day.

Accordingly, she informed the SJB leadership that the UNP would not be able to participate in the May Day rally organized by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya or any other political party.

A nursing mother has been remanded by the Mallakam Magistrate’s Court over a land dispute following a complaint lodged by independent Jaffna MP Dr Archchuna Ramanathan, who was filmed brandishing a firearm during a confrontation with residents.

The incident took place on Saturday in the Periyavilan area, within the Ilavalai Police Division, on land claimed by the MP as ancestral property. According to Ramanathan, he had entered the plot to carry out clearing work when he was confronted by local residents who opposed his presence, alleging encroachment and disputing his actions, Tamil Guardian reported.

Eyewitness accounts and widely circulated video footage show a heated altercation between the MP and a group that included several women. During the confrontation, Ramanathan produced a handgun, reportedly issued by the Ministry of Defence for personal protection, an act that has drawn sharp criticism given the civilian nature of the dispute and the absence of firearms among those present.

Despite the presence of multiple individuals at the scene, it was a woman, identified in court as the mother of a one-year-old child, who was arrested after Ramanathan filed a complaint with Ilavalai Police. She was subsequently produced before the Mallakam Magistrate’s Court, which ordered her remanded until April 29.

The latest Advanced Level results show that the Central Province has fallen to the 8th position in the national rankings, according to Senior Assistant Education Secretary of the Province Prabath Maddumaarachchi. He noted that the North Central Province is the only province ranked below them.

Mr. Maddumaarachchi made these remarks while attending the 26th Professional Lecturers’ Meeting held at the City Hotel in Kandy.

“The field of education is a highly sensitive sector.

However, the professional dignity and security of teachers and principals are currently facing a severe threat. Looking at the private tuition sector, there is no approved act or clear legal framework for regulation. Both government school teachers and private class lecturers must focus on creating a productive citizens for the country,” he stated.

He highlighted that student attendance for A-Level classes in schools has seen a drastic decline. Students are increasingly prioritising private tuition over regular school attendance, often due to private classes being conducted during school hours.

“When provincial authorities conduct school inspections, they often find A-Level teachers sitting idle because students are absent. Principals report that students simply do not attend. A teacher cannot go to students’ homes to bring them to school. To improve our position from 8th place, we must address the needs of students, particularly in the Arts and Commerce streams, and work towards developing their skills within the school system,” he added.

By S.K. Samaranayake