News
Johnston urges CEB unions not to strike
It is unfair for trade unionists to take people hostage and cut off the power supply for two days to win their political demands, Chief Government Whip Highways Minister Johnston Fernando says.
Responding to journalists’ queries during an inspection tour to observe the finalizing of the work of New Kelani Bridge, which is to be opened, the Minister said that the trade unionists have mixed some of their professional grievances with political agendas of the parties they belong to. “People should understand that these unionists actually are doing politics on the pretext of winning their demands. We can recall how they opposed the East Terminal Development Project of the Colombo Port a few months ago. The end result was Sri Lanka had to give away the West Terminal, which is larger and could have been more profitable. Trade unions have a national responsibility. Whenever there is a threat to the national interest, they should give priority to them over their political agendas,” the Minister said.
“Now, they have threatened a blackout, and keep the country two days in the dark over the Kerawalapitiya power plant project, which will reduce the price of electricity,” Minister Fernando said.
Asked to comment on minor parties in the government holding separate meetings and press conferences on various issues showing differences of opinions, the Minister said: “We are an alliance and there are minor parties that are free to hold separate meetings. We saw that they have been holding such meetings during the recent past. It is their right. That is not a problem for us as a government. All our allies meet every two months to discuss as a single entity.”
Associated with the minister was Secretary to the Ministry of Highways RWR Pemasiri, Chairman of the Road Development Authority Chaminda Athaluwage, Project Director Eng Darshika Jayasekera and other ministry officials.
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
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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