A motion has been submitted to Parliament by NPP Ratnapura District MP Upul Kithsiri urging the Government to declare the Udawalawe area, covering parts of the Ratnapura and Monaragala districts, as a designated tourist zone.

The motion, now included in the Addendum to the Order Book of Parliament, proposes that the Government take necessary measures to designate the Udawalawe region, in the Ratnapura District, and the Sevanagala region, in the Monaragala District, as a tourism zone, in order to promote and better utilise the area’s diverse attractions.

MP Kithsiri noted that despite the presence of several significant tourist destinations, both local and foreign visitors are unable to fully experience the versatility of the area due to the absence of a proper mechanism for tourism development and promotion.

The motion highlights a number of attractions within the proposed tourist zone, including the Udawalawe National Park, Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home, Sankapala Rajamaha Viharaya, Udawalawe Reservoir, Sevanagala Sugar Factory, Sevanagala Sugarcane Research Institute, Udawalawe Freshwater Fisheries Center and the Waulpana Limestone Cave.

Accordingly, the motion calls on Parliament to resolve that the Government take appropriate steps to formally designate the area as a tourist zone and implement measures aimed at enhancing its tourism potential and economic benefits to the region.

The national Official Poverty Line (OPL) rose to Rs. 17,117 per person per month in April 2026, up from Rs. 16,690 in March, reflecting the increasing cost of meeting basic needs, according to the latest data released by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS).

The DCS attributed the increase to a rise in the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), which tracks changes in the cost of living across the country.

District-level data showed significant variations in the poverty threshold. Colombo recorded the highest OPL at Rs. 18,461 per person per month, followed by Gampaha at Rs. 18,367. Nuwara Eliya and Kalutara also reported comparatively high poverty lines of Rs. 18,001 and Rs. 17,968 respectively.

Moneragala recorded the lowest district poverty line at Rs. 16,367.

Meanwhile, the Producer Price Index (PPI) for all economic activities stood at 241.5 in April, while the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) for May was recorded at 203.4.

The OPL is calculated using the rebased NCPI (2021=100) and represents the minimum monthly expenditure required for an individual to meet basic food and non-food needs. Originally based on data from the 2012/13 Household Income and Expenditure Survey, the poverty line is periodically adjusted to reflect changes in prices and living costs.

The latest figures underscore the sharp increase in living expenses over the past decade. During the 2012/13 survey period, the national poverty line stood at Rs. 5,223 per person per month. By April 2026, that figure had more than tripled, highlighting the sustained impact of inflation on household purchasing power.

Twenty-eight people (25 men and three women) were arrested during a police raid on a Facebook party held in the Ponaduwa area in the Ambalangoda Police Division on the night of June 6.

The operation was carried out by officers from the Ambalangoda Police and the Special Task Force, who recovered quantities of narcotics, including cocaine, crystal methamphetamine (“Ice”), cannabis, and contraband cigarettes.

According to police, the suspects are aged between 18 and 44 years and are residents of Batapola, Uragasmanhandiya, Balapitiya, Homagama, Beruwala, Ambalangoda, Meetiyagoda, Wathugedara and Ahungalla.

Law enforcement officials said 225 milligrams of cocaine, 8 grams and 125 milligrams of crystal methamphetamine, and 2 grams and 400 milligrams of cannabis were seized during the raid.

Police said investigations were continuing, and the suspects are due to be produced before court.

By Chaminda Silva