Seven provinces at high-risk

Acting Deputy Provincial Director of Health Services for the Western Province, Specialist Dr. Navinda Soysa has disclosed that the total number of dengue cases reported in Sri Lanka this year had crossed 100,000.

Dr. Soysa said so appearing on Ada Derana’s BIG FOCUS programme yesterday (28).

Although a decline had been observed in the number of dengue cases reported daily, compared to previous months, the risk had not completely subsided, he warned.

It was also revealed that seven of the country’s nine provinces in the country remain at a high-risk level for dengue.

In view of the situation, Dr. Navinda Soysa stressed that the public should ensure that health guidelines are followed properly.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri Unawatuna has filed a written complaint, under Section 136(1)(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 of 1979, in the Fort Magistrate’s Court, against the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

The complaint alleges that the Secretary committed a punishable offence, within the court’s jurisdiction by willfully neglecting, failing to perform, and/or breaching his statutory duty under Article 9 of the Constitution and Section 289 of the Penal Code, by failing to take the necessary steps to accurately translate Article 83(

ආ) of the Constitution into the English language in accordance with a letter dated August 11, 2025, issued by the Chairman of the Election Commission.

According to a request made by Attorney-at-Law Unawatuna to the Election Commission to correctly translate paragraph (ආ) of Article 83 of the Constitution into English, the Chairman of the Election Commission, R.M.A.L. Rathnayake, has informed the President’s Secretary by forwarding a letter to brief the President and requesting to make the necessary arrangements for the relevant correction, which was notified in writing to the said Attorney-at-Law by the Chairman of the Election Commission, Mr. Rathnayake, on 11.08.2025.

Accordingly, the complaint states that the Secretary to the President holds a statutory duty to rectify the error in paragraph 83(b) of the English version of the Constitution so that it aligns correctly with the Sinhala text. The plaint emphasises that under Articles 9, 49, and 51 of the 1972 Constitution, as well as the Preamble and Article 171 of the 1978 Constitution, the Sinhala version of the Constitution remains the authoritative text.

The complainant further states that he had previously raised this matter before the Supreme Court by filing petitions SC/SD/37/2026 and SC/SD/66/2026 against the “22nd Amendment to the Constitution” Bill and the “Judicature (Amendment)” Bill (amending the Judicature Act No. 2 of 1978). In those proceedings, he submitted a copy of the letter, dated August 11, 2025, which notice to him by the Chairman of the Election Commission which Chairman informed to the Secretary to the President. The complaint notes that the Supreme Court did not reject these submissions in its determination.

However, because the Secretary to the President has failed to correct the error in Article 83(b) of the English version to date, the Honorable Judges reached their determination by relying on the flawed English text of Article 83(b).

The lawyer has reported these facts to the Fort Magistrate’s Court, asserting that by failing to act on the Election Commission Chairman’s letter, dated August 11, 2025, and failing to perform his statutory duty to correctly translate Article 83(ආ), the Secretary to the President has committed a punishable offense under Article 9 of the Constitution and Section 289 of the Penal Code for willfully neglecting, failing to perform, or breaching a duty imposed upon him by an enactment or statute.

A humanitarian initiative combining environmental conservation, education and friendship is taking shape as South Korea extends a helping hand to Sri Lanka. The programme, set for 10.00 a.m. on 10 October 2026 at National Namal Uyana, is a step in a long-term effort to strengthen educational, cultural, technological and people-to-people ties, not a one-day handout.

The main Korean partner is the Korea National Merit Volunteer Association, active in social service, veterans’ welfare, international friendship and humanitarian aid. Korean volunteers have helped send large quantities of donated clothing and daily necessities to Sri Lanka. A similar project in April 2024 collected items worth about 500 million Korean won.

On the Sri Lankan side, A. Rachindra Gayanath Silva has long coordinated the effort, also promoting training, cultural exchange and university links. Through FFMCE consultancy services he has worked with Hanyeong Education Technical School, Gumi University and Keimyung Munhwa University. Choi Won-wook, Chairman of Ceyko International Korea, has also lent support.

The aim is to go beyond donations through education, sport, culture, technology and volunteering. The World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu in 2026, attended by Sri Lankan athletes, has opened another avenue for friendship.

Namal Uyana was chosen to honour Ven. Wanawasi Rahula Thera, who has spent over three decades protecting natural heritage from deforestation, to mark the 36th anniversary of the National Namal Uyana, and to provide school equipment to children in need. Planting a tree and giving a child a book are both seeds for the future, showing that conservation and human development are inseparable.