News

CA dismisses Nagananda’s call for postponing A/L

Published

4 years ago

2022/02/4

By Chitra Weerarathne

The Court of Appeal has dismissed a Writ Application filed by public litigation activist/lawyer Nagananda Kodituwakku, requesting the Court to issue a mandatory order to postpone the GCE Advanced Level Examination scheduled to commence next Tuesday (8).

The bench comprised Justice Sobitha Rajakaruna. Kodituwakku told the Court that due to teachers’ strike and the pandemic, those sitting the examination had not been able to complete their studies. The petitioner asked the court to intervene to allow students to have at least 20 more weeks to prepare for the examination.

The Director General of National Education should take this into account, the petitioner said. Counsel Krishmal Warnasuriya intervened and objected. He said he appeared for a group of children sitting the exam.

Nagananada Kodituwakku asked the Court of Appeal to issue a mandatory order to postpone the exam.

The petitioner Kodituwakku had asked the Court to cancel the A/L examination time table by a Writ of Certiorari. The right to education of children had been violated by the authorities, he said.

Justice Sobitha Rajakaruna said that the fundamental rights jurisdiction was in the Supreme Court only. But the Court of Appeal has the right to look into public interest issues, Kodituwakku said. Intervention should not be considered, Kodituwakku said.

Warnasuriya said that the petitioner Kodituwakku was trying to file petitions and stop the GCE A/L examination due next week. A citizen of this country who has no interest in the A/L examination has no right to waste the time of the Court, Warnasuriya argued.

Counsel Krishmal Warnasuriya said that Kodituwakku had petitioned as an Attorney-at-Law when he was not. Kodituwakku replied that he had been suspended from the Bar only for another one month. He said that he did a service to the people by complaining about the LP gas explosions. He said that he wanted the exam postponed for a little while only.

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News

Animal Welfare Draft Bill to be Gazetted

Published

21 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

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.

News

Legal provisions on marking voters using indelible ink during elections removed

Published

21 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

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

Published

21 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

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.