News
Doctor remanded for allegedly assaulting minor workers
BY Hemantha Randunu and Lalith Chaminda
The Galle Magistrate yesterday (18) ordered that Dr. Krishantha Perera, the surgeon in charge of the oncology ward of the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, be remanded until 22 January for allegedly assaulting two minor staff members.
Seventy two health sector trade unions recently held a token strike in protest against the government’s decision to increase the allowance of only doctors.
The minor employees attached to the Cancer Unit of the hospital joined the strike. A heated argument between Dr. Perera and striking workers erupted on 17 January when he accused them of disrupting hospital activities.
Two workers then lodged a complaint that Dr. Perera had assaulted them. The workers commenced a strike yesterday demanding the arrest of Dr. Perera.
They also allege that Dr. Perera was drunk when he assaulted them. The doctor has denied the charge.Following the incident, the doctor had admitted himself to a private hospital. The police arrested him there and presented him before the court.
News
M/s South Asian Technologies awarded contract to supply vehicle number plates
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.
News
A new act for National Lotteries Board to be introduced
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.
News
Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 to be amended
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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