News
EC gets tough, says it won’t bow to any quarter other than courts; LG polls before 19 March
By Ranil Dharmasena
The Election Commission (EC) would hold the local government (LG) election before 19 March unless a court order prevents it, Chairman of the Commission, Nimal G. Punchihewa said.
“The members are of the opinion that elections should be held. We have jointly issued a gazette announcing the local council election, appointing returning officers, accepting deposits, etc.
Punchihewa denied rumours that the EC divided on the question of conducting LG polls at this juncture.The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday (09) decided to order District Secretaries who function as Returning Officers not to accept deposits from political parties wanting to contest the polls.
Punchihewa said that on Tuesday Ministry of Public Administration Secretary Neel Bandara Hapuhinna had written to District Secretaries asking them not to accept deposits for the election. However, it has been withdrawn on the same day, he said.
“The Returning Officers are doing their duties. We will summon Hapuhinna before the Commission and asked him to explain why he sent that letter. We will take legal measures about this too. The election has been declared and it is the Commission that decided on election related matters. No one else can instruct Returning Officers we appointed,” he said.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill to amend the State Mortgage and Investment Bank Law No. 13 of 1975
By Cabinet decision dated 2025-12-01, policy approval was granted to amend the definition of the term “animal” in the Animals Act No. 29 of 1958 by including, pigs, goats, and sheep, in addition to cattle and buffaloes, within the interpretation section of the act.
In accordance with the said approval, the Legal Draftsman has drafted an Amended Bill in all three languages, and the clearance of the Attorney General has also been obtained.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the
resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation to publish the draft Amendment Bill in the Government Gazette and thereafter to submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
News
Cabinet approves establishment of a ‘Trust’ to carry out the management of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
The Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre, comprising 11 floors, has been constructed with the assistance of the Government of India with the objective of serving as a hub for cultural activities in Sri Lanka and expanding bilateral cooperation for the promotion, preservation, and fostering the cultural heritage of Jaffna.
In accordance with the approval granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 2022-02-21, a Joint Management Committee has been appointed to make decisions relating to the affairs of the said cultural centre, in terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed for the operation of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre.
According to the provisions of the aforementioned MOU, upon completion of the construction of the project, the cultural centre should be transferred to the Jaffna Municipal Council through the Government of Sri Lanka.
Following such transfer, the relevant parties have reached an agreement to establish a ‘trust’ for carrying out the management activities of the centre. The Attorney General’s clearance has been received for the draft trust deed prepared for that purpose.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to establish the trust to continue the management activities of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
State Mortgage and Investment Bank Law No. 13 of 1975 to be amended
Animals Act No. 29 of 1958 amended
Cabinet approves establishment of a ‘Trust’ to carry out the management of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
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