News

Local election by Mar. 10: Punchihewa

Published

3 years ago

2023/01/1

Elections Commission Chairman Nimal Punchihewa said on Thursday that the Local Government polls would be held before March 10, 2023.He said that the commission would issue a Gazette notification calling nominations to elect 8,327 members for 24 Municipal Councils, 41 Urban Councils and 276 Pradeshiya Sabhas before next Thursday (Jan 5) and the elections would be held before March 10. The term of office of around 340 local government bodies is scheduled to end on 20 March 2023.

Commenting on reports that the Elections Commission was attempting to delay the polls by putting off the publication of the Gazette to the month of January, Punchihewa said there was no delay as claimed. “There is no delay. The Gazette will be issued in the first week of January,” he said.

He said that it was earlier announced that the gazette would be issued in December and the change of date came after calculations done on the stipulated days needed to call for nominations, handing over of nominations, campaigning and other activities that the first week of January was most suitable for the purpose.

He said that the nominations would be accepted by relevant district returning officers from registered political parties and independent groups on the 14th day of notice of nomination until noon of the following day.

The Chairman said that the 2022 electoral register had just been completed and it would be used for the upcoming Local Government polls. “The total number of registered voters eligible to vote is 16,692,398,” he said adding that around 200,000 officials would be deployed for election duties.

All News Advertisement

News

Minister of Health of the Russian Federation attends the Sri Lanka–Russia Medical Forum

Published

1 hour ago

2026/05/5

Priyan

Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Health of the Russian Federation, officially visited the Russian House in Colombo to attend the Sri Lanka–Russia Medical Forum, where members of the Sri Lanka Russia Business Council and graduates from the Association of Sri Lankan Graduates from Socialist countries (ASLGSC) attended.

This historic gathering was graced by rectors and representatives from several world-class Russian medical institutions, including Kursk State Medical University, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, and Tver State Medical University, among others.

The forum commenced with an address by Minister Murashko, during which Russian medical graduates in attendance raised pertinent questions regarding medical and pharmaceutical sector opportunities in Sri Lanka.

Levan Dzhagaryan, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, together with Madam Maria L. Popova, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka & the Maldives and Director of the Russian House in Colombo, graced the occasion. Both officials expressed strong support for continued collaboration and future initiatives between the two nations.

News

Members of Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee Officially Appointed

Published

9 hours ago

2026/05/5

Priyan

The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:

Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage

The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.

The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.