News

Norway: Too early to pass judgment on LG representation and women’s quota

Published

4 years ago

2022/01/27

Having recently perused ‘Necessary Yet Insufficient: Women’s Quota for Wider Political Representation in Sri Lanka’ and ‘Women, Quota and the Press: Media Coverage of the 2018 Local Government Elections’ released jointly by Women and Media Collective (WMC) and the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo, The Island felt the need to seek clarification as regards the Norwegian involvement in the ongoing project to enhance women’s representation not only at LG level but Provincial Council and Parliamentary levels as well. Booklets have been published in Sinhala and Tamil as mentioned in the foreword by Sanchia Brown, Programme Officer, WMC, who acknowledged that as a result of the new hybrid electoral system the total number of LG representatives increased from 4,486 to 8,356.

by Shamindra Ferdinando

The Norwegian Embassy says it is not fair to pass judgment on the Local Government system just four years after the first LG polls held under the new hybrid electoral system. It also insists that encouraging more women in politics remains a major priority for Norway and their efforts here are in line with the overall strategy.

The Island raised the issue with the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo as Norway was among those foreign sponsors of the high profile project here to enhance women’s participation at various levels of governance and challenge the postponement of scheduled Local Government polls by the current dispensation.

The Embassy spokesperson responded to the following questions that were submitted:

The Island: In addition to WMC, how many other civil society groups received Norwegian funding to promote enhanced women’s representation? Can you name them?

Norwegian Embassy: The Norwegian support to Women and Media Collective is the only project that directly targets increasing women’s representation in politics. However, the Norwegian Embassy also works with Sarvodaya, who runs a political leadership programme, aiming to encourage young people, both men and women, to get involved in political life.

The Island: Can you disclose the total amount of money granted to WMC and other organizations.

Norwegian Embassy: All information about Norwegian aid to Sri Lanka is publicly available through: Norwegian Development Aid (norad.no)

The Island:

Some newspaper groups including the Upali Newspapers, were left out of research on newspapers reporting on what the report called ‘historic 25% quota for women in LG from Sept 2017 to Dec 2018.’ As it was jointly issued by the WMC and the Norwegian embassy in Colombo, would you explain why some publishing houses were left out?

Norwegian Embassy: While Norway provides financial support to Women and Media Collective, we have no influence over the content of the research produced or the decisions made by individual researchers. Therefore, this question would be best addressed to the authors of the paper. Norway respects academic freedom and freedom of expression.

The Island:

Would it be possible for you to disclose the approximate amount of funding annually made available to civil society groups since 2015? And who were the recipients?

Norwegian embassy: Norwegian bilateral aid to Sri Lanka comes through at least 3 different channels: Directly from the Embassy through Norway’s development agency NORAD and directly from the Norwegian Foreign Ministry.

From 2015-2020, a total of 386.3 million NOK was earmarked to Sri Lanka, of which about 213.3 million NOK was channeled through either Norwegian or non-Norwegian Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). A full overview can again be found here: Norwegian development aid (norad.no)

The Island: Four years after the first LG polls held under the new hybrid electoral system, have you observed any improvement in the set-up or are your disappointed with the status of the LG administration?

Norwegian embassy: Norway is a decentralised country, and we believe strongly in local governance. Such structures need time to develop and mature, and require sufficient financing to function well. We therefore think it is too early to cast any judgment on the system only four years in.

The Island: Have you (the Government of Norway) discussed the need for enhanced women political representation at all levels with the government over the past several years?

Norwegian Embassy: Women’s equitable representation in elected political bodies is important for several reasons. Given that women constitute half the population in most countries, but have been historically marginalised from such bodies, ensuring equitable representations is important to deepen democratic governance and ensure more equitable development outcomes. Equitable representation is also important given that women may have different views, experiences and interests from men. The need for enhanced female political representation at all levels is a question the Embassy raises in most of our meetings with parliamentarians, party leaders, local officials and government representatives.

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Advisory for Severe Lightning issued for the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and Ampara and Batticaloa districts

Published

26 mins ago

2026/04/23

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology
Issued at 12.00 noon 23 April 2026 valid for the period until 11.30 p.m. 23 April 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 1.00 p.m.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
• Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.

News

Compensation payments and reconstruction activities related to the Ditwah relief measures must be expedited with special attention at the district level – PM

Published

10 hours ago

2026/04/23

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasized that compensation payments and reconstruction activities related to the Ditwah relief measures must be expedited with special attention at the district level. She further stated that all necessary allocations have already been made to Provincial Councils and instructed that the progress of disaster damage assessments and reconstruction efforts be closely monitored at the provincial level.

The Prime Minister made these remarks at a discussion held on Tuesday (21) at Temple Trees under her patronage, aimed at informing Chairpersons of District Coordination Committees and public representatives from disaster-affected districts, in order to accelerate the implementation of the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” programme. The discussion focused on expediting disaster relief and compensation payments, as well as the swift restoration of infrastructure damaged by the disaster.

The Prime Minister emphasized that Rs. 500 billion has been allocated for damages caused by the Ditwah cyclone, and that all relevant development activities must be completed before the end of 2026. The Prime Minister also instructed officials to pay special attention to resolving issues at the local level that are causing delays in compensation payments.

Senior Additional Secretary to the President, G.M.R.D. Aponsu, stated that the estimated cost for reconstruction following the Ditwah cyclone is approximately USD 3.4 billion. Accordingly, funds have been allocated for compensation across several sectors including housing and social infrastructure, agriculture and livestock, fisheries, industry and livelihoods, and irrigation. He further noted that 99% of the Rs. 25,000 allowance has already been disbursed, while 95% of the Rs. 50,000 resettlement allowance has been paid. Compensation for fully and partially damaged houses is still ongoing, and 99% of temporary relief centres have been closed.

Additionally, attention was drawn to several other measures, including providing Rs. 25,000 to affected schoolchildren, paying Rs. 1 million as compensation for each deceased individual, compensation for children who lost one or both parents, support for persons with disabilities affected by the disaster, compensation for agricultural losses, and expediting resettlement of displaced families. Measures such as allocating land for new housing construction and accelerating the issuance of reports from the National Building Research Organization were also discussed.

Focus was also placed on the reconstruction of affected schools, hospitals, and daycare centres, improving the accuracy and speed of data collection at the local level, and accelerating infrastructure development.

The event was attended by Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Samantha Vidyarathna, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Dr. Chandana Abayarathna, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne, Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperatives R.M. Jayawardena, Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Madhura Senevirathna, Members of Parliament, Chairpersons of District Coordination Committees, Chief of Staff to the President and Commissioner General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Additional Secretary to the President Jayantha Bandara; and officials of the Prime Minister’s Office.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

Parliament urged to probe questionable payment of USD 2.5 mn from Treasury

Published

12 hours ago

2026/04/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

… five senior officials suspended

President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne has urged the Parliament to intervene in an ongoing investigation conducted by the Treasury into the wrongful payment of USD 2.5 mn loan instalment to a third party instead of the country that gave the loan to the Government of Sri Lanka.

Gunaratne, in a letter addressed to Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne copied to leaders of all political parties represented in Parliament, General Secretaries of those political parties, Committee on Public Finance, Auditor General and National Audit Office, has stated the payments were made between December 2025 and January 31, 2026.

Lawyer Gunaratne took up the issue on behalf of civil society grouping ‘Free Lawyers’ after gathering information related to the alleged payments. Spokesman for ‘Free Lawyers’ Keerthi Tennakoon told The Island that they expected the Parliament to act swiftly and decisively. Pointing out that the ‘disappearance’ of USD 2.5 mn took place amidst the massive National Development Bank (NDB) fraud, amounting to Rs. 13.2 bn, Tennakoon emphasised the responsibility of the Parliament to take charge of the investigation.

According to Gunaratne’s letter, seen by The Island, following an international investigation carried out by a technical committee, two Treasury Directors, two Deputy Treasury Directors and a senior official responsible for IT had been interdicted.

As the relevant payments amounted to USD 2.5 mn, the process couldn’t have been completed without the involvement of the Deputy Secretary, Treasury and Treasury Secretary, Gunaratne stated.

According to him, the Central Bank had been responsible for loan payments until recently but the alleged irregularities happened after that task was brought under the Department of External Resources and Public Debt Management Office.

The Free Lawyers said that as the Secretary to the Treasury, Harshana Suriyapperuma, was also the Secretary to the Finance Ministry, the Parliament should intervene to establish a suitable mechanism to investigate this.

Former NPP National List lawmaker Harshana Suriyapperuma succeeded Mahinda Siriwardena in late June 2025.

Tennakoon said that they felt the need to bring the shocking development to the public domain as those who knew of the incident remained silent.

By Shamindra Ferdinando