News

Police warn of action over noise pollution

Published

2 days ago

2026/08/31

By Chaminda Silva

Police yesterday warned that loudspeakers, amplifiers and other sound equipment used in a manner that causes public disturbance could be taken into police custody if users disregard Supreme Court directives and police instructions.

In a special notice, police have said legal action could also be taken against those responsible under Section 261 of the Penal Code for causing a public nuisance.

Police said excessive noise had increasingly become a health and psychological concern, particularly for infants, schoolchildren, elderly people and patients.

The notice referred to Supreme Court Order No. 38/2005, under which police have the authority to take action when the use of sound equipment causes inconvenience or disturbance to the public or nearby residents.

Police said permission should generally not be granted for the use of loudspeakers between 10 pm and 6 am, although exceptions may be made for religious activities and special occasions, subject to legal requirements.

Where permits are issued, users must strictly adhere to the dates, times and other conditions specified.

Depending on the conditions of the permit, loudspeakers may be allowed until 10 pm from Monday to Thursday, until 1 am on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 12.30 am on Sundays.

Police stressed that these hours do not constitute an automatic entitlement and that loudspeakers must not be used in a manner that causes disturbance outside the premises, even when permission has been granted.

Police said officers would monitor permitted events to ensure compliance with permit conditions.

Where a complaint is received, police will inspect the location and, if the noise is found to constitute a public nuisance, instruct those responsible to stop the activity.

Failure to comply could result in legal action, including the seizure of the sound equipment, police warned.

Members of the public affected by excessive or unlawful noise have been asked to contact the nearest police station or call the emergency hotlines 118 or 119.

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Cabinet aporives recruitment of Nursing Instructors for Nursing Schools under the Ministry of Health and Mass Media on Contract Basis

Published

8 hours ago

2026/09/1

Priyan

There are 17 nursing schools under the Ministry of Health and Mass Media including the postgraduate primary nursing school.

There are 142 vacancies in the posts of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education) as on 31.03.2026 in those schools while 24 officers are to be promoted to the special grade on 31.12.2025 owing to the vacancies existing in the post of Special
Grade Nursing Officer (Education). Therefore, the number of vacancies is to be 166.

In addition, there are 24 vacancies in the post of Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education).

Although at present action has been taken to upgrade the nursing schools to nursing colleges and upgrade the nursing diploma course to nursing degree course, no action has been taken so far to carry out recruitment for the training relevant to the appointment for the post of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education).

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to recruit retired nursing instructors and nursing instructors who served in the nursing schools belonging to the three armed forces and are retired or have resigned legitimately from service to the post of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education) on contract basis.

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Signing agreement for the establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Sri Lanka

Published

8 hours ago

2026/09/1

Priyan

It has been decided to establish a BIMSTEC technology transfer facility in Sri Lanka by entering into a Host Country Agreement at the second leaders’ summit of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal
Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) held in New Delhi, India, in 2008, with the objective of enhancing regional cooperation.

The relevant cooperation agreement was signed by the member countries at the 5th BIMSTEC summit on 30-03-2022 in Colombo.
The prime objective of this technology transfer facility is to provide technology, capacity building, and management of intellectual property for the micro, small, and medium-scale
enterprises of the BIMSTEC member countries.

According to the cooperation agreement, an agreement should be entered into between Sri Lanka, as the host country, and BIMSTEC Secretariat for formalizing the legal status, privileges, and immunities of the technology transfer facility.

The drafted agreement has received the relevant institutional approval and legal clearance.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Science and Technology to sign the proposed agreement.

News

The cabinet approves agreement on mutual legal cooperation in criminal matters between the Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea

Published

8 hours ago

2026/09/1

Priyan

Approval has been granted at the cabinet meeting held on 11-12-2023 to sign an agreement between the Republic of Korea and the Government of Sri Lanka regarding mutual cooperation
in criminal matters.

However, according to the aforementioned approval, the relevant agreement could not be signed between both parties.

Through this agreement, opportunities will be provided
for mutual assistance to other countries in handing over judicial documents and collecting evidence for the use of criminal case matters.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution provided by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to sign an agreement between the Republic of Korea and the Government of Sri Lanka to cooperate in criminal matters.