News
Polls monitor condemns threat to members of EC and fear plot to postpone LG poll
Text by PRIYAN DE SILVA
Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies, Manjula Gajanayake, condemned the threatening of two members of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka – K.P.P. Pathirana (a former Senior DIG of Police) and S.B. Divarathne (a former Senior Deputy Secretary at the Treasury), on Wednesday evening.
Gajanayake said that threatening members of the EC may be a sinister plan to postpone the forthcoming local government poll because if, at his juncture, three members of the EC resign, due to threats, the Election Commission
would not have a quorum. According to the Constitution, members of the Election Commission have to be named by the Constitutional Council, which has not been formed as at date.
The question arises as to whether the Commissioner General of Elections has the power to continue with the election process as an election has already been called? The matter may have to be determined by Court which also may delay holding the election.Handing over nominations for the local government poll will close at 12 noon on Saturday, 21st January, 2023, after which the date of the poll will be announced.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted at their meeting held on 19.05.2025 in order to introduce amendments to the Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017 including the proposed tax revisions to enhance the tax structure paving way for state financial integrity based on revenue.
Accordingly, the revised draft bill has been prepared by the legal draftsman and clearance of the Attorney General has been received.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for
the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Policy Planning and Economic Development to publish the aforementioned draft bill in the government gazette notification and subsequently, forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
The National Mineral Policy was prepared for the first time in the year 1999, and the aforementioned policy has been amended in 2023 to cover matters such as preparing an updated data system related to mineral resources, adding value to the export of minerals, encouraging mineral-related industrialists, extracting mineral resources and managing the environment sustainably, and resolving the issues related to the ownership of the land arising in extracting mineral resources.
The revised National Mineral Policy has been reupdated in line with the manifesto “A Sustainable Resource Utilization – Generation of the Highest Benefit” under the policy statement of the current government” A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life.”
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the Minister of Industries and
Entrepreneurship to implement the so-formulated “National Mineral Policy—2026.”
The Gampaha High Court has sentenced Twelve (12) individuals to death over the 2022 murder of former Polonnaruwa District Member of Parliament Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his security officer.
Amendment of the Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017
Cabinet nod for “National Mineral Policy” – 2026
Twelve sentenced to death by Gampaha High Court
Ten new buses with facilities for people with special needs
Ghosts of 2016 writ large as England, West Indies meet again
Amendment to the regulations for registration of Subscriber SIM Cards (Subscriber Identity Modules- SIM) and reregistration of subscriber information related to the SIM cards obtained before 02-08-2019
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Features3 days agoMy experience in turning around the Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka (MBSL) – Episode 3
-
Business4 days agoZone24x7 enters 2026 with strong momentum, reinforcing its role as an enterprise AI and automation partner
-
Business3 days agoRemotely conducted Business Forum in Paris attracts reputed French companies
-
Business3 days agoFour runs, a thousand dreams: How a small-town school bowled its way into the record books
-
Business3 days agoComBank and Hayleys Mobility redefine sustainable mobility with flexible leasing solutions
-
Business4 days agoHNB recognized among Top 10 Best Employers of 2025 at the EFC National Best Employer Awards
-
Editorial6 days agoAll’s not well that ends well?
-
Business4 days agoGREAT 2025–2030: Sri Lanka’s Green ambition meets a grid reality check