News
Regulation of Election Expenditure Act No 3 of 2023 put in place to scrutinize funding sources of political parties – MP Wajira Abeywardena
Chairman of the United National Party, Member of Parliament Wajira Abeywardena during a media briefing held at the Presidential Media Center (PMC) on Tuesday (16), said that the main purposes for President Ranil Wickremesinghe to get the Regulation of Election Expenditure Act No 3 of 2023 passed in Parliament early last year was to track and scrutinize the funding sources of the 75 registered political parties in Sri Lanka.
He pointed out that after Sri Lanka gained independence, it was these political parties that have contributed to the division and disunity within the country which has led to numerous challenges . “Sri Lanka probably is the only country in Asia or even in the whole world that has the most number of registered political parties” he quipped.
The UNP Chairman said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has garnered global attention due to his efforts in steering the country from the brink of crisis to a path of development within a short span of one and a half years by effectively utilizing the foreign trips he made. The President was able to personally meet and garner the support of many heads of states during these visits.
Abeywardena said that it is the United National Party’s manifesto that was rejected by the people in 2020 that is presently being implemented for the greater good of the country and suggested that all politicians in the country familiarize themselves with its contents.
It has been reported that the former Superintendent of the Boossa Prison S Dhammika has been shot dead by an unidentified gunman in Akmeemana.
The Search and Rescue Communication Exercise (SARCOMEX-25) was successfully conducted on 11 Mar 25 between the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Chennai, India, and MRCC Colombo, Sri Lanka. The exercise aimed to further strengthen regional search and rescue (SAR) services and enhance coordination during maritime emergencies.
The exercise simulated two challenging maritime scenarios; a flooding emergency on board and a man overboard situation within the Sri Lankan and Indian Search and Rescue Regions.
These scenarios were designed to evaluate real-time communication, inter-agency cooperation, and the operational efficiency of both MRCCs.
The exercise provided a valuable platform to identify gaps in SAR plans and improve overall response mechanisms of both MRCCs.
The Prime Minister’s Office strongly condemns the fraudulent cryptocurrency scam advertisements currently being promoted on Facebook and Instagram, falsely featuring Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and other prominent Sri Lankan figures. These deceptive ads, operated by foreign entities, aim to mislead the public and exploit the trust associated with well-known personalities.
It has come to our attention that these scam campaigns, originating from fraudulent accounts based in Lithuania, are actively targeting Facebook users in Sri Lanka.
Similar ads have recently featured Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Minister of Science and Technology MP Chrishantha Abeysena, and well-known journalists Amantha Perera and Sunanda Deshapriya, as well as other Sri Lankan public figures in previous instances.
Public Advisory
We urge citizens to exercise extreme caution when encountering online advertisements promoting cryptocurrency investments, particularly those falsely claiming endorsements from government officials and public figures. No government official or ministry has endorsed any cryptocurrency investment scheme.
Additionally, despite reports and removal requests, variations of these scams continue to appear on social media platforms, highlighting serious concerns about the inability of Facebook to curb fraudulent advertising effectively. We call upon Meta (Facebook’s parent company) to take immediate and stronger action to prevent the spread of these deceptive campaigns and safeguard Sri Lankan users from financial fraud.
How to Protect Yourself:
• Do not engage with or click on suspicious ads claiming endorsements from public figures.
• Report fraudulent advertisements directly on Facebook and Instagram.
• Verify all financial opportunities through legitimate sources before investing.
The Prime Minister’s Office remains committed to protecting the public from online fraud and will continue working with relevant authorities to address this growing issue. We urge media organizations and digital platforms to act responsibly in curbing the spread of misinformation and scams.
For official government updates, please refer to the Prime Minister’s Office’s official website and social media channels.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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