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Rs. 100 mn allocated for 78th National Independence Day celebrations

Published

8 months ago

2026/01/31

The government has allocated Rs. 100 million from the 2026 Budget for the 78th National Independence Day celebrations, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration and Provincial Councils Aloka Bandara said on Thursday.

Addressing a media briefing, Bandara said the government plans to hold this year’s celebrations at a minimal cost, noting that the total expenditure for last year’s event stood at Rs. 69 million and that this year’s expenses would be maintained within a similar range.

He said the allocation of funds through the national budget is standard practice, as Independence Day celebrations constitute the country’s principal national event. About 2,000 invitees are expected to attend the main ceremony.

Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister A.H.M.H. Abeyratne said no special international invitees would be present at this year’s celebrations. However, all members of the diplomatic corps, accredited to Sri Lanka, will be invited, he added.

Meanwhile, a special traffic plan has been implemented in Colombo in preparation for the 78th National Independence Day celebrations, Police said.

According to the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Traffic, traffic arrangements will be in effect from January 30 during rehearsals leading up to the main national ceremony scheduled for February 4 at Independence Square. Rehearsals will be held from January 30 to February 3.

Police said traffic restrictions will be enforced in the vicinity of Independence Square during designated periods. From January 30 to February 2, restrictions will be imposed during morning hours until rehearsals conclude, while on February 3, restrictions will be enforced in the afternoon for the final full-scale rehearsal. On Independence Day, February 4, road closures and restrictions will be in place from 5.00 a.m. until the conclusion of the ceremony.

Several main roads will be closed or restricted to facilitate the movement of parade contingents and VIP convoys. Entry to Independence Avenue will be restricted from the Independence Roundabout, while Stanley Wijesundara Mawatha will be closed from the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute end. Bauddhaloka Mawatha will be restricted from Torrington Junction to Premakirthi de Alwis Mawatha. Access to Maitland Crescent and Maitland Place will be restricted from Independence Roundabout and R.G. Senanayake Mawatha respectively, and Wijerama Mawatha will be closed from the Vidya Junction. Roads surrounding Viharamahadevi Park, including Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha (Green Path), will also be closed as they will serve as assembly points for parade troops.

Police also announced the introduction of a colour-coded vehicle pass system for invitees attending the main ceremony. Designated parking areas have been allocated accordingly, with BMICH Gates 2, 3 and 4 assigned for specific pass holders, CR&FC grounds reserved for VIP vehicles, and Maitland Crescent allocated for vehicles transporting differently-abled persons. Additional parking facilities will be available at St. Peter’s College grounds and along Sarana Road.

Residents and employees of institutions within restricted areas will be granted access after verification, Police said, while the general public has been advised to use alternative routes to avoid congestion.

The Traffic DIG said the plan has been designed to minimise public inconvenience, noting that January 31, February 1 and February 4 are public holidays and that disruptions to regular school and office traffic are expected to be limited.

by Norman Palihawadane

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Thileepan rembered on 39th death anniversary

Published

1 hour ago

2026/09/26

Priyan

(Pic by PRIYAN DE SILVA)

A commemorative service was held in memory of Rasaiah Parthipan commonly known by the nom de guerre ‘Thileepan’ in Nallur Jaffna this morning (26).

Parthipan a revolutionary member of the LTTE and a student of the University of Jaffna, commenced a hunger strike on 15th September 1987 untill his death on 26th September 1987. He was 23 years old at the time of his demise.

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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura

Published

15 hours ago

2026/09/26

Priyan

The National Building Research Institute has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura from 16:00 hrs on 25.09.2026 To 16:00 hrs on 26.09.2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Neluwa, Nagoda, Niyagama and Thawalama inthe Galle district, Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa and Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, and Kothmale West, Ambagamuwa, Kotmale East and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district.

LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Elpitiya, Baddegama and Karandeniya in the Galle district, Walallawita in the Kalutara district, Deltota, Udunuwara, Gangawata Korale, Yatinuwara and Panvila in the Kandy district, Aranayake, Dehiowita, Mawanella, Deraniyagala and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district, Thalawakelle in the Nuwara Eliya district and Ratnapura and Pelmadulla in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colombo district, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Katuwana and Walasmulla in the Hambanthota district, Ingiriya and Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara district, Hatharaliyadda, Poojapitiya, Medadumbara, Kundasale, Ududumbara, Thumpane, Akurana, Pathadumbara, Harispattuwa and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Warakapola, Bulathkohupitiya, Galigamuwa, Kegalle and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kegalle district, Pitabeddara, Kotapola and Pasgoda in the Matara district, Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district and Elapatha, Ayagama, Nivithigala, Kuruwita and Kalawana in the Ratnapura district

News

22A, Judicature Amendment Bills passed with 2/3 majority

Published

16 hours ago

2026/09/26

Thilina Walpola

Parliament yesterday passed the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill with two-thirds majorities, with 158 MPs voting in favour and 63 against each Bill.

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) voted with the SJB against the Bills.

NDF MPs Ravi Karunanayake and Faizer Musthapha and SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka were not present when the votes were taken.

The final vote on the Judicature (Amendment) Bill was announced at around 8.08 p.m. after Opposition MPs called for divisions on its clauses during the Committee Stage.

The votes followed a two-day debate which commenced on Thursday (24), after Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the Bills for their Second Reading.

The Supreme Court’s determination on the Bills was presented to Parliament on Tuesday (22) by Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne. The Court determined that the 22nd Amendment Bill did not require approval at a referendum and could be passed by a special two-thirds majority in Parliament.

The amendment provides for raising the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and that of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. It also provides for the Chief Justice to retire at 67 or after completing six years in office, whichever comes earlier.

The Speaker informed Parliament that the Judicature (Amendment) Bill could be passed by a simple majority.

The SJB opposed the legislation and its MPs attended Parliament dressed in black yesterday. The party also staged a protest at Polduwa Junction, Battaramulla, under the theme “No to 22, which destroys democracy”, with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several SJB politicians participating.