News
Sarath (SLPP) and Sajith (SJB) heads Colombo district preferences
With over 300,000 votes each
Sarath Weerasekara, a former senior naval officer, topped the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Colombo district preferences with 328,092 votes, while Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader, Sajith Premadasa secured 305,744 votes.
The SLPP, which polled 674,603 (57.04%), mustered 12 seats, while the SJB won six seats by polling 387,145 (32.73%).
The JVP-led Jathika Jana Balawegaya won one seat by obtaining 67,600 (5.72%) votes.
While Weerasekara headed the SLPP preferences in the Colombo district, Wimal Weerawansa came a distant second with 267,084 votes. Udaya Gammanpila was third in line with 136,331 votes followed by Wijedasa Rajapakse 120,626, Bandula Gunawardena 101,644, Pradeep Undugoda 91,958, Dinesh Gunawardena 85,287, Madura Vithanage 70,205, Premanath C. Dolawatte 69,055, Gamini Lokuge 62,543, Susil Premajayanth 50,322 and Jagath kumara 47,693.
Second in line to Sajith Premadasa on the SJB Colombo district preferences was S. M. Marikkar who secured 96,916 votes followed by Mujibar Rahuman 87,589, Harsha De Silva 82,845, Patali Champika Ranawaka 65,574 and Mano Ganesan 62,091.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Jathika Jana Balawegaya polled 49,814 votes.
In the Gampaha district, the SLPP won 13 sears with Nalaka Godahewa topping the preferences by securing 325,479 votes. Prasanna Ranatunge was second with 316,544 preferential votes followed by Indika Anurudda 136,297, Sisira Jayakody 113,130, Nimal Lanza 108,945, Sahan Pradeep Vithana 97,494, Sudarshani Fernandopulle 89,329, Prasanna Ranaweera, 83,203, Harshani Gunawardane, 77,922, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, 73,061, Nalin Ruwanjeewa Fernando 69,800, Milan Sajith Jayathilake 68,449 and Upul Mahendran Rajapaksa 67,756.
Sarath Fonseka headed the SJB preferences with 110,535, Ranjan Ramanayake 103,992, Harshana Rajakaruna 73,612 and Kavinda Jayawardane 52,026. The party won four seats in the district.
The Jathika Jana Balawegaya won one seat with Vijitha Herath polling 32,008 votes.
SLPP’s Vidura Wickramanayake won the highest number of 147,958 preferential votes in the Kalutara district with Rohitha Abeygunawardena a close second with 147,472. The others elected were Sanjeewa Edirimanne 105,973, Piyal Nishantha 103,904, Jayantha Samaraweera 100,386, Anupa Pasqual 97,777, Lalith Ellawala 76,705 and Mahinda Samarasinghe 58,514
The party secured eight seats in the district.
The SJB won two seats with Rajitha Senaratne obtaining 77,476 votes and Kumara Welgama 77,083.
A discussion with the Catholic Council was held on Thursday (21) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat under the co-chairmanship of Minister of Science and Technology, Chrishantha Abeysena and Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Discussions focused on administrative issues relating to Catholic schools taken over by the Government, the formulation of a structured teacher cadre system for Catholic religious education, the need to recruit Catholic nuns and priests into the teaching profession and the establishment of a mechanism to obtain the support of the Ministry of Education for the administration of Government-acquired Catholic schools.
It was also decided that discussions with the Catholic Council would be held three times annually, while Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage would serve as Secretary to the forum.
Expressing appreciation on behalf of the Catholic Council, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith thanked President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Government for facilitating the discussion.
His Eminence further stated that the expectation was to ensure every student, without discrimination, is given the opportunity to learn his or her own religion and stressed the importance of resolving the prevailing issues within the education sector.
Also present at the occasion were Most Rev. Bishop Harold Anthony Perera, Most Rev. Bishop Christy Noel Emmanuel, Most Rev. Bishop Anton Ranjith, Most Rev. Bishop Wimal Siri Jayasuriya, other clergy representing the Catholic Council, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa and senior officials of the Ministry of Education.
(PMD)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to broaden the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, which was launched last year. Unlike the inaugural edition held in November 2025 that featured eight Associate teams, the second edition will comprise 10 teams, including five Test-playing nations. The tournament is scheduled to be held in November this year.
Italian Navy’s ITS GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE, which arrived in Colombo (21 May 2026) on a replenishment visit, departed the island today (22 May).
The Sri Lanka Navy bade a customary farewell to the departing ship in compliance with naval traditions at the port of Colombo.
During her brief stay in Colombo, the Commanding Officer of the ship, Commander Antonio BUFIS called on the Commander Western Naval Area at the Western Naval Command Headquarters.
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