News
Shipwrecks galore in seas off Sri Lanka that can also be used for tourism
By Shyam Nuwan Ganewatta
One hundred and eight (108) shipwrecks and six airplane wrecks have been found in the seas off Sri Lanka, Rasika Muthucumarana, Senior Archaeology Officer working for the Maritime Archaeology Unit (MAU) of the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) said.
He mentioned that these remains have now become important marine ecosystems and can also be used for tourism.
Muthucumarana added they have prepared a database of these wrecks that can be used by researchers and that the database will be unveiled as a public gathering at the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 07, on 29 April at 5 p.m.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to award the contract for printing and supplying vehicle number plates for the Department of Motor Traffic for a period of five (5) years to M/s South Asian Technologies based on the recommendations of the High-Level Standing Procurement Committee and the Procurement Appeal Board.
The National Lotteries board has been established subject to the Finance Act No. 11 of 1963. Having identified the requirement of amending that act which was imposed around 62 years to cater the current requirements of the lottery market, the Cabinet of Mnisters at their meeting held on 14.02.2017 granted approval to draft a new bill for the purpose.
Accordingly, the National Lotteries Board has recognized further amendments to be performed to the fundamental draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsmen.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the
resolution furnished by the President in his office as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to direct the Legal Draftsmen to finalize the formulation of the draft bill for the National Lotteries Board as soon as possible including the proposed new amendments as well.
The Werahara office of the Department of Motor Traffic performs issuance of temporary driving licenses in this country based on the driving licenses issued overseas, and measures have been initiated to render the service from a service window of the Department of Motor Traffic established at the Bandaranayake International Airport from 03.08.2025.
The fees charged for issuing temporary driving licenses have been published in Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 prepared under the provisions of the Motor Traffic (Authority 203) Act.
But, as the fee of Rupees 2,000/- charged for the service is not sufficient, the requirement of amending the regulations has been recognized.
The regulations for introducing the revised fees have been published in the government extraordinary gazette
notification No. 2463/04 dated 17.11.2025. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to
submit the regulations to the Parliament for its concurrence.
M/s South Asian Technologies awarded contract to supply vehicle number plates
A new act for National Lotteries Board to be introduced
Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 to be amended
Mrs. P. K. L. S. Panduwawala appointed to the post of Surveyor General
Implementing the programme to provide concession for pepper, coffee and cardamom plantations affected by the disaster
Cabinet nod to obtain diagnostic reports under public-private partnership
‘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
-
News12 hours agoBroad support emerges for Faiszer’s sweeping proposals on long- delayed divorce and personal law reforms
-
News1 day agoPrivate airline crew member nabbed with contraband gold
-
News3 days agoHealth Minister sends letter of demand for one billion rupees in damages
-
Opinion5 days agoRemembering Douglas Devananda on New Year’s Day 2026
-
News6 days agoLeading the Nation’s Connectivity Recovery Amid Unprecedented Challenges
-
Features1 day agoPharmaceuticals, deaths, and work ethics
-
Latest News1 day agoCurran, bowlers lead Desert Vipers to maiden ILT20 title
-
News1 day agoPM lays foundation stone for seven-storey Sadaham Mandiraya