News

‘SJB ready to help govt. overcome external challenges’

Published

5 years ago

2021/03/27

Sri Lanka had lost support at the UNHRC because its double standards had been exposed, Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament on Thursday. The government needed to create an environment where all communities in the country could live in peace, he said.

The Opposition Leader said: “The government needs to listen to the concerns of the people in the North and East. We lost the support of friendly nations this time around because of the double standards of the government. The government pretends that it will scrap the 13th Amendment when addressing Sri Lankans. However, before the international community, it says Sri Lanka is a multi-religious, multi ethnic and multicultural country. They have even promised 13+ to the international community. But now the international community has figured out that this is all fake”.

The recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, which was appointed by Mahinda Rajapaksa when he was the President, should be implemented. The government lost the vote on the resolution at the UN Human Rights Council as a consequence of promoting extremism in the country, he said. The Opposition Leader, however, said that the SJB did not endorse foreing interference in Sri Lanka’s domestic affairs.

“SJB opposes appointing foreign judges to investigate Sri Lanka. “We do not need advice from foreign countries,” he said.

The Opposition Leader said that Sri Lanka could address its own issues through a domestic mechanism; however, the domestic mechanism should be acceptable to the international community.

“The SJB does not endorse all the actions taken by the former government. We are willing to work with the government to ensure another resolution on Sri Lanka will not tabled at the UN Human Rights Council,” he said.

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News

Animal Welfare Draft Bill to be Gazetted

Published

9 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

A specialists committee has been appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation adhering to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 29.12.2025 for submitting appropriate recommendations analyzing the provisions of the draft bill formulation in regard to Animal Welfare.

Based on the recommendations of the said Committee, the Legal Draftsman has been instructed at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 18.05.2026 to prepare the final bill on the animal welfare.

Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the draft bill and the clearance of the Attorney General has been received in the connection.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to publish the said draft bill in the
Government Gazette Notification and subsequently forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.

News

Legal provisions on marking voters using indelible ink during elections removed

Published

9 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

Under the legal provisions for elections in this country since 2004, it is mandatory for voters who come to mark their votes to verify their identity through a valid identity card, and it is also mandatory for all such voters to be marked with an appropriate mark using indelible ink. The dual purpose of these two functions is to prevent a voter from voting more than once in a single election.

It has been observed that having to follow two different
methods at the same time to achieve the same objective hinders the efficiency of the duties performed at the polling stations and also incurs additional costs to the government.

Therefore, it has been deemed appropriate to remove the legal provisions regarding the use of indelible ink and marking the voter with the appropriate mark from all election acts.

Accordingly, the development activities of the province, as well as national security, will benefit. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the
President to take necessary steps to remove the legal provisions

• Section 36 of the presidential Election Act, No 15 of 1981
• Section 38 of the Parliamentary Election Act, No 01 of 1981
• Section 36 of the Provincial Council Election Act, No 02 of 1988
• Section 53 A of the Local Government Elections Ordinance (262 Authority)
• Section 21 of the Referendum Act No 7 of 1981

News

Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts

Published

10 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 24 JUNE 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 24 June 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m.

Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expectedat times over the Western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.