News
Sri Lanka Press Institute Concludes 2022 AGM
The Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) held its 19th Annual General Meeting last Wednesday (7th) virtually on the Zoom web conferencing platform. The meeting was attended by representatives of its constituent partners, the Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka (NSSL), The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka (TEGOSL), the Free Media Movement (FMM), the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA).
During the year 2021 the SLPI has progressed along their mandate engaging in initiatives promoting media freedom and freedom of expression, professionalizing journalism and activities that sustain democracy. The SLPI set up its own research unit launching several research programs on safety of media professionals, media ethics, the social responsibility of reporting and the legal framework governing media in Sri Lanka.
Among the key products last year is the guideline developed for safety of women journalists which was further developed and adopted by newsrooms as a human resource management reference for media professionals. Apart from training programmes on safety of journalists, digital safety, right to information and investigative journalism training, the SLPI engaged in tackling mis and disinformation under their fact-checking brand FactSeeker.
Programmes complementing the SLPI mandate to nurture an informed public and professionalize journalism was conducted in collaboration with local and foreign organizations such as the US Embassy, National Democratic Institute (NDI), World Health Organization (WHO), International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), UNESCO, the Norwegian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GiZ), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The AGM was presided over by Chairman Mr. Kumar Nadesan and the directors re-elected were Mr. Kumar Nadesan (Chairman) of the Newspaper Society, Mr. Sinha Ratnatunga (Deputy Chairman), Mr. Manik de Silva and Mr. Mohanlal Piyadasa of The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka, Ms. Seetha Ranjanee, Mr. Udaya Kalupathirana and Mr. Lasantha de Silva of the Free Media Movement, Mr. Lasantha Ruhunage and Mr. Duminda Sampath of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association.
Messrs. Ernst and Young Sri Lanka Limited were re-appointed as auditors of the company and F.J. & G de Saram’s Corporate Services (Private) Limited (CSL) were re-appointed as the company secretaries. The affiliated organisations of the SLPI are the South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA), Tamil Media Alliance (TMA), Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum (SLMMF) and Federation of Media Employees’ Trade Union (FMETU)
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.
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
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.
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Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
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