News
Chief Govt. Whip tells opposition not to cry every time a suspect is arrested over Easter carnage
‘They should be crying for the poor victims’
Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday said that the Opposition’s hypocrisy was amply displayed by the fact that its members were crying about the rights and plight of the suspects of the Easter Sunday terror attacks, while forgetting the predicament of victims of those attacks.
Addressing the media after a meeting held at his Ministry in Battaramulla, the Minister said: “Have you ever seen our Opposition members talk of the plight of the Easter Sunday victims? Whenever an arrest is made and those who are responsible for the terror attacks are taken into custody, they make statements against the government for making such arrests and highlight the rights of the suspects.
Minister Fernando said that those in the Opposition had been in power when the Easter Sunday carnage took place and the Opposition Leader and his party men had to seek justice for the victims and their family members. “The Opposition members should actually cooperate with us to conduct these investigations instead of attempting to derail them by raising wild allegations. I myself have asked them on numerous occasions to assist in the investigations. Instead, they cry foul whenever police make any arrest. They seem to be of the opinion that these arrests are similar to the way they incarcerated the then opposition politicians during their government. This investigation is a serious matter pertaining to national security; it is not a political witchhunt. We have given free hand to investigators and the police to make the necessary arrests and detain the suspects as per the needs of the investigation. They would not be released just because the SJB members weep for the rights of those suspects. Over 269 persons were killed and 500 others were wounded. Thousands of persons suffer the consequences of the loss of their loved ones and properties. So, I call on the Opposition again to think seriously before criticising the government and to think of the plight of the victims rather than the rights of those who had links with the terror groups before they open their mouths.”
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.
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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
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