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Court of Appeal grants interim relief, allows foreigners to drive three-wheelers

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7 days ago

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The Court of Appeal bench, comprising Justice Dhammika Ganepola and Justice Adithya Patabendige, has granted interim relief to Tuk Tuk Rental (Pvt.) Ltd., to continue to operate in terms of the existing legal framework, regardless of the declaration that foreigners could not drive three-wheelers on the basis of having international driving permits.

The petitioner moved court recently in the wake of Police Headquarters declaration that international driving permit holders wouldn’t be allowed to drive three-wheelers. The respondents were Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister Bimal Rathnayake, Ministry Secretary Prof. Kapila C.K. Perera, Commissioner General of Motor Traffic Kamal Amarasinghe, IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya, Automobile Association of Ceylon and Attroney General.

The petitioner challenged the bid made to prevent foreigners, who obtained permission from the Automobile Association of Ceylon, to drive three-wheelers. The petitioner also wanted the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic Kamal Amarasinghe to recognise the covering permits issued by the Automobile Association of Ceylon and the IGP to issue necessary instructions to countrywide police stations not to take action against foreigners driving three-wheelers.

The Court of Appeal said that upon consideration of the submissions of all Counsel, the principal issue that arises for the determination is whether the applicable legal framework governing the present matter is the Motor Traffic Act or the Motor Car (Convention) Ordinance, together with the Regulations made thereunder.

The learned Presidents’ Counsel appearing for the Petitioner and the 5th Respondent contended that Regulation 22(2) made under the Motor Car (Convention) Ordinance expressly authorises bona fide tourists to drive motor vehicles in Sri Lanka upon compliance with the prescribed requirements, and that the impugned document marked P10 by which foreigners who have obtained permisison from the Automobile Association of Ceylon are prohibited from driving three-wheelers is inconsistent with that statutory regime. It was further contended that the Respondents, by issuing and seeking to implement P10, have acted in excess of jurisdiction and in a manner that is ultra vires the governing legal framework.

In contrast, the learned State Counsel submitted that the matter falls within the scope of the Motor Traffic Act and that foreign tourists holding International Driving Permits are not eligible to operate three-wheelers in Sri Lanka.

This Court is of the view that the rival contentions raise a serious and substantial question of public law, namely, whether the impugned decision embodied in P10 constitutes an unlawful restriction imposed without statutory authority or whether it represents a permissible exercise of regulatory power under the applicable legislation.

At this stage, it is sufficient for this Court to be satisfied that a serious question of law exists for determination.

Further, this Court is satisfied that if P10 is permitted to operate pending the final determination, the Petitioner’s business operations and the permits already issued by the 5th Respondent would be adversely affected. On the other hand, the granting of interim relief merely preserves the status quo ante existing prior to the issuance of impugned document P10 until the legality of that decision is conclusively determined.

In these circumstances, this Court finds that the threshold requirements for granting interim relief have been satisfied.”


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Cabinet nod to include the National Savings Bank for the Interest-Free Loan Scheme for Students

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2026/03/10

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The Interest-Free Loan Scheme is implemented to follow government-recognized degree programs in non-governmental higher education institutions for students who have passed the General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) Examination and have not been eligible to enter a state university.

At present, the People’s Bank and the Bank of Ceylon are the banks that are granting loans under the aforementioned loan scheme. It has been planned to provide loan facilities  for 7,000 students under stage 10 of the aforementioned loan scheme.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the  Prime Minister in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education to include the National Savings Bank as a bank that grants loans for students under the aforementioned loan scheme, in addition to the People’s Bank and Bank of Ceylon.

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PM holds bilateral meetings in the Philippines to strengthen cooperation in Education, Skills Development, and Agricultural Research

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4 hours ago

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2026/03/10

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Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya held a series of meetings with key Philippine institutions during her official visit to the Philippines from 09–11 March 2026, focusing on strengthening cooperation in education, higher education, technical skills development, and agricultural research.

On 09 March, the Prime Minister met with the Secretary of Education of the Philippines, Sonny Angara. Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the education sector, including sharing best practices in education policy, teacher training, curriculum reforms, and digital learning initiatives. The Prime Minister also briefed the Philippine delegation on Sri Lanka’s ongoing education reforms aimed at modernizing curricula and integrating technology into learning.

The Prime Minister also met with a delegation of the Commission on Higher Education of the Philippines (CHED), led by Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis. Discussions centered on the development of higher education in both countries, with particular attention to research collaboration, academic partnerships between universities, student and faculty exchanges, and strengthening quality assurance frameworks.

In a separate meeting, the Prime Minister held talks with the Secretary and Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Jose Francisco B. Benitez. The discussions focused on cooperation in technical and vocational education and training (TVET), including knowledge sharing, institutional partnerships, and possible alignment of qualifications frameworks to enhance skills recognition and workforce mobility.

The meetings reaffirmed the commitment of Sri Lanka and the Philippines, along with international research institutions, to strengthen collaboration in education, skills development, and agricultural research in support of sustainable development and human capital growth.

The Sri Lankan delegation included the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Philippines, Dr. Chanaka Talpahewa, and Senior Assistant Secretary to the Prime Minister, Ms. P.H. Piyumee Bandara.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and Monaragala district.

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10 hours ago

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2026/03/10

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Warm Weather Advisory issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. on 09 March 2026, valid for 10 March 2026.

The public are warned that the  Heat index, the temperature felt on the human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Monaragala district.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body.

This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.


Effect of the heat index on the human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

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