News
EC Chief warns candidates: Violation of election laws could cost them even their civic rights
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Chairman of the Election Commission (EC), R.M.A.L. Ratnayake yesterday (15) urged all candidates contesting the 21 September presidential election to follow election laws as the violation thereof is a punishable offence. He warned that the offenders would face disqualification.
Addressing the 39 candidates who signed nomination papers, the EC Chairman said human and physical resources of state institutions, including state owned banks, local and provincial councils must not be used for electioneering.
The EC Chief said the candidates had to ensure that their supporters behaved within the confines of the law. Candidates must make their supporters behave because the misbehavior of your associates could cost you your civic rights, he said.
Talking to the media, after signing the nomination papers, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that 39 candidates and their supporters had arrived at the EC on Thursday. “This was possible because I have solved the most basic of problems.”
Opposition leader, Sajith Premadasa said a future SJB administration would safeguard the democratic rights of the citizenry.
“We wont postpone elections and will strengthen civil and political rights. We will also come up with a new Constitution that guarantees economic, social,
cultural, religious, educational and health rights.”
Meanwhile, National Peoples Power (NPP) candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayaka said that the country finally had a chance to have fresh start. “There is a lot of talk on a digital and a smart economy, but our politics is dirty. We must cleanse our political culture first,” he said.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
AKD: Govt. agenda on track despite Ditwah disaster
SL to receive 10 helicopters from US
Foreign couple held over alleged biopiracy at Horton Plains
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