News
EC contemplating legal action against more than 3,000 candidates
Failure to submit campaign expenditure reports:
The Election Commission (EC) is contemplating legal action against 3,067 candidates who failed to submit their campaign expenditure reports for past elections.
Among them are three candidates who contested the 2023 presidential election: Battaramulle Seelarathana Thera, Sarath Keerthisena, and Packiyaselvam Ariyanethran. Police have completed investigations into complaints filed by the Election Commission against 13 individuals, including the parties and nominees who submitted their candidacies.
In line with the Election Expenses Regulation Act, police have commenced legal proceedings under the directives of the Election Commission. Accordingly, the Inspector General of Police has instructed the Divisional Criminal Investigation Units, operating under the supervision of a Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of legal affairs, to begin inquiries. Senior DIGs, DIGs, and divisional officers have been further directed to compile extracts of the investigations and refer them to the Attorney General for advice.
Of the 18,888 candidates who contested the last parliamentary election, 1,064 failed to submit their expense reports, while 2,000 out of the 75,589 candidates who contested local government elections also failed to do so.
Commissioner General of Elections Saman Ratnayake told The Island that legal action would also be initiated in due course against 3,064 such candidates.
by Samanthi Weeraskera ✍️
News
Establishment of an Institutional Framework to Inagurate Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority
Policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 08.06.2026 to establish the Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority for identification and
execution of a formal and long – lasting remedy to secure the central hills including the upper hydro catchment areas enabling them to sustain amidst extreme weather conditions
due to natural calamities and human activities as well as to be used for the sustainable development of the country.
Accordingly, a concept paper has been prepared including
institutional structure, activities, powers, active subject area as well as administrative and coordination mechanism for the proposed authority by an expert technical committee appointed by the Secretary to the President.
Based on the said concept paper, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill including legal provisions required for the establishment of Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority.
News
Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
With the objective of securing the traditional livelihood and the eco system of the indigenous community, it has been recognized the necessity of introducing a formal regulation methodology to secure their engagement in livelihood activities by being more sensitive to the existing laws.
Thereby, the Fauna and Flora (regularizing) regulations under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (Authority 469) have been prepared so that nominated activities within the prescribed area to a member of the indigenous community
who has been registered for securing the rights acquired from law or custom or usage or traditional stance to execute an act within a certain state land that is fundamental to the survival of the indigenous community permission can be granted
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the said regulations in the government gazette notification and thereby submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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M. M. D. J. Senarathne, appointed Director General of the Department of National Botanical Gardens
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to appoint M. M. D. J. Senarathne, who is the senior most officer in Grade I of Sri Lanka Scientific Service se
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