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IHP says Harini popular PM choice, Sabry exit may be loss for party

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ECONOMYNEXT —Sri Lanka’s Institute for Health Policy (IHP) has released new polling data showing that the ruling National People’s Power (NPP)’s Harini Amarasuriya is a popular choice for the post of prime minister and that former minister Ali Sabry’s exit may be premature.

In IHP Sri Lanka Opinion Tracker Survey (SLOTS) polling through 2024 prior to the presidential election, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and MPs Amarasuriya, and Ali Sabry were consistently the most popular politicians tracked, IHP said in a statement on Friday October 11.

After Dissanayake, Amarasuriya was the next most popular, suggesting she will be a popular choice for the PM post, the institute said.

“Overall, Sri Lankans still held unfavourable views of all politicians tracked by SLOTS, with most having net favourability ratings below -30 pecent. Dissanayake and Amarasuriya had net ratings of -10 percent, and Sabry and then opposition leader Sajith Premadasa followed with net ratings of -29 percent and -31 percent each.

“Ali Sabry had the highest favourability rating of all SLPP politicians that SLOTS tracked, suggesting that his retirement from parliament may be a loss for his party,” IHP said.

The institute said most politicians tracked were deeply unpopular having net favourability ratings less than -50 percent, with members of the public having unfavourable views typically outnumbering those with favourable views five to one.

“In general, professionals such as Sabry, Harsha de Silva, Sudarshini Fernandopulle, and Channa Jayasumana tended to have higher favourability ratings than other politicians.”

The most unpopular politicians tracked during the year were Basil Rajapaksa (-74 percent), Kanchana Wijesekera (-65 percent), Namal Rajapaksa (-63 percent), and Prasanna Ranatunga (-63 percent).

“IHP tracked the favourability of 20 active politicians during the year, consisting of recent presidents and prime ministers, major party leaders, current and recent health ministers and selected other MPs. The list is not intended to be exhaustive, and it’s

possible that more popular politicians were not tracked. All favourability estimates are weighted for age, gender, ethnicity, province, income ranking, education and sector to match the national population.”



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Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts

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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. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.

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 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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Minister of Foreign Affairs pays his last respects to Pope Francis

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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]

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RW to visit CIABOC on Monday

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Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.

Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.

Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.

In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.

Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.

The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.

The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.

He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.

According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.

Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.

However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.

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