News
LG Ordinance has to be amended to end chaotic situation – Minister Abeyratne
Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Prof. Chandana Abeyratne yesterday (03) said that the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance had to be amended to end political chaos in local councils.
Prof. Abeyratne pointed out that the failure of 178 Local Government authorities to commence operations on 02 June underscored the urgent need to take remedial measures. Of the 339 local government bodies to which elections were held on May 06, terms of only 161 could commence on 02 June.
The Minister said so in response to The Island query whether the NPP government acknowledged the urgent requirement to introduce a stable system. According to Prof. Abeyratne, the issue has been discussed at the relevant consultative committee and both the government and the Opposition essentially reached consensus on the necessity to restore stability.
Prof. Abeyratne asserted that the outcome of ongoing battles for178 local government bodies in administrative limbo did not reflect the public mood. Those Councils couldn’t start functioning until their heads were elected the councillors, Prof. Abeyratne said.
The NPP and the SJB, striving to muster majorities in hung Councils, have repeatedly accused each other of bribing elected councillors of other parties as well as independent group members.
Prof. Abeyratne said that Local Government polls had to be conducted without delay in view of the Supreme Court directive issued to the Election Commission in the run-up to the September 2024 presidential election.
The Supreme Court five-judge-bench, headed by the then Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, on August 22, 2024, directed the Election Commission to make the necessary arrangements to hold the Local Government elections at the earliest possible date.
The Supreme Court declared that the Fundamental Rights of the petitioners and the citizens of the country have been violated by the authorities, including the Minister of Finance, the Election Commission and the Attorney General, by not holding the Local Government elections that were scheduled for March 9, 2023.
Petitioners were Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, National People’s Power (NPP) Parliamentarian Harini Amarasuriya, the Centre for Policy Alternatives and the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL).
Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon, one-time head of the election monitoring body CaFFE, said that political parties had to take a fresh look at the Local Authorities Election Ordinance, along with three key amendments, namely Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act No 22 of 2012, Act No 01 of 2016 and Act No 16 of 2017.
In terms of the Act No 16 of 2017, mixed proportional local authorities election meant that 60 percent of councillors were elected on a ward basis and the rest on proportional basis, Tennakoon said.
Commenting on the inordinate delay in the election of the heads of 178 bodies, Tennakoon said that horse-trading caused immense damage to local authorities. Negotiations at local government level have a bearing on parliamentary politics, too, Tennakoon said, adding that those who had been defeated could be appointed through the list though the elected couldn’t be deprived the opportunity of serving Councils.
Tennakoon emphasised the importance of ensuring stipulated women representation, whatever the amendments proposed in the future. The civil society activist pointed out that in some areas in the Northern and Eastern provinces, political parties found it difficult to nominate a stipulated number of women for both categories – ward and proportional basis – for want of adequate Muslim representation.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
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Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya
The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya for the next 24 hours commencing at 1200hrs today [08]
Accordingly
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Ududumbara in the Kandy District, Wilgamuwa in the Matale District, and Nildandahinna and Walapane in the Nuwara Eliya District.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Meegahakiwula, Welimada, Kandaketiya, Lunugala, Badulla, Passara, Uva Paranagama and Hali_Ela in the Badulla District, Ambanganga Korale in the Matale District, and Mathurata and Hanguranketha in the Nuwara Eliya District.
Warning for deep depression over South-east Bay of Bengal Sea area.
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre, Department of Meteorology at 10.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 for the period until 10.30 a.m. 09 January 2026
The depression in the Bay of Bengal to the southeast of Sri Lanka has intensified into a deep depression and is centered near latitude 5.4°N and longitude 85.3°E, about 420 km southeast of Pottuvil at 05.30 a.m. today (08th). The above system is currently (10:00 a.m.) located about 300 km southeast of Pottuvil.
It is very likely to move west-northwestwards across the southwest Bay of Bengal and cross the Sri Lanka coast between Hambantota and Kalmunai between 5.30 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. on Friday [9th January 2026].
Hence, showery, and windy condition over the island, particularly in the Northern, NorthCentral, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces is expected to enhance from today (08th).
For the Land area:
DAMAGE EXPECTED:
• Damage to huts, temporary shelters and light structures
• Destroy the roof tops/ sheets etc.
• Damage to power and communication lines.
• Breaking of tree branches and uprooting of large avenue trees.
• Damage to paddy crops, banana, papaya trees and orchards.
• Damage to harbor yachts
• Flash flood
• Sea water inundation in low lying areas in the near coast.
Action suggested for the Land area:
• Coastal hutment dwellers are advised to move to safer places. Other people in the affected areas to remain indoors.
• People living in hilly areas (particularly landslide prone areas) and low lying areas in river basins are requested to be vigilant.
• Drivers and people using roads in the hilly areas are requested to be vigilant.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• General public is requested to be vigilant regarding impending extreme weather situation.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
• Requested to be attentive about future advisories issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.
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Showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces and showers about 50-75 mm in other areas
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 08 JANUARY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
The depression over the Bay of Bengal, located to the southeast of Sri Lanka, was centered near latitude 5.3°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 490 km southeast of Pottuvil, at 11:30 p.m. yesterday (07). It is expected to move west-northwestwards and towards the eastern coast of the island during next 24 hours. This system is likely to intensify further into a deep depression during the next 12 hours.
Cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva, Central and Southern provinces. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere in the Island after 1.00 p.m. Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces. Fairly Heavy showers about (50 – 75) mm are likely at some places in the other areas of the island.
Strong winds about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over the Eastern slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota, Gampaha, Colombo and Monaragala districts.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
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