News
NPC: Prioritise justice and reconciliation following election victory
The National Peace Council (NPC) has congratulated President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the National People’s Power (NPP) on their election victory. This overwhelming mandate reflects the trust placed in the president and his party to lead the country towards economic development, justice, and reconciliation, the NPC has said.
“The broad-based support for the government, spanning all regions of the country—including areas predominantly inhabited by ethnic and religious minorities—demonstrates a significant step towards national unity. The NPC recognizes this as an indication that the trust in the president’s leadership has bridged ethnic and religious divides. In light of this unprecedented goodwill, the NPC calls on the government to prioritize resolving the country’s long standing ethnic conflict.
“We believe that a true national perspective has been reached by the NPP and it is essential that this aspect is strengthened by resolving outstanding issues as early as possible. These include issues pertaining to return of land to the people who owned it, the sharing and devolution of powers, demilitarisation of the northern and eastern provinces and missing and imprisoned persons, among others.
“As the government embarks on a new chapter in the country’s history, the NPC wishes it success in addressing the country’s economic challenges and fostering justice, reconciliation, and peace for all its citizens. A sustainable political solution will require the participation of civil society, the consent of all communities and collaboration with opposition parties. Such a solution, with broad-based support, will ensure lasting peace and reconciliation for generations to come.
“The National Peace Council is an independent and non partisan organization that works towards a negotiated political solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. It has a vision of a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka in which the freedom, human rights and democratic rights of all the communities are respected. The policy of the National Peace Council is determined by its Governing Council of 20 members who are drawn from diverse walks of life and belong to all the main ethnic and religious communities in the country.”
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to award the contract for printing and supplying vehicle number plates for the Department of Motor Traffic for a period of five (5) years to M/s South Asian Technologies based on the recommendations of the High-Level Standing Procurement Committee and the Procurement Appeal Board.
The National Lotteries board has been established subject to the Finance Act No. 11 of 1963. Having identified the requirement of amending that act which was imposed around 62 years to cater the current requirements of the lottery market, the Cabinet of Mnisters at their meeting held on 14.02.2017 granted approval to draft a new bill for the purpose.
Accordingly, the National Lotteries Board has recognized further amendments to be performed to the fundamental draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsmen.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the
resolution furnished by the President in his office as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to direct the Legal Draftsmen to finalize the formulation of the draft bill for the National Lotteries Board as soon as possible including the proposed new amendments as well.
The Werahara office of the Department of Motor Traffic performs issuance of temporary driving licenses in this country based on the driving licenses issued overseas, and measures have been initiated to render the service from a service window of the Department of Motor Traffic established at the Bandaranayake International Airport from 03.08.2025.
The fees charged for issuing temporary driving licenses have been published in Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 prepared under the provisions of the Motor Traffic (Authority 203) Act.
But, as the fee of Rupees 2,000/- charged for the service is not sufficient, the requirement of amending the regulations has been recognized.
The regulations for introducing the revised fees have been published in the government extraordinary gazette
notification No. 2463/04 dated 17.11.2025. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to
submit the regulations to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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M/s South Asian Technologies awarded contract to supply vehicle number plates
A new act for National Lotteries Board to be introduced
Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 to be amended
Mrs. P. K. L. S. Panduwawala appointed to the post of Surveyor General
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