News
Political parties all out to keep females out of local authorities – polls monitors
by PRIYAN DE SILVA
Executive Director of the Institute of Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies Manjula Gajanayake says political parties are bent on preventing the election of women local councils.Gajanayake said the sitting female councillors were not allowed to contest their wards and they were placed on the additional list or made to contest other wards or simply denied nominations.
Executive Director of the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) Mannas Makeen told The Island that women could not contest elections due to lack of internal democracy of political parties. He added that if not for the 25 per cent women’s quota, there would have been less than 6 per cent female representation in local authorities.
Chairman of the ECSL Nimal Punchihewa, addressing participants at an International Women’s Day celebration on Tuesday, said the fundamental rights of females in Sri Lanka were being violated. He said that the fundamental principle of democracy was majority rule and individual rights but reiterated 53% of Sri Lankans were women.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted their concurrence to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Youth Affairs to appoint S. Achchudan of Special Grade of Sri Lanka Administrative Service, who is currently serving as an Additional Commissioner of Elections at the Elections Commission who is
recommended by the panel of interviewers to the post of Director General of the Sports Development Department with effect form 01.01.2026.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the draft bill of the National Environment (Amended) Act in the government gazette notification and subsequently to submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Buddhism, Religious, and Cultural Affairs to provide tax relief on imported dates received as donations or gift for Ramadan.
This year’s Ramadan fasting season is scheduled to begin on 19-02-2026 and end on 21-03-2026.
S. Achchudan appointed as Director General of the Sports Development Department.
Amendment of the National Environment Act No. 47 of 1980
Tax relief for Dates received as donations or gifts for Ramadan
Cabinet nod to establish the Sri Lanka Industrial Transformation and innovation Authority
Temporary employment of Sri Lankan labour in the State of Israel
Cabinet approves liquidation of Sahasya Investment Company
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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