News
Virtual meetings for prisoners with their families with the help of ICRC

BY CYRIL WIMALASURENDRE
KANDY – State Minister for Prisons Reforms Lohan Ratwatte said here yesterday that as prison visits had been suspended, inmates would be afforded an opportunity to communicate with their loved ones via Zoom.
The facility had been made available in six prisons of the country, including Welikada and Angunakolapelessa, State Minister Ratwatte said.
Answering media queries, State Minister Ratwatte disclosed that the now vacant Bogambara prison buildings and its land would be developed as a tourist attraction in the near future.
The buildings and the land of the old prison were so valuable that they should be made utilised for a useful project, capitalising on the arrival of foreign tourists. The building alone was unique with many attractive features, the State Minister said.
Such development activities were carried out by the Urban Development Authority ( UDA ) , Ratwatte said, adding that investors would also be able to join in once the developments were completed.
State Minister Lohan Ratwatte addressed the media after attending a meeting with central province governor Lalth U. Gsmage at the governor’s secretariat.
Latest News
Sagala Ratnayaka leads Sri Lanka delegation to 20th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue

Chief of Staff to the President and National Security Advisor (NSA) Sagala Ratnayaka led the Sri Lanka delegation to the 20th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier Security Summit held in Singapore from 2 – 4 June 2023.
The highly anticipated summit commenced on 2 June with a powerful Keynote address delivered by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Throughout the event, a series of plenary sessions delved into various crucial geo-political issues, encompassing the establishment of a stable and balanced Asia Pacific, the resolution of regional tensions, the evolution of maritime security in Asia, US leadership in the Indo-Pacific, and China’s latest security initiatives, among other topics.
During the Special Session focusing on ‘Defence Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region,’ Ratnayaka delivered an impactful statement, participating alongside representatives from India, Oman, France, and the United States. He emphasized the significance of keeping big power rivalries and external conflicts out of the Indian Ocean, highlighting Sri Lanka’s efforts in the United Nations to declare the region as a zone of peace. Furthermore, he underscored the country’s contributions to preserving freedom of navigation and over flight, stressing the crucial need for constructive dialogue among all stakeholders in the Indian Ocean region to pursue shared interests.
Latest News
Prices of sixty essential drugs to be reduced from 15th June

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal raised by the Minister of Health to reduce the maximum retail price of 60 medicines by 16% with effect from 15.06.2023 and review the price of medicines every three months
Latest News
Cabinet approval to publish draft bill on contempt of a court, a tribunal or an institution

The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms for publishing the draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman which includes the clear and precise provisions and situational circumstances regarding the offense of ‘contempt of court’ , defense and easing the penalty as well as the procedure to follow when easing the penalty, in the government gazette and subsequently to be tabled in the Parliament for its concurrence.
-
Business6 days ago
‘ඇය සුරකින AIA’ celebrates one year of empowering half a million women to rise together
-
News6 days ago
AI demands immediate release of Natasha
-
Business6 days ago
DFCC Bank provides exclusive free access to DOC 990 for DFCC Aloka accountholders
-
News7 days ago
Misappropriation of Rs 195 mn: Fort Magistrate clears way for continuation of CID probe
-
Opinion7 days ago
‘Modabhimanaya’ everywhere
-
Features5 days ago
Religious cauldron being stirred; filthy rich in abjectly poor country
-
Features7 days ago
Please, take charge of Poson celebrations: A proposal to Mahanayake Theras
-
Opinion5 days ago
Demystifying Buddhism: Need of the hour?