Tuesday, July 15, 2025
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SJP Predicts Sajith Premadasa’s Presidency by December

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SJB Parliamentarian Kabir Hashim, during a local government meeting, expressed his confidence in Sajith Premadasa’s imminent presidency.

He stated that by December, Premadasa will assume the presidency, and current President Anura Dissanayake will leave office. Hashim added that Premadasa is already making necessary preparations for the transition.

Meanwhile, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe suggested that the government’s reluctance to fund local government bodies indicates their anticipation of an election defeat. He stated that the public, having rejected traditional political parties and experimented with the “compass” party due to economic despair, is now disillusioned with both.

Addressing a UNP candidate meeting in Kandy, Wickremesinghe urged his party to communicate with those who are disenchanted with the current government and highlight the failures of the “compass” party’s economic policies.

Sri Lanka’s First-Ever Media Festival Begins Today

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The inaugural Media Fest 2025, a groundbreaking event in Sri Lanka’s media landscape, commences today with a focus on “Navigating the New Media Landscape Together.” The two-day festival, organized by the Sri Lanka-India Media Friendship Association (SLIMFA), brings together prominent Indian and Sri Lankan media personalities to share insights and expertise.

The festival features keynote speeches, panel discussions, and breakout sessions on a wide range of topics, including AI in journalism, mobile journalism, media monetization, and disinformation. It aims to foster collaboration and professional development among media professionals from both countries.

The opening ceremony, scheduled for 5 PM today at the Taj Samudra Colombo, will be graced by Mass Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa as Chief Guest and Acting Indian High Commissioner Dr. Satyanjal Pandey as Guest of Honour.

Tomorrow’s sessions will delve into pressing issues in the media industry, with keynotes by Palki Sharma, Shailesh Shekhar, and other experts. Breakout sessions and workshops will provide hands-on training in areas such as mobile journalism, data storytelling, and social media content strategy.

The Media Fest 2025 is a significant step in strengthening media ties between Sri Lanka and India and promises to shape the future of media in the region.

Transport Ministry Shake-Up: Weerasinghe Latest to Resign, Following Siriwardhana, Withana, and Wijayamuni

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Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe has resigned as Commissioner General of Motor Transport, submitting his letter of resignation to the Secretary of the Ministry of Transport.

Weerasinghe stated that his resignation was due to his decision to take another position. Notably, his departure marks the fourth resignation among the chairpersons of six institutions under the Ministry of Transport.

The other chairpersons who have resigned include Ramal Siriwardhana, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Transport Board; Professor Bandula Dileepa Withana, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Transport Commission; and Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni, Chairman of the Transport Medical Institute.

Ranil’s Statement Halts Bribery Probe Against MP Chamara Sampath

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The Sunday Times reports that the Bribery Commission’s investigation into MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake has been halted due to a recent statement by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Dassanayake, who was arrested and remanded for allegedly causing a loss of 17.3 million rupees to the government by withdrawing funds from fixed deposits of the Uva Provincial Council before maturity, is currently in remand custody.

Wickremesinghe stated that the incident occurred during his tenure as Prime Minister and that Dassanayake withdrew the funds based on a circular issued by the Treasury Secretary with the approval of then President Maithripala Sirisena. The circular stipulated that provincial council funds could not be deposited in fixed deposit accounts and that government and other allocated funds had to be spent within the same year.

The Bribery Commission had summoned Wickremesinghe to state the matter, but he informed them of his unavailability on the given date. The commission is expected to provide him with a new date.

Christian Community Disappointed over President’s Missing Easter Message

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Christians in Sri Lanka and around the world celebrated Easter Sunday, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The day, which marks the end of Holy Week, is a time of religious observance and celebration for Christians.

In Sri Lanka, the day was marked by special church services, including a Midnight Mass led by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo. For Christians, Easter Sunday is a time to remember the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus, as recounted in the Bible.

This year’s celebrations also included remembrances for the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya issued an Easter message assuring the public that the government was committed to bringing those responsible for the attacks to justice.

However, the Christian community expressed disappointment over the President’s failure to issue an Easter message for the first time in history.

Presidential Commission Report on Easter Sunday Attacks Handed Over to CID and, AKD Vows to Reveal Truth Behind Easter Sunday Attacks

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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has pledged to bring the perpetrators of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks to justice. Speaking at a public rally in Polonnaruwa, he revealed that the complete Presidential Commission report on the attacks, including previously hidden sections, has been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The President accused the previous government of attempting to conceal the true culprits behind the attacks and stated that his administration is taking systematic steps to ensure accountability.  He also highlighted the government’s decision to promptly repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act and criticized the previous administration for withholding the full Presidential Commission report from both the public and the CID.

President Dissanayake emphasized his commitment to uncovering the truth behind the attacks, including resolving suspicious incidents such as the placement of a jacket at the scene of the murder of two police officers in Vavunathivu. He declared that he bears the responsibility of exposing those truly responsible for the Easter Sunday tragedy.

Opposition MPs Accuse Senior Minister of Acting Like a “Class Monitor”

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A group of opposition MPs has filed a complaint with President Anura Dissanayake against a senior government minister, alleging that the minister is disregarding their requests and conducting parliamentary business as he pleases.

The MPs, including Dayasiri Jayasekara, Harsha de Silva, and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, claim that the minister is acting unjustly towards the opposition, behaving as if he were a “class monitor.”

The complaint was lodged during a recent all-party meeting chaired by the President, according to MP Dayasiri Jayasekara.

Bold “HER” Program Empowers Kalutara’s Female Candidates Against Cyber Violence

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In a joint effort to combat technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) against female candidates in the 2025 Local Government Elections, IFES and the Kalutara Elections Office organized the Bold “HER” program.

The program was open to female candidates from all political parties contesting in the Kalutara District, with participants representing the Kalutara Municipal Council, Kalutara Pradeshiya Sabha, Beruwala Pradeshiya Sabha, Beruwala Urban Council, and Dodangoda Pradeshiya Sabha.

Communication Strategist and Social Activist Vimukthi Dushantha served as the program’s main resource person, and Mahesh Dayanath, Development Officer at the Kalutara Elections Office also participated. The program was held yesterday (19) at the Kalutara District Secretariat.

Sri Lanka Pushes Back Against IMF Export Target and Trump’s Tariff Hike

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Sri Lankan authorities have informed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that they cannot meet the export target of an additional USD 3 billion due to the potential impact of the US-China trade war on key exports like textiles, rubber, and coconut. They have requested a grace period for the condition until an alternative solution is found.

Additionally, Sri Lanka has revealed that the actual rate of the reciprocal tax imposed by US President Donald Trump is 54%, not 44% as previously reported. The government has appealed to the US to reconsider the tax rate, citing the burden it places on Sri Lanka’s export sector and overall economic growth. A special envoy is expected to travel to the US for further discussions.

Electricity Board Fails to Recover Millions in Unpaid Religious Site Bills

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The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has informed the National Audit Office that it cannot recover over Rs. 250 million in outstanding electricity bills from religious places.

The National Audit Office’s investigation revealed that over Rs. 70 million of these unpaid bills have been outstanding for more than five years. The Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Cultural Affairs also owes over Rs. 8 million to the CEB since 2012, and has not responded positively to the CEB’s requests for payment.