The Welfare Benefit Board has decided to extend the census completion date to April 10, after considering the requests of District Secretaries and Grama Niladhari Offices.
Today was intended to be the last date for the census to verify the details of the applicants of the 2022 programme to identify eligible individuals and families to receive the payment of welfare benefits under the theme “Leave no one behind”.
The next step in this process is to allow the verification of data by the Selection Committee and it is mandatory that all the remaining household units be censused before 10th of April 2023.
Under the second phase of the “Aththama kiyamu, aththama ayata prathilaba demu” campaign, the census of 27, 58424 applicants’ information has been completed as of today.
The Public Security Ministry has denied media reports claiming that the Public Security minister – Ananda Wijepala had met Nissanka Senadhipathi.
The Minister’s media secretary had clarified this in a letter to Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya. Adding that the neither the Minister or a representative had ever met Senadhipathi as claimed, the letter calls for proper investigations into the fake news and legal action against those responsible.
A special transport allowance and a combined allowance will be provided to police personnel assigned to ensure the safety of devotees attending the exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Siri Dalada Vandanawa) in Kandy, the police said.
The measure has been taken over the instructions of the Acting IGP, in consideration of the fact that these police personnel will be on continuous day and night duty for over 10 days, away from their regular stations and incurring additional personal expenses.
The Bill to repeal the Online Safety Act, No. 9 of 2024, and other regulations concerning the Act, has been gazetted.
The Online Safety Bill was passed by a majority vote in Parliament on Jan. 24, 2024.
The Bill that has been gazetted was submitted by opposition MP Ravi Karunanayake.
On Feb. 28, 2025, MP Karunanayake submitted a private member’s Bill to the Parliament Secretary-General, aiming to repeal the controversial Online Safety Act.