President Anura Kumara Disanayake, who is currently on a state visit to Vietnam, extended an open invitation to Vietnam’s leading conglomerate, Vingroup, to explore investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s real estate and tourism sectors.

While congratulating the Vingroup for their achievements and for building a diversified global brand, President Disanayake invited Vingroup to consider investing in Sri Lanka’s real estate and tourism sectors. He further emphasized that Sri Lanka is pleased to facilitate the creation of a smooth and enabling environment for their investments.

The President made these remarks during a business engagement with Vingroup at their Headquarters in Hanoi, yesterday evening (May 04) where he met with Vice Chairman and the CEO of the Vingroup Nguyen Viet Quang and the delegation.

President Disanayake emphasized Sri Lanka’s strategic geographic position, progressive infrastructure development and the government’s commitment to fostering a conducive environment for foreign investors, particularly in high-potential sectors such as tourism and real estate.

Vingroup Joint Stock Company (Vingroup JSC), formerly known as Technocom Corporation, was founded in 1993 in Ukraine. Today, Vingroup is one of Vietnam’s largest and most respected private enterprises, operating as a multi-sector corporation with a focus on three core pillars: industrials & Technology, Real Estate & Services and Social Enterprises.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath also participated in the discussions.

A complaint was filed with the CID last night (May 04), requesting an urgent investigation into a claim made by former Director of the National Lotteries Board – Thusitha Halloluwa.

Halloluwa had alleged that President Anura Dissanayake had made a large financial investment in Greece.

The relevant complaint was submitted at midnight yesterday by the Attorney-at-Law Akalanka Ukwatte, with President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma.

Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake stated yesterday (May 04) that voters at the upcoming Local Government (LG) elections must mark only one cross (X) in the empty box next to the symbol of their chosen political party or independent group.

He emphasized that any writing, drawing, or additional markings outside the single cross in the designated box – such as names, lines, or other symbols – will result in the vote being rejected.

He also noted that separate ballot papers are being printed for each Local Government body for this election, and all assigned officials are required to report to their designated locations.

Meanwhile, Ratnayake stated that voters who have not yet received their official polling cards for the 2025 LG Elections can collect them from the relevant post offices or download them from the Election Commission’s website. He added that even without a polling card, voters can cast their vote by presenting a valid document of identification at their polling station.

The Election Commission Chairman said that all preparations have been made for the Local Government Election on Tuesday and after voting ends vote counting will take place at ward level, with most wards having one polling station and a few larger ones having multiple.

Voting will be held on Tuesday from 7.00am – 4.00 pm to elect members for 339 Local Government bodies across the country. A total of 17,156,338 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots, with 75,589 candidates contesting from various political parties and independent groups.