The Election Commission (EC) has announced that the government’s decision to provide a subsidized food package for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year has been temporarily suspended.

Accordingly, the Secretary to the President and the Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development have been formally instructed to distribute the seasonal food package only after the Local Government elections are held.

As per this year’s budget proposal, this food package was to be provided to eligible beneficiaries selected from 812,753 new applicants who had submitted requests under the ‘Aswesuma’ program.

The package was designed to offer essential food items worth Rs.5,000 at a subsidized price of Rs.2,500.

The Cabinet recently approved the initiative, and distribution was originally scheduled to take place from April 01 to 13 via Lanka Sathosa and Coop outlets.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka today evening (April 04) for a two-day official visit.

A formal welcome ceremony will be held at the Independence Square tomorrow (April 05), followed by a bilateral discussion between the Sri Lankan President and the visiting Indian Prime Minister.

According to reports, India has flown in 04 MI-17 helicopters as part of PM’s convoy in Sri Lanka along with 40 Indian Air Force personnel.

On a X post yesterday, PM Modi has said :

“My visit to Sri Lanka will take place from the 4th till the 6th. This visit comes after the successful visit of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to India. We will review the multifaceted India-Sri Lanka friendship and discuss newer avenues of cooperation. I look forward to the various meetings there.”

My visit to Sri Lanka will take place from the 4th till the 6th. This visit comes after the successful visit of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to India. We will review the multifaceted India-Sri Lanka friendship and discuss newer avenues of cooperation. I look forward to the…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 3, 2025

Related News :

One person has died in a shooting incident targeting a couple at a shop in the Kumarakanda area of Hikkaduwa yesterday (April 03) night.

Police said the deceased is the owner of the shop.

A gunman who had arrived on a motorcycle and carried out the shooting at around 7pm, police say.

The couple was rushed to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital with grievous injuries.

The condition of the injured woman is also reported to be serious.

Hikkaduwa Police is conducting further investigations.