News

Constitutional Council meets today

Published

3 weeks ago

April 22, 2025

editor

The Constitutional Council is scheduled to convene in Parliament today (April 22) to decide on the appointment of a new Auditor General.

Several candidates have been proposed for the position, including Dharmapala Gammanpila, the most senior officer at the National Audit Office, who is currently serving as Senior Deputy Auditor General.

The Division Heads’ Forum at the department as well as the and the Joint Trade Union Confederation have urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to appoint Mr. Dharmapala to the position, citing that he is best suited to uphold the responsibilities of the state audit process, aligning with the government’s vision for a clean and corruption-free public administration.

They have also highlighted that the most senior qualified officer in the National Audit Office is prioritized for the Auditor General post and Mr. Dharmapala fully meets the legislative criteria as well as the required experience and expertise for the role.

They caution that appointing an external candidate to this key post could undermine public confidence in the government.

News

Mahindananda files anticipatory bail petition over bribery case

Published

2 hours ago

May 14, 2025

editor

Former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has filed a petition before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (May 14), seeking anticipatory bail against his possible arrest by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

The application has been filed over his possible arrest over the importation of a shipment of substandard organic fertilizer during the tenure of the previous government.

Following the submission of the petition, Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali issued a notice to the Bribery Commission, directing it to present its position regarding the matter to the court on May 19.

News

Youth Affairs Ministry denies links to NYSCO courses

Published

2 hours ago

May 14, 2025

editor

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has issued an official statement over the ministry’s name being used by courses and programmes of the National Youth Services Cooperative (NYSCO).

The ministry states that NYSCO has been unauthorizedly using its name and the official state emblem to promote their courses and while using them in the relevant certificates as well.

The ministry says that they have also appointed a separate committee to investigate the issue, on the directives of the COPE committee.

The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs further reiterated that it is not affiliated with any of the courses or programmes offered by NYSCO.

The full statement issued in this regard, is as follows :

තරුණ_කටයුතු_සහ_ක්_රීඩා_අමාත්_යාංශය Download

News

Divisional Secretariats to disburse financial assistance for Kotmale bus accident victims

Published

2 hours ago

May 14, 2025

editor

On the instructions of President Anura Kumara Disanayake, the funds allocated from the President’s Fund for those who lost their lives in the recent bus accident in the Garandi Ella area, Kotmale have now been forwarded to the relevant Divisional Secretariats.

Accordingly, a sum of Rs. 1 million will be provided for each individual who lost their life in the accident, and the funds will be handed over to their respective family members.

These funds have been released to the Divisional Secretariats of the following areas -Tissamaharama, Lunugamvehera, Welimada, Haldummulla, Ella, Kundasale, Bamunakotuwa, Paduwasnuwara West, Polpithigama, Wanathawilluwa, Chilaw, Buttala, Thanamalwila, Wellawaya, Kanthale and Rambewa where the 22 individuals who lost their lives in the accident were residents.

(President’s Media Division)