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Dilith signs nomination papers

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Leader of Mawbima Janatha Party (MJP) – Dilith Jayaweera has signed his nomination papers to contest the upcoming Presidential Election scheduled for September 21.
The signing of the nomination papers was carried out at Mawbima Janatha Party (MJP) head office in Borella.

The party leaders of the ‘Sarvajana Balaya’ alliance, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, D. E. W. Gunasekera, Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, Gevindu Kumarathunga were present at the occasion.

He will contest the 2024 presidential election from the ‘Sarvajana Balaya’ alliance under the symbol of the ‘Star’.

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Minister refutes claims that lime with high chromium levels is used for water purification

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The imported hydrated lime with a high content of chromium has not been released to any water purification plants in the country, Minister of Urban Development Anura Karunathilake stated.

Speaking in Parliament today (Feb. 07), he was responding to an allegation made by MP D.V. Chanaka yesterday.

The minister assured that the public can drink tap water without fear as hydrated lime with high content of chromium has not been used to purify water.

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PM assures justice for Lasantha’s family

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Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has responded to a letter directed to her by Ms. Ahimsa Wickrematunge, the daughter of the slain Sunday Leader Editor – Lasantha Wickrematunge.

Speaking in Parliament today (Feb. 07), Dr. Amarasuriya reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring justice for Lasantha Wickrematunge’s family.

“The letter that Ms. Ahimsa Wickremetunga has sent to me is also measured, given the circumstances and given what this family has had to endure for these past…I don’t know how many years…So, we’re very determined, because at the end of the day the purpose of having a judicial system, the Attorney General’s Office, all of these institutions is to deliver justice and if procedures come in the way of delivering justice, then we need to re-examine those procedures”, she stated.

The Prime Minister revealed that several actions have already been taken and that the government expects the Attorney General to take further steps. She noted that the government is exploring the possibility of initiating fresh indictments in the case.

While acknowledging the systemic challenges within legal institutions, she stressed that change is necessary and that victims should not be left waiting indefinitely.

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Digital transformation set to elevate the nation to a new level – President

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Aimed at accelerating Sri Lanka’s digital transformation, three key digital initiatives were officially launched today (07) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Disanayake.

These initiatives include the establishment of the GovPay government digital payment platform, the expansion of the President’s Fund services to the Divisional Secretariat level, and the introduction of the eBMD system for obtaining birth, marriage, and death certificates through embassies.

The project is being jointly implemented by the Ministry of Digital Economy, the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), and LankaPay, with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka ensuring the security of the payment platform and fostering public trust in its operations.

Through the GovPay platform, payments for all services related to 16 government institutions can be processed in the initial phase. Starting from April, an additional 30 government institutions are planned to be integrated into the platform. Moving forward, there is an ambition to unify all government institutions under this system. Currently, 12 state and private banks have already joined the platform.

Speaking at the event, President Anura Kumara Disanayake emphasized that technological advancements play a pivotal role in improving people’s lives by delivering efficient, high-quality, and cost-effective services. He noted that throughout history, technological progress has been a driving force behind societal advancement, continuously elevating human civilization.

The President also highlighted that the President’s Fund has traditionally been managed from Colombo, which has posed significant challenges for citizens in remote villages. To address this, the fund’s operations will now be decentralized to the Divisional Secretariat level, ensuring greater accessibility and convenience.

He further stressed that such transformative decisions should have been made long ago, as delays in policy implementation have hampered economic progress and public welfare. However, with digitalization, urban and rural communities are now more interconnected than ever, making technology a vital tool in addressing rural poverty and resolving grassroots challenges.

President Disanayake reaffirmed that digitalization is the key driver that can propel Sri Lanka to a new stage of development, enabling citizens to meet their needs seamlessly, free from obstacles, inefficiencies, and bureaucratic delays.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake emphasized that due to the mechanized nature of modern life, the Sri Lankan people have gradually lost their connection to cultural living.

However, he pointed out that digitalization could facilitate the revival of cultural life, making it essential to ensure the success of this initiative. He further stated that the introduction of the Digital National Identity Card (Digital ID) marks a key milestone in this transformation.

The President stressed the urgency of implementing these changes rapidly, highlighting that transparency, efficiency, and bridging the urban-rural divide are critical to Sri Lanka’s digital transformation. He assured that the government is making significant efforts to elevate the nation to a new level through digitalization.

Senior Advisor to the President on Digitalization and  Chairman of the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, stated that Sri Lanka already possesses 75% of the necessary skills to build a strong digital economy. However, to fully unlock this potential, the remaining gaps must be addressed, with a goal of completing this process within the next three years.

As part of this initiative, the President’s Fund was officially decentralized to the Divisional Secretariat level, enabling online application submissions for financial assistance.
To further drive digital transformation, a system was introduced allowing Sri Lankans living abroad to obtain certified copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates through their respective embassies. As an initial implementation, a Sri Lankan resident in South Korea successfully received a birth certificate through the online system.

This initiative marks a significant step forward, as enabling expatriate Sri Lankans to access official documents via their embassies will greatly simplify bureaucratic processes and improve their quality of life.

The event was attended by Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government Chandana Abeyratne, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Secretary of the President’s Fund and Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, along with several other dignitaries.

(President’s Media Division)

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