News

If you defect you are home – AKD

Published

11 months ago

August 9, 2024

editor

National People’s Power (NPP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that new defection laws will be brought under an NPP government.

Addressing an NPP gathering in Malwana, Dissanayake said that this election is unique due to the nepotistic ties of the prominent candidates. “This alone is enough for you to vote for the NPP,” he said.

“These parties are full of frogs who jump from one side to the other. This is the last time they can defect,” he said.

“If you defect, you are home,” Dissanayake said. “This country’s politics were corrupted because of this. An NPP government will bring laws to tackle this. The 19th Amendment had a clause like. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe presented the 19th Amendment to Parliament, and Dinesh Gunawardena wanted this part removed,” Dissanayake said.

‘Wijeyadasa Rajapkshe’s membership in Parliament itself would have been terminated several times if that clause was there,” Dissanayake said.

(newswire.lk)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by newswire.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Bus associations oppose proposal of 2% fare reduction

Published

3 hours ago

June 25, 2025

editor

The government’s proposal to reduce bus fares by a 2% effective from July 01 has led to the strong disapproval of bus associations, reports say.

It was also proposed not to revise the minimum fare.

The announcement was made during a meeting between officials of the Transport Ministry and representatives of private bus associations to discuss the annual bus fare revision, scheduled for July 01.

News

UN Rights chief meets families of missing persons

Published

3 hours ago

June 25, 2025

editor

A group of activists and families of missing persons handed over letters and memorandums to the visiting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk in Trincomalee today (June 25).

UN Human Rights Spokesperson – Jeremy Laurence, who is accompanying the High Commissioner, said while in Trincomalee that Mr. Volker Turk expressed sorrow and solidarity with the families of the disappeared.

Meanwhile, a peaceful demonstration was also held in Trincomalee during this visit, where a group of activists and victims of disappearances was seen holding placards and banners.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights will visit Kandy before concluding his official visit to Sri Lanka tomorrow (June 26) after a special press briefing in Colombo.

News

200 new super luxury buses to be procured for expressways

Published

3 hours ago

June 25, 2025

editor

There is an urgent need to introduce new buses to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus fleet, as nearly 52% of the regular bus fleet of the Sri Lanka Transport Board and nearly 94% of the luxury bus fleet have exceeded the economic life span.

As to the insufficient buses to meet the passenger demand on the expressway, the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) is currently operating 61 luxury buses belonging to the private sector on a profit-sharing basis.

Therefore, the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has decided to purchase 200 new super-luxury buses by using their own funds.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, Port and Civil Aviation to purchase 29 super luxury buses through the financially capable depots and to purchase the remaining buses by making a down payment using SLTB funds and the balance to be paid in monthly instalments over a period of 5 years.