The Police Headquarters has issued a directive to all officers across the island to monitor individuals wearing helmets suspiciously, especially when not riding motorcycles.

The directive follows a series of serious crimes where suspects were seen using full-face helmets to conceal  their identities.

While wearing a helmet is a legal requirement for both motorcycle riders and pillion passengers, Sri Lanka Police stress that its purpose is strictly for road safety.

Accordingly, officers have been advised to check the belongings of any individual observed wearing a helmet while not riding a motorcycle, especially if they appear to be acting suspiciously.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday that the talks between the Sri Lankan delegation and US officials regarding reciprocal tariffs have yielded positive results, and both nations are anticipated to issue a joint statement soon.

“Our delegation, including Deputy Finance Minister has engaged in discussions with the relevant US authorities. I have been informed that these discussions have been productive, and both parties are anticipated to issue a joint statement soon,” he said.

The Sri Lankan delegation departed for the United States to engage in discussions with the International Monetary Fund  (IMF) regarding the Extended Fund Facility programme, as well as to have discussion with US government officials about the recent reciprocal tariffs placed on Sri Lankan exports to the United States.

Addressing an election rally in Ratnapura in support of the NPP candidates contesting the upcoming Local Government Election in the Ratnapura District, the President stated that his Government is committed to establishing a strong economy in the country. “Should the economy of our country falter as a result of decisions made by another country, or due to conflict or a pandemic occurring elsewhere, it indicates a lack of stability and independence in our economic system. Our objective is to establish an economy resilient enough to withstand such external challenges,” he said.

The President added that his Government has managed to stabilise the country’s economy to some extent following an unprecedented crisis, maintaining the value of the Sri Lankan rupee against the US dollar at Rs. 300 for the last six months.

“There are no shortages of goods and services in the country, and the rupee’s value has remained unchanged against the dollar for the past six months. This indicates that the economy is now stable,” he added.

The President noted that the year 2025 is expected to witness the highest influx of tourists to the country, and his Government is actively working on developing new tourist attractions, including Yapahuwa and Trincomalee.

“Anuradhapura City will be revitalised, emphasising the importance of our cultural, religious, and irrigation heritage, with assistance from the Indian government,” he added.

President Dissanayake noted that export revenues are anticipated to rise this year. The President remarked that the people made the NPP victorious as they wanted a change from an administration that had not fulfilled the public’s expectations for 70 years. “The people wanted to end this vicious political cycle,” he said.

Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Prof. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi also spoke.

(dailynews.lk)

(This story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

The Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake stated that the government has taken a policy decision to continue, without interruption, “School Nutrition Programme’’ aimed at reducing anemia among schoolchildren, which is being implemented with the assistance of the World Food Programme.

He made these remarks yesterday (April 23), during a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat with representatives from relevant Ministries and government institutions involved in the programme, along with officials from the World Food Programme, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Pathfinder Foundation.

The school meal programme, aligned with the government’s initiative to provide nutritious lunch to primary school students in districts identified as having high levels of malnutrition, specifically targets the reduction of iron deficiency among schoolchildren. The initiative is jointly coordinated by the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Provincial Councils, the Food Promotion Board and the Partnership Secretariat for the World Food Programme Cooperation. The government has allocated Rs. 32 billion for this programme for the current year.

A pilot project is currently being implemented in four selected districts. Based on a formal health and nutrition study assessing the outcomes of this pilot project, there are plans to expand the programme island-wide. The study aims to determine the extent to which iron deficiency among schoolchildren can be reduced through this initiative.

As part of the programme, fortified rice enriched with iron and folic acid will be included in the school meals to specifically address anemia among students.

The World Food Programme, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Gateway Foundation and the Pathfinder Foundation have pledged their continued support for this effort.

Present at the occasion were Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media Dr. Anil Jasinghe, and Secretary to the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Malarmathy Gangatharan, along with other government officials and representatives from partner organizations.

(President’s Media Division)