President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the decision to extend the service of Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam is because he plays a key role as a representative of the committee to coordinate the future activities with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka on the investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks.
The President said so when a group of MPs met him last Thursday and inquired about it. Parliamentarians Wajira Abeywardena, Premanath C. Dolawatta and others had asked the President about this and the allegation made by the Opposition.
The President told them that the report of the Presidential Commission appointed after the Easter Sunday attacks was presented to the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka, Bishop of Kurunegala Harold Anthony Perera and appointed President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka and Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam to discuss it.
The Attorney General is a member of this Committee. The President said that he had decided to extend his service until the end of the discussions as he is continuously holding discussions with the members of the Bishops’ Conference.
The President said that if a new Attorney General is appointed, he will need more time to study these matters and added that he had decided to extend the service period of the Attorney General. The President said that if anybody has an issue regarding that, he could inquire about it from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
(sundayobserver.lk) (Except for the headline, this story, originally published by sundayobserver.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)
Leading expert in Allergy, Immunology and Molecular Medicine – Professor Chandima Jeewandara has recommended handwashing and mask wearing for individuals feeling unwell, stating that it would be key in mitigating the spread of Covid-19.
On a X thread, Prof. Jeewandara had shared this advice as the new COVID-19 variant – NB.1.8.1, is causing a rise in cases worldwide.
“The symptoms associated with NB.1.8.1 are broadly similar to earlier COVID-19 strains, including sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches, and nasal congestion. Notably, hoarseness has emerged as a common symptom distinguishing it from earlier variants,” Prof. Jeewandara has said.
“Current data suggests that NB.1.8.1 does not lead to more severe illness compared to previous variants. Most infections are mild, especially among vaccinated individuals,” he adds.
“While the emergence of NB.1.8.1 is notable, there is currently no cause for alarm. Continued vigilance and adhere to public health guidelines MOH,” he further notes.
The first consignment of imported coconut milk under the Government’s raw material importation programme is scheduled to undergo clearance and laboratory testing today (31), as part of a coordinated initiative by the Plantation Industries Ministry.
This initiative, approved by the Cabinet, aims to supply essential raw materials to industries linked to the coconut sector, aiming to reduce domestic coconut prices and support local manufacturers. The consignment currently under clearance includes products equivalent to 200 million coconuts. They are in the forms of frozen coconut milk, coconut milk powder and chunked coconut with testa (non-copra), imported as part of the programme initiated in March 2025. The stock will be used primarily in the coconut milk powder industry, which has been facing raw material shortages. The Plantation Industries Ministry expects this move to reduce the pressure on local coconut supplies and contribute to a drop in retail coconut prices.
(dailynews.lk)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)
The Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development states that reports circulating on social media about the possible closure of the Sevanagala Sugar Factory are false.
The ministry adds that neither the government nor Lanka Sugar Company (Pvt) Ltd. (LSCPL) has discussed such a move.
The ministry further states that the Sevanagala Sugar Factory, which operated at a loss under the previous government, is now continuing operations under a new marketing plan and has begun implementing measures to transform it into a profitable institution.