News

President firm on 5-year term limit

Published

5 months ago

July 4, 2024

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe is firmly of the opinion that the term of the President is 5 years, and the Election Commission is correct in taking steps to hold the Presidential Election in 2024, a media release issued by the President’s Media Division says.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe states that the said Chamindra Dayan Lenawa has not consulted the President or his lawyers prior to filing this Application in the Supreme Court, the statement adds.

It further notes : It has been brought to the attention of the Government that one Chamindra Dayan Lenawa has filed an Application in the Supreme Court under and in terms of Articles 126 read with Articles 12(1), 82(6), 3, 4, 118 and 125 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka praying, inter alia, for a declaration that Article 30(2) should not be interpreted to be amended ab initio by Section 3 of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution and accordingly the Election Commission shall hold the next presidential election taking into account that the term of the office of the President is 6 years and for an interim order restraining the members of the Election Commission from taking any further steps in conducting a Presidential Election in 2024 until the Supreme Court determines this Application.

News

CAA seizes bottled water stock in Hemmatagama over violations

Published

5 hours ago

December 6, 2024

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The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) raided a factory in Hemmatagama, Mawanella, seizing over 3,000 bottles of drinking water prepared for distribution.

Investigations revealed that the factory’s Health Ministry registration certificate had expired and was obtained using false information. The seized stock included bottles of varying sizes from 500 ml to 19 liters.

The CAA emphasized that falsely claiming standards or endorsements violates the CAA Act, and legal action will be taken against the violators. Regular raids are conducted to prevent consumer deception.

News

POIASL renews call to lift oil palm cultivation ban

Published

5 hours ago

December 6, 2024

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The Palm Oil Industry Association of Sri Lanka (POIASL) has urged the Government to reconsider the 2021 ban on oil palm cultivation, citing its economic, environmental, and strategic benefits.

Speaking at the association’s fifth AGM, President Dr. Rohan Fernando criticized the ban as an “ill-conceived decision” lacking scientific basis, driven by vested interests. He emphasized that oil palm is the most efficient vegetable oil crop, meeting over 40% of global demand.

Fernando argued that expanding oil palm cultivation could reduce edible oil imports, save foreign exchange, and create jobs. He highlighted India’s accelerated oil palm expansion as a model and called for collaboration with major producers like Indonesia, Malaysia, and India.

The AGM concluded optimistically, with hopes that the new administration will reconsider the ban to align with its goals of food security, poverty alleviation, and economic growth.

News

Met Department forecasts showers in several provinces

Published

5 hours ago

December 6, 2024

editor

The Meteorology Department says several spells of showers will occur in Northern and Eastern provinces.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya and Kandy districts during the evening or night.

Mainly fair weather will prevail elsewhere, the Met. Department added.

Misty conditions can be expected in most places of the island during the morning.

Thus, the general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.