News

President requests not to organise special events for his first anniversary

Published

2 years ago

July 15, 2023

editor

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has reportedly decided to forgo special ceremonies to celebrate his first anniversary in office as the Head of State.

Accordingly, he has given instructions to respective officials not to organize any official events at the expense of the public in celebration of the first year of his appointment to office.

The directives were given after taking into account the requests made by several officials to organize functions to mark the anniversary.

Wickremesinghe was elected the 8th Executive President of Sri Lanka to serve the remaining term of his predecessor, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after receiving 134 votes during a division held in the 225-member parliament on July 20, 2022. He was then sworn in on July 21.

According to reports, the president has sternly refused the proposals mooted by officials to organize ceremonies to celebrate the event, stressing that such events should not be organized using public or private funds at a time when the country is recovering from the economic crisis.

Meanwhile, the president is scheduled to visit India on July 21 on an official visit.

News

Bus associations oppose proposal of 2% fare reduction

Published

2 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

2 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

2 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.