Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake stated yesterday (May 04) that voters at the upcoming Local Government (LG) elections must mark only one cross (X) in the empty box next to the symbol of their chosen political party or independent group.

He emphasized that any writing, drawing, or additional markings outside the single cross in the designated box – such as names, lines, or other symbols – will result in the vote being rejected.

He also noted that separate ballot papers are being printed for each Local Government body for this election, and all assigned officials are required to report to their designated locations.

Meanwhile, Ratnayake stated that voters who have not yet received their official polling cards for the 2025 LG Elections can collect them from the relevant post offices or download them from the Election Commission’s website. He added that even without a polling card, voters can cast their vote by presenting a valid document of identification at their polling station.

The Election Commission Chairman said that all preparations have been made for the Local Government Election on Tuesday and after voting ends vote counting will take place at ward level, with most wards having one polling station and a few larger ones having multiple.

Voting will be held on Tuesday from 7.00am – 4.00 pm to elect members for 339 Local Government bodies across the country. A total of 17,156,338 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots, with 75,589 candidates contesting from various political parties and independent groups.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has summoned vice chancellors from all state universities across Sri Lanka for a high-level meeting, according to UGC Chairman Professor Kapila Senavirathne.
The meeting is expected to address several pressing issues, including the ongoing problem of ragging (hazing) in universities, which has once again come under scrutiny following recent incidents.

In a related development, four students from the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (SUSL) are scheduled to be presented before the Balangoda Magistrate’s Court today.

These students were arrested on Sunday (4) by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with alleged ragging activities.

Police reports indicate that the arrested individuals are third-year students from the Faculty of Technology at SUSL.

Their arrests stem from investigations launched following a complaint lodged with the Samanalawewa Police on April 29.

Meanwhile, multiple investigations are underway into the recent death of a second-year student from the same faculty.

(News 1st)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by News 1st has not been edited by SLM staff)

It’s reported that over 1,250 complaints were filed with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) in the first three months of 2025.

The Commission stated that it received a total of 1,267 complaints between Jan. 01 and March 31.

During that period, 24 raids were carried out across the country, resulting in the arrest of 20 individuals.

06 of the arrested suspects include a school principal, an officer attached to the Ministry of Labour, a field officer, and an official from the Dep. of Immigration & Emigration.

Additionally, a Public Health Inspector (PHI), a Development Officer, a Ministry of Justice staff member, an assessor of the Department of Provincial Revenue, and 06 other civilians were also apprehended during the raids.

Accordingly, the CIABOC has filed 21 court cases against these 24 individuals.