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SJB critical of EC over halting ‘Sakwala’ & ‘Husma’ programmes

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Sri Lanka’s main opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has questioned the National Election Commission’s impartiality over propaganda activities ahead of the Presidential Election. 

In a letter to the Election Commission Chairman, the SJB revealed that the Election Commission had requested the party to halt all its donation programmes such as ‘Sakwala’ and ‘Husma’ while the same restriction had not been placed on the government for its programmes ‘Jayagamu Sri Lanka’ and ‘Urumaya’.

Meanwhile, the President’s Secretary has turned down a request by the Election Commission (EC) to issue written instructions to government officials to halt state-sponsored development and welfare programmes that the Commission claims is violating election law. 

EC Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake had earlier written to President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake stating that the Commission had received complaints from many parties that state-sponsored development and welfare programmes were being used to promote political parties / candidates. It had also noted that activists from various political parties have directly met with the EC to protest over such activities. 

The letter by the SJB is as follows :

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Forests on state lands to be designated as reserves

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The Ministry of Environment has decided to designate several forests located on state owned lands as official forest reserves.

Deputy Minister – Anton Jayakody has stated that such forests, each spanning 05 hectares or more, have been identified in every district.

Special priority will be given to designating forest reserves on mountain peaks.

In the first phase, 20 forests in districts including Monaragala and Ampara have been selected under the new program named ‘Vanaspathi’,  he said.

He further said the initiative aims to protect these forest areas and expand the country’s forest cover.

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No cases filed against 22 banned pyramid schemes – CBSL

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Although the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has banned 22 institutions operating illegal pyramid schemes, no legal action has been taken against any of them so far, according to reports.

This was disclosed during a workshop held at the CBSL yesterday (July 08) on the dangers of pyramid schemes.

According to CBSL officials, after initial investigations, the files were handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further inquiry.

The CID’s Financial Crimes Unit has reportedly completed its investigations and submitted findings to the Attorney General’s Department, which is responsible for filing cases.

However, it was noted that not a single case has been filed to date.

The CBSL states that investigations will be continued against companies engaged in these illegal practices and hopes at least one or two such cases would be filed by the end of this year or early next year (2026).

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NPP’s Nishantha Jayaweera sworn in as MP

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U. D. Nishantha Jayaweera was sworn in as a National People’s Power (NPP) National List Member of Parliament before the Speaker of the House – Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, today (July 09).

He fills the Parliamentary seat left vacant following the resignation of Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma last month.

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