News

Urban population surpasses 44%

Published

7 months ago

October 19, 2023

editor

A recent survey conducted by the National Physical Planning Department has revealed that the urban population of Sri Lanka has increased to 44.57%.

According to this survey, out of the 12,773 Grama Niladhari (GN) Divisions in 276 Divisional Secretariat divisions, 3,025 GN Divisions have been identified as urban areas which is 23.68%.

Colombo has been named as the district with the highest percentage of urban population in the country which is 96.74%.

The urban population in Gampaha District is 76.76% and in Jaffna district 67.28%.

The lowest percentage of urban population is recorded in Mullaitivu District which is 2.84%.

The urbanization of the country was recorded as 18.2% according to the last survey conducted in 2012 regarding urbanization.

Urbanization of an area is measured based on several criteria.

Among them are criteria such as population, population density, number of supermarkets, clothing stores, filling stations, banks, private schools and private hospitals within 10 km, number of flats within a GN Division, percentage of houses provided on rent and lease basis and how many people are employed in the non-agricultural sector.

The purpose of this survey conducted by the National Physical Planning Department is to identify the urban areas in Sri Lanka and to systematically indicate the appropriate criteria for it.

The Cabinet had also appointed an advisory committee chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing to provide advice for this survey.

According to this survey, the two local councils of Homagama and Kolonnawa in Colombo District and all the local councils in Gampaha District have been rapidly urbanized, Director General of the Department Gamini Hewage said.

He also said that many areas in the other districts are also being rapidly urbanized.

This survey report is to be submitted to the Cabinet after getting approval from the President and all district committees.

News

Veteran journalist A.D. Ranjith Kumara no more

Published

18 hours ago

May 10, 2024

editor

Veteran journalist, artist and author A.D. Ranjith Kumara passed away today (May 10).

He passed away at the age of 77.

His remains will be laid at the Mahinda funeral parlour in Mt. Lavinia from 8.00am tomorrow (May 11) before being handed over to the Kotelawala Medical Faculty as per his final wishes.

News

CID tells Maithripala’s statements contradict each other

Published

18 hours ago

May 10, 2024

editor

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) conducting investigations into the controversial revelation made by former President Maithripala Sirisena regarding the Easter Sunday bomb attacks, informed court that his two statements given to the CID and evidence gathered from CCTV footage contradict each other.

Counsel Rajitha Lakmal, appearing for Parliamentarian Kavinda Jayawardena, moved the court to issue an order for the former President’s arrest if he has provided false statements by concealing the truth. Considering the facts, Maligakanda Magistrate Lochani Abeywickrema directed the CID to take necessary action regarding former President Sirisena if he has committed something with criminal liability. The progress of the investigation was ordered to be reported to the court on July 26.

The CID had filed a facts report before Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court regarding the statement the former President had made recently. Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles had instructed the Inspector General of Police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the statement made by the former President in Kandy that he knew the people involved in the Easter Sunday bomb attacks on 21 April 2019.

(dailymirror.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Supreme Court moves another petition by Diana Gamage

Published

24 hours ago

May 10, 2024

nipuni

The Supreme Court has ordered that the petition filed by former State Minister Diana Gamage challenging a decision taken by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to cancel her party membership, be called on May 28.

This petition was taken up before the three-member Supreme Court bench consisting of Justices Gamini Amarasekara, Kumuduni Wickremesinghe and Mahinda Samayawardhena today (10).

At the time, President’s Counsel Faiszer Musthapha who appeared for the petitioner Diana Gamage, requested for a date to inform the court of the decision to be taken regarding this petition.

Accordingly, the judge bench ordered that the relevant petition be called on May 28 and that the decision regarding the maintaining of this petition be announced on the relevant date.

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, General Secretary of the SJB Ranjith Madduma Bandara and several others have been named as respondents in this petition.

The SJB had earlier decided to expel Diana Gamage from the party citing that she had failed to comply with the unanimous decision taken by the party to vote against the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, by voting in favour. The SJB had also highlighted that this was a serious violation of party discipline, and that the Opposition Leader and the SJB’s leader Sajith Premadasa decided to suspend her party membership for the reputation or well-being and prosperity of the party.(adaderana.lk)

(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk) has not been edited by SLM staff)