Parliamentary pensions will be abolished once the relevant bill is passed into law, with no individual entitled to receive such benefits thereafter, Justice and National Integration Minister, Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara, said today.

He made the statement after the bill to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented for its first reading in Parliament today (7). The minister said pensions already received prior to the law coming into effect will not be affected.

Nanayakkara said the move addresses public opposition to MPs receiving pensions after a short period of service without making contributions, unlike ordinary public servants who must fulfil strict service requirements.

He said the reform was included in the government’s policy statement and reflects the National People’s Power government’s commitment to ending a privilege-based political culture

Sri Lanka has signed a bilateral agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany as part of its ongoing external debt restructuring process, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to restore debt sustainability and revive its economy.

The agreement, concluded after bilateral discussions following the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Official Creditor Committee (OCC), provides for rescheduling outstanding debts, offering critical relief to Sri Lanka during its economic recovery phase.

The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Finance, where Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, signed on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, while Ms. Sarah Hasselbarth, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., represented the Federal Republic of Germany.

The estimated rescheduled debt under this agreement amounts to €188 million.

Officials noted that this agreement will strengthen the longstanding bilateral relationship between Sri Lanka and Germany, paving the way for deeper cooperation in the future. The Government of Sri Lanka expressed its sincere appreciation to Germany for its unwavering support and partnership.

The Government of Sri Lanka has signed a grant agreement valued at EUR 8 million with the European Union to launch a new initiative under the AgriGreen Initiative – Green Economic Growth through Sustainable Agriculture Practices project.

The grant, provided by the European Union, will support a project jointly developed by the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure as lead-Ministry, Rubber Development Department and Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka, and in partnership with the EU, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement.

The initiative will support Sri Lanka’s transition to green economic growth where sustainable consumption and production practices and food security are ensured, according to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

Further, the project aims to catalyze a shift to more sustainable and environmentally responsible agricultural practices in selected value chains of the rubber sector with special attention to youth and women.

Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, and Dr. Johann H. Hesse, Head of Cooperation, Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka, on behalf of the EU were exchanged the signed Grant Agreement.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development expressed sincere appreciation to the European Union for its valuable support, noting that the project aligns closely with Sri Lanka’s sustainable development agenda, including market-oriented value addition and improved integration with export markets, the statement said.

This agreement stands as a testament to the strong and enduring partnership between Sri Lanka and the EU, the Ministry of Finance noted. It marks an important milestone in our shared commitment to green economic growth, sustainable consumption and production practices and food security.

Families and relatives of students shot and killed near Trincomalee two decades ago gathered Friday (02) to mark the 20th anniversary of the killings.

The memorial honoured students Manoharan Rajeehar, Yogaraja Hemachandran, Shanmugaraja Gajendran, Logidharaja Rohan, and Thangathurei Sivananda, who were fatally shot on January 2, 2006, near Fort Frederick.

Two other students, Yoganadan Punungalal and Pararajasingham Gokulraj, survived the attack.

The ceremony, held at the Gandhi Roundabout in Trincomalee, saw families lay flowers and light candles in front of photographs of the deceased to pay tribute to their memory.

At the time of the killings, the government under President Mahinda Rajapaksa denied any involvement by security forces.

However, photographs later obtained by Subramaniyam Sugirdharajan, a journalist for Sudar Oli, confirmed the students were shot.

Subramaniam himself was shot dead two weeks later in a high-security zone near the Eastern Governor’s office.

The families had filed legal action against the security personnel allegedly involved and several soldiers were taken into custody but were later released on bail.

The initial government investigation was widely criticized amid allegations that political pressures and ethnic tensions influenced the outcome.

In response, the then-opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) which had supported Mahinda Rajapaksa, staged protests along with local Sinhala nationalist groups, claiming that conducting investigations into the killings would undermine the morale of security forces.

At the time of the 2006 killings, then-Highways Minister Basil Rajapaksa told US Ambassador Robert Blake that government forces were aware of the involvement of Special Task Force personnel but could not prosecute due to insufficient evidence.

Dr. Kasipillai Manoharan, father of the slain student Manoharan Rajeehar, brought the Trincomalee student killings to the United Nations Human Rights Council, but even after 20 years, justice has yet to be served.

He passed away on September 21, 2025, after spending nearly two decades fighting for justice for his son and four other students.