Author: TELO Admin

The Local Government (LG) elections are likely to be held in the first week of May, Daily Mirror learns.

Speaking to Daily Mirror, the Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake said a special meeting would be convened to discuss the date and reach a final decision within this week.

“The decision would be taken after considering all proposals put forward by respective political parties,” he stated.

“We take all suggestions into account. However, as an independent body, the relevant date will be announced in line with the Local Government Election Act,” the Election Chief stressed.

Opposition parties have requested a delay in calling for nominations until the budget debate concludes, while the government has pushed for an earlier announcement.

The National People’s Power (NPP) has been particularly vocal about expediting the process.

The LG election, originally scheduled for 2023, was postponed after nominations had already begun. Several political parties challenged this delay in court, arguing that using the same nomination lists for a 2025 election would be unfair.

The court later ruled that a fresh nomination process would require two-thirds majority approval in Parliament.

Nominations for the upcoming Local Government Elections will be accepted from March 17, 2025 to March 20, 2025, the Elections Commission announced.

The deadline for submissions is 12 noon on the final day.

The relevant gazette notification has already been sent for printing, according to Additional Election Commissioner M.M.S.K. Bandara Mapa.

However, the Commission did not announce the date for the elections, which originally were to be held in January 2023.

The polls were delayed after then President Ranil Wickremesinghe declared there were no funds to hold the elections after the country faced an unprecedented economic crisis in 2022.

The new government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake passed the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill on February 17 with an overwhelming majority to hold the delayed polls and allow the Election Commission to withdraw the previous election.

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has engaged with Indian fishermen protesting the Sri Lankan Navy’s arrest of 32 of their colleagues and seizure of five boats on February 23.

During the Sunday meeting, Governor Ravi assured the demonstrators he would raise their concerns with both state and central authorities.

Following the discussion, however, Ravi criticized the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government, suggesting they should adopt a “constructive approach” rather than “politicizing” the situation.

The arrests occurred near the North Mannar region, with Sri Lankan authorities claiming the fishermen had crossed the international maritime boundary.

This incident has sparked widespread protests across Tamil Nadu’s coastal communities.

“I totally understand your problem. The solution can be derived only by the state and the central government together, and I’ll try for that,” Ravi told the fishermen while listening to their grievances.

In a subsequent social media post, the Governor described the fishermen as “victims of an iniquitous agreement of 1974,” which he characterized as insensitive to the livelihood concerns of Tamil Nadu’s fishing communities.

He stated that previous governments in Delhi and Chennai had “committed a grave sin” by depriving fishermen of traditional fishing rights around Katchatheevu island.

“Instead of politicising this issue and faulting the Central Government, a constructive approach by the State Government will go a long way in wiping the tears of our affected people,” Ravi added, noting that the party currently ruling Tamil Nadu was an ally of the central government responsible for the 1974 agreement.

The protests, now in their third day, were triggered by the continued detention of over a hundred fishermen and confiscation of numerous boats by Sri Lankan authorities.

On Saturday alone, 5,000 fishermen in 450 boats were reportedly intercepted, with 32 arrested and taken to Talaimannar Naval Camp.

The ongoing strike has left approximately 700 boats anchored at Rameswaram fishing port, causing daily economic losses estimated at Rs 1 crore.

Fishermen leaders have threatened to expand their protests to other coastal districts if authorities fail to secure the prompt release of their detained colleagues.

Source: The Hans India

At the end of 2024, Chinese scientist Wei Yuansong received an extraordinary honor: a set of commemorative stamps issued by Sri Lanka featuring his portrait.

This rare tribute recognized his decade-long commitment to providing communities with safe drinking water and fostering scientific collaboration between China and Sri Lanka.

The connection of Wei, a leading expert in water pollution control, with Sri Lanka began in 2013 when S.K. Weragoda, a Sri Lankan researcher trained in China’s water and sanitation program, sought his assistance in addressing a pressing public health crisis: Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu).

Since 1990, CKDu had affected over 40,000 people in Sri Lanka, with early studies by the World Health Organization linking the disease to groundwater used for drinking.

In August 2014, Wei embarked on his first research trip to Sri Lanka, marking the start of a challenging, yet transformative, journey. Alongside Weragoda, he traveled for hours each day along rugged roads to reach the most severely affected regions. They visited households, engaged with villagers, and worked tirelessly to understand the epidemic’s root causes.

However, their efforts were initially met with skepticism. At that time, experts from multiple developed countries had already carried out studies and assistance in the Asian country.

“Many locals believed that Chinese researchers, like others before them, were only interested in publishing papers, not in solving the problem,” Wei recalled. Despite these obstacles, the team persisted with sustained communication and concrete steps of cooperation, gradually earning the trust of communities.

Their perseverance paid off. In March 2015, China and Sri Lanka signed an agreement to jointly investigate CKDu and improve drinking water safety. Since then, Wei and his team have made frequent visits to Sri Lanka, conducting in-depth research and developing tailored water treatment solutions.

Today, at 55, Wei continues to lead the Laboratory of Water Pollution Control Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), driving innovation in environmental governance and international cooperation.

The issuance of Sri Lankan stamps honoring Wei not only celebrates his contributions but also underscores the power of cross-border scientific partnerships in tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Wei’s unwavering dedication, alongside his team, has brought about big changes in Sri Lanka. Notably, the CAS facilitated the construction of four water treatment facilities in regions severely affected by CKDu. These facilities now provide safe drinking water for more than 5,000 villagers and 1,300 schoolchildren.

Additionally, the China-Sri Lanka Joint Research and Demonstration Center for Water Technology (JRDC) has been in service since 2021 to further bolster collaborative efforts.

Beyond infrastructure development, the CAS has prioritized capacity building, training over 30 water specialists and approximately 40 graduate students in water and environmental studies for Sri Lanka. This focus on local expertise has created a sustainable foundation for long-term environmental and public health improvements.

“Villagers suffering from kidney diseases have reported not needing hospital visits for years, thanks to the assistance provided by Chinese scientists,” said Titus Cooray, a Ph.D. student at the JRDC, adding that the local people now trust Chinese scientists wholeheartedly.

Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to depart for New Delhi, India, today (27) to deliver a keynote address on global issues.

The speech will take place at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Friday (28), with the participation of diplomats and distinguished guests. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott are also slated to speak at the event.

Wickremesinghe’s address will focus on South Asia’s geopolitical landscape, economic challenges, and regional cooperation.

In addition to his speech, the former president is expected to hold discussions with Prime Minister Modi. Political sources indicate that their meeting will cover key bilateral and regional matters. Wickremesinghe will also engage with prominent Indian business leaders during his visit.

This marks his third visit to India in recent months. Wickremesinghe is scheduled to return to Sri Lanka on March 2.