Category: Breaking News

The Election Commission has stated that arrangements will be made to hand over the reserved packets containing the registered postal ballot papers for 114 Local Government institutions to the Postal Department today (07).

The Chairman of the Election Commission, R.M.A.L. Rathnayake, stated that, following the judicial process, necessary steps will be taken to distribute postal ballots to the remaining Local Government institutions.

Meanwhile, Post Master General S. R. W. M. R. P. Sathkumara confirmed that all preparations are in place to receive the packets containing registered postal ballots for the 2025 Local Government Elections.

In response to a query by ‘Ada Derana,’ Sathkumara mentioned that the distribution of postal ballots will begin either this afternoon or tomorrow (08).

Additionally, the Department of Government Printing stated that all postal ballot papers for all Local Government institutions have been printed.

Government Printer Pradeep Pushpakumara further added that the relevant postal ballots have been handed over to the Election Commission.

During his recent visit to Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the island country’s 1996 World Cup-winning cricketers, including Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva and recalled India’s 1996 tour amid unrest as a symbol of strong ties between the two countries.

During the interaction he praised the cricketers and recalled when Team India extended a helping hand to the nation that was rocked by bomb blasts just days ahead of the tournament which it was co-hosting with India and Pakistan.

The cricketers thanked India for support during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis and requested help developing a stadium in Jaffna.

The video of the interaction from Saturday was released on the YouTube channel of the Prime Minister’s Office today.

Cricketer Jayasuriya said, “When we had unrest, problems in Sri Lanka, you and the government helped us a lot. We are always grateful to you for helping Sri Lanka.

Jayasuriya, who is also the current Sri Lanka head coach, requested PM Modi to support Sri Lanka in its aim of bringing international cricket matches to Jaffna by building an international-level stadium.

“As the coach of Sri Lanka, at the moment we play all over Sri Lanka except Jaffna. If India can help us to bring international ground in Jaffna, there will be a big help for the people in Jaffna North and Eastern parts…I have a small request, if this can be done?…”

PM Modi reaffirmed India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy and cited aid to Myanmar as a recent example.

PM Modi said, “India has always believed in the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. We always want to respond to the crisis of our neighbouring countries. In the recent earthquakes in Myanmar, we were the first respondents. During the crisis in Sri Lanka, we ensured that the country should come out of it, and we tried our best to do that…You (Sanath Jayasuriya) spoke about Jaffna that international matches should be played in Jaffna is a very strong thought and I assure you that my team will try to do everything possible for it…”

In January 1996, Sri Lanka was rocked by bomb blasts at the Central Bank. Due to this, Australia and West Indies refused to send their teams to Sri Lanka due to security reasons. However, in a great show of solidarity, sportsman spirit and brotherhood, India and Pakistan, two arch-rivals, sent a joint team led by Indian star Mohammad Azharuddin to play a friendly match against Sri Lanka in February ahead of the marquee tournament.

The team featured several Indian stars like Azhar himself, alongside Sachin Tendulkar, Ajay Jadeja, Anil Kumble and Aashish Rakesh Kapoor. From Pakistan, came stars like Saeed Anwar, Aamir Sohail, Ijaz Ahmed, Rashid Latif, Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram.

However, West Indies and Australia did not turn up at all, giving Sri Lanka free points via walkover that made them the sole undefeated team in Group A and sent them straight to knockouts.

In a one-sided semifinal which was interrupted by rioting and arson by angry fans, Sri Lanka defeated India at Eden Gardens by “default” and marched to the final, where they defeated Australia by seven wickets in Lahore to capture their maiden World Cup title, paving the way for the rise of the Island nation as a cricketing superpower, which gave the sport icons like Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas etc in years to come.

Speaking about the bomb blast and its aftermath in the video, ex-Sri Lanka batter Marvan Attapattu said to PM Modi, “One of the reasons why won, there were two teams (Australia and West Indies) which did not come due to bomb blast. India sent a team here, to show the world the safety of the place. That is one of the reasons we won.”

In his reply, PM Modi recalled how the gesture of Indian team was appreciated in the sports fraternity, particularly in Sri Lanka.

“When other teams were scared and running, India showed Sri Lanka “kheldilli” and did not leave Sri Lanka alone. There was a lot of sportsman spirit. On one side, there was a bomb blast and on the other, was India’s sportsman spirit. It was sportsman spirit which prevailed over bomb blast,” he added.

PM Modi also recalled that after another terrorist attack in Sri Lanka in 2019 during Easter, he was the first world leader to visit the nation in the aftermath of the attack.

“I also remember the Indian team came to Sri Lanka (for the 2021 series) after the attack as well. That spirit (of being together for neighbours) has continued. India is with Sri Lanka in its days of happiness and sorrow both,” the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi also hailed Sri Lankan team’s aggressive performances during the 1996 World Cup, particularly those of their opening pair of Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana, who are often hailed as pioneers of attacking batting in ODI cricket.

“When India won the World Cup in 1983 and you won in 1996, your wins changed the world cricket. If T20 was born, it was in 1996 during your matches and your methods. You are a team that the Indians still remember. They have not forgotten the bashing you gave them,” the Prime Minister said about the Sri Lankan team.

Jayasuriya thanked PM Modi for always helping Sri Lanka when in need and also told PM about his time in the Indian Premier League (IPL), playing for Mumbai Indians (MI) from 2008-11. His 2008 season with MI was a brilliant one, scoring 514 runs in 14 matches at an average of 42.83 and a stunning strike rate of 166.34, with a century and two fifties. He also took four wickets.

To this, PM Modi assured Sri Lanka of all possible help in its various endeavours.

Aravinda da Silva, who scored a match-winning century for Sri Lanka in the 1996 WC final, also told PM the class of 1996 is still involved with cricket in some way or the other. “They are in more pressure now than they used to during finals,” he added.

Kumar Dharmasena, the member of the World Cup-winning team who took up umpiring following his retirement, said that umpiring in Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, the biggest in the world was a great experience.

“Everyone loves to umpire there,” he added.

Romesh also said, “First tour (to India was in 1990) and I came to India recently. Those memories are always there. We regularly visit India. Whenever SL is in crisis financially, India always steps up and supports. Thank you. India is our brother.”

Over the years, India-Sri Lanka cricketing ties have grown stronger, with both nations facing each other in numerous bilateral series and major ICC tournament clashes, including the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup final in Mumbai and the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup final in Bangladesh–won by India and Sri Lanka, respectively.

Notably, both countries will be co-hosting next year’s ICC T20 World Cup, with Men in Blue defending their second title.

Source: ANI

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged Sri Lanka to conduct provincial council elections, which were set up following an accord with India as way of settling the ethnic question.

“We also talked about reconstruction and reconciliation in Sri Lanka,” Prime Minister Modi said in Colombo.

“President Dissanayaka appraised me of his inclusive approach.

“We hope that the Sri Lankan Government will meet the aspirations of the Tamil people and fulfil its commitment towards fully implementing the Constitution of Sri Lanka, and conducting Provincial Council Elections.”

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, the main constituent party of the ruling National People’s Power party of the President Dissanayake opposed the Indo Lanka Accord which led to provincial council.

At the time an armed rebellion also took place, where thousands of civilians including supporters of the then ruling United National Party, other political parties, petty officials and senior officials were killed. The rebellion in turns was crushed by the military.

Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, accompanied by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, paid homage to the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura this morning (06), receiving blessings at the revered site. Following the visit, Prime Minister Modi proceeded to the Udamaluwa, where he engaged in a cordial discussion with the Chief Incumbent of the Great Eight Buddhist Shrines (Atamasthanadhipathi) and Chief Sanghanayake of Nuwarakalaviya, Most Venerable Dr. Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera. During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi shared that relics of the Buddha were discovered in excavations in his home state of Gujarat during the 1960s. He expressed his intention to discuss with President Dissanayake the possibility of exhibiting these sacred relics in Sri Lanka. Responding to a request from the Atamasthanadhipathi to develop Bodh Gaya as a spiritual city, Prime Minister Modi assured that he would take the necessary steps after discussions with President Dissanayake to make this vision a reality. The Maha Sangha, led by the Atamasthanadhipathi, chanted Seth Pirith and invoked blessings on the Indian Prime Minister. Prime Minister Modi also left a commemorative note in the special guest book at the site and formally inaugurated the newly constructed ‘Makara Thorana’ within the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi premises.

Visiting Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared opened the Anuradhapura-Maho railway signaling system, a project supported by the Indian government, as well as the newly upgraded Maho-Omanthai railway line.

The project involves the installation of an advanced signaling and telecommunication system along the Maho-Anuradhapura section of the Northern Line.

Earlier, the Indian Premier offered prayers at the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura with President Dissanayake.

“It’s a deeply humbling moment to be at one of the most revered sites in Buddhism. It is a living symbol of peace, enlightenment and spiritual continuity. May the teachings of Lord Buddha always guide us,” PM Modi posted on ‘X’.

“It is a matter of great pride for me to be awarded the ‘Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana’ by President Dissanayake, said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he was conferred with Sri Lanka’s highest civilian honour.

This esteemed award, which symbolizes the profound friendship and historic ties between India and Sri Lanka, was accepted by Prime Minister Modi with immense pride.

Prime Minister Modi expressed that this honor is not solely his but a tribute to the 1.4 billion people of India.

He conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to President Dissanayake, the Government, and the people of Sri Lanka for this significant recognition.

“This honour is not mine alone – it is a tribute to the 1.4 billion people of India. It symbolises the deep-rooted friendship and historic ties between the people of India and Sri Lanka,” stated Prime Minister Modi.

He further extended his sincere thanks to the Sri Lankan leadership and its citizens for bestowing this prestigious accolade.

This accolade recognizes Prime Minister Modi’s significant contributions to strengthening the bilateral ties and fostering goodwill between the two nations.

The Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana is a Sri Lankan honour, for Heads of State and Heads of Government with which Sri Lanka has friendly relations “in appreciation of their friendship towards and solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka”.