The section from Mahawa to Anuradhapura on the Northern railway line will not reopen as scheduled.
This section has been closed for renovations since January.
Locomotive drivers have raised safety concerns due to the absence of secure level crossings between the Eppawala and Dahaiyagama stations.
As a result, the Yal Devi train, which operates from Colombo, will only travel as far as Mahawa for now.
Renovation work on the Northern Railway line is being funded through Indian loan assistance.
A private secretary of former State Minister Lohan Ratwatte was found dead with gunshot injuries in a house in Katugastota today.
Police said the 50-year-old secretary was suspected to have shot himself near Lohan Ratwatte’s office at Mahaiyawa.
He died after being admitted to the National Hospital in Kandy.
The Katugastota Police are investigating whether it was a suicide or not.
The Commissioner General of Elections, Saman Sri Ratnayake, has announced that no new nominations will be called for the upcoming local government elections.
He clarified that the election will proceed based on the nominations that were previously submitted.
Speaking at a news conference held in Kandy, Ratnayake further noted that any party who feels this decision has caused them injustice has the option of seeking legal recourse through the courts.
The Department of Government Information said that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has returned eight government vehicles that were in his possession.
Director General of the Department of Government Information issued a statement, saying that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa still has eight more government vehicles in his possession.
This statement adds that former president Ranil Wickremesinghe has 11 government vehicles in his possession.
Under the Presidential Privileges Act No. 04 of 1986, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe have been notified to return the excess vehicles in their possession.
The Director General of the Department of Government Information emphasized in the statement that nothing officially entitled to former Presidents have been taken away from them.
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi noted the swift actions taken during global emergencies including during the economic crisis in Sri Lanka.
Modi addressed the International Abhidhamma Divas ceremony at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, Thursday, commemorating Lord Buddha’s teachings and the recent recognition of Pali as a classical language by the Government of India.
The Prime Minister expressed happiness that this year’s Abhidhamma Divas was special as the language, Pali, in which Lord Buddha gave his sermons has been recognised and accorded the status of Classical language by the Government of India in this month itself. Therefore, he added, that today’s occasion was even more special.
The Prime Minister remarked that the honor accorded to Pali by recognition as a classical language was a tribute to the great legacy and heritage of Lord Buddha. He further added that Abhidhamma is contained in the Dhamma and to understand the true essence of Dhamma, it was necessary to have knowledge of Pali language. Explaining the various meanings of Dhamma, Prime minister said Dhamma meant the message and doctrine of Lord Buddha, the solutions to questions related to human existence, the path to peace for human race, the eternal teachings of the Buddha and a firm assurance for the welfare of entire humanity. He added that the entire world was being constantly enlightened by Buddha’s Dhamma.
Reflecting on India’s historical relationship with Buddhism, PM Modi noted the country’s efforts to revitalize Buddha’s heritage, including development projects in significant Buddhist sites like Kushinagar and Lumbini. He emphasized that the teachings of Lord Buddha are crucial for addressing global challenges, especially in promoting peace and sustainability.
Prime Minister said that this period of Amrit Kaal will be the period of India’s progress, a period of building a developed India where the teachings of Lord Buddha would guide in the roadmap that India has made for its development. He further added that it was possible only on the land of Buddha that today the world’s largest population is conscious about the use of resources.
Reciting a teaching of Lord Buddha, Prime Minister said that any form of goodness should be started by ourselves was at the core of the idea of Mission LiFE. He added that the path to a sustainable future will emerge from the sustainable lifestyle of every person. Noting India’s contribution to the world like the platform of the International Solar Alliance, formation of the Global Biofuel Alliance during its presidency of G-20, the vision of One Sun, One World, One Grid, Shri Modi said that all of them reflected the thoughts of Lord Buddha. He added that every effort of India was towards ensuring a sustainable future for the world. The Prime Minister pointed out various initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, India’s Green Hydrogen Mission, the target of making Indian Railways net zero by 2030, increasing ethanol blending in petrol to 20 percent, all of them showcased India’s strong intention to protect this earth.
Prime Minister emphasized that many of the government’s decisions are inspired by Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha and gave the example of India being the first responder in times of crisis in the world.
He highlighted the country’s swift actions during global emergencies such as the earthquake in Turkey, the economic crisis in Sri Lanka and the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that this reflects Buddha’s principle of compassion. “As a Vishwa Bandhu (friend of the world), India is taking everyone along with it”, he remarked. He said that initiatives like Yoga, millets, Ayurveda, and natural farming are inspired by the teachings of Lord Buddha. He stressed the importance of intertwining modern progress with cultural roots, stating, “India is moving towards development while strengthening its roots.”
The International Abhidhamma Divas celebration organized by the Government of India and International Buddhist Confederation witnessed the participation of academicians and monks from 14 countries and a significant number of young experts on Buddha Dhamma from various Universities across India.
Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga revealed that she was offered a USD 5 million bribe by a family member of a junior Minister in her cabinet when she was the Prime Minister.
Kumaratunga said that the bribe was offered at her office in Parliament at the time to approve a deal with a Singaporean investor.
The former President said that she rejected the deal and threatened to arrest the individual and ordered them to leave.
Kumaratunga said that politicians must have the ethics to have the strength to refuse a bribe.
She noted that a former President had once told his Cabinet they can take bribes but must not get caught.
As a result, Kumaratunga says so many politicians stole and were not arrested.
The former President was speaking at the 45th National Conference of Chartered Accountants held in Colombo.
Former Presidents Ranil Wickremesinghe and Maithripala Sirisena were also speakers at the event.
India has doubled its grant to Rs 600 million to support education in Sri Lanka’s plantation areas for the Indian-origin Tamil community.
Indian High Commission to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha and Secretary of Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education and Science and Technology J M Thilaka Jayasundara on Friday signed and exchanged diplomatic letters to formalise the modalities.
“The project envisages the upgradation of infrastructure of 9 plantation schools identified by the Government of Sri Lanka. These include 6 schools in the plantation areas of Central Province and one school each in Uva, Sabaragamuwa and Southern Province,” Jha said.
With the additional funds infused at the request of the Government of Sri Lanka, India’s total commitment to the project now stands at 600 million Sri Lanka rupees (INR 172.25 million).
The project would add to India’s numerous past and ongoing development partnership initiatives in Sri Lanka in the important sector of education.
Besides support for infrastructure development and equipment supply, training and capacity-building have formed an equally important focus area for India’s development cooperation projects in the sector in Sri Lanka.
Source: PTI
Train services on the Batticaloa-Colombo main line have been disrupted between Hingurakgoda and Gal Oya railway stations after a fuel train collided with a herd of elephants, the Railways Department said.
They said two elephants died in the accident, and a few others in the herd were reported to be injured.
The incident occurred at 3:30 a.m. today near the Minneriya railway station, while the train was transporting fuel from the Kolonnawa Petroleum Storage Terminal to Batticaloa.
The department reported that the railway line was severely damaged, with four fuel carriages derailed, two of which overturned. The train engine and another compartment also derailed.
As a result of the accident, the train scheduled to run from Colombo Fort to Batticaloa this morning has been canceled.
The department added that direct trains between Colombo Fort and Batticaloa may not operate for several days.
SLPP National Organizer Namal Rajapaksa slammed the government for acting blind and deaf over the release of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) report on the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, with all talk but no action.
Taking to X, Rajapaksa said “Two more findings from the PCoI remain unpublished, raising questions about transparency,”
“The release of the Commission report on the Easter Sunday attacks has spiraled out of control. The govt. is yet to locate the missing pages of the report while there are claims that there are two more unpublished findings. The govt. is acting blind & deaf over releasing the reports with all talk but no action. It is only right that answers are given by the govt. rather than speculations being rife,” he posted on X.
The Election Commission has officially announced the spending limits for political parties, independent groups, and candidates in the upcoming election campaigns.
In the Colombo district, the highest expenditure cap has been set, allowing candidates to spend up to Rs. 5,750,000.
Political parties and independent groups in Colombo may allocate a maximum of Rs. 79,493,756.
For national list candidates in Colombo, the spending limit is established at Rs. 34,698.
In the Gampaha district, candidates can spend a maximum of Rs. 5,643,387, while political parties or independent groups may expend up to Rs. 81,735,055.
For national list candidates in Gampaha, the spending limit is established at Rs. 345,667.
The lowest spending limit has been designated for the Wanni electoral district, where candidates can allocate Rs. 1,673,243.
For political parties or independent groups in Wanni, the maximum expenditure is capped at Rs. 9,913,964.
National list candidates are allowed to spend Rs. 4,327 on their campaigns.
Candidates are required to submit a detailed expenditure report to the Election Commission within 21 days following the announcement of election results.
The Election Commission mandates that the signatures of the party secretary, independent group leader, and candidates must be certified by the Commissioner for Oaths or a Justice of the Peace.
