Chanu Nimesha
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Sri Lanka’s first openly transgender person

Contesting the parliamentary election

The person in the photo is Chanu Nimesha, Sri Lanka’s first openly transgender person who contests a parliamentary election. She represents the Socialist Party of Sri Lanka and contests for the Kegalle district. Chanu Nimesha was an activist of the #GotaGoHome campaign in 2022. “I will continue the fight, but in a different way,” Nimesha…

Murder
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Supreme Court Orders Compensation for Fisherman’s Death in Police Custody After 12-Year Legal Battle

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ruled that two police officers, responsible for the arrest and detention of fisherman Nimal Chandrasiri in April 2012, must pay Rs. 125,000 each in personal funds, with the State contributing an additional Rs. 250,000. This Rs. 500,000 compensation is to be paid to the victim’s family for the…

Aswesuma Cover
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Government Initiates Inquiry into Alleged Exclusion of Eligible Samurdhi Beneficiaries from Aswesuma Welfare Program

The government has launched an inquiry into complaints from Samurdhi beneficiaries who report being unjustly excluded from the Aswesuma welfare benefits program, despite meeting the eligibility requirements. The Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, National Integration, Social Security, and Media confirmed that a significant number of previously eligible Samurdhi recipients have reportedly been…

school nutrition programme

School children’s nutrition programs at risk of stopping

Suppliers not paid for two months;

There is a risk of halting the school nutrition program as the government has not made the payments to the suppliers for the free meals provided to the students in the primary classes from grade 1 to grade 5 in schools for almost two months. Principals and suppliers point out that at present such suppliers…

NPP Manifesto PTA
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Sri Lanka Government to Retain PTA?

Citing Misuse Concerns Over Legislative Reform

The National People’s Power (NPP) government is likely to retain the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA) without any amendments or repeal, despite prior promises made in their election manifesto. The manifesto pledged to reform the PTA, describing it as a law that had historically been misused and stating the NPP’s commitment to aligning…

money
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From when can we use NP government-issued currency notes?

Ajith Perakum Jayasinghe Currency notes issued by the National People’s Power (NPP) government, signed by Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe, are not yet in circulation. Then, is it false that the government printed Rs. 100 billion worth of currency? That’s correct; it’s a different process. No notes have actually been printed. Instead, money has been…

Presidential Election Sees 22% of Free Trade Zone Workers Abstaining; Risk of Higher Non-Participation in Upcoming Parliamentary Election
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Presidential Election Sees 22% of Free Trade Zone Workers Abstaining;

Risk of Higher Non-Participation in Upcoming Parliamentary Election

A significant 22% of Free Trade Zone workers did not cast their votes in the recent Presidential Election, according to the Free Trade Zone Workers’ Solidarity. This alarming figure has raised concerns that even more workers may abstain from voting in the upcoming Parliamentary Election if current barriers remain unaddressed. Sugath Rajapaksha, the coordinator of…

ANJdeAlwis Committee Ravi Seneviratne
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Udaya Gammanpila Reveals Easter Sunday Inquiry Report;

Legal Experts Warn of State Secrets Violation

Former MP and leader of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, Udaya Gammanpila, AAL, revealed the findings of the Committee of Inquiry into Intelligence Coordination and Investigative Processes Related to the Easter Sunday Bombings of April 21, 2019. The committee, chaired by retired High Court Judge A.N.J. de Alwis, was appointed by the President Ranil Wickramasinghe in June…

prison mahara
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Justice Denied: Nine COVID-19 Patients Among the Deceased in Mahara Prison Riot

Inmates’ fight for basic health rights ends in tragedy as calls for justice remain unanswered.

On November 29, 2020, a deadly riot at Mahara Prison claimed the lives of 11 inmates, with over 100 others injured, including prison officers. The most shocking aspect of this tragedy is that nine of the deceased were confirmed to be COVID-19 patients. These individuals, already vulnerable due to the virus, were killed during a…

Election
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Election Commission Issues Gazette on Expenditure Limits for Upcoming General Election

Under the 2023 No. 3 Election Expenditure Act, the Election Commission has officially announced the maximum expenditure limits that candidates can incur per voter in each district for the upcoming General Election, scheduled for November 14. The highest expenditure limit is Rs. 115 per voter in the Polonnaruwa District, while the lowest is Rs. 82,…