Sri Lanka has completed its first national elephant census in over a decade, a crucial step in understanding the country’s elephant population amid growing concerns over human-wildlife conflicts and habitat loss. Conducted between September 13 and 15, the survey has sparked both optimism and skepticism among conservationists and wildlife experts. While the government claims the…
In Sri Lanka, the Election Commission bears the primary responsibility of ensuring that electoral processes are conducted independently, impartially, and fairly. The Constitution of Sri Lanka establishes the Election Commission as an independent entity to oversee the organization of Presidential, Parliamentary, Provincial, and Local Government elections in line with the laws enacted by Parliament and…
When a country faces a severe financial crisis, it becomes increasingly clear that moving forward without the agreements and conditional frameworks of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is nearly impossible. Global experiences have demonstrated time and again that economies emerging from financial turmoil often require the structured support and oversight of the IMF to stabilize…
The 2022 Annual Report of the National Education Commission highlights a critical issue within Sri Lanka’s education sector: the lack of effective regulation and oversight for private schools. As of 2022, there are 80 government-approved private schools and 395 international schools operating in the country, with a total student population nearing 300,000. Government-approved private schools…
In 1931, Sri Lanka earned the right to the universal franchise, a milestone that allowed the nation’s citizens to participate in the electoral process. However, not all Sri Lankans fully enjoy this right even today. Among those excluded are Buddhist nuns, prisoners, and approximately 10% of the immigrant population. Recently, the Committee for Safeguarding Prisoners’…
Vidattaltivu Nature Reserve in northern Sri Lanka is an important coastal ecosystem that contains all the main blue carbon habitats, from mangroves to seagrass meadows to salt marshes and tidal flats. Despite this, the government recently ordered the removal of protection for a section of the reserve, which observers say is meant to free up…
The display of posters for the presidential election has already begun, causing not only environmental pollution but also a violation of election laws. According to Article 74 of the Presidential Elections Act No. 15 of 1981, the display of flags, banners, posters or other campaign material in private or public spaces for election campaigning purposes,…
Chethana Gomis According to the Sri Lanka Constitution, there are fundamental qualifications that a presidential candidate must meet, including age and citizenship criteria. Here are the key qualifications for a presidential candidate in Sri Lanka: Citizenship: The candidate must be a Sri Lankan citizen. Dual Citizenship: Individuals with dual citizenship are not eligible to contest…
The Election Commission has announced that the maximum expenditure limit for a candidate will be declared within five days from the date of nomination acceptance for the upcoming presidential election on the 15th. Chinthaka Kularatne, the Additional Election Commissioner (Legal, Investigation, and Planning), stated that the spending limit will include costs for advertising through media,…
Praveen Jayawickrama, the Sri Lankan left-arm spinner, finds himself at the center of a corruption scandal as the International Cricket Council (ICC) charges him with multiple breaches of its anti-corruption code. The charges, which relate to alleged corrupt approaches during international matches and the Lanka Premier League (LPL), open the door for possible legal action…
