Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Highways Eng. Ranjith Ganganath Rubasinghe announced that an electronic ticketing system for public transport services, including trains, will be introduced by the end of this year. Addressing the press briefing titled “Two Years of Progress and Advancement” held at the Presidential Media Centre yesterday (08), the Secretary noted…
Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) was sworn in as a Member of Parliament this morning (09). He took oaths before Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena soon after the parliamentary proceedings commenced. Last week, the Election Commission had named Kuhadasan to fill the parliamentary seat that fell vacant following the passing of…
Countries with a robust digital public infrastructure act as the cornerstone for progress in many developed countries. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these countries secured equitable economic advancements through digital tools. Effective Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has the potential to dramatically improve a country’s overall ability to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and…
Sri Lanka reached a groundbreaking agreement with its private creditors to restructure its debt, becoming the first country to utilize a Governance-Linked Bond (GLB). This innovative financial instrument was designed by Verité Research in Colombo. The Verité-GLB adjusts repayments based on the country’s achievement of mutually agreed governance benchmarks. If these benchmarks are met, Sri…
With less than a month before presidential elections are called, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has highlighted the success of his presidency as rescuing Sri Lanka from its international bankruptcy status that prevents it from doing business with the rest of the world. The signing of the agreement on international debt restructuring for USD 5.8 billion with…
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of the Netherlands Rekha Gunasekera presented the letter of Credence to King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands on 26 June 2024 at an elegant ceremony held at the Noordeinde Palace in The Hague. The ceremony began with a carriage procession, where the Ambassador was escorted by the Royal Chamberlain…
On June 26, 2024, the Right to Life Human Rights Centre, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Collective Against Torture (SLCAT), hosted an Expert Forum at Hotel Janaki to mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The forum, titled “Ongoing Torture Despite Extensive Anti-Torture Legislation,” brought together prominent figures such as Shani…
In a landmark moment for Afghan cricket, Afghanistan has qualified for the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for the first time. The thrilling victory came in a tense, low-scoring match against Bangladesh in St Vincent, securing their place as runners-up in Super 8s Group 1. Afghanistan batted first, posting a modest total…
With elections and a change of government in one way or the other imminent, the independent institutions of state vested with authority to monitor, and provide a check and balance to government, are vindicating their existence. The reports of the Auditor General over the years has been a testament to the diligence with which public…
In a significant move to enhance human rights advocacy, Mr. Philip Dissanayake, Executive Director of Right to Life Human Rights Centre, has signed a partnership agreement with the Netherlands Embassy. This collaboration aims to strengthen the capabilities of human rights defenders, ensuring more robust and effective advocacy efforts. The partnership underscores a shared commitment to…
