Sandaru cracks double century as Devapathiraja commence season on a strong footing
JXG and Ceylon Chamber launch ‘BREAKTHROUGH’ to power national entrepreneurship
De Silva-Kusal stand of 249* moves Sri Lanka into the ascendancy
Sri Lanka left with a mountain to climb in Rawalpindi
Gamini Perera, a Sri Lankan Senior Citizen living in Melbourne for more than 36 years received a special AMCS (Australian Multicultural Community Services) recognition award in honour of his long-standing and valuable contribution to the multicultural community. The Award was presented by the Australian Multicultural Community Services (AMCS) at the Seniors Festival 2026 – a Celebration of Wisdom and Friendship held on October 23, 2026 at Millennium House, Seddon.
He has also received the prestigious OAM (Order of Australia Merit) Award as a recognition by the Australian Government for the devotion and dedicated effort to serve the Sri Lankan community living in Australia.
Presentation of the award was in the presence of Ministers, Local Members of Parliament and other distinguished guests in Australia. Ms. Nalika Ahangama, Director (AMCS), Kaleel Cader, President of SCATS, Prof. Priyantha Mendis (University of Melbourne), Wasantha Perera, Dr. Hemantha Rohitha and Ms. Hemamali Perera were also among the invitees.
Govt. steps up efforts to attract Indian investment to Port City
Sri Lanka reaffirms renewable energy ambitions at Delhi meeting
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
The SJB yesterday (11) acknowledged that the no-confidence motion against Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, handed over to Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera and included in the Order Book on October 12, was no longer in the parliamentary process, following its rejection by the Speaker himself.
SJB MP Ajith P. Perera said that the Opposition would have to bring in a new no-confidence motion. However, at the moment, the SJB was contemplating the possibility of complaining to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association (CPA), Perera said. The IPU and the CPA couldn’t swiftly respond to the situation created by Speaker Wickramaratne, he added.
The NPP government had succeeded in stifling the no-confidence motion against Speaker Wickramaratne, political sources said, noting that the Opposition’s efforts to pursue the matter, both inside and outside Parliament, were unlikely to receive the attention they deserved with the presentation of the Budget scheduled for Thursday (12).
The Budget debate is scheduled to run for 26 days, from November 13 to December 14, further pushing the motion into the background.
MP Perera indicated that the original no-confidence motion against the Speaker had been effectively discarded through illegal means. The former UNPer said that it was an unfortunate situation as the Speaker himself was allowed to discard the no-faith motion that dealt with a series of allegations against him, including some on corruption.
Ven. Balangoda Kassapa and two other monks, who had been staging a satyagraha near the Ruwanweliseya, in Anuradhapura, began a fast unto death at the site yesterday morning.
They launched the hunger strike demanding the withdrawal of the proposed draft Anuradhapura Sacred Area Development Plan and fulfilment of a pledge reportedly given by the Mahanayake Theras to secure the release of Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara.
The satyagraha, launched by Ven. Balangoda Kassapa, other monks and laypersons at the dansal premises near the Ruwanweliseya, on Saturday, November 07, in protest against the proposed development plan, entered its fifth day yesterday. A procession was also organised near the site.
The monks began their fast against the backdrop of an order issued by the Anuradhapura Magistrate on Saturday directing them to vacate the premises immediately.
The fast also began while Ven. Kassapa had been asked to appear before the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) to make a statement.
He had been summoned in connection with an investigation into a media statement he had made alleging that he had been assaulted during the recent satyagraha at Viharamahadevi Park, held to demand a presidential pardon for Ven. Gnanasara.
Addressing the media, before commencing the fast, Ven. Balangoda Kassapa said:
“After taking alms before noon yesterday,
I and the other monks have not consumed any solid food up to now. From this moment onwards, we will not drink even a drop of water. We therefore ask the public not to offer us even a bottle of water. We will completely abstain from food and drinks, including herbal drinks, subject to two conditions.
“We left Viharamahadevi Park at the request of the four Mahanayake Theras. That did not mean that our campaign to secure the release of Ven. Gnanasara had ended. Our first condition is that Ven. Gnanasara must be released in accordance with the assurances given to us by the four Mahanayake Theras.”
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as the Finance Minister, will present the Budget this afternoon (12).
The Budget debate will be held over 26 days, from November 13 to December 14.
Parliament is scheduled to meet today at 1.30 pm, when the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill for the year 2027 (Budget Speech) will be presented in Parliament, in the afternoon, by the President.
Thereafter, the debate on the Appropriation Bill (Budget Debate) is scheduled to be held over a period of 26 days, from November 13 to December 14.
The Appropriation Bill for 2027, which was presented to Parliament for its First Reading on October 7, 2026, will be taken up for the Second Reading Debate from November 13 to November 20, over a period of seven days. The vote on the Second Reading of the Budget will subsequently be held at 6.00 p.m. on November 20.
The Committee Stage Debate on the Appropriation Bill for 2027 is scheduled to take place from November 21 to December 14, over a period of 19 days, including four Saturdays. Thereafter, the vote on the Third Reading of the Appropriation Bill will be held at 6.00 p.m. on December 14.
During the Budget period, the time from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. each day will be allocated for Parliamentary Business listed under Standing Orders 22(1) to 22(6). From 10.00 am to 10.30 am, time will be allocated for five Questions for Oral Answers, while the period from 10.30 am to 11.00 am will be reserved for one Question under Standing Order 27(2).
The Budget Debate will be conducted from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm, on all days, except November 20 and December 14, when voting will take place, the period from 6.00 pm to 6.30 pm will also be allocated for the debate on the Motions at Adjournment Time.
Searching for leadership: Can we bring back qualities of our golden years?
Prospect of ‘spaceport’ on Sri Lanka’s east coast
Sarojini Kadirgamar –a lady for all seasons
Why the Jaffna Man Eats So Much Murunga
Batting frailties give Sri Lanka food for thought
Sri Lankan Airlines loss amplified to Rs35Bn by monetary debasement
Iran allows ship carrying fertilizer for SL to pass Strait of Hormuz
GMOA seeks restoration of duty-free vehicle permits
Copyright © 2020 Upali Newspapers (Pvt) Ltd. Solution by LankaCom Privacy Policy
Loading comments…