Author: Buzzer Editorial

The Election Commission reported a significant increase in complaints relating to election law violations.The Commission has received a total of 836 complaints relating to the presidential election so far. Out of these, 812 complaints are regarding violation of election laws.Additionally, Sri Lanka Police has received 21 complaints pertaining to violations of election laws. Another 35 complaints related to the presidential election were received by the police, out of which 14 pertained to acts of violence.Election observers have noted a significant rise in the misuse of state property during the run-up to the presidential election.PAFFREL has received 228 complaints related to the…

Former Chairman of the United National Party, Rukman Senanayake, passed away today at the age of 76. Grandson of Sri Lanka’s first Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake, UNP stalwart and former Cabinet Minister Rukman Senanayake entered politics in 1973, from the Dedigama electorate. He re-entered Parliament in 1994, and won a Parliamentary seat in 2004 election, representing the Kegalle district. Rukman Senanayake served as the Cabinet Minister of Environment and Natural Resources from 2002 to 2004. He was then appointed as the Chairman of the United National Party in 2007.His family told that details of his final rites will be announced soon.

The National Election Commission says that there is an opportunity to nominate another candidate in place of the deceased independent presidential candidate, Muhammad Ilyas, for the upcoming presidential election.Chairman of the election commission, R.M.A.L. Rathnayake, said there is a possibility to nominate a new candidate by submitting the death certificate for Muhammad Ilyas to the commission. The nomination of a new candidate must be done within three days. Chairman, R.M.A.L Rathnayake further highlighted that, despite this change, the name and symbol of Muhammad Ilyas will remain on the ballot papers as they have already been printed.Muhammad Ilyas, who was contesting as an…

The Election Commission says that postal vote ballot papers for the presidential election will be delivered to the post office the on the 26.Its chairman R.M.A.L Ratnayake said that the printing of postal ballot papers has reached its final stage.The postal vote of the presidential election is scheduled to be held on the 04th, 05th and 06th of September.The Election Commission said that the government employees who are unable to vote by post on those days have been facilitated to use their votes in the district secretariat offices on the 11th and 12th of September.This year, 712,319 government employees are…

A special operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy led to the seizure of an Indian trawler poaching in Sri Lankan waters and the apprehension of 11 Indian fishermen. The operation was conducted off Point Pedro, Jaffna yesterday.The seized trawler together with 11 Indian fishermen were brought to the Kankesanthurai Harbour and they will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for onward legal proceedings.With this recent apprehension, the Navy has seized a total of 45 Indian trawlers and 333 Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters in 2024, and subsequently handed them over to authorities for legal proceedings.

The Department of Meteorology warns of several spells of light showers in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and North-western provinces and in Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts today.According to the met department, showers or thundershowers can also be expected in Eastern and Uva Provinces during the evening or night.Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Northern, North-central, and North-western provinces and in the Hambantota district.The Department of Meteorology requests the general public to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

The issuance of train tickets online has been effective now.Passengers can now purchase digital train tickets through the website www.pravesha.lkeliminating the need to wait in queue. Tickets will still be available at counters for those who prefer to purchase them in person.“We plan to introduce this online system for season tickets before the end of this year. Additionally, new methods for train seat reservations and goods transportation will be rolled out over the next three months,” the Transport Ministry Secretary said.

The Ministry of Transport and Highways has refuted news reports about the cancellation of all un-updated driving licences.According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), Transport & Highways Ministry Secretary Eng. Ranjith Rubasinghe confirmed that the rumours were false.He further said that a new system is to be introduced to update information for 2 million licences and the entire process is expected to be completed by year-end.“The first driving license in Sri Lanka was issued in the 1960s. Since then, approximately 12.3 million licenses have been issued. Licenses from the 1960s do not have an expiry date, allowing them to be…

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced today that Sri Lanka will host New Zealand for a two-match Test series next month, coinciding with the country’s presidential election.The first Test is set to begin on September 18 at Galle International Cricket Stadium. However, there will be a scheduled rest day on September 21, coinciding with the election day, according to the SLC.These Test matches are part of the ICC World Test Championship Cycle for 2023–2025.The series will commence with the first Test from September 18 to 23, followed by the second Test from September 26 to 30, both at the Galle International…

A 2,492-carat raw diamond discovered in Botswana could be the second-largest gem-quality example ever unearthed.The Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond Corp said it had recovered the “exceptional” stone from its Karowe diamond mine, with a photo showing the hefty rough diamond sitting in the cupped palm of a hand.The largest gem-quality diamond ever discovered was the 3,106 carat Cullinan diamond, which was mined in South Africa in 1905 when it was still a British colony and gifted to King Edward VII. It was cut up into several gems, some of which are now part of the Crown Jewels.Lucara’s president, William…