Author: Buzzer Editorial

The Supreme Court today (11) adjourned the hearing of petitions seeking an order to re-conduct the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination, following allegations that three questions in the exam had been leaked.The petitions were heard before a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices S. Thurairaja and Shiran Gunaratne. However, the hearing was adjourned to December 16, as the three-member bench required to adjudicate the matter was not properly constituted.The petitions were filed by a group of students who sat for the examination and their parents, expressing concerns over the fairness of the process.On December 2, the Attorney General (AG) informed the…

The Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health says that an unidentified fever is spreading in the Jaffna District, raising concerns among health authorities. The health authorities have launched investigations to determine the nature of the disease, with preliminary tests underway to assess whether it is related to leptospirosis, commonly known as ‘rat fever’. Dr. Kumudu Weerakoon of the Epidemiology Unit addressed the issue at a media briefing held at the Health Promotion Bureau today (11). She explained that patients in the affected areas are presenting with fever and respiratory issues. Health officials are collecting samples from these individuals to confirm the exact…

Minister of Fisheries Ramalingam Chandrasekaran says that the issue of Indo-Lanka fishing controversy will be discussed during the President’s visit to India.He mentioned that officials from both countries had discussed the matter recently.The minister emphasized that mutual understanding between both parties is crucial in order to resolve this issue.Fisherfolk from Tamil Nadu engaging in fishing activities in the Sea of Sri Lanka has a significant effect on the fisheries industry in the north of the country.The minister of fisheries also stated that the current government’s goal is to find an immediate solution that both parties can agree upon.He further mentioned…

India’s Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd said on Tuesday it was withdrawing its $553 million loan request from the U.S. International Development Finance Corp (IDFC) for its Colombo port terminal project, and stated that it would finance through internal accruals and a capital management plan.The company, however, said the Colombo West International Terminal project is progressing well and is on track for commissioning by early 2025.Adani Group, controlled by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, holds a 51% stake in the west container terminal of the port, which also has a terminal run by China Merchants Port Holdings Co Ltd.Sri…

A fire has reportedly broken out at a house in the Pothupitiya area of Wadduwa, resulting in the complete destruction of the property, according to police.Local residents have collaborated to douse the flames and bring the fire under control and prevent it from spreading to a neighboring house.Police confirmed that no casualties were recorded in the incident.Police suspect that the fire has been triggered by an oil lamp, which was lit as part of a religious ritual and placed before a small Buddha’s statue inside the house. It is suspected that the woman in the house in question had left…

The Technical Engineers and Supervisors Association of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) allege that the state-owned electricity provider has procured electricity from private thermal power plants, even as reservoir levels associated with hydro-power plants are at their maximum as a result of recent heavy rainfall. Speaking on the matter, the association’s Vice President, Nandana Udayakumara, called for an investigation into the decision, questioning whose interests are being served by such actions. “We have had significant rainfall recently, sufficient to fill the reservoirs powering our hydro-power plants. Additionally, the Norochcholai coal power plant currently has sufficient coal stocks to operate at full capacity,”…

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said that the government expresses its gratitude to the Chinese Government for providing uniforms to children in every school and Pirivena in the country for the year 2025.The Prime Minister said this while participating in the event of the donation of school uniforms for the year 2025.The Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Key Zheng Hong, symbolically handed over the school uniforms received as a donation from the Chinese Government to the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, this afternoon (10) at the International Container Terminal at the…

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) says that raids will be carried out from today (10) to identify the traders selling rice at prices higher than the maximum retail and wholesale price recently set by the government. CAA Chairman Hemantha Samarakoon stated that the decision was taken in accordance with the gazette notification issued yesterday (09), which specifies the new maximum retail and wholesale prices for rice. He emphasized that legal action will be taken against anyone found violating these new price regulations.He also urged traders, producers, wholesalers, and consumers to adhere to the announced rice prices.“If there is any irregularity or sale…

Sri Lanka’s book industry has renewed its call for books to be exempt from tax, with four industry bodies submitting a proposal to the new government for inclusion in the next national budget.Urging the government to consider the financial as well as social ramifications of taxing sources of knowledge and learning, these associations representing publishers, writers, retailers, importers and exporters have called for books to be returned to the list of items exempt from tax, as was the case before January 1, 2024.In their proposal, the four associations pointed out that with all inputs for the publishing industry with the…

The New Democratic Front (NDF) has informed the Election Commission that Faiszer Musthapha has been nominated to be appointed as a Member of Parliament through its National List, party sources said.President’s Counsel Faiszer Musthapha, a senior lawyer and politician, had previously served as the Minister of Sports and Provincial Councils and Local Government. According to the results of the 2024 General Election, the New Democratic Front, which contested under the symbol of the ‘Gas Cylinder’, won three parliamentary seats and two National List seats.The New Democratic Front was formed by the United National Party (UNP), the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)…