Northern Provincial Council Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran has urged the government to stop acquiring lands in Valikamam North under the guise of developing the Palaly Airport and Myliddy Fisheries Harbour. Chief Minister Wigneswaran met Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo on Monday (15) accompanied by Northern Provincial Council Ministers P. Aynkaranesan and T.Kurukularaja. The government agents from all five districts in the Northern Province also participated at the meeting.

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Minister of Resettlement D. M. Swaminathan also participated at the meeting which had lasted for nearly two hours. Wigneswaran's delegation also submitted a detailed report on the areas identified for development activities in the North to the Prime Minister. The Chief Minister's report specifically mentions resettlement, rehabilitation, restoration and building of reservoirs, agriculture, education, and livelihood assistance for former militant cadres.

Chief Minister Wigneswaran pointed out to the Prime Minister, citing the development activities, that soon after the end of war the Security Forces in the North had acquired several fertile agricultural lands and lands in the coastal areas hampering even the fishing activities, " The people in Valikamam North are disturbed over the decision by even the new Government to continue with the land acquiring activities in Valikamam North under the guise of development activities. Palaly and Myliddy areas have remained economically vibrant in the pre-war situation. Most of the IDPs from the Peninsula are from Valikamam North. So they want to return to their original places and the government should stop its plans of acquiring land in Valikamam North and handover back those lands to the IDPs," Wigneswaran said.

Responding to the Chief Minister, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe elaborated to him on the government's plans to develop the Northern Province. The Prime Minister stated that the International conference of the donor countries would be held in Colombo shortly and the government would seek the assistance from the donor countries for the development activities of the Northern Province.

The government will conduct fresh probes into the scams involved in the import of a stock of biofertilizer from China and in the introduction of organic farming during the time of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a minister said yesterday.

Cabinet spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said today that the people will know whether the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MPs had sought assistance from the President’s Fund as claimed by SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekara when the rest of the list is released soon.

The circular issued by the Western Province Education Zonal Ministry prohibiting private tutoring classes for students by school teachers, along with the letter issued by the Education Ministry regarding modulators, has been withdrawn, Parliamentarian Mahinda Jayasinghe said.

Adding further controversy to the misuse of the President’s Fund, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dayasiri Jayasekera yesterday said some of JVP members also sought assistance from the President’s funds prior to 2010.

In response to queries about the potential introduction of new taxes on imported vehicles, Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayathissa said today that the Finance Ministry will make an official announcement regarding taxes in the future.

In response to widespread concerns regarding the alleged presence of Israeli soldier Gal Ferenbook in Colombo, police said that they have not received any verified information on the matter.

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) is set to add one of its overhauled and upgraded Kfir multirole combat aircraft to its fleet within the first three months of next year, the Daily Mirror learns.

The tri-forces security provided to former Presidents will be removed from today as announced by Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala. The Defence Ministry said instructions regarding the matter have been issued to the Commanders of the tri-forces. The Defence Ministry said only police security will be assigned for the security of former Presidents.

The Ministry of Education announced that the second stage of the third term for the 2024 academic year in all government and government-approved private schools will commence on January 2, 2025. The term is set to run for three weeks, concluding on January 24, 2025.

A female student and another woman were killed after being struck by an express train at the Anuradhapura New Town Railway Station. The victims were part of a group from Ratnapura attending a taekwondo tournament at the Anuradhapura Public Ground.