The Sri Lankan government plans to set up a fully-fledged fishery harbor in Mannar district at a cost of Rs. 1 billion for the benefit of the fishermen in the North, the Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. Although the end of the war has brought back normalcy to the fisher community in the North and East and to restart their livelihood of fishing, the fishermen dwelling from Chilaw to Jaffna are deprived of basic infrastructure facilities, the Minister said.

Considering the situation, the government has focused on developing the fishing village of Wellamankara in Mannar as a fully-fledged fishery harbor, Minister Amaraweera said. The Minister disclosed this during a discussion held at the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development with the participation of Ministers of state Dilip Wedaarachchi, Palitha Range Bandara, Arundika Fernando, Priyankara Jayaratne and representatives of fishermen in Mannar and Puttalam Districts.

A six hectare extent of land is proposed for the development at an investment of Rs. 1 billion. The proposed fishery harbor will provide facilities to accommodate about 500 multi-day fishing vessels and 350 small fishing craft. It will also be equipped with a fisheries community center, fuel supplying center, cold room, office facilities and water, electricity and sanitary facilities. Minister Amaraweera instructed the relevant officials to complete a feasibility report by April giving attention to the suggestions and comments of fisher community and to make arrangements to complete the project by mid next year.

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for students by school teachers, along with the letter issued by the Education Ministry regarding modulators, has been withdrawn, Parliamentarian Mahinda Jayasinghe said.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.