The first debate of the 10th Parliament will begin at 9.30 am today, where the MPs will speak on the policy statement presented to the House by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on November 21.

The Party leaders who met last week decided to hold a two-day adjournment debate on President Dissanayake’s policy statement.

The House will take up a debate on the Rs 213.3 billion vote on account on Thursday and Friday.

The newcomers to Parliament and a few reelected members are expected to speak in today’s debate and on the debate on the vote on account on Thursday.

Since the government has approved the resumption of vehicle imports, a leading vehicle importer has started registering individuals interested in purchasing new vehicles once the restriction on private vehicle imports is lifted.  

Toyota Lanka (Private) Limited has launched registrations as an introduction to the 2025 Toyota Brand New Lineup, a company official said.  

A post sharing estimated price ranges, subject to the current exchange rate, has been published on their official Facebook page. The official stated that the prices listed do not include the 18% VAT.  

The company invited individuals interested in buying new vehicles to register for pre-booking and receive priority when the import ban is lifted. 

People are requested to scan the QR code on the image or access the registration link (https://www.toyota.lk/new-registration/#cpl-form). 

The prices are estimates, subject to fluctuations in exchange rates, duties and government levies.  

No advance payment is required and the company encourages interested individuals to seize the opportunity to experience one of the most reliable and trusted brands in the automotive world.  

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has officially appointed K.D.R. Olga as the Secretary to the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, the President’s Media Division (PMD) reported.

The appointment letter was formally presented to Ms. Olga by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake today (02) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

A discussion between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and small and medium-scale rice mill owners took place today (02) at the Presidential Secretariat.

During the discussion, the President emphasized the importance of ensuring a continuous and affordable supply of rice to consumers in the coming months. He engaged with the mill owners to identify immediate measures needed to achieve this goal.

The meeting also focused on enhancing storage facilities across the country to prevent shortages and ensure a steady rice supply, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

Additionally, concerns were raised about the declining availability of Nadu rice for consumption due to its increased use in value-added products.

President Dissanayake highlighted the potential benefits of introducing a QR code system to streamline the distribution of fertilizer subsidies and boost domestic agricultural production, the PMD added.

Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, Lak Sathosa Chairman Dr. Samitha Perera, officials, and small and medium-scale rice mill owners attended the discussion.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has urged Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Akio Isomata, to resume development projects that were halted midway.

A meeting between the Japanese ambassador Akio Isomata and the opposition leader Sajith Premadasa was held in Colombo where the opposition leader made this request, the opposition leader’s media division said.

Sajith Premadasa has requested the ambassador to maintain the strong and long-standing diplomatic ties between Japan and Sri Lanka.

The opposition leader has also called for the reimplementation of Japanese development projects that were previously carried out in Sri Lanka, stating that he will provide all the necessary support for their implementation.

Dr. Kavinda Jayawardena representing the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) also attended the discussion.

The United National Party (UNP) Leader and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to make a decision regarding the National List parliamentary seat allocated to the New Democratic Front (NDF) upon his return from an official visit to India today (30).

The NDF stated that this decision would be finalised following discussions with the leaders of coalition parties who contested the general election in alliance with the NDF.

Meanwhile, the NDF noted that the decision on appointing Ravi Karunanayake to the National List seat will be made after reviewing the report submitted by a four-member committee that was appointed to evaluate his nomination.

The Vehicle Importers’ Association of Sri Lanka expressed confidence that the import of vehicles is expected to re-commence from February next year.

Speaking during a press briefing held in Colombo, the association stated that they will hold discussions with the President in the coming days, in order to carry out the process in a proper manner.

President of the association Indika Sampath Merinchige expressed that the government has promised the vehicle importers that permission will be granted for the vehicle imports in the near future. 

Furthermore, he claimed that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has agreed to make necessary financial allocations if the vehicle imports are allowed in February 2025, and that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also granted permission for the vehicle imports.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed arrangements to bring the currently scarce insulin into the country within the next four days.

Dr. G. Wijesuriya, Deputy Director General of the Medical Supplies Division, explained that the shortage was due to delays in the supplier’s registration process, but noted that the issue has now been resolved.

Dr. Wijesuriya added that the first batch of Insulin Mixtard will be airlifted to the country as part of the planned delivery.

In the meantime, hospitals have been instructed to manage the available limited stocks as efficiently as possible.

The Ministry of Health also noted that three types of insulin are utilized within the country’s hospital system.

Minister Vijitha Herath said that the government is ready to pay compensation to the farmers in the country affected by the crops destroyed due to the adverse weather conditions owing to floods after estimating the damages caused based on the current circulars issued.

Highways Deputy Minister Prasanna Kumara said that all possible measures have been taken to restore the damaged roads due to the inclement weather.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said that 3,183 members of the Tri-Forces and the police have been deployed to provide relief to the people affected by the adverse weather conditions experienced in the country. Sri Lanka Army has deployed 2,080 officers, Navy 520 personnel, Air Force 540 officers, and 43 Police officers.

For the relief measures, 239 boats, 111 unicorn vehicles, 40 tractors and 64 trucks have been used. According to the DMC, six airplanes and eight drones have also been deployed.

The Met Department said that a decrease in the prevailing rainy weather conditions is expected today as the deep depression is expected to move north-west and develop into a cyclonic storm and move out of Sri Lanka towards the coast of Tamil Nadu, India.

The death toll due to inclement weather in the country has risen to 14 persons according to the DMC and nine deaths have been reported from the Ampara District, two from the Puttalam District, and one each from the Badulla, Trincomalee, and Vavuniya Districts.

The DMC further stated that two persons were reported missing from the Ampara District, while 20 persons were reported injured due to various disaster incidents. A total of 442,185 persons from 132,289 families have been severely affected due to inclement weather experienced across 24 districts of the country. According to DMC 38,594 persons from 12,334 are currently placed in 341 safety shelters, while 115,628 persons from 45,415 families are placed in relatives’ houses. Ampara district has been most affected due to the prevailing rainy weather conditions and 149,491 people belonging to 43,631 families have been affected.

The Irrigation Department said it has decided to extend the flood warning issued for Mahaweli River, Heda Oya, Deduru Oya and Mundeniyaru for the next 48 hours. Accordingly, the people living in the lowlands near these rivers are advised to be vigilant about this situation and the people travelling through those areas have also been cautioned.

Meanwhile, due to the prevailing adverse weather conditions, the early warning announcement about landslides issued by the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) for 70 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in 09 districts continues to be effective. Red alerts have been issued for 25 divisional secretariat divisions in the districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Matale and Nuwara Eliya.

The Colombo High Court has acquitted former Minister Rajitha Senaratne and two others in the case related to the controversial ‘white van’ media conference held in 2019.

On September 12, 2022 former Minister Rajitha Senaratne and former State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) chairman Rumy Mohamed had pleaded not guilty for the charges against them over the controversial “white van” press conference.

In the days leading up to the Presidential Election in 2019, former Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne had called two persons named Anthony Douglas Fernando and Athula Sanjeewa Madanayake for the said press conference, where they made controversial statements regarding alleged “white vans” and purported incidents of certain abductions, assassinations, robberies and forced disappearances during the administration of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

One of them had claimed that he was a “white van” driver involved in abducting people while the other claimed he once served as a driver to transport a stock of gold in previously LTTE-held areas.

The former Health Minister was arrested in December 2019 and was remanded over the controversial “white van” press conference organized by him, but he continued to receive medical treatment at the hospital.

On December 30, Colombo Magistrate’s Court ordered to release Senaratne on bail. However, the Attorney General had filed a revision application on