<ul><li>&nbsp;Elected representatives to remain subject to full public scrutiny under revised law</li><li>&nbsp;CIABOC proposals to limit access draw criticism from transparency advocates and Opposition</li><li>&nbsp;Amendments to protect privacy of other declarants while strengthening accountability</li></ul> The Government is opposed to restricting public access to the asset and liability declarations of elected representatives, despite supporting amendments to the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 09 of 2023 aimed at preventing the misuse of publicly available declarations and protecting the privacy of other declarants, Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake said.His remarks came amid debate over amendments proposed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), which drew criticism from civil society organisations, transparency advocates and Opposition parties over concerns that the changes could weaken public access to asset declarations.Among the proposed amendments is a provision restricting the use of published redacted declarations. Under the proposed changes, a person obtaining such a declaration would be allowed to use it only for submission to an officer or institution specified under the Act. Any use that violates the declarant’s privacy would become an offence punishable by a fine of up to Rs 100,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.Addressing Parliament yesterday (6), Rathnayake said the Act had introduced a major reform by requiring senior public officials and political leaders to declare their assets and liabilities under Sections 86 and 88.“When the law first came into force, around 300 individuals, from the President downwards, were required to submit printed asset and liability declarations. The process was subsequently amended to an online, centralised electronic system. This expanded the number of persons required to file declarations to around 160,000,” he said.He noted that Section 88, which deals with public access, gave the public the right to obtain and inspect those declarations through the official website.“That was a major step forward for transparency and public access. These declarations contain not only information relating to the individuals concerned but also details relating to their children. However, it has become very clear that some irresponsible individuals, including people claiming to be members of the media, have abused these provisions,” he said.Rathnayake alleged that even Ministers had become victims of such misuse, with portions of their asset declarations being distorted and circulated publicly with misinterpretations.“Ensuring public access is a positive and democratic measure introduced through the Act. But it has, to some extent, turned into an unnecessary intrusion into people’s privacy,” he said.He said CIABOC had therefore decided to amend the law.“Under the existing provisions, all declarations submitted under the public access mechanism must be published on the website and can be obtained by anyone. CIABOC had proposed placing certain limitations on that public access. However, we, the Government, have taken a different position regarding elected representatives. Our position as a Government is that those limitations should not apply to public representatives. Anyone should continue to be able to obtain their asset and liability declarations,” Rathnayake said.He added that the proposed amendments should instead focus on protecting the privacy of public officials and other categories of declarants.“Being a public representative is not a job. The public has a right to know about the assets of elected representatives and their relatives. That is the position that we are proposing as a Government,” he said.Rathnayake said the Government had decided to amend the draft Bill issued last month (July) through a Gazette notification to revise the Act.He said the proposed amendments would ensure that the asset and liability declarations of public representatives remain available to the public, while strengthening transparency measures relating to declarations made by elected officials.The Act includes provisions requiring certain categories of individuals to declare their assets and liabilities as part of efforts to prevent and combat corruption.The revised draft is expected to be presented after the necessary amendments are completed.&nbsp;

Anti-Corruption Act amendments: Govt walks a tightrope on asset declarations

<ul><li>280 more seek overseas opportunities in 2026</li><li>Health Ministry cites specialist training as major factor </li></ul> A total of 3,791 doctors left Sri Lanka for overseas opportunities between 2020 and 2025, while 280 doctors have applied to go abroad so far this year (2026), in accordance with the Establishments Code and relevant circulars, Deputy Health Minister Dr Hansaka Wijemuni said.Providing a breakdown of doctors who obtained no-pay leave to work overseas, he said 1,429 Grade Medical Officers (MOs) were granted foreign leave between 2020 and 19 June, while 140 specialist doctors received similar approval between 2022 and 15 June.However, he stressed that a significant number of doctors who went overseas were those pursuing foreign specialist training programmes, which are facilitated by the Health Ministry.“The majority of specialist doctors who go abroad do so for specialist training, and these programmes are arranged through the Ministry,” he said.Dr Wijemuni said the Government was taking measures to address doctor migration by improving working conditions and career opportunities within the public health sector.“We are creating a more suitable working environment for doctors by preparing the necessary guidelines and protocols for them to carry out their duties. At the same time, we are improving allowances and other facilities, particularly transport and accommodation,” he said.He added that steps were also being taken to provide better professional development opportunities for both Grade MOs and specialists, with the aim of improving job satisfaction and retention.On salaries, Dr Wijemuni said the starting basic salary of a Grade MO was increased to Rs. 84,574 from 1 January and would rise to Rs. 94,150 from 1 January 2027, excluding allowances.The starting basic salary of a medical specialist was increased to Rs. 136,575 from 1 January and is scheduled to rise to Rs. 156,000 from 1 January 2027, also excluding allowances.&nbsp;

3,800 doctors leave SL in five years

<ul><li>Tax revenue rises by Rs 21.7 b to Rs 102.7 b</li><li>Govt moves to tighten tobacco tax administration </li></ul> Annual cigarette consumption in Sri Lanka declined by 53.1 per cent between 2015 and 2025, falling from approximately 4.1 billion sticks to 1.923 billion sticks, while Government revenue from Excise duty on cigarettes and tobacco increased from Rs 81 billion to Rs 102.7 billion during the same period, Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando said.Responding to a question raised by Opposition Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake, he said the decline in cigarette consumption demonstrated the effectiveness of tobacco taxation as a policy tool to discourage smoking while generating revenue for the State.He noted that total revenue collected from tobacco-related taxes, including indirect taxes and the Health Promotion Levy (co-pay), amounted to Rs 157 billion in 2025.Dr. Fernando said the Government recognised the significant economic and healthcare burden caused by tobacco use, although no single official estimate of its total cost had been adopted due to differences in methodologies and assumptions used in available studies.Referring to existing research, he said the Global Adult Tobacco Survey Sri Lanka 2020, published by the Health Ministry, estimated that 24,461 deaths in 2019 were attributable to smoking. Meanwhile, the Annual Trend Survey on Tobacco Use in Sri Lanka 2024, published by the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre, estimated that approximately 18,250 smoking-related deaths occur annually.He added that the Government was continuing efforts to strengthen tobacco control measures.“For instance, amendments to the Tobacco Tax Act are currently being drafted with the objective of strengthening tax administration and improving compliance. That is currently with the Legal Draftsman,” he said.&nbsp;

Cigarette use slumps 53% in decade

<ul><li>19 amendments proposed to modernise water supply management</li></ul>The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (Amendment) Bill was presented in Parliament yesterday (6), with Housing, Construction and Water Supply Minister Dr. Susil Ranasinghe outlining 19 proposed amendments aimed at transforming the NWSDB from a basic service provider into an organised, efficient and sustainable institution for water supply management.Dr. Ranasinghe said the amendments seek to remove legal barriers that currently restrict the provision of technical expertise in water management and distribution, while also granting the NWSDB authority to enter private properties beyond water meter readings when required.Speaking in Parliament, he said that despite several organisations being involved in water management and distribution across the country, thousands of people still lack access to safe water facilities.He noted that in some rural areas, residents are forced to travel several kilometres to obtain drinking water, while people in certain Districts have to purchase water from reverse osmosis filter systems for cooking purposes.Dr. Ranasinghe said the Government does not intend to continue the previous “Water for All” programme, which focused on providing household connections.He pointed out that following the programme, around 25,000 families in the Western Province still do not receive a proper water supply, with some experiencing low pressure, receiving water for only about two hours a day, or having to wait several days for supply.He said the proposed amendments would allow NWSDB officials to enter premises beyond reading meters when necessary, including for disconnections or investigations, with provisions to seek Security Forces assistance where required. Discussions are also underway regarding insurance coverage for officials engaged in such duties.The Minister said NWSDB facilities and properties, including around 30 laboratories used for water quality testing, could be utilised for training programmes to improve technical services. However, existing legal provisions prevent external parties from accessing these resources, a matter that would be addressed through the amendments.He added that the NWSDB possesses the country’s best expertise and technological capacity in water supply management but lacks the legal authority under the current Act to provide technical guidance to other institutions.The proposed amendments will also introduce provisions covering wastewater management standards, construction of systems, equipment used in such projects, and qualifications required for technicians involved in wastewater services.Addressing wastewater management, Dr. Ranasinghe highlighted the growing need for proper systems as rural populations increasingly migrate to urban areas and the Government plans to establish more industries in urban zones.He said effective wastewater management is currently limited to only a few areas, while many systems provided to State institutions have deteriorated due to a lack of technical knowledge to maintain them. He noted that hundreds of projects that initially functioned well are now facing operational issues.On billing and payments, he said that although digital methods such as SMS and email notifications have been introduced, existing laws still require official communication through postal services.He stressed that the Government is moving towards a digital era and amendments would be introduced to legalise payments and other functions carried out through digital platforms.Dr. Ranasinghe said the amendments also focus on improving water quality and expanding capacity, citing an incident where students in the Deniyaya area contracted meningitis due to contaminated facilities.He added that although more than 4,000 programmes are operated under the National Community Water Supply Department, many are not functioning or being properly maintained. Most water supply programmes managed by Provincial authorities also require further technical development, he said.&nbsp;

NWSDB overhaul to widen powers

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) will be given an opportunity to discuss its concerns over the Government’s proposed judicial reforms with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the near future, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said, adding that he had already conveyed the Association’s request to both the Presidential Secretariat and the President.Speaking to the media after meeting Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith yesterday (6), he said: “We received a request from them. I forwarded it to the Presidential Secretariat and informed the President. They will be given an opportunity to meet him in the near future.”Commenting on the BASL’s opposition to the proposed reforms, he said he could not understand why the Association maintained that the changes would undermine judicial independence.“They say that it will harm the independence of the Judiciary. But although that is the official position of the Association, lawyers across the country support these reforms. That is nothing new. On any piece of legislation, there are always lawyers who hold views different from the BASL’s official position. There is never a single unanimous view,” he said.Referring to his meeting with the Archbishop, Nanayakkara said he had explained the broader package of judicial reforms being implemented to improve the efficiency of the court system, as there had been misinformation surrounding the proposed legislation.“There has been misinformation, for instance, suggesting that retirement age changes are only about Judges of the Superior Courts. We came here to explain the full picture,” he said.He added that Cardinal Ranjith welcomed efforts aimed at improving the efficiency of the Judiciary and stressed that any reforms should ultimately serve the public interest.“His view was that whatever is done should be for the good of the country, that the courts should function more efficiently, and that decisions should always be taken with the interests of the people in mind,” he said.Nanayakkara said the Government is pursuing several other measures to strengthen the administration of justice, including increasing the number of courts, recruiting more judges, digitising court processes and filling essential staff vacancies.Meanwhile, the Lawyers for Democracy organisation convened a meeting yesterday to express its opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to extend the tenure of judges.Speaking at the meeting, attorney Lakshan Dias, a member of the group, said that any such constitutional amendment required consultation with stakeholders. He noted that lawyers represented a major concerned party in the proposed amendment, yet no such consultation had taken place.The group also rejected the recurring claim that lawyers oppose the tenure extension because they wish to prevent the rapid clearance of pending court cases, which could allegedly result in a loss of benefits.Dias explained that lawyers were coming forward because judges, who are among the parties most affected by the amendment, cannot publicly voice their opposition. He further emphasised that the issue affected the rule of law and maintained that the Executive and the Judiciary must remain separate entities.Addressing the same gathering, attorney Asthika Dewendra commented on Nanayakkara’s statement regarding the filling of eight vacancies in the Superior Courts.Nanayakkara had allegedly stated last week that if the remaining eight vacancies in the Superior Courts were filled first, eight Magistrate’s Courts would have to be closed down. Dewendra argued that this contradicted itself, pointing out that it highlighted that the issue lay within the lower courts.The gathering called for a transparent process for any amendments affecting the courts, stating that such changes directly impact the rule of law and judicial independence.&nbsp;PHOTO Venura Chandramalitha &nbsp;

Judges’ retirement age: BASL to meet President over judicial reforms

Cancer treatment services at the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital and the National Cancer Institute, Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama have been severely affected due to breakdowns of linear accelerator (LINAC) machines, issues with a newly installed computed tomography (CT) simulator and shortages of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) drugs.More than 130 cancer patients are facing disruptions to radiation treatment each day following LINAC machine failures at the two hospitals.Speaking to The Daily Morning, President of the Government Radiological Technologists’ Association Chanaka Dharmawickrama said the LINAC machine at the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital, which is used to provide radiation therapy, has been out of operation since Monday (3), resulting in the suspension of treatment for nearly 60 patients daily.He said patients from Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Badulla, Matara, Monaragala and several other areas had been referred to the Batticaloa Hospital for treatment and are now facing severe difficulties due to the breakdown.Dharmawickrama noted that radiation therapy is usually administered over a period of five to 35 days and that interruptions during treatment could have serious consequences for cancer patients.He added that patients seeking similar treatment at private hospitals would have to spend between Rs. 500,000 and Rs. 2 million, placing a significant financial burden on many families.He further claimed that one of the four LINAC machines at Maharagama’s Apeksha Hospital, the country’s main cancer treatment centre, has also been out of service since 30 July.According to him, the machine was treating more than 75 patients a day, and its breakdown has completely disrupted treatment for those patients.Dharmawickrama said the issue at Maharagama was caused by a failure in the air-conditioning system of the building housing the machine. He warned that brachytherapy machines, which provide radiation treatment for cervical cancer patients and are located in the same building, had also been affected.He claimed that brachytherapy services have been suspended since 2 August as a result.He said only three LINAC machines are currently operational at Maharagama and warned that these too remain vulnerable due to the absence of a backup generator to ensure an uninterrupted power supply.He cautioned that another power failure could result in further disruptions to cancer treatment services.Meanwhile, informed sources at Apeksha Hospital told The Daily Morning that a recently installed CT simulator could not be used as it did not meet the required specifications.The sources said the hospital’s previous CT simulator had been condemned and replaced with a new unit. However, they claimed that the newly installed machine was not compatible with the required specifications, preventing it from being used for patient simulation procedures.As a result, oncologists are currently required to use the hospital’s positron emission tomography (PET) scanner for simulation procedures when it is not being used for patient scans, creating further challenges in delivering cancer treatment services.The sources also said the situation has been worsened by a shortage of G-CSF, a medicine prescribed after chemotherapy to stimulate the production of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that helps protect patients against infections.Attempts to contact the medical administrators of Batticaloa Teaching Hospital and Apeksha Hospital for comment were unsuccessful. Attempts to contact the Deputy Director General of the Medical Supplies Division also failed.&nbsp;

Batti, Maharagama hospitals: Cancer care disrupted as key machines fail

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has urged Sri Lanka to hold the long-delayed Provincial Council (PC) Elections “at the earliest” and fully implement constitutional provisions to address the aspirations of the Tamil community.According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the issue was raised during Misri’s official visit to Sri Lanka, where he held discussions with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya and other senior officials.The terms of all nine Provincial Councils expired between 2017 and 2019, with elections repeatedly postponed due to disagreements over electoral reforms. The National People’s Power (NPP), during its 2024 election campaign, pledged to conduct the polls within a year of assuming office.The two sides also reviewed progress on India-backed development projects and discussed ways to accelerate cooperation in technology, energy, trade and infrastructure.Key projects discussed included the Unique Digital Identity initiative, development of Trincomalee as an energy hub, and rehabilitation and modernisation of the Kankesanthurai (KKS) Harbour in Jaffna under a $61.5 million Indian grant.India and Sri Lanka also agreed to work towards expanding the 1990 Suwa Seriya Ambulance Service and welcomed progress on updating the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Both countries also noted the conclusion of negotiations on a Social Security Agreement.Misri highlighted India’s continued support under its “Neighbourhood First” policy and reviewed assistance programmes, including reconstruction efforts following Cyclone Ditwah, disaster warning systems, medical equipment support, education initiatives and railway rehabilitation.The two countries also discussed major energy projects, including the Sri Lanka-India electricity grid interconnection, the Sampur solar power project and Trincomalee’s proposed energy hub.During meetings with Sri Lankan leaders, Misri also raised concerns over detained Indian fishermen and sought cooperation for their early release, while stressing the need for a humanitarian approach.Prime Minister Amarasuriya’s discussions with Misri focused on strengthening education cooperation, including student exchanges, joint research and collaboration between higher education institutions.Misri concluded his visit on Wednesday, reaffirming India’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties while urging faster implementation of agreements reached between the two countries.&nbsp;

India pushes for early PC Polls

<ul><li>Plans structured national drive down to GN level </li></ul>Health Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa has announced plans to implement a targeted national programme aimed at eradicating dengue within the next two years.Addressing a special discussion at the Colombo National Hospital on Wednesday (5) to assess the dengue situation in high-risk Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas, the Minister said a structured programme would be introduced down to the Grama Niladhari Division (GND) level under the supervision of the Health Ministry.The discussion focused on weaknesses in previous dengue control programmes, identifying high-risk areas, strengthening mosquito control operations, improving technical support and reducing dengue-related deaths.Dr Jayatissa said the recent reduction in dengue fatalities was a significant achievement but warned that mosquito control measures should continue even when reported cases decline.National Dengue Control Unit Director Dr Kapila Kannangara said daily reported dengue cases had dropped from around 1,300 to between 350 and 400 following control measures implemented so far. However, he stressed that continued vigilance was essential ahead of the rainy season and amid changing climate patterns.Sri Lanka has recorded 88,088 dengue cases so far this year, with 63 deaths reported, according to the latest figures from the Dengue Control Unit. The dengue case fatality rate currently stands at 0.07 per cent.A total of 2,739 cases have been reported in August so far, while July recorded the highest monthly figure this year, with 29,975 infections.The Gampaha District remains the worst affected, with 18,739 cases reported, followed by Colombo District with 17,490 cases.Health authorities have urged the public to support dengue prevention efforts by eliminating mosquito breeding sites and maintaining clean surroundings, particularly with increased mosquito activity expected during the rainy season.The Dengue Control Unit continues to monitor the situation and has called for greater public cooperation to prevent a further surge in infections.&nbsp;

Govt targets dengue eradication within two years

Sri Lanka's healthcare system has received a score of 70.8 in the latest global healthcare rankings released by the independent digital media publisher and software developer Global StatsX. According to the Global StatsX mid-year analysis of countries with the best healthcare systems, Taiwan topped the rankings with a score of 87.1.According to popular social media platforms, Global StatsX said that the rankings were based on several key indicators, including the quality and competency of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, healthcare infrastructure and technology, accessibility to healthcare services, cost efficiency, and overall health outcomes. The assessment also considered the quality of hospital equipment, diagnostic tools and healthcare facilities, waiting times for treatment and specialist care, the availability of universal healthcare coverage, the affordability of medical treatment and insurance, the value of public healthcare spending, as well as life expectancy, the success of preventive healthcare and patient satisfaction.

Anti-Corruption Act amendments: Govt walks a tightrope on as ...

3,800 doctors leave SL in five years

3,800 doctors leave SL in five ...

Cigarette use slumps 53% in decade

Cigarette use slumps 53% in de ...

NWSDB overhaul to widen powers

NWSDB overhaul to widen powers

Judges’ retirement age: BASL to meet President over judicial reforms

Judges’ retirement age: BASL t ...

Batti, Maharagama hospitals: Cancer care disrupted as key machines fai ...

Batti, Maharagama hospitals: C ...

India pushes for early PC Polls

India pushes for early PC Poll ...

Govt targets dengue eradication within two years

Govt targets dengue eradicatio ...

Global rankings: SL’s healthcare system scores above 70

Global rankings: SL’s healthca ...

3,800 doctors leave SL in five years

3,800 doctors leave SL in five ...

Cigarette use slumps 53% in decade

Cigarette use slumps 53% in de ...

NWSDB overhaul to widen powers

NWSDB overhaul to widen powers

Judges’ retirement age: BASL to meet President over judicial reforms

Judges’ retirement age: BASL t ...

Batti, Maharagama hospitals: Cancer care disrupted as key machines fai ...

Batti, Maharagama hospitals: C ...

India pushes for early PC Polls

India pushes for early PC Poll ...

Govt targets dengue eradication within two years

Govt targets dengue eradicatio ...

Global rankings: SL’s healthcare system scores above 70

Global rankings: SL’s healthca ...

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3,800 doctors leave SL in five years

3,800 doctors leave SL in five ...

Cigarette use slumps 53% in decade

Cigarette use slumps 53% in de ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

NWSDB overhaul to widen powers

NWSDB overhaul to widen powers

Judges’ retirement age: BASL to meet President over judicial reforms

Judges’ retirement age: BASL t ...

Batti, Maharagama hospitals: Cancer care disrupted as key machines fai ...

Batti, Maharagama hospitals: C ...

India pushes for early PC Polls

India pushes for early PC Poll ...