Sri Lanka’s government will implement a new pension scheme for migrant workers with effect from January next year, a cabinet decision showed.
The cabinet has decided to withdraw 2 billion rupees from the Kuwait Fund of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment as the initial capital requirement for the scheme.
Legal draftsman is to draft an act for this purpose and also to amend the Act for Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment accordingly.
The recommendations follow a committee report of a proposed pension scheme for migrant workers.
The committee comprised of representation from Foreign Employment, Treasury, Pension Department, Central Bank and Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies. (LBO)
Sri Lanka Cricket today announced that the National team will wear black armbands as a mark of respect for late Pandit W. A Amaradeva when they take the field in Harare for the 2nd Test match against Zimbabwe on commencing on Sunday (6).
Disabled War Heroes continued their protest for the fifth day yesterday opposite the Fort Railway Station. A group of disabled War Heroes began a fast unto death demanding service pension.
The disabled War Heroes who retired before their due retirement day said Cabinet approval has been obtained to grant them the service pension but the government was delaying the implementation of this decision.
Organisation to Protect the Rights of War Heroes President U.B. Wansantha said no government representative has so far met them to discuss their problems.
The nation today bids farewell to veteran musician Pandit Amaradeva who left an indelible imprint in the hearts of Sri Lankans, ending an unmatched contribution for the development of Sinhala music for over 60 years.
Pandit Amaradeva, the recipient of several awards, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award (2001) and Padma Shri from Indian (2002) succeeded in developing a music which is quintessentially Sri Lankan by drawing inspiration from Indian classical music and Sinhala folk music.
He was a household name among Sri Lankans of all walks of life for decades.
Thousands of mourners including fellow artistes kept streaming in to the Sri Jayawardenapura hospital on Thursday morning on hearing of his passing away.
The Government on Thursday evening declared a mourning period of 7 days in view of the death of mastero Pandit Amaradeva and the National Flag at government buildings flew half mast as a mark of respect to the music colossus.
This is the first occasion that the remains of an artiste is kept at the Independence Square for more than 24 hours for the public to pay their last respects.
Banners were displayed in every town throughout the country by mourners expressing their condolence over the death of mastero W.D. Amaradeva.
Thousands of mourners were lining the streets leading to Torrington Square yesterday to pay their respects and have a last glimpse of the remains of veteran musician. The remains of Pandit Amaradeva will lie in state till 3.30 p.m. today for the people to pay their last respects.
The final rites will be held at 6 p.m. today the same venue with full State honours.
The Sri Lanka Police and Tri Forces have made arrangements to provide facilities for thousands of people coming to Colombo to pay their last respects to the veteran musician.
Wannakuwatta Waduge Don Albert Perera, known by his adoptive name Amaradeva was a legendary musician who received the nation’s higest awards Deshamanya and Kalakeerthi awards in recognition of his service to the field of Sri Lankan music Pandit Amaradeva composed the music for the Maldivian National Anthem (Gaumii salaam) in 1972 at the request of Maldivian Government.
In 1950s, W.D. Amaradeva studied the folk music styles and consulted the experts of the Kandyan dance tradition like Pani Bharata, Kiriganitha Gunamala and Suramba in his path understand what constituted Sinhala folk music.
AmarAdeva was introduced to music at a young age by his father who crafted and repaired violins at Moratumulla Wadu Kaarmika Vidyalaya (Carpentry School). Amaradeva would often strum the violin while his mother sang hymns .
An old student of Sri Sumangala College, Panadura, W.D. Amaradeva met Sunil Shantha, a prominent musician at the time at one of Sunil Santha’s concerts. Since he showed interest, Sunil Santha invited AmaradeVa to audition at Chitrasena studios. His acquaintance helped him ascend the top rung of music sector in the country.
The daughter of Wimal Weerawansa has lodged a complaint with the National Child Protection Authority over ‘unethical’ reporting in connection with the death of a youth at the home of the MP.
By connecting her to the death even as an investigation was underway, certain social media, websites and other media are causing severe psychological trauma to the 15-year-old, said her lawyer Premanath Dolewatte.
The insults against her are very wrong, illegal and do not take political advantage out of the matter, he asked, adding the girl could not attend school due to her condition.
Dolewatte, accompanied by the girl and her mother Shashi Weerawansa, handed over the complaint to the NCPA, together with details of the accused media outlets.
He added the authorities promised to investigate the matter.
A 35-year-old suspect who was severely injured when he jumped from the fifth floor of the Gampaha Hospital is reported to have died while undergoing treatment at the Colombo National Hospital today.
Police said the suspect identified as Suranga Dias from Batagama in Ja-Ela was arrested following a theft and admitted to the Gampaha Hospital.
The man had sought permission to use the washroom last night and had escaped the police guards to jump from the fifth floor of the building.
The Colombo High Court this morning rejected the bail application filed by former MP Tissa Attanayake.
The High Court had previously - on October 20 - refused bail to the former UNP General Secretary.
The former MP is accused of displaying a fraudulent document to the media during the last Presidential Election, for the purpose of affecting the results.
He is charged under Section 3(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act No. 56 of 2007. This is the first time a Sri Lankan has been indicted by the Attorney General over an offence that comes under the ICCPR Act.
A group of Sri Lanka Thawheed Jama'ath (SLTJ) Organisation members today staged a protest march in Maligawatta, Maradana against the move to amend the Muslim Marriage Act as a requirement to regain GSP+ from the European Union. The protestors said as long as other customary laws such as Thesawalamai and Kandyan laws remained unchanged, Muslim law should also not be altered. Some of the placards said that setting up of a minimum age for marriage was not practical. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana - dailyMirror
