President Ranil Wickremesinghe warns economic recovery could be undone if essential reforms are not completed, urging voters to prioritise long-term stability over short-term gains in the upcoming election: Running as an Independent with the ‘Gas Cylinder’ symbol, Wickremesinghe emphasised the need for global economic integration and reforms in public administration and anti-corruption efforts, while addressing challenges like AI regulation and resource utilisation. The Election Commission will soon issue a Gazette notification setting a Rs. 109 per voter spending cap for candidates in the upcoming presidential election: This measure is part of broader campaign finance reforms to ensure fairness: The new regulations, discussed with stakeholders, aim to regulate spending for all future elections, promoting transparency and aligning with global standards.
The Election Commission has received 631 complaints about the presidential election from 31 July to 18 August, with 65 lodged on 18 August alone: Most complaints involve legal violations, with only one report of violence: The surge in concerns underscores the need for stringent monitoring to ensure a fair process, with authorities urging public vigilance and reporting of irregularities. Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Joseph Ponnaiah of Batticaloa and appointed Rt. Rev.
Dr. Anton Ranjith, Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo, as the Apostolic Administrator of the diocese: This change, following standard Church p.