A ballot paper consists of two parts. The first part will have the names of political parties arranged alphabetically in Sinhala, with their respective election symbols listed beside them. The second part of the ballot paper will have serial numbers allotted to the candidates.
According to the latest data from the Police Department, 150,000 individuals were arrested in connection with illicit liquor-related incidents in 2023. This represents a 75% increase compared to the previous year. These individuals were arrested for producing, possessing, and selling illicit liquor.
Since more than 03 candidates are contesting the upcoming presidential election scheduled for September 21, 2024, voters will have the opportunity to mark their first preference for one candidate and indicate their second and third preferences for two additional candidates.
According to the ADIC’s “2023 Trend Survey on Tobacco Use”, a concerning 13% of smokers are students. The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that while 20% of these young smokers consume regular cigarettes, a higher proportion (28%) smoke beedis, which are potentially more harmful to human health than other smoking products.
The current president’s term of office is set to end on November 17. The Election Commission (EC) has scheduled the election for a new president 57 days before this date. According to the Presidential Election Law, the election must be held no less than one month and no more than two months before the end of the president’s term.
This year, there was a decrease in the number of students who sat for the G.C.E. (A/L) Examination compared to the past two years. However, there were positive trends in university admissions. The number of students qualifying by passing at least three subjects and those achieving three A grades both increased, while the number of students failing all subjects declined.
Between January 2023 and May 2024, monthly pension payments increased significantly by Rs.3.9 billion, alongside a rise in the number of pensioners from 676,622 to 711,511. During this period, expenditure on pension payments increased by 16.3 percent.
Immersion in water can cause severe damage to your car, especially to the engine, electrical system, and interior. If your vehicle has been caught in floodwaters up to the door level, do not attempt to start it. Instead, contact a service centre and have your car towed to a garage for inspection by a qualified mechanic.
In 2023, drug arrests saw a decrease in heroin arrests compared to the previous year, while cannabis and methamphetamine (ICE) arrests increased. Specifically, heroin arrests dropped by 5 per cent, while cannabis and ICE arrests rose by 28 per cent and15 per cent, respectively, compared to the previous year.
In 2023, Sri Lanka’s prison institutions have a recommended capacity of 10,395 inmates. However, approximately 27,562 inmates are currently detained, exceeding the capacity by more than double. In Colombo and other major urban prisons, the overcrowding is three to four times the intended capacity.
Sri Lanka’s Bureau of Foreign Employment data reveals that only 21% of those who left the country in 2023 departed for foreign employment. The majority emigrated for reasons such as permanent residency abroad, educational pursuits, or other personal endeavours.
According to a Ministry of Finance report, there has been a notable decrease in both mobile phone and landline usage as of June 2023 in the country. In comparison to June 2022, the number of active mobile phones has declined from 29.5 million to 27.9 million, indicating a reduction of approximately 1.7 million devices.
The majority of children admitted to child care homes in Sri Lanka are categorized as destitute children. Department of Census and Statistics data indicates that 70% of children in these homes fall under this classification, with females comprising the largest proportion among them.
The incumbent President’s term expires on November 17, 2024. The constitution mandates a new President be elected between September and October of this year. The current parliament’s term is expected to end in November 2025. But as per the 20th Amendment of the constitution, the President is able to dissolve the House when the legislature completes two and a half years of its term.
Data from the Census and Statistics Department reveals a significant population decline in 2023. Compared to 2022, the mid-year population has shrunk by 144,395. This decrease is attributed to a combination of factors, including fewer births, a rise in deaths, and a notable increase in emigration.
In 2022, 63% of people sentenced for crimes were incarcerated for drug offenses, and most of them are repeatedly imprisoned for the same crime. The maximum prison sentence for these offenses is usually six months, but this type of criminality is characterized by repeated offending and short prison sentences.
The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has received 7523 complaints in the first eight months of 2023. More than 4,000 complaints related to crimes against children related to children in need of care, compulsory education, and cruelty.
According to the Department of Census and Statistics survey, the unemployment rate is highest among those with G.C.E.(A/L) and above qualifications, at 8.3%. The unemployment rate for males with G.C.E.(A/L) and above qualifications is 4.7%, while the unemployment rate for females with G.C.E.(A/L) and above qualifications is 12.0%. Female unemployment rates are higher than male unemployment rates at all levels of education.
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