PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION 2024: PROCEDURE TO VOTE

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.

Grade 1 Enrollment Declines

According to the 2023 school census data, the annual number of students enrolling in Grade 1 at government schools has decreased by 14% over the past five years.

9th Presidential Election: Process at the Polling Station

The 9th presidential election will take place today where 17,140,354 voters will be eligible to vote at the election. Polling begins at 7.00 a.m. and ends at 4.00 p.m.

Illicit Liquor Related Arrests Soar

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.

2024 Presidential Election: Procedure to vote

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.

Beedi addiction rising among students

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.

1,100,000 new voters for the 2024 Presidential Election

The number of registered electors for this year’s presidential election has increased by 1,148,258 compared to the previous presidential election.

2024 Presidential Election: How the EC settled on the date

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.

Slightly Hung Over

Over the past decade, liqour production has seen a dramatic decrease of 53%. Despite this, tax revenue from liqour has surged by 46%. Similarly, beer consumption has plummeted by 89% during the same period.

Sharp Rise in Jailed Numbers for Thefts and Robberies

Between 2021 and 2023, there has been a significant rise in thefts and robberies. This is reflected in the sentencing figures, with 5,687 people imprisoned for these offences in 2023, compared to just 1,202 in 2021.

A/L Exam 2023 (2024): Fewer Takers, More Qualifiers

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.

Significant growth in pension expenditures

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.

If your car is caught in a flood

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.

2023: Heroin Arrests Down, Cannabis and ICE Up

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.

Sri Lanka Prisons at 265% Overcapacity

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 LANKAN MIGRANTS:21% Work Abroad ,Majority Seek Residency

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.

HIV Surge Among Youth

According to the latest National STD/AIDS Control Programme data, HIV infections are on the rise among youths aged 15-24. In 2022, there were 75 reported cases of HIV in this age group, increasing to 105 cases in 2023, marking a 40% increase.

Sharp Drop in Phone Usage

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.

Bleak Island

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.

2024: Presidential or Parliamentary Election, WHICH COMES FIRST?

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.

Higher Cancer Rates in Sri Lankan Women

The latest data from Sri Lanka shows that women are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than men. Among the 37,753 cancer patients identified in Sri Lanka in 2021, 53.4% were women.

Sri Lanka’s population has decreased in 2023

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.

Alarming Rise in Sri Lanka’s Child Begging Crisis

The number of reported child begging cases in Sri Lanka jumped 29% in 2023, with 323 complaints reaching the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA). This follows a worrying trend of rising numbers since 2020.

Sharp Rise in Female Prisoners

The number of convicted women prisoners in 2022 has increased by 81% compared to previous year. In 2021 the number of convicted prisoners was 215, while as at the end of 2022 it was 390.

Driver’s Licenses Denied: 50,000 Found Unfit to Drive

Over 50,000 driver’s license applicants or existing license holders were deemed unfit to drive and denied renewal or issuance of their licenses in 2022, according to the National Transport Medical Institute.

Reflecting on 2023

A year of milestones and challenges in Sri Lanka

Drug offenders have a high rate of recidivism for the same crime

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.

More children are being abused or neglected

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.

Educated Females Face Higher Unemployment Rates

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.

Wild elephant attacks on the rise

Last year, 145 people were killed by wild elephants, the most in ten years, and the number of deaths due to elephant-human conflict is increasing.