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ලිංගික අතවරයක් වාර්තා කර ඇති අයුරු බලන්න!
No full textThis entry includes a write-up and an infographic (both in Sinhala).On January 3, 2025, Lankadeepa, Aruna, Dinamina, and Divaina newspapers reported on an incident where a male police officer has sexually harassed a female police officer in police barracks. Both Lankadeepa and Aruna newspapers carried cartoons that sexually objectifies women. In addition, Lankadeepa trivialised the sex crime in the heading, Aruna and Dinamina newspapers did not indicate that sexual harassment has taken place in the heading or content, and Divaina reported the incident as "sipa ganimak" (සිප ගැනීමක්) without indicating the gravity of the offence. Media is advised against reporting on sex crimes in a manner that simplifies the gravity of the crime as it can contribute towards normalisation of such crimes
Revised Fuel Price Formula – Methodology Update
No full textAn explainer on PublicFinance.lk’s updated fuel pricing formula, available in English (5 pages) on the Fuel Price Tracker dashboard.This document explains the updated methodology adopted by PublicFinance.lk for calculating fuel prices in Sri Lanka. It outlines the changes made to the original 2018 IMF-assisted fuel price formula used by the Ministry of Finance. The update improves cost accuracy by adjusting assumptions for exchange rates, evaporation losses, processing and administrative costs, and tax components. The document also compares PublicFinance.lk’s pricing with that of the Ministry of Energy and justifies the exclusion of non-transparent or inconsistent components such as profit margins and refinery cost savings
Budget 2026: Parliament and the Public Deprived of Real Numbers
No full textThis infographic was posted on the Public Finance Platform in English and can be accessed from the link below.Sri Lanka’s Constitution grants Parliament full control over public finances, exercised primarily through the debate and approval of the annual budget. In practice, however, the public finance and budgeting system has long been affected by inconsistencies in the numbers presented. Figures in the budget speech, the estimates and other supporting documents released alongside the budget often do not align. The 2026 budget continues this trend, despite the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act mandating greater transparency. As a result, MPs are left debating outdated or inconsistent data, and the public is deprived of a clear understanding of the government's actual financial plans. Both outcomes weaken Parliament’s oversight role and reduce public accountability
Sectoral Allocations: Budget 2025
No full textThis infographic was posted on the Public Finance Platform in English, Sinhala, Tamil and can be accessed from the links below.On 17 February, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake delivered his first budget speech for the 2025 fiscal year. The speech outlined how the government plans to allocate expenditure across nine sectors of the economy: agriculture, defense, education, environment, finance, foreign affairs, health, infrastructure, and social welfare. Finance, infrastructure development, and health sectors receive the largest share of the allocation
Education: Key NPP manifesto promises
No full textThis infographic was posted on the Public Finance Platform in English, Sinhala, Tamil and can be accessed from the link below.There were several new promises made by the president in his manifesto to solve the existing issues (such as high dropout rates, inequality and affordability) in the education sector and for its development.
Many of these promises require funding through the national budget to be implemented.
Here are some key promises from the manifesto which require budgetary funding to fulfill:
- Gradually raising the allocation to education as a percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP) up to 6%
- Establishing a National Examination Evaluation Center with all technological and physical facilities
- Creating a fully equipped Curriculum Development Unit for curriculum development within the National Institute of Education
- Establishing a National University of Education by merging all Colleges of Education and Teacher Training Colleges
- Offering 200 scholarships per year for high school graduates to pursue degrees at internationally ranked universities
- Increasing Mahapola and other bursaries in line with the cost of living
- Creating a university for postgraduate research and development
- Merging nursing schools into a national nursing university
Appropriation Bill 2026: Which ministries got the highest allocations?
No full textThis infographic was posted on the Public Finance Platform in English, Sinhala, and Tamil. They can be accessed from the links below.The Appropriation Bill for 2026 sets government expenditure (excluding capital repayments) at LKR 7,128 billion. For 2026, the First Schedule allocates LKR 4,434 billion for non-debt-servicing: LKR 3,028 billion for recurrent costs and LKR 1,406 billion for capital spending. The Second Schedule primarily comprising debt service payments processed through the Department of Treasury Operations - allocates LKR 2,615 billion for interest, LKR 1,406 billion for capital repayments, and an additional LKR 78 billion for recurrent expenses of other government agencies.
Compared with 2025, total expenditure in 2026 decreases by 1.6%. The decline is mainly driven by lower interest costs, which drop from LKR 2,945 billion in 2025 to LKR 2,615 billion in 2026. Conversely, capital spending increases from LKR 1,320 billion to LKR 1,406 billion (up 6.5%), while other recurrent expenditure rises from LKR 2,975 billion to LKR 3,107 billion (up 4.4%).
The largest allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Bill is to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development: LKR 635 billion, a decrease of 7.5% from LKR 661 billion in 2025. This contrasts with most other ministries, which increased or remained stead
අනුරාධපුර ප්රදේශයේ දියණිය සමග මව දිවි තොරකර ගත් පුවත: සිංහල පුවත්පත් වාර්තාකරණ ඔස්සේ
No full textThis entry includes a write-up and an infographic (both in Sinhala).On January 2, 2025, Aruna, Dinamina, Divaina, and Mawbima newspapers reported on an incident in which a mother died by suicide after murdering her two-year-old child. All four newspapers failed to publish helplines, mentioned the suicide method, and mention the reason for the death for suicide. In addition, Aruna published a part of the suicide note written by the mother before death. Media ethical guidelines recommend not giving prominence to method of suicide, reporting on suicide in an empathetic manner taking a mental health approach, and publishing helplines
Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill - Voting Breakdown - Second Reading
No full textThis infographic is available in English and published on the Manthri.lk platform which can be accessed from the following link.On February 17, 2025 the second reading of the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill was passed with a majority of 178 votes. The following compilation of infographics reflects the list of MPs that voted in favour, MPs who were absent from parliament and from the vote. 187 votes were cast in favour of the bill, while 28 MPs were absent from the vote and 9 MPs were absent from parliament
Social welfare: Key NPP manifesto promises
No full textThis infographic was posted on the Public Finance Platform in English, Sinhala, Tamil and can be accessed from the link below.The NPP Presidential Election manifesto for 2024 outlines various promises to support vulnerable groups in Sri Lanka. The focus appears to be on improving the welfare of low-income families, people with disabilities, senior citizens, and addressing women's and children's needs.
- Providing a minimum monthly financial grant from Rs. 10,000 upwards to low- income families
- Provision of a monthly financial aid of Rs. 10,000 to persons with disabilities and chronic illnesses.
- Providing a monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000 to senior citizens needing assistance.
- Offer tax incentives to non-profit care institutions for persons with disabilities.
- Offer tax exemptions to import assistive devices used by persons with disabilities.
- An interest rate that is 5% higher than the normal bank rate(s) for senior citizens' fixed deposits.
- Financial assistance for affected individuals; women-headed families, single parent families and women affected by gender-based/intimate partner violence, based on needs and income levels.
- Provision of financial support for nutritious food packages during pregnancy and the first year of childbirth for low-income families.
- Establishing a fund to implement an insurance coverage system that ensures protection for all senior citizens.
- Expand financial assistance for low-income families with persons with disabilities to engage in self-employment
- Provide relief to deprived parties after reviewing microfinance loans provided in violation of legal provisions and guidelines given.
- Increasing budgetary allocation to critical areas, including education, health, social services and other essential child welfare sectors with a special focus on marginalised and vulnerable groups.
- Establishment of Childcare Centers at the Grama Niladari level with public and private partnerships based on needs and requests.
- Establishment of new elderly care centers at the divisional secretariat level.
- Government support and regulation of private care centers.
- Modifying train stations and bus stops for easy accessibility and use by disabled and elderl
Resolution to Remove IGP Tennakoon - Voting Breakdown
No full textThis infographic is available in Tamil. The English and Sinhala versions are published on the Manthri.lk Instagram and Facebook pages respectively and can be accessed through the links below.On 5 August 2025, Parliament held a vote to remove the Inspector-General of Police, Deshabandu Tennakoon, in accordance with Section 17 of the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act, No. 5 of 2002.
The Resolution was carried with 177 MPs voting in favour, one MP abstained, 33 absent from the vote and 13 absent from Parliament