News

New appointments for 5 OICs transferred during Aragalaya

Published

1 year ago

April 29, 2024

editor

The Inspector General of Police informed the Supreme Court that five Police OICs, who were previously transferred due to their failure to prevent the burning of Ministers’ houses during a period of the Aragalaya, have now been assigned suitable police stations in accordance with the agreement reached in court.
The Fundamental Rights petitions filed by five Police OICs were revisited before the Supreme Court.

The three-member Supreme Court bench, Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Gamini Amarasekara, and A.H.M.D. Nawaz presided over the proceedings.

During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne, representing the IGP, confirmed that suitable police stations had been allocated to the petitioners as per the prior court agreement.

Consequently, the three petitioner OICs expressed their consent to assume responsibility for these designated police stations, leading the bench to close the hearing on their petitions.

However, the legal representatives of the remaining two petitioner police officers conveyed their refusal to accept the police stations proposed by the Inspector General of Police.

Furthermore, the officers informed the court that their positions had been downgraded.

As a result, the bench scheduled a subsequent session on May 29 to deliberate on the petitions submitted by the two petitioning Police Station OICs.

President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris, appeared on behalf of the petitioners.

(News 1st)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by News 1st has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Special traffic plan in Borella today

Published

2 hours ago

July 7, 2025

editor

Police have announced a special traffic plan that will be implemented in Borella today (July 07) due to an event marking the 50th Golden Jubilee celebration of the Priesthood of His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.

The event is expected to draw a large number of invited guests, including religious dignitaries, government officials, and members of the clergy.

To ease congestion, heavy vehicles will be restricted from entering the stretch between Kynsey Road junction and Nandadasa Kodagoda junction on Ward Place between 3.00 pm – 9.00 pm within the Borella Police Division.

Police have requested motorists to use alternate routes during this time.

News

Veteran civil servant Bradman Weerakoon bids adieu

Published

2 hours ago

July 7, 2025

editor

Senior civil servant and distinguished public administrator Bradman Weerakoon has passed away at the age of 94.

Mr. Weerakoon was educated at Holy Cross College, Kalutara, and St. Thomas’ College, Gurutalawa, before entering the University of Peradeniya, where he graduated with honours in Economics and Sociology.

He later earned a Master’s Degree (MA) in Sociology from the University of Michigan, USA, on a Fulbright Scholarship.

He joined the Ceylon Civil Service in 1954 and served in various parts of the country before becoming secretary to the then Prime Minister – Sir John Kotelawala.

Over an extraordinary career, he went on to serve as Secretary to all elected Prime Ministers and Presidents until 2002, working under 07 Prime Ministers and 03 Presidents – an unparalleled contribution to Sri Lanka’s public administration.

News

Train schedules on Northern line revised

Published

2 hours ago

July 7, 2025

editor

The Department of Railways has announced amendments to train schedules on the Northern Line in response to public requests.

Due to high demand, the Intercity Express train, which previously operated only on weekends, will now run daily between Mt. Lavinia and Kankesanthurai starting today (July 07).

In addition, the departure time of the “Yaal Devi” train plying daily from Colombo Fort to Kankesanthurai has been revised from 5.45 am to 6.40 am.

The Department has advised passengers who made advance seat reservations for the “Yaal Devi” train a month ago, to note the new departure time.