News

Stop extravagant Christmas celebrations this year – Cardinal

Published

3 years ago

October 17, 2022

editor

Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith today called on Catholics to celebrate Christmas on a low key this year and avoid spending lavishly on decorations.

Speaking during a religious service held to mark the 75th jubilee of St. Theresa’s Church, Batapattala, Negombo, Cardinal Ranjith said Christmas this year should be confined to feeding the hungry.

“One must not waste funds on decorating churches and other places this Christmas considering the situation of the country. There are many who live in hunger. Therefore the only thing that should be done during Christmas this year is to provide a meal to the poor,” he said.

He also said one cannot expect justice for Easter Sunday victims from the incumbent President and the government.

“The incumbent President does not have the consent of the people to hold the post he is holding now, since he came from the back door. Parliament select committee appointed to look into the Easter Sunday attacks, said there could be a political hand behind the attack. The incumbent President had pledged to bring in Scotland Yard to carry out an investigation. However, nothing has been done as yet. Besides, I am criticized for talking about politics. I am doing so in line with the statement made by the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka some years ago, and the recent statement made by Pope Francis that the Church cannot afford be silent where there is social injustice,” he added.

(dailymirror.lk)

News

Pillayan had prior knowledge of Easter attacks – Minister (Video)

Published

4 hours ago

July 9, 2025

editor

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala says that investigations have revealed that Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias “Pilleyan”, had prior knowledge of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

Making a special statement in Parliament today (July 09), the minister pointed out that Pilleyan was in custody at the Batticaloa Prison when the attacks took place, and that strong evidence exists that he had prior knowledge of the attacks.

(Video : Voicetube)

News

Student held under PTA for nine months to be produced in court

Published

4 hours ago

July 9, 2025

editor

The case of a 21-year-old student detained for nearly nine months under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) will be taken up in court today (July 9).

Mohamed Rifai Mohamed Suhail, an aviation student from Mawanella, was arrested in October 2024 after posting a video on Instagram showing the Israeli flag being trampled, BBC Sinhala reported.

He was initially taken into custody by Dehiwala Police near the Israeli consular office for failing to carry his national identity card and later released when the document was produced in court.

However, Suhail was re-arrested and remanded under the PTA in connection with the Instagram video, despite the court previously releasing him without bail. His lawyer alleges that no formal charges have been filed and no evidence has been presented by police to support the detention.

The prolonged incarceration has drawn criticism from rights groups, legal experts, and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, which has been formally notified. Meanwhile, Suhail’s family has lodged a complaint, calling for his immediate release.

(dailymirror.lk)

(This story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Injured Wanindu ruled out of Bangladesh T20I series

Published

4 hours ago

July 9, 2025

editor

Sri Lanka’s T20I captain Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh after suffering a hamstring injury to his right leg.

The injury occurred while he was batting during the third and final ODI of the recently concluded series.

Following a medical evaluation, Hasaranga will return to Colombo to undergo rehabilitation at Sri Lanka Cricket’s High Performance Centre.

Sri Lanka Cricket has confirmed that no replacement will be added to the T20I squad in his absence.

(dailynews.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)