79 shooting incidents have been taken place in Sri Lanka over the past 07 months, resulting in 52 deaths and 260 arrests, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today (May 09).

The shootings had occurred in the 07 months from September 21, 2024 until May 08, 2025. 

According to the minister, the shootings had left 35 injured as well.

62 of the incidents were linked to organized criminal gangs, while 17 were classified as other types of shootings, he added.

Of the 260 arrested, 229 were connected directly to organized crime, the minister further noted.

Minister Wijepala said the government has taken high-level decisions in this regard, and that it is unacceptable to claim that there has been a serious increase in shootings since the NPP government came to power.

“When we study these shootings, we will not see a significant increase from 2022, 2023, or 2024. But we do not trivialise any shooting. We treat every human life with value. Therefore, we have taken the highest decisions we can take as a government to suppress the underworld,” he emphasised.

The Ministry of Education says that the teacher allegedly involved in the incident of molesting the schoolgirl from Kotahena has been sent on compulsory leave after receiving a police ‘B report’. 

The Secretary to the Education Ministry, Nalaka Kaluwewa, states that steps have also been taken to hold an internal inquiry into the incident.

Accordingly, the teacher involved in the incident will be placed on compulsory leave in accordance with Section 27:9 of Chapter XLVIII, Part II of the Establishments Code.

The Ministry also states that a preliminary investigation into the incident is currently underway, and that formal disciplinary action will be taken as soon as the report is received.

Furthermore, the Ministry has launched an internal investigation to determine whether any parties neglected their duties and responsibilities in connection with the entire incident.

On May 08, a group of parents and students staged a protest opposite the school in Bambalapitiya alleging that a teacher had sexually assaulted the student, which led to the girl’s death by suicide.

In this regard, the Ministry of Education had called for an explanation from the school’s principal.

In a previous statement, the Ministry had said that the teacher in question was transferred, and disciplinary action will be taken based on the investigations conducted by the police.

On the same day, Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Savithri Paulraj, stated that she had requested the parents of the Grade 10 student—who reportedly died by suicide following the alleged sexual assault by a teacher—to file a formal complaint with the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA). However, she noted that the complaint had not been filed as of yet.

The Minister’s comments came in response to allegations made by MP Mano Ganesan, who questioned whether government action had been delayed because the owner of the tuition center—where the student was allegedly verbally abused again after the incident—is affiliated with the National People’s Power (NPP).

(adaderana.lk)

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

A Development Officer with the Divi Neguma Department has been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment by Colombo High Court Judge Adithya Patabendige for soliciting a sexual bribe from the mother of a seven-year-old child suffering from kidney disease, in exchange for approving government financial aid for the child’s surgery.

The court ruled that the 20-year sentence is to be served concurrently over a period of 10 years.

The convict, Ruwan Pradeep Madushanka, was found guilty on four charges filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and was also fined Rs. 20,000.

Furthermore, the court issued an order stripping the convict of his civic rights for a period of 10 years. The Registrar of the High Court was instructed to notify the Election Commissioner and other relevant authorities that the convict has lost his civic rights, including the right to vote.

The judge emphasised that the offender, as a public servant paid by taxpayers, had a duty to carry out his responsibilities ethically. Exploiting a vulnerable woman by soliciting a sexual bribe—particularly under such desperate circumstances—was an aggravating factor that the court could not take lightly.

The incident occurred when the accused took the complainant to a hotel in the Tissamaharama area, where he was subsequently arrested by the Bribery and Corruption Investigation Unit on May 21, 2016.

(dailymirror.lk)

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