The Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has called for a proper investigation to be carried out based on the facts revealed by the Channel4 program on the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
Speaking to reporters in Colombo yesterday (06), he slammed the government’s latest announcement on appointing a Parliamentary Select Committee to probe the matters revealed by the program regarding the attacks, while noting that in spite of the fact that from the day of the attacks, even though a parliamentary select Committee and a Presidential Commission of Inquiry as well as other Committees were appointed to investigate these sad events and many recommendations were made by them, there have been no credible and positive action by the political authorities over these recommendations.
” The present and previous Government paid only lip service to such findings,” said His Eminence.
“No tangible and credible results might emerge from yet another such Parliamentary Select Committee if it is only a matter of producing a report,” he added.’
He urged all former and present day officials in the Police and Intelligence as well as Security Services who are aware of other facts that maybe relevant to the case, to come out courageously in order to give witness to facts known to them, relevant to the case.
His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith also expressed the urgent need to execute four matters of great interest:
1) The holding of a free, impartial, just, transparent and broad based investigation into what the Channel 4 Television Network revealed in its programme, the alleged plot behind that tragedy and all facts and a study of the persons mentioned in that programme especially with regard to their role in this mass murder.
And also, investigations should be carried out on the findings outlined in the various commission reports already presented, and the recommendations stated need to be implemented fully.
2) This investigation should take place through an independent international investigation team,
3) That international team should be assisted by all those Sri Lankan officials of the CID whose services were originally sought by the government and who were transferred away from the investigations to other areas and posts by biased political authorities.
4) Since these fresh investigations need to be independent, all those officials who in the police and the intelligence services coming under investigation on this matter and who hold high positions presently should be suspended forthwith. Any such officials named in the Channel 4 programme should move out of their present high positions in order to ensure the independence of the inquiry.
The Media Division of the Ministry of Energy has dismissed media reports claiming the resignation of Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Chairman Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya, clarifying that he has only taken leave for personal overseas travel.
A senior ministry official stated that Dr. Siyambalapitiya had formally informed President Anura Kumara Dissanayake about his temporary leave and denied any resignation.
“There is no truth in the media reports suggesting the resignation of the CEB Chairman,” the official emphasized.
Dr. Siyambalapitiya was appointed as CEB Chairman on September 26, 2023, following the formation of the NPP-led government. The clarification comes amid ongoing discussions on electricity tariff revisions and financial reforms in the power sector.
The CEB has recently been under scrutiny over proposed tariff hikes and compliance with IMF-mandated cost-reflective pricing, with speculation rising over leadership changes.
The ministry’s statement seeks to quell rumors and ensure stability in the institution’s administration.
Popular actress Semini Iddamalgoda, arrested for failing to appear in court over unpaid Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) contributions linked to her private security company, was granted bail by Colombo Additional Magistrate Bandara Ilangasinghe.
The Welikada Police had taken her into custody after multiple arrest warrants were issued against her. Court records revealed four warrants from the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, two from Matara, and one from Tangalle over alleged non-payment of EPF and other employee dues.
Her defense counsel argued that Iddamalgoda, a well-known public figure, had no intention of evading court proceedings. They also stated that some of the pending payments had since been settled, leading the Labour Department to withdraw certain cases.
Magistrate Ilangasinghe granted bail on a surety of Rs. 100,000 and ordered the recall of all outstanding warrants. The court directed the submission of relevant documents by May 28 and requested a progress report on the Colombo cases by May 19.
The case highlights ongoing legal scrutiny over employers’ compliance with mandatory EPF contributions, even involving high-profile individuals. Further hearings will determine the resolution of the remaining charges.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is considering a 25 to 35 percent electricity tariff increase, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) urging Sri Lanka to implement revised rates.
CEB sources confirmed that the proposed hikes align with a pricing formula agreed upon by the CEB and the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL).
The new rates will require PUCSL approval before implementation.
Amid ongoing discussions, CEB Chairman Tilak Siyambalapitiya has resigned, reportedly due to political and regulatory interference in setting cost-reflective tariffs. Earlier this year, the PUCSL approved a 20 percent tariff reduction against the CEB’s advice, leading to renewed financial losses.
A senior CEB official revealed that after January’s reduction, losses began rising again.
In 2023 and 2024, tariff hikes had helped the CEB post profits of Rs. 61 billion and Rs. 141 billion, respectively, reducing accumulated losses from Rs. 473 billion to Rs. 271 billion. However, losses have climbed since February.
The IMF had set two key conditions: cost-reflective pricing and an automatic 10 percent hike if monthly cash flow falls below Rs. 15 billion.
The official noted that without January’s reduction, a 5 percent increase would have been needed in Q2.
The IMF has warned Sri Lanka twice in recent weeks for breaching cost-recovery benchmarks, raising fiscal risks.
A scheduled April tariff revision was skipped, with authorities offering unclear explanations.
The proposed hike aims to stabilize CEB’s finances while meeting IMF demands for sustainable energy pricing.
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