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2 more court orders over SJB protest rally (Update)

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Another court order has been issued with regard to the protest rally of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) which will be held in Colombo this afternoon.

The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court prohibited blocking roads within its jurisdiction from noon today until 10 am tomorrow.

However, it designated the P. D. Sirisena Grounds and Hyde Park ground as safe spaces for protests, citing that there will be no restriction in exercising the freedom of speech.

At the same time, the Fort Magistrate’s Court also issued an order against Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and others from the SJB preventing them from entering into several roads in the Fort and Kompanna Veediya police jurisdictions.

These roads are:
Ceramic Junction to NSA Roundabout
NSA Roundabout to Galle Face Roundabout
D. R. Wijerama Mawatha
Dharmapala Mawatha to Pittala Junction
Baladaksha Mawatha to Uttarananda Mawatha

In addition, the court order prohibits Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and others from the SJB from entering the Finance Ministry, President’s Office, President’s House, and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

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(Previous News : Published at 2024/01/30 at 12.15 pm)

Court blocks Opposition’s protest route in Colombo

The Colombo No. 04 Magistrate L. Manjula issued a court order today prohibiting opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, Samagi Jana Balawegaya general secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, and others from hindering traffic on several streets in the Maligawatta police jurisdiction.

The court order specifically bans blocking activities on Sangharaja Mawatha via Pradeepa Mawatha, Saddharma Mawatha, Jayantha Virasekara Mawatha, Milton Perera Mawatha, and Jumma Junction from the Maligawatte Muslim Burial Ground.

Sri Lanka’s main opposition party, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), is gearing up for a significant protest in Colombo today (30).

The party aims to pressure the government into addressing pressing issues faced by the Sri Lankan people.

SJB General Secretary and Member of Parliament, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, announced that the protest will commence at 1:30 pm from two separate locations: Hyde Park and Panchikawatta in Colombo.

(News 1st)

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Vesak week commences tomorrow

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The National Vesak Week will commence tomorrow (May 09), under this year’s theme of “Let’s associate with noble people with good qualities.”

According to the secretary to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, W.P. Senadheera said that it will continue until May 16.

The official inauguration ceremony will take place tomorrow at the Nuwara Eliya Buddhist Center, under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Sri Lanka Railways has announced special train services during the Vesak week and the long weekend.

Meanhwile, the Ministry of Public Administration has ordered the closure of slaughterhouses, meat vendors, casinos, and clubs nationwide from May 12 – 14 May for the state Vesak Festival. 

A circular issued on April 29 instructs all relevant businesses to comply during the period.

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79 shooting incidents in last 7 months

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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.

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Teacher accused of molesting Kotahena schoolgirl sent on compulsory leave

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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)

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