News

Family demands full video of Sri Lankan who died at Japanese detention centre

Published

1 month ago

April 6, 2025

editor

The relatives of a Sri Lankan woman who died at an immigration detention facility in central Japan four years ago are set to demand the full release of security footage of her.

Wishma Sandamali had been detained at the facility in Nagoya City for overstaying her visa. She complained of ill health and died at the age of 33 on March 6, 2021.

Her bereaved family filed a suit with the Nagoya District Court seeking state redress, saying immigration authorities failed to provide her with medical care when her condition worsened.

The Japanese Government said that medical checkups and examinations found no cause for her ill health.

Some 295 hours of security camera footage that captured the woman as she was detained at the facility remains. The Government has submitted roughly five hours of the video to the court in response to the family’s demands.

In February, her family demanded that the Nagoya Regional Immigration Services Bureau release all the footage. On March 26, the Bureau said it had decided against doing so, on the grounds that the footage in question shows security systems and releasing it could undermine maintenance of order.

Her family said that disclosure is crucial in determining what really happened and that the decision is unacceptable. The family’s attorneys said that the family has decided to file a lawsuit next month to demand that the state reverses its decision.

(NHK)

News

Mahindananda files anticipatory bail petition over bribery case

Published

1 hour ago

May 14, 2025

editor

Former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has filed a petition before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (May 14), seeking anticipatory bail against his possible arrest by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

The application has been filed over his possible arrest over the importation of a shipment of substandard organic fertilizer during the tenure of the previous government.

Following the submission of the petition, Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali issued a notice to the Bribery Commission, directing it to present its position regarding the matter to the court on May 19.

News

Youth Affairs Ministry denies links to NYSCO courses

Published

1 hour ago

May 14, 2025

editor

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has issued an official statement over the ministry’s name being used by courses and programmes of the National Youth Services Cooperative (NYSCO).

The ministry states that NYSCO has been unauthorizedly using its name and the official state emblem to promote their courses and while using them in the relevant certificates as well.

The ministry says that they have also appointed a separate committee to investigate the issue, on the directives of the COPE committee.

The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs further reiterated that it is not affiliated with any of the courses or programmes offered by NYSCO.

The full statement issued in this regard, is as follows :

තරුණ_කටයුතු_සහ_ක්_රීඩා_අමාත්_යාංශය Download

News

Divisional Secretariats to disburse financial assistance for Kotmale bus accident victims

Published

1 hour ago

May 14, 2025

editor

On the instructions of President Anura Kumara Disanayake, the funds allocated from the President’s Fund for those who lost their lives in the recent bus accident in the Garandi Ella area, Kotmale have now been forwarded to the relevant Divisional Secretariats.

Accordingly, a sum of Rs. 1 million will be provided for each individual who lost their life in the accident, and the funds will be handed over to their respective family members.

These funds have been released to the Divisional Secretariats of the following areas -Tissamaharama, Lunugamvehera, Welimada, Haldummulla, Ella, Kundasale, Bamunakotuwa, Paduwasnuwara West, Polpithigama, Wanathawilluwa, Chilaw, Buttala, Thanamalwila, Wellawaya, Kanthale and Rambewa where the 22 individuals who lost their lives in the accident were residents.

(President’s Media Division)