News

Gayantha withdraws from committee

Published

1 week ago

June 9, 2025

editor

Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne announced to Parliament that Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunathilaka has withdrawn from the three-member Parliamentary Committee that was appointed to investigate and report on a complaint received regarding the actions of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dayasiri Jayasekara.

The Speaker made this announcement to Parliament on Friday at the commencement of Parliamentary business.

Accordingly, the Speaker announced that SJB MP Rauff Hakeem has been appointed to replace Karunathilaka.

The committee was appointed on May 20, after considering a complaint that was received regarding the conduct of Jayasekara in the Parliament Chamber. Deputy Chairperson of Committees MP Hemali Weerasekara will serve as the Chairperson of this Committee, while the other member will be Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.

Addressing the House on Friday, MP Karunathilaka questioned the Speaker on appointing unnecessary investigation committees for minor incidents, which in the past too he had chaired and been part of, that ultimately bore no result where no reports of the findings have been produced. Karunathilaka said that this was the reason why he withdrew from this committee to investigate and report on the complaint received on actions of MP Dayasiri Jayasekara.

News

Senior official from Justice Ministry gives statement to CID

Published

35 minutes ago

June 16, 2025

editor

A senior official from the Ministry of Justice has given a statement to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding the alleged unlawful release of an inmate from Anuradhapura Prison under a presidential pardon granted for Vesak Poya.

Meanwhile, CID teams have been deployed to all 28 prisons across the island to investigate possible misuse of presidential pardons in the recent past.

Investigations are currently underway, and both the Anuradhapura Prison Superintendent and the Commissioner General of Prisons remain in remand over the incident.

News

Committee probing Deshabandu to convene daily from today

Published

37 minutes ago

June 16, 2025

editor

The high-level Committee of Inquiry investigating allegations of gross abuse of power by suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon will commence daily hearings starting today (June 16) until the conclusion of the inquiry.

Accordingly, IGP Tennakoon appeared before the committee at 9.30 a.m. today continuing a process that began with his initial appearance in May.

The committee, chaired by Supreme Court Justice P. P. Surasena, includes Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawela and National Police Commission Chairman E.W.M. Lalith Ekanayake.

The committee has previously convened on several occasions and recorded statements from IGP Tennakoon and several others.

On June 11, the committee of inquiry with the participation of Additional Solicitor General (President’s Counsel) Dileepa Peiris and Deputy Solicitor General Rajitha Perera, representing the Attorney General’s Department, and R.S. Weerawickrama Attorney-at-Law, appearing on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, cross-examined the witnesses.

News

Landslide warnings issued for 07 districts

Published

3 hours ago

June 16, 2025

editor

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued landslide warnings for seven districts due to ongoing adverse weather conditions.

A Level-2 warning has been issued for the Ayagama and Ratnapura areas in the Ratnapura District.

Level-1 warnings have been issued for the following Divisional Secretariat Divisions:

Colombo District: Padukka
Galle District: Elpitiya
Kalutara District: Walallawita, Agalawatte, Palindanuwara, Bulathsinhala, and Mathugama
Kandy District: Ganga Ihala Korale
Kegalle District: Yatiyanthota, Deraniyagala, Dehiowita
Nuwara Eliya District: Ambagamuwa
Ratnapura District: Pelmadulla, Eheliyagoda, Nivitigala, Kuruwita, Elapatha, and Kalawana