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SLC denies making alleged salary payments to fmr. IGP Tennakoon

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Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has denied allegations raised by MP Hesha Withanage over paying former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon a salary of Rs. 150,000 and providing him with other perks.

The allegations were made by the MP during the Parliamentary debate on the Appropriation Bill held yesterday (March 18).

The full statement made by SLC in this regard is as follows :

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) wishes to categorically deny and strongly refute the baseless and false allegations made by Hon. MP Hesha Withanage during the Parliamentary debate on the Appropriation Bill held on 18th March 2025.

During the said debate, MP Withanage alleged that Sri Lanka Cricket has paid a sum of Rs. 150,000/= as a salary to Deshabandu Tennakoon, then Inspector General of Police, and further claimed that SLC had provided him with a laptop, mobile phone, and other perks as per an Executive Committee decision. It was also asserted that these actions amounted to bribery and that the officials of Sri Lanka Cricket should be held accountable under the provisions of law for offering a bribe.

Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to firmly state that these allegations are completely false, baseless, and devoid of any factual foundation.

We wish to state that Sri Lanka Cricket is acutely aware of its primary responsibility to ensure the highest level of security for foreign national teams, international tours, players, events, and visiting dignitaries, including state heads. As such, SLC continuously engages with Sri Lanka’s security personnel, including high-ranking army personnel and senior police officers, to maintain the safety and security of all involved.

In this regard, it is a common and essential practice to enlist the support of both active and retired high-ranking officers to ensure comprehensive safety measures during international cricket tours.

During the period when Mr. Deshabandu Tennakoon served as the Senior Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Western Province, SLC sought his expertise on security matters related to international tours. This request was made during a time when the country was experiencing a “New Normal’ situation emanating out of the Covid pandemic,’ where SLC had to take extra precautions to implement the “Covid Protocols’ enforced by the health authorities to ensure the safety of the players and officials engaged in playing international and domestic cricket tournaments. It is such measures that helped Sri Lanka Cricket conduct several international and domestic tournaments during the said time without any hindrance.

Following our request, as a mark of professionalism and adherence to official protocols, Mr. Tennakoon conveyed to SLC that he would require prior authorization from higher authorities due to his active duty status. Subsequently, Mr. Tennakoon informed SLC that, as an active police officer, he was not authorized to undertake any special tasks outside his official duties.

Nonetheless, he assured his readiness to provide necessary security assistance as required, considering the national significance of such engagements.

We categorically state that Sri Lanka Cricket has not made any payment, provided any laptop, mobile phone, or other perks to Mr. Deshabandu Tennakoon, nor has he been engaged as a consultant or in any other capacity with SLC.

Sri Lanka Cricket strongly condemns the unfounded and misleading statements made by MP Hesha Withanage under the parliamentary privileges and urges responsible conduct when making public statements to avoid causing unnecessary harm to the reputation and integrity of institutions and individuals.

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Petition filed against barring women from ‘Station Master’ posts

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The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka today (July 11) granted leave to proceed with a Fundamental Rights petition filed by two women challenging the gender-based restriction preventing women from applying for the position of Station Master in Sri Lanka Railways.

The petition was taken up before a three-judge bench comprising Justices A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Priyantha Fernando, and Sampath Wijeratne.

Appearing on behalf of the petitioners, Attorney-at-Law Nuwan Bopage submitted that the Railways Department had issued a gazette notification dated June 13, calling for applications to fill 106 vacant Station Master positions.

However, the notification stipulated that only male applicants were eligible to apply.

The counsel for the petitioners argued that this constituted a violation of the petitioners’ fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 12(1) and 12(2) of the Constitution, which ensure equality before the law and prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender.

He further contended that the restriction also infringed upon the petitioners’ right to engage in employment of their choice.

Accordingly, the petitioners sought a declaration from the court that their fundamental rights had been violated and requested an order to remove the discriminatory provision in the said gazette notification, which limits eligibility to only male candidates.

After considering the facts presented, the Supreme Court granted leave to proceed with the petition and scheduled the plaint for hearing on August 27.

(adaderana.lk)

(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Chemmani mass grave : ITAK urges President AKD to take urgent measures

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The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake urging to take immediate action to ensure truth, justice, with regard to the ongoing Chemmani mass grave investigation.

The letter emphasized that over 65 skeletons, including those of infants, have been recovered so far, affirming the scale of atrocities allegedly committed in the region.

ITAK also called for the public release of all forensic reports and DNA findings and warned that symbolic reconciliation would remain hollow without legal accountability.

Signed by senior ITAK leaders C.V.K. Sivagnanam and M.A. Sumanthiran, the letter urge the President to implement the following without delay :

  1. Consolidate the legal cases related to the 1999 and 2025 exhumations into a single judicial and forensic inquiry under the Colombo and Jaffna Magistrate’s Courts.
  2. Engage independent, internationally respected forensic experts to oversee all stages of the investigation, ensuring forensic integrity and public trust.
  3. Publicize all interim and final forensic reports, DNA profiles and identification results, and facilitate access for victims’ families, civil society and international observers.
  4. ⁠Repatriate the remains excavated in 1999, currently believed to be held in Glasgow, so they may be examined under the same protocols and returned to their families with dignity.
  5. ⁠Allocate significantly enhanced financial and logistical resources to ensure that the current excavation is completed under international standards; hundreds of families continue searching for missing loved ones, and without truth and accountability, reconciliation remains a facade.Concurrently, take steps to prosecute those responsible for these heinous crimes, which is essential for national healing.

The ITAK’s letter is as follows :

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Let’s build a nation rooted in historical heritage (Pics)

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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that a society cannot progress without a meaningful connection to its historic heritage and that the nation’s development path must be chosen accordingly.

The President made these remarks while addressing a ceremonial gathering yesterday (July 10) afternoon at the historic Ruhunu Kataragama sacred site.  

Earlier in the day, President Dissanayake visited the sacred grounds of Kataragama, participated in religious observances and later paid a courtesy call on the Venerable Kobawaka Dhamminda Nayaka Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the historic Kirivehera Rajamaha Viharaya, inquiring about his well-being and engaging in a brief discussion.

The President also attended the final Randoli Maha Perahera (Golden Chariot Grand Procession) of the annual Esala Festival at the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya, where he witnessed the ceremonial placement of the sacred relic casket upon the relic bearing tusker.  

Addressing the gathering, President Dissanayake further emphasised that a nation can only move forward by maintaining continuity with its historic heritage. He noted that every developed country in the world has achieved progress by preserving its historical legacy and building upon it, stressing that Sri Lanka, too, must choose a development path anchored in its heritage.

The President highlighted that Buddhism played a pivotal role in transforming our society into a cultured civilisation and that cultural festivals like this help revive and strengthen the moral and social values of a society often preoccupied with material pursuits.  

He pointed out that the Ruhunu Kataragama Perahera has been held continuously for 2,186 years, spanning nearly a hundred generations and that its survival has been possible due to the deep connection between this cultural ceremony and the lives of the people. The President extended his gratitude to all those, including the Chief Incumbent, who contributed to the success of this year’s procession.  

Among those present at the occasion were Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, R.M. Jayawardena, Governor of the Uva Province, Attorney-at-Law Kapila Jayasekara, Member of Parliament Ruwan Wijeweera, Chairman of the Kataragama Pradeshiya Sabha, Dharmapala Herath and Monaragala District Secretary Pasan Ratnayake.

(President’s Media Division)

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