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Swift action regarding Batalanda Report – Watagala

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Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala announced that the Government plans to take swift action regarding the Batalanda Report after discussions with Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara.

He made this statement while responding to questions from journalists during an inspection visit to the Floating Market Complex in Pettah, Colombo on Saturday (8).

“Deshabandu Thennakoon cannot hide forever. He will have to face the law eventually. The current Government will enforce the law without considering whether someone is a politician or a police officer. Crimes will always come to light at some point – just like the Easter Sunday attack, the Central Bank bond scam, and the Batalanda incident,” Watagala stated.

Deputy Minister Watagala said that the movable and immovable properties of Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon can be acquired under a circular already issued by Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya, if he continues to evade the Court.

“There is no point of him being in hiding, if he had not committed any offence,” he said.

He said that there are provisions in the legal system to deal with those who are evading Court, after arrest warrants are issued.

“If he wants to prevent his movable and immovable properties from being seized by the Government, he must surrender to Court,” he said.

He further alleged that during the Central Bank bond scam, Ranil Wickremesinghe facilitated the escape of Arjuna Mahendran from the country, knowing that Mahendran could have been lawfully arrested. Watagala claimed that criminal intent was involved and that even if political influence helped cover up the crime in the past, the law would eventually be enforced without exception.

“If Ranil Wickremesinghe is responsible for these three crimes – the Central Bank bond scam, the Easter Sunday attack and the Batalanda incident -we will take action accordingly,” he added.

Regarding the issues faced by vendors at the Floating Market Complex, Watagala highlighted that shop owners who had been trading for over 40 years on Olcott Street were forcibly relocated to the Floating Market.

He noted that while a few shops remain open, most are completely closed.

Watagala also mentioned that a Japanese project had been proposed through the Urban Development Authority (UDA) but claimed that public funds had already been misused, causing significant financial losses.

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

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Maho – Anuradhapura line to be closed for a month

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Train services on the main railway line between Maho – Anuradhapura will be suspended for one month due to the renovation of 05 aging railway bridges, Sri Lanka Railways has announced.

Five new bridges, procured with Indian loan assistance at a cost of approximately USD 15 million, have already arrived in the country and will replace the aging bridges.
According to reports, construction work is expected to commence after the upcoming Poson Poya Festival.

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16 OICs transferred

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A total of 16 Officers-in-Charge (OICs) of Police have been transferred with immediate effect.

05 Inspectors (IP) and 11 Chief Inspectors have been transferred accordingly, under the approval of the National Police Commission.

Police said the reshuffle is part of routine administrative changes.

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24-hr. passport service ends tomorrow

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The 24-hour one-day passport issuance service for the public will come to an end tomorrow (May 30), Acting Controller General of the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Chaminda Pathiraja has said.

The 24-hour service has been in operation since Feb. 18.

Accordingly, from Monday, June 02, 2025, applications for the One-Day Service will be accepted from 7.00 am – 2.00 pm at the Head Office of the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Battaramulla.

Applicants who have reserved appointments for that day under the One-Day Service, as well as those with urgent or priority requirements, may submit their applications during this period.

Applications for the Normal Service will also be accepted at the Head Office from 7.00 am – 2.00 pm.

Also, both Normal and One-Day Service applications will continue to be accepted at the regional offices from 7.00 am – 2.00 pm, as was done previously.

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