News
Committee appointed to ensure continuity of Public Service meets for third time
The third meeting of the Cabinet-appointed committee tasked with ensuring the continuous functioning of the public service, was held on Wednesday (01) under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, via virtual platform.
During the meeting, attention was drawn to the progress in implementing decisions taken at the previous meeting to maintain uninterrupted public services while managing fuel and energy in the face of challenges arising from the conflict situation in the Middle East.
Particular focus was also placed on the implementation and progress of guidelines issued by the Office of the Commissioner General of Essential Services at the ministerial level.
It was revealed that the Ministry of Health and Mass Media had achieved a 42% saving in diesel consumption by 31 March, while programmes on electricity and water management are currently being implemented successfully.
It was further noted that awareness programmes on energy management at school level are scheduled to be conducted on 7 and 9 April, and that universities are operating online where feasible.
The Ministry of Public Administration informed that examinations, including the Grama Niladhari entrance examination, were conducted as planned. It was also stated that several ministries, including Transport, Digital Economy and Justice, are continuing services by deploying essential staff and utilising online systems.
Attention was also drawn to monitoring fuel and energy management in public institutions. It was decided that measures taken by these institutions, along with the amount of energy saved, would be reported at the next committee meeting.
Meanwhile, discussions were held on implementing a rapid public awareness programme on preventing water wastage and promoting the use of alternative water sources, to be jointly carried out by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board and the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ programme.
The Ministry of Digital Economy has prepared a set of guidelines for carrying out official duties through online systems. It was discussed to implement these with the concurrence of the Ministry of Public Administration and to issue the necessary circular instructions by 20 April 2026.
It was also decided to assess the feasibility of working online on 16 and 17 April and to raise awareness among independent commissions on operating through online methods.
Attention was further drawn to monitoring and decision-making through a dashboard displaying daily energy consumption, available reserves and public service attendance.
The committee is scheduled to meet again on 8 April 2026.
Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government A.H.M.H. Abayarathna, Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, Chief of Staff to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government S. Aloka Bandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media Dr Anil Jasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Energy Professor T.M. Udayanga Hemapala, Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration Ayesha Jinadasa, Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy T.R.W.S. Dhanapala, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Senior Professor Kapila C.K. Perera, Secretary to the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Engineer Kumudu Lal Bogahawatta, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage and Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation D.J.A.S.S. Rajakaruna, along with other committee members, were present at the meeting.
The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.
Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.
The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses
will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”
In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125
News
Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area
The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.
The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.
A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.
Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.
The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.
The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.
The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the most part of the island after 1.00 p.m
GS1 Lanka drives Sri Lanka’s shift to 2D barcodes
Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations
Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area
Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.
Sri Lankan troops in joint anti-terrorist exercise in Russia
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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