News
Minister Alles faults Church for denying govt. opportunity to sort out crucial issues
… says ex-SIS head facing disciplinary inquiry
Easter Sunday carnage:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Public Security Minister Tiran Alles yesterday (28) alleged that the Catholic Church hadn’t given the government an opportunity to thrash out all issues regarding the continuing controversy surrounding the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage.
Minister Alles claimed that an opportunity had been sought after the entire report, including the sections that hadn’t been available to the Church, was handed over.
Unfortunately, the Church, instead of sitting down with the government, and law enforcement authorities involved in the investigations, to frankly discuss all outstanding issues, had turned down that request, Minister Alles said.
The Minister said so addressing the media at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) yesterday afternoon. Responding to a query, Alles declared that 99 percent of the CID investigation into the 2019 suicide bombings was over.
Alles found fault with the Church for repeating accusations without cooperating with the government to ascertain the truth. Suicide blasts claimed the lives of nearly 270 people, whereas over 400 suffered injuries.
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith on Sunday (27) reiterated that justice had been denied to the victims. The Cardinal insisted that their grievances be met without further delay.
Minister Alles said that Dappula de Livera, PC, who declared that the Easter Sunday carnage had been a grand conspiracy obtained a court order when the police wanted to record his statement regarding the claim. Pointing out that the ex-AG made that declaration on the eve of his retirement, Minister Alles said police investigations were hampered by their failure to record the retired official’s statement.
Asked to explain the failure on the part of the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government to act on the Presidential Commission report on the Easter Sunday carnage, particularly about not taking action in respect of former head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena, Minister Alles claimed that the National Police Commission (NPC) was inquiring into his lapses.
The media pointed out that in spite of the damning Presidential Commission findings in respect of the then head of the SIS, Senior DIG Jayawardena continued to hold a top position in the Department. Minister Alles said that he was now facing a disciplinary inquiry, conducted by the NPC.
Minister Alles also dealt with the discharging of former Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Shani Abeysekara and Sub-Inspector Sugath Mendis by the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court pertaining to a case involving ex-DIG Vaas Gunawardena.
Asked whether action would be taken against the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) for falsely implicating the top cop, Minister Alles said that the police outfit still stood by its findings. The Minister pointed out that the Attorney General twice, in the High Court and the Court of Appeal, very clearly stood by the CCD, though all of a sudden he changed his stance, thereby paving the way for discharging the suspects.
DIG Vaas Gunawardena was convicted and sentenced to death for the abduction and murder of Colombo-based businessman Mohamed Shiyam as a contract killing for $50,000 in May 2013.
Minister Alles said that the CCD furnished a comprehensive dossier on SSP Abeysekera to the AG when the issue was taken up.
The Minister stressed that the court declared that depending on the developments, the case could be filed again.
Latest News
Level III landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale extended
The landslide early warning center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has extended the Level III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale until 1600hrs on 11th December 2025.
Accordingly,
The LEVEL III RED landslide warnings issued to the the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Kundasale, Pasbage Korale, Medadumbara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Pathadumbara, Doluwa, Panvila, Gangawata Korale, Ududumbara, Akurana, Yatinuwara, Harispattuwa, Deltota, Thumpane, Poojapitiya, Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Minipe and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Aranayaka, Yatiyanthota, Rambukkana, Bulathkohupitiya and Mawanella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Mawathagama and Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, and Rattota, Laggala Pallegama, Ukuwela, Matale, Wilgamuwa, Pallepola, Naula, Yatawatta and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district have been extended.
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Haldummulla and Passara in the Badulla district, Warakapola, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Dehiowita, Ruwanwella and Deraniyagala in the Kegalle district, Polgahawela and Alawwa in the Kurunegala district, Kothmale East, Walapane, Thalawakele, Nuwara Eliya, Kothmale West, Nildandahinna, Mathurata, Ambagamuwa Korale, Hanguranketha and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district. and Kolonna, Godakawela and Kahawaththa in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Divulapitiya, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, and Kiriella, Eheliyagoda, Balangoda, Kaltota, Openayake, Nivithigala, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Elapatha, Pelmadulla and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.
News
“We cannot allow flooding to become a part of the daily lives of the people in the Colombo District” – PM
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that unauthorized constructions within the Colombo District, nor any form of residential developments that endanger the public carried out under the guise of development agenda will not be allowed.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the media at the conclusion of the Colombo District Disaster Management Committee meeting held on Tuesday [December 09] at the Colombo District Secretariat.
Addressing further, the Prime Minister stated:
“The Colombo District has become vulnerable to this extent due to the constructions carried out without any proper planning or understanding of regulations, along with personal and politically motivated decisions that have placed both the district and its people at risk.
Compared to the districts that suffered severe loss of life and property due to the recent cyclone, the damage to the Colombo District has been relatively lower. However, special intervention is being carried out together with the relevant institutions to manage the potential future flood risks in the district.
This matter was also given special attention during today’s District Disaster Management Committee meeting. We cannot allow the flooding to become a regular part of the lives of the people in Colombo. All relevant institutions will come together to put forward a common plan for flood control in the district.”
The Prime Minister further stated that discussions are already underway to provide sustainable solutions for the people living in high-risk areas within the Colombo District.
The discussion was attended by the Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, Deputy Minister of Mass Media Kaushalya Ariyaratne, and Colombo District Members of Parliament Aruna Panagoda and Chandana Suriyarachchi.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Latest News
Russia gifts 35 tonnes of Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka
The handover of 35 tonnes of Russian Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka, recently affected by the cyclone «Ditwah», took place at Katunayake today (10th December)
The shipment was welcomed at the Katunayake airport by Ambassador of Russia Levan Dzhagaryan, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka and Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd).
Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan: said “This delivery is a reflection of long-term friendly relations between Russia and Sri Lanka and reaffirms Moscow’s commitment to support countries in a difficult humanitarian situation.”
The supplies brought by the EMERCOM (Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations) aircraft comprised a movable 60 kW electric power station, Pumping equipment for water drainage, Summer tents (10-person capacity) and Food supplies (sugar, vegetable oil, rice)
The total cargo weight is 35 metric tonnes. The aid will be distributed among the most affected regions.

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