Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama on Friday ordered the release on bail of former Navy Commander, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Kumara Jayadeva Karannagoda, who is accused of corruption in connection with the 2006 recruitment of Yoshitha Rajapaksa to the Sri Lanka Navy.

The prosecution alleges that Rajapaksa, who did not meet the prescribed recruitment criteria, was nevertheless enlisted as an Executive Branch Midshipman and later sent for training at the Britannia Royal Naval College in the United Kingdom at State expense, outside established procedures.

The Magistrate ordered Karannagoda be released on two sureties of Rs. 2.5 million each and imposed a foreign travel ban.

Delivering the order, the Magistrate observed that the mere continuation of investigations is not, in itself, sufficient grounds to remand a suspect. The court further noted that there was no material indicating attempts to influence witnesses or interfere with the investigation, and that the prosecution had failed to establish sufficient grounds for continued remand.

The Civil Appellate High Court of Negombo on Friday dismissed leave-to-appeal applications filed by former IGP Pujith Jayasundara and former State Intelligence Service Director and Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena, affirming a District Court order that their objections on the issue of limitation should be determined only after the trial.

The judgment, delivered by a Bench comprising Justices Yvonne Fernando and Nirosha Fernando, upheld the order issued on December 11, 2024, by then Negombo District Judge, now Colombo District Judge, Lalith Kannangara.

The case was filed by Dona Nayana Rasika Kumari, a survivor of the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attack at St. Sebastian’s Church, Katuwapitiya, Negombo, seeking damages from several respondents, including the two former senior police officials.

Jayasundara and Jayawardena argued that the action was time-barred under Section 88 of the Police Ordinance because it had not been instituted within three months of the incident and should therefore be dismissed at the outset.

However, the District Court ruled that the issue could not be determined as a preliminary question of law and should instead be considered after hearing evidence at the conclusion of the trial. The Civil Appellate High Court affirmed that ruling.

The plaintiff maintained that she became aware of the alleged negligence and breach of duty by the former officials only after information emerged through the proceedings of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Easter Sunday attacks, and that legal action was instituted promptly thereafter.

The ruling is expected to have implications for 182 similar civil actions pending before the Negombo District Court, paving the way for those cases to proceed to trial.

Police on Friday said legal action will be taken against pedestrians who walk on roads while listening to music through headphones or earphones, citing the growing number of road accidents involving inattentive road users.

Director of Traffic Control and Road Safety, Senior Superintendent of Police Manoj Ranagala, said pedestrians currently found using headphones on public roads are issued warnings, but offenders will be prosecuted in the future.

Speaking at a media briefing at the Health Promotion Bureau to mark the 11th National Accident Prevention Week, scheduled from July 6 to 10, Ranagala said more than 10 people die in road accidents each day in Sri Lanka.

He said 1,323 fatal road accidents were reported between January 1 and June 30 this year, claiming 1,389 lives. Compared with the corresponding period in 2025, the number of fatal accidents had increased by 105, while deaths had risen by 107.

Ranagala said pedestrians and cyclists remained the most vulnerable road users, with inattention, traffic law violations, speeding and poor vehicle and road maintenance among the leading causes of accidents.

He said Police, acting on the instructions of the Inspector General of Police, had intensified traffic enforcement and introduced new technology, including advanced speed detection equipment capable of monitoring vehicles over a three-kilometre range.

He warned that stricter enforcement, heavier penalties and the suspension of driving licences would be introduced to curb the rising number of road accidents.

by Norman Palihawadne