News

Police to use underwater cameras to find dislodged stone

Published

5 years ago

2020/12/27

Sahan Weerasooriya

Dutch monk’s death:

by Suresh Perera

Police sleuths probing the mysterious death of the Dutch monk are expected to use underwater cameras in an attempt to trace the stone that’s believed to be at the bottom of the Ratgama lagoon after it had dislodged from one of the bhikku’s legs, a top police official said.

Two stones had been tied to the legs of Ven. Olande Jinawansa thera but only one was found intact at the time his body was found floating in the lagoon.

“We will be looking for a stone of similar size and weight as it would help ongoing investigations”, says Senior DIG Rohan Silva in charge of the Southern province.

He said the police have already recorded statements from more than 100 persons, including monks residing at the Dodanduwa Polgasduwa forest monastery, boatmen, fishermen and those who had offered alms to the monk when he went on pindapatha.

Asked whether there were any indications to suggest that the 59-year-old foreign monk had been killed and his body dumped in the lagoon, he replied, “there has been no evidence so far that he was killed, but we are investigating with an open mind to establish the circumstances of his death”.

Senior DIG Silva said the Government Analyst’s report, which was expected next week, will shed more light on the Dutch monk’s death and help police investigators to figure out what transpired.

On whether any arrests have been made so far, he said, “no, but the police are pursuing some important leads”.

The monastery where the Dutch monk meditated plus an adjoining island were searched by the police and the STF earlier but nothing suspicious was found.

Ven. Olande Jinawansa thera came to Sri Lanka in 2008 from northern Thailand.

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Members of Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee Officially Appointed

Published

5 hours ago

2026/05/5

Priyan

The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:

Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage

The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.

The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.

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Three prison guards arrested following the death of an inmate

Published

6 hours ago

2026/05/5

Priyan

(File pic)

Three prison guards attached to the Welikada Prison have been arrested by Borella Police following the death of an inmate on Monday (04).

News

CJ urged to inquire into AKD’s remarks on May 25 court verdict

Published

10 hours ago

2026/05/5

Sahan Weerasooriya

CJ Surasena

‘Bar Association must reveal its stand’

Civil society group ‘Free Lawyers’ has requested Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena to probe whether political pressure was brought on a Magistrate, or a High Court Judge, in respect of an ongoing high profile case.

Speaking to The Island on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said that they felt the urgent need to seek the CJ’s intervention, following the May Day declaration by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that the verdict of a case that was heard on 30 April would be given on 25 May. Tennakoon said that addressing the NPP’s main May Day rally at Maharagama, the President asked the people to be ready to celebrate that verdict. The President couldn’t have said so if he hadn’t been aware of the impending verdict, Tennakoon said, while emphasising the responsibility on the part of the Bar Association to state its position on the issue.

‘Free Lawyers’ recently captured pubic attention following its exposure of the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.

Responding to a query, Tennakoon said that on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Maithri Gunaratne, PC, on Monday, 4 April, wrote to both CJ Surasena and President of the Bar Association Rajeev Amarasuriya.

Alleging that President Dissanayake’s declaration caused immense harm to the independence of the judiciary and raised controversy over the judgement that would be given on 25 May, ‘Free Lawyers’ organisation also asked the CJ to inquire into whether the entire judicial process was under political pressure.

Tennakoon said that they expect the Bar Association to reveal its position on President Dissanayake’s statement. Tennakoon pointed out that during the May Day address, President Dissanayake made reference to 15 cases that were to be taken up during this month, whereas Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister, as well as Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, mentioned nearly 10 names of politicians, both sitting and former lawmakers, to be summoned beginning, May.

Tennakoon said that the NPP appeared to have used May Day to counter growing accusations over the Colombo port container controversy, coal scam, Rs 13.2 bn NDB fraud and theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury and USD 625,000 from the Sri Lanka Postal Service.

By Shamindra Ferdinando