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Five gangs operating under single command: President

Published

2 years ago

2025/03/1

Thilina Walpola

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake

By Saman Indrajith

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday said that security authorities were conducting probes based on reports that five different gangs involved in recent crimes had been acted under one person’s command.

Speaking in Parliament at the end of the debate on expenditure heads of the Ministries of Defence and Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, the President said an analysis of five recent crimes revealed that except for the Minuwangoda shooting incident, the others had been carried out by five gangs. There was suspicion they acted simultaneously under a single command. Additionally, there were concerns that similar activations could occur in Batticaloa and the Northern Province, as such groups were previously established by past regimes to operate on command, the President said.

The President said that the coordinated attacks appears to be part of a well-organized plot at a time when some hoped the government would collapse due to economic crisis, etc.

The NPP supported the abolition of the Prevention of Terrorism (PTA), but it would only do so until a robust legal framework is established to tackle extremism and organized crime, president Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday in parliament.

If organized criminal and racist/extremist groups operate in a country, it is not an ‘ordinary’ situation and a new law is needed to deal with them, he said.

“We were opposed to the PTA from 1979. we have not changed our ways. However, if the normal laws are not adequate to deal with organized criminal and racist/extremist groups, we need new laws. We are taking steps to establish a new set of rules,” he said.

Racism and extremism are the two main reasons why Sri Lankan national security was threatened in the past, he said.

“We will not let these trends grow,” he said.

Organized crime groups are not just a collective of criminals. They have been allowed to grow for decades, with the proactive support of politicians.

“Some politicians are now shedding tears about crime. I would like to remind them who nurtured these people,” he said.

Because of political patronage, some individuals attached to institutions that had been established to fight crime also joined these criminal groups. Several police officers have been arrested over recent underworld related assassinations, he said. Some police officers have sold their weapons to the organized groups, the president said.

“This is why 73 T-56 weapons fell into the hands of criminal groups from an army camp. 35 have been recovered. This didn’t happen during our tenure. There was an investigation into this incident before we came into power, but powerful politicians stopped this investigation. The second son of a president received seven licences firearms from the state,” he said.

Before the NPP came into power the country was headed towards a criminal state, he said. A large number of professionals have become affiliated with these powerful criminals, he said.

“In some cases, lawyers surround criminals when they receive bail and do not leave his side until he returns home. What can we do about this? There are two options. One is we can join hands with these criminal groups like those before us. The second option is to take these criminals on and crush them and this is the option we will take,” he said.

Dissanayake also said that they are cleaning up the police. A number of transfers are taking place and despite what the opposition says, none of these transfers are politically motivated, he said.

“We are getting intelligence information about some policemen who do not do their duty to tackle crime. If they are acting in cahoots with criminals, shouldn’t we take steps to put an end to it? We need to crush the network of corrupt policemen,” he said.

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Prime Minister of Sri Lanka holds a bilateral meeting with Minister for Education and Skills Development of Bhutan

Published

29 mins ago

2026/09/4

Priyan

On the sidelines of the inaugural Global Conscious Food Systems Summit 2026, being held in Bhutan from 31 August to 4 September 2026, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, in her capacity as Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, held a productive bilateral meeting with Yeezang De Thapa, Minister for Education and Skills Development of Bhutan, on 03 September 2026.

The discussions focused on further strengthening and expanding Sri Lanka-Bhutan cooperation in the education sector, with particular emphasis on developing mutually beneficial initiatives through enhanced Government-to-Government engagement.

Both sides underscored the importance of deepening institutional cooperation and exploring new avenues for collaboration in education, higher education and vocational training, with a view to creating greater opportunities for students, educators and academic institutions of both countries.

During the meeting, both sides agreed to initiate discussions towards the finalization and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the fields of education and vocational training. It was also agreed that the implementation of the MoU could be facilitated through the establishment of a Joint Working Group, headed at the Secretary level, with meetings to be convened annually to review progress, identify new areas of cooperation, and facilitate the effective implementation of agreed activities.

The major areas of cooperation discussed included enhancing collaboration among universities and academic institutions, promoting academic and faculty exchanges, joint research and university programmes, strengthening training and capacity-building opportunities for educators and teachers, and sharing expertise and best practices in the education and vocational training sectors.

The two sides also discussed strengthening child protection and safeguarding mechanisms, promoting ethical values among students, and addressing violence against children while ensuring their safety, protection, well-being and access to quality education.

Opportunities for Bhutanese students to pursue undergraduate studies at universities in Sri Lanka were also discussed, with particular emphasis on Dentistry, Medicine (MBBS), and allied health disciplines such as Physiotherapy. The discussions further covered opportunities for postgraduate studies in medical and health sciences at Sri Lankan universities, as well as enhanced collaboration among universities and other academic institutions of the two countries.

The meeting provided a valuable opportunity for Sri Lanka and Bhutan to advance cooperation in education and vocational training and explore new avenues for long-term collaboration for the mutual benefit of students, educators and academic institutions of both countries.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

News

Prime Minister Meets His Majesty the King of Bhutan

Published

35 mins ago

2026/09/4

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya had an audience with His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck at the Tashichhodzong in Thimphu on September 02, during her official visit to the Kingdom of Bhutan.

The cordial discussion focused on Bhutan’s future development priorities and opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.

His Majesty expressed Bhutan’s interest in drawing on Sri Lanka’s experiences and expertise in areas relevant to its development plans. The discussion also focused on promoting investment between the two countries, including the possibility of establishing an investment zone in Bhutan.

The two sides also exchanged views on demographic challenges facing Bhutan, including the increasing migration of young people and its impact on the country’s population and future workforce.

The meeting highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation and sharing experiences and best practices in support of the sustainable development of both countries.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

Latest News

SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa arrested by CIABOC

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/4

Priyan

(File pic)

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

Namal Rajapaksa had been summoned by CIABOC to provide a statement in connection with investigations into the controversial Airbus deal. He was subsequently arrested by CIABOC after recording his statement for over 5 hours.