News
Ex-SDIG remanded for ‘making false claim of underworld threat’
Suspected of threatening Tiran and top cop over the phone
Retired Senior DIG Priyantha Jayakody has been taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for allegedly making a false claim that he received death threats from notorious underworld leader Kehelbaddara Padme, who is believed to be living overseas.
Police Headquarters Spokesman Attorney-at-Law ASP F.U. Wootler confirmed the arrest of Jayakody. He said that the ex-SDIG would be produced before a Magistrate.
Police yesterday produced Jayakody before Mahara Magistrate and was remanded till 06 August pending investigations.
The suspect, a former top police investigator, also served as the Police Spokesman during the Yahapalana administration.
Other sources said that Jayakody and another person were responsible for threatening former Public Security Minister Tiran Alles and Senior DIG Administration Lalith Pathinayake over the phone. Sources said that another threatening call had been given to the son of IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon.
Sources said that investigators had also apprehended the person who made the calls at the behest of the former SDIG.
Jayakody campaigned for SJB leader Sajith Premadasa in the last presidential election and also backed the SJB in the parliamentary polls conducted in November, 2024.
Investigations have revealed that a Dubai telephone number was used by Jayakody to make calls.
Some claimed that Jayakody had acted alone and the whole sordid operation was meant to obtain police protection. (SF)
Based on the prevailing disaster situation and the upcoming festive season, arrangements have been made to provide a nutrition allowance worth Rs. 5,000 to pregnant mothers.
This allowance, which will be provided only once, will be given to pregnant mothers who were registered at maternal clinics on or before 30 November 2025.
The distribution will take place through the Divisional Secretariat offices from 16 December, as a program of the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
The Situation Report released by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) at 6:00 AM today (13th December 2025) confirms that 640 persons have died and another 211 persons are missing due to flooding and landslides that took place in Sri Lanka within the past two weeks.
A meeting between representatives of UNICEF and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya was held on the 10th of December at the Prime Minister’s Office.
During the discussion, an initial review of the new digitalization policy draft was conducted, and it was emphasized that the new digital policy must be formulated to align with the ongoing education reforms.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the digital policy should be developed in a way that supports all five core pillars of the current education reforms, including curriculum reform, infrastructure development, and administrative restructuring.
It was further noted that the current draft is primarily focused on curriculum-related matters, and the digital policy should be structured to influence the overall education reform process.
Extensive discussions were also held on the importance of digital literacy, NEMIS, the provision of digital infrastructure, and minimizing the existing digital divide.
Attention was also drawn to the gaps in the current teacher training mechanisms , and the Prime Minister stressed the need to reduce paper usage.
The meeting was attended by the UNICEF representatives Dr. Emma Brigham and Deborah Wyburn, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary A.B.M. Ashraff, and several other officials.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Pregnant Mothers to receive Rs 5000 Nutrition Allowance in December
640 deaths, 211 missing as at 6:00AM today (13)
New Digitalization Policy draft reviewed
The government is taking steps to streamline trade facilitation, customs processes, investment approvals, and improving export facilities – Prime Minister
Showers will occur in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Uva, Central and North-Western provinces.
Big fossil fuel companies are responsible for climate crisis but poor countries like Sri Lanka are battered by it – Greenpeace South Asia
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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