News

Rishad lodges complaint against Wimal

Published

5 years ago

2021/03/11

Sahan Weerasooriya

… insists neither he nor his brother had links to Zahran

By Shamindra Ferdinando

All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader and Vanni District Samagi Jana Balavegaya lawmaker Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday (10) lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) requesting an inquiry into National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa’s claim that his brother Riyaj had been in touch with Easter Sunday bomber Zahran Hashim.

Addressing the media at the entrance to the CID headquarters, SJB lawmaker Bathiudeen alleged that Minister Weerawansa had made a deliberate bid to mislead the public when he delivered a speech at the Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi Mandiraya the previous day.

Bathiudeen said that neither he nor his brother had ever met Zahran Hashim or talked to him over the phone under any circumstances in the run-up to 2019 Easter Sunday carnage. The lawmaker alleged that Minister Weerawansa’s statement was meant to harm the Muslim community.

Minister Weerawansa during his Tuesday’s special lecture delivered at the Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi Mandiraya alleged that the police spokesman was on record as having said that Rishard Bathiudeen’s brother called Zahran and the police spokesman had been transferred immediately.

Weerawansa said that the police had explained to Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith how Rishad ‘s brother called Zahran Hashim and then got in touch with Rishad. Then again Rishad Bathiudeen’s brother called Zahran Hashim.

One-time Police Spokesman SSP and attorney-at-law Jaliya Senaratne told police headquarters briefing last year how Riyaj had been in touch with one of the suicide bombers in the run-up to the attacks. SSP Senaratne said that the investigators were in possession of incriminating evidence. However, Riyaj who had been detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) was subsequently released by the CID claiming there was no case against the suspect.

Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC, intervened in the wake of over 100 SLPP members of parliament demanding an inquiry into Riyaj Bathiudeen’s release. The DIG CID and Director CID were replaced while police headquarters appointed two special teams to probe the matter. Police headquarters is yet to announce their findings.

At the time of the Easter Sunday attacks the ACMC had been a constituent of the UNP led administration, having contested the 2015 general election on the UNP ticket. The ACMC contested the last general election in 2020 on the SJB ticket.

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News

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