News
AG requests CA not to hear Ranjan’s Writ
By Chitra Weeraratne
The Attorney General told the Court of Appeal that it should decline to hear the challenge of a decision of the Supreme Court to convict Ranjan Ramanayake for contempt of the highest court in the land.
Additional Solicitor General Indika Demuni de Silva, President’s Counsel, appeared for the Attorney General.
SJV MP Ranjan Ramanayake has challenged by way of a petition of Writ of Prohibition in the Court of Appeal, the direction by the Secretary General of Parliament, to the Commissioner of Elections, to unseat him.
President’s Counsel Faiz Mustapha appearing for Ramanayake said that the contempt of court was not within criminal law. It was a power vested in the judges to mete out punishment for contempt to maintain the dignity of the judges and the forum. Contempt of Court did not fall within Article 89 of the Constitution.
In the case of murder, the High Court was vested with the jurisdiction to impose punishment,for the criminal offence of murder. In Article 105/3 of the Constitution, Contempt was not referred as a criminal offence.
Additional Solicitor General Indika Demuni de Silva PC, objected to the Writ of Prohibition sought by Ranjan Ramanayake. The ASG said that the application was misconceived in law.
There could not be a Writ of Prohibition, on the decision of the Secretary General of Parliament to restrict Ramanayake from attending Parliament.
Ramanayake has been convicted for contempt of the Supreme Court and sentenced to four years rigorous imprisonment.
Additional Solicitor General Indika Demuni de Silva, PC, appeared for the Attorney General.
The ASG said the Writ cannot be issued to prohibit the authorities concerned from doing their duty. Ramanayake wanted a Writ against the Secretary General of Parliament, preventing him from informing the Commissioner of Elections that Ramanayake has vacated the seat in Parliament.
The Additional Solicitor General said that under Article 105/3, the punishment for Contempt was unlimited. The power had been vested in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.
The bench comprised Justice Arjuna Obeysekera (President) and Justice Mayadunna Corea.
Hearing resumes on March 18.
Latest News
Heat Index at Caution Level at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala, Mannar, Vavuniya and Anuradhapura districts
Warm Weather Advisory Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. on 17 March 2026, valid for 18 March 2026.
The general public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala, Mannar, Vavuniya and Anuradhapura districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) yesterday (17) recorded a statement from former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the allocation of a house for a maid working at the residence of the then Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, PC.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the Secretary to the Ministry Defence and Urban Development, allegedly authorised the allocation of the house on the recommendation of the CJ during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second term. The Rajapaksa government brought in Peiris as the Chief Justice after impeaching Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake in January 2013.
The allocation of the house was made by the Urban Development Authority (UDA), following the mandatory examination of the request, sources said, adding that during that time the government had launched several mega housing projects in Colombo and its suburbs to accommodate those living in shanties, etc.
CIABOC is expected to record a statement from ex-CJ Peiris who subsequently served as the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
As part of the assistance extended by the Government of India towards rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, a four-member technical delegation of health experts from Sri Lanka visited India recently.
The Indian HC said: “The delegation studied the Indian models of Medical Kiosks/Health ATMs, Mobile Diagnostic Laboratories and the telemedicine platform ‘eSanjeevani’ to explore replicating these initiatives in Sri Lanka in order to strengthen the local healthcare delivery system.
During the visit, the delegation participated in a series of technical sessions organized by premier Indian institutions like National Health Authority, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). Visits were arranged for the delegation to Combined Hospital at Loni, Ghaziabad, and Civil Hospital, Sector 10, Gurugram as part of exposure to India’s digital health ecosystem. Demonstrations were conducted on Mobile Health Kiosks / Health ATMs, including basic diagnostics and their role in strengthening primary healthcare delivery. The Sri Lankan experts were also provided an overview of India’s highly successful Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. A live teleconsultation through eSanjeevani was demonstrated, highlighting the integration of remote consultations with digital health records.
The initiative reflects the continued robust cooperation between India and Sri Lanka in strengthening healthcare delivery systems, particularly in vulnerable areas, and supporting recovery efforts among affected communities.”
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Heat Index at Caution Level at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala, Mannar, Vavuniya and Anuradhapura districts
Showers above 50 mm can be expected at some places in the Central, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Uva provinces and in Anuradhapura district
CIABOC questions Ex-President GR on house for CJ’s maid
Post-Ditwah Indian recovery assistance to SL: health experts from here visited India
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