Former MP M. A. Sumanthiran, PC, has accused the police of attempting to prevent the enforcement of the law out of fear of the Sinhala Buddhist clergy, alleging that officers were acting under a “Sinhala-Buddhist supremacist mindset” in relation to the controversial Thaiyiddy Tissa Vihara issue in Jaffna, Tamil Guardian reported.

The remarks were made after proceedings at the Mallakam

Magistrate’s Court, in respect of a case filed by the police seeking an order preventing the Valikamam North Pradeshiya Sabha from reclaiming a road belonging to the local council, within the premises of the Thaiyiddy Tissa Vihara.

Sumanthiran appeared before court, on behalf of the Chairman and Secretary of the Valikamam North Pradeshiya Sabha, during the hearing.

Speaking to the media afterwards, Sumanthiran said the police had informed court that reclaiming the road could lead to a breach of peace. The road in question, known as “Bhavani Road”, belongs to the local council but has been blocked off with fencing erected by the temple administration, illegally.

The ex-lawmaker stated that the Pradeshiya Sabha had initiated action, in accordance with the law, to remove the obstruction and restore access to the public road. Sumanthiran added that the police should act against those obstructing the implementation of the law, not against those seeking to enforce it.

Referring to complaints reportedly made by the Chief Incumbent of the Vihara, Sumanthiran questioned who exactly was threatening public peace.

“The Vihara’s chief priest has complained that enforcing the law would create unrest. Who is creating that unrest? It is as if he is saying, ‘I myself will create the disturbance if the law is implemented’,” he remarked.

Sumanthiran further alleged that police officers were attempting to commit legal violations by obstructing those carrying out lawful duties.

“This is a Sinhala-Buddhist supremacist mindset. Because the police officers are Buddhists, they are afraid of Buddhist prelates and are trying to engage in unlawful conduct,” he charged.

He added that legal action would be pursued against those attempting to obstruct the enforcement of the law.

Claiming that the cost of additional generation of electricity, due to low quality coal, will not be passed on to consumers, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has said that the National System Operator Pvt. Ltd., (NSO) was told not to pay additional costs incurred by Lanka Electricity Generation Lanka (Pvt.) Limited.

The PUCSL has said that the NSO was asked to inform it of additional costs incurred in this regard, on a monthly basis.

In addition, the PUCSL has also decided to initiate legal action against NSO for its failure to adhere to instructions issued with regard to procurement of fuel at reasonable rates, procurement of fuel by private power producers through a transparent system, and the finalisation of relevant agreements regarding purchasing electricity and supply before 9 September, 2026.

Following the dissolution of the CEB on March 9, 2026, the entity was split into six separate state-owned companies to manage different aspects of the power sector.

Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) says that 999 Sri Lankans been employed in South Korea so far this year.

Of them, the most recent batch that left the country on 12 May consisted of 90 persons chosen for the production sector, SLBFE said, adding that altogether 926 males and 76 females so far joined the production, fisheries, construction and services sector.