News
AG wants police to find out who assisted rogue prison officials to hide from law
The Attorney General (AG) yesterday directed the Acting IGP to identify those who assisted the interdicted Superintendent of the Negombo Prison Anuruddha Sampayo and three other Prison officials to hide from law enforcement officials.
Sampayo and the others were able to evade the police for a few days after court ordered their arrest over irregularities at Negombo Prison.
Issuing a statement, AG’s Coordinating officer, State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne said the Acting IGP had also been instructed to obtain phone records of the suspects to help identify those who helped them.
The AG also instructed the acting IGP to investigate why the Police failed to arrest the four suspects after the arrest warrants were issued. The law enforcers have also been instructed to investigate whether Sampayo was arrested or he had surrendered to the police.
State Counsel Jayaratne also said that the AG was concerned whether the suspects had aided drug trafficking inside the prison and directed the acting IGP to submit a report about it after investigating the case productions, especially the electronic scale found inside a jail cell. Sampayo was arrested last week in Kurunegala after he surrendered to a team of policemen from Negombo. Earlier Sampayo had been suspended for various malpractices inside the prison after the Criminal Investigation Department investigated into various malpractices taking place there.
As a part of this investigation, on February 2020, Department of Prisons carried out a raid and discovered 66 grams of heroin, 11 grams of cannabis, 414 cigarettes, 400 grams of tobacco, 08 mobile phones, 17 SIMs, 12 hands-free devices, 08 Chargers and 02 card-readers from the L Ward at the Negombo Prison. They also found a Digital Electric Scale, used to measure drugs. On 11 May 2020, Prison officials raided three cells at the Negombo Prison and discovered a number of luxury items. These cells housed several key figures involved in drug trafficking and other serious crimes.
The investigators found that Superintendent of the Negombo Prison, the Head Jailer Sarath Bandara, a 01st Tier Jailer Sarath Nishantha and a 02nd Tier Jailer Kalinga Kaluaggala were involved in these misdeeds and AG’s Department determined that there was sufficient evidence to file charges against them. The others had surrendered to law enforcement officials earlier.
In terms of the provisions of the Establishments Code on payment of festival advance to government officers, there’s a possibility of obtaining rupees 10,000/- as an advance for celebrating festivals of Theipongal, Ramazan, Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Wesak, Deepavali, and Christmas as well as for pilgrimages (Sri Paada pilgrimage and Hajj pilgrimage).
Provisions have been given to recover the said advance in 08 installments or if required earlier without interest. It has been proposed by the Budget 2026 to increase the said festival advance up to rupees 15,000/-.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local governments to revise the relevant provisions so that the festival advance can be increased up to rupees 15,000/- .
As per the approval given by the cabinet meeting held on 02-06-2025, action is being taken at present to offer the underutilized lands/properties of the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Etate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation Company which are under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure which have been identified under stage one to suitable investors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure to provide following lands/properties on a lease basis to the suitable investors for optimal utilization following the prescribed procurement procedure.
• underutilized lands/properties identified under stage two owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Estate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation
Company,
• The Mawarala watte land and the Tea factory 40.48 hectares in extent, located in Matara District belonging to the Tea Shakthi Fund.
• The underutilized land of 1,541 hectares in extent of Kondachchi Estate is enjoyed by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
The drafting of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has commenced with the objective of equitable distribution of the benefits of the fisheries industry and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. This policy has been updated from time to time according to current requirements. However, steps have not been taken to obtain the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
According to the policy declaration of the present government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been redrafted, updating the aforementioned policy in line with the economic and development objectives of the government.
The recommendations of the Department of National Planning have been received for the drafted policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine
Resources to implement the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, integrating it with other relevant policies.
Lanka Premier League draft set to take place on March 22
Trump to meet Venezuelan opposition leader Machado at the White House
Festival advance for government officers to be increased
Providing underutilized lands/properties to suitable investors for optimal utilization.
Implementation of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy
Expressions of Interest called to develop selected locations within the Pelawatte Sugar Factory premises
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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