News
Mannar sand mining suspended due to large-scale irregularities
The government has suspended sand mining permits issued in March 2026 across the Mannar District following the launch of a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into alleged large-scale irregularities, the Tamil Guardian has reported.
The decision was taken at a district-level meeting on sand distribution held at the Mannar District Secretariat on April 18, chaired by Mannar District Secretary K. Kanageswaran. The meeting was attended by Sri Lankan State Minister Upali Samarasinghe, Northern Province Governor N. Vethanayagam, National People’s Power MP M. Jegatheeswaran, and other senior officials.
Officials acknowledged that weak coordination between state institutions had facilitated irregular permit issuance and unregulated sand mining, leading to environmental degradation and heightened risks to local communities.
Addressing the meeting, Governor Vethanayagam stated that certain groups had effectively monopolised sand extraction and pricing, resulting in losses to the state. He called for a more coordinated regulatory framework to oversee mineral resource management.
State Minister Samarasinghe described the situation as the work of a “planned sand mafia” and warned that action would be taken against those involved, including complicit officials. However, such characterisations have underscored longstanding concerns over the failure of existing oversight mechanisms to prevent the emergence of entrenched extraction networks.
Field inspections conducted earlier this month reportedly uncovered extraction far exceeding approved limits, including operations in unauthorised areas using heavy machinery. Authorities said these activities had caused significant environmental damage, including increased erosion risks and threats to nearby settlements.
In response, officials have proposed a series of corrective measures, including mandatory joint inspections prior to permit issuance, prioritisation of allocations through local authorities, and the introduction of GPS-based verification systems alongside CCTV monitoring of transport routes.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Vanni region stated that disciplinary action was already being pursued against officers implicated in corrupt practices and pledged stricter enforcement.
Local residents, however, note that such interventions often follow prolonged periods of regulatory inaction, with enforcement intensifying only after environmental damage becomes acute. They argue that consistent application of existing permit controls and monitoring mechanisms could have prevented many of the violations now under investigation.
Scepticism also remains over the proposed technological solutions, with residents pointing to a recurring pattern in Sri Lanka’s governance where regulatory announcements fail to translate into sustained enforcement.
News
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (07) are Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon.
By Norman Palihawadane
The CID recently found that former SLPP Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara, better known as ‘Choka Malli’, had left for Thailand when the Supreme Court imposed an overseas travel ban on him last Friday.
The CID discovered that Jayasekara had left Sri Lanka on August 31, while authorities were taking steps to enforce the travel restriction imposed by the Supreme Court. The Department has subsequently informed the Attorney General’s Department of the development.
The Supreme Court last Friday ordered Jayasekara, and two other men, to appear before court on October 21, and imposed a ban on their overseas travel.
The orders were made as the Supreme Court considered an appeal challenging the acquittal of the three men in connection with the 2015 murder of Shantha Dodangoda, also known as D.G. Sunil Perera.
The appeal was filed by Dodangoda’s wife against a decision of the Court of Appeal to acquit and release Jayasekara and the two other accused, who had previously been convicted and sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court.
Dodangoda was killed in a shooting in Kahawatta town, in the early hours of January 5, 2015, while a group of people were putting up decorations for an election rally in support of then common Opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena.
Two others, Karunadasa Weerasinghe and Mohamed Ilfan, were seriously injured in the shooting.
Following the incident, the Ratnapura High Court convicted Jayasekara, former Chairman of the Kahawatta Pradeshiya Sabha Wajira Darshana de Silva, and former Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council member Nilanta Jayakody, sentencing all three to death.
The Court of Appeal subsequently acquitted the three men and ordered their release.
The victim’s wife later challenged the acquittal before the Supreme Court.
The appeal was taken up before a Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli and Gihan Kulatunga.
During the proceedings, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara requested that the court impose overseas travel restrictions on Jayasekara and the other respondents.
The Supreme Court subsequently ordered all three to appear before the court on October 21 and imposed travel bans on them.
President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty, President’s Counsel U.R. de Silva and President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne appeared for the respondents. President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris represented the aggrieved party.
Police sources said that the discovery that Jayasekara had already left for Thailand, on August 31, has raised concerns over the timing and enforcement of the travel ban.
Sources said that the CID had notified the Attorney General’s Department and was taking further action in relation to the development.
By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon
The number of deaths from dengue fever in Sri Lanka has risen to 73 this year, with 96,228 cases reported across the country so far, according to the Dengue Control Unit.
The latest figures indicate that dengue continues to pose a significant public health concern, with 737 new cases recorded during the first four days of September alone.
Dengue infections peaked in July, when 29,964 cases were reported, according to the latest data. June recorded the second-highest monthly total, with 21,533 cases, while 10,155 cases were reported in August.
Earlier in the year, 8,590 cases were recorded in May and 7,866 cases in January.The Western Province remains the worst-affected area, accounting for more than half of all dengue cases reported nationwide. A total of 50,851 cases have been recorded in the province, representing 52.84% of the country’s total.
The Southern Province has recorded 13,950 cases, followed by the Central Province with 8,818 cases and Sabaragamuwa Province with 7,925 cases.
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
Showers above 50 mm are likely at some places in the Uva and Eastern provinces.
Harshitha’s composed knock seals Sri Lanka’s semi-final berth
‘Choka Malli’ slips out of country before travel ban
Dengue death toll rises to 73
Ranil accuses govt. of undermining democracy
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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