News

Public Security Minister: Some Opposition politicians bent of scuttling Easter Sunday carnage probe

Published

5 years ago

2021/05/18

by Saman
Indrajith

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena might permit MP Rishad Bathiudeen to attend Parliament; the latter and several others are being held on a 90-day detention order in connection with the Easter Sunday terror attacks investigations, but that might have serious repercussions for the country’s security, Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (Retd) Sarath Weerasekera warns.

In an interview with The Island, the retired top Navy officer said that the previous week, he, in his capacity as Minister of Public Security, had requested the Speaker not to override the detention order made under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. “I have nothing personal in this matter. It’s my duty to warn of any impediment to the ongoing investigations. He is being held on detention orders under the PTA. If he makes any statements, it may have an impact on the investigations. Such statements can harm the investigation and may allow other persons under investigation to evade arrests. Therefore, I am requesting the Speaker not to allow anyone held under the PTA to be allowed into Parliament until the investigations are concluded. However, I came to know from the media that the Speaker has decided to allow Bathiudeen to attend Parliament. The Speaker is doing so, making use of provisions of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act. There is another argument that Bathiudeen is only a suspect until proven guilty, he has a right to attend Parliament. However, overruling a PTA detention order amounts to the legislature undermining the Executive. The arrest and detention order are executive actions.”

“Allowing Bathiudeen to attend Parliament at this juncture will seriously jeopardise the ongoing investigations. The law can permit it but that does not mean that there wouldn’t be unlawful repercussions resulting from such action.

“There are some elements in the Opposition bent on sabotaging the investigations so that they can get away with their crimes. I issued a warning to this effect in Parliament.”

Fight against crime

Minister Weerasekera said that the government had launched a campaign to rid the country of fear of criminals. “There is no place in a civilized society for murderers, rapists, extortionists, paedophiles and other such characters. Our duty is to protect the law-abiding citizens. We have defeated the most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world. So, we consider ourself equal to the task of combating crime. It is now up to the under underworld figures to surrender to the police or face the consequences. In addition to other measures, we are also in the process of amending the laws to make child abuse and harassment against women grave crimes. We are preventing narcotics coming into this country. They are coming via sea mainly from Pakistan and Iran. We are an island nation so it is easy for anyone to get into a fishing craft and reach some big ships nearby and get the drugs unloaded to their vessels to bring them ashore. That disadvantage is there but even at this moment we are speaking, special operations are underway against drug smugglers. We are also planning to rehabilitate addicts instead of jailing. We have found that 40 percent of criminals are drug addicts. Addicts should be rehabilitated and reintegrated into society. They must not be kept with other prisoners.”

Memories of war

Rear Admiral Weerasekera recalled how he volunteered to lead a rescue mission to land Army commandos in LTTE controlled Pooneryin in broad daylight with minimum casualties and to rescue some 400 soldiers surrounded by the LTTE – a mission that earned him the Rana Sura medal.

“I also recall my removal from the Eastern Command and being brought to Colombo for defying the LTTE in Trincomalee after they bombed a Buddha statue,” he said.

Following the UNF government’s signing of the peace accord with the LTTE, the terrorists were given full freedom to enter any Army and Navy camp, but Admiral Weerasekera never allowed LTTE to enter Mandativu Island when he was the Northern Commander. He also never allowed LTTE cadres to come in, wearing the cyanide capsule. Soon, he was branded an “anti-peace element. “In 2003, I was the Commander Eastern Naval Area and the peace process was in progress in favour of the LTTE. The Sinhalese in Trinco wanted to replace a small Buddha statue in the town with a large one to mark the Vesak Day, but the LTTE protested and called a hartal. All shops and fuel stations were closed and public transport was stopped. They hurled grenades at the Buddha statue. I was in charge of the sea. The army and the police could not act because they had been ordered not to confront the LTTE. I waited for three days to see whether the ground forces would do something. On the third day I, on my own initiative, took charge of the situation and deployed Navy personnel in the town placed guards around the statue challenging the LTTE to come out. None came and owners opened their shops and buses started to operate and people plied their trades. The following day, at the demand of the LTTE, the then President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga removed me from the Eastern Naval Commander post, and brought me to Colombo.”

ISIS threat

Rear Admiral said the public should remain vigilant as the ISIS threat was still there. “This is the biggest threat against national security at the moment. The fight with the LTTE was easy for it was not hard to identify the enemy. Here in this case, we are fighting with an ideology.

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News

Current El Niño Status in Sri Lanka

Published

8 hours ago

2026/07/16

Priyan

At present, El Niño conditions have developed and are classified as being at a weak level. Forecasts indicate a 63% probability of a very strong El Niño event developing during the period from November 2026 to January 2027. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there is approximately a one-third probability that El Niño will remain below a very strong intensity.

Typical Climatic Conditions Associated with El Niño
Based on analyses of past El Niño events that occurred between 1950 and 2025:
• Rainfall during July and August may be below normal, particularly in the dry zone areas.
• From October onward, rainfall is generally expected to be above normal.
• If a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) develops, enhanced rainfall conditions may continue until December.

Sectors Requiring Attention
• Appropriate measures should be taken for water resource management during July and August.
• Increased rainfall expected from October onward may lead to floods and landslides, requiring preparedness and close monitoring. The forecasts are important for sectors such as, Agriculture /Water management /Livestock /Health /Energy /Other climate-sensitive sectors
• Attention should be paid to official information issued by the Department of Meteorology.

Actions by the Department of Meteorology
The Department of Meteorology continuously monitors the evolving situation and issues:
• Weekly and monthly seasonal forecasts and Monthly analyses of rainfall data to monitor meteorological drought conditions.
As weather conditions are influenced not only by El Niño but also by other climatic factors, updated forecasts and advisories are regularly shared with relevant stakeholder organizations (Irrigation/ Water Management Committee /Department of Agriculture/National Building Research Institute/Disaster Management Centre (DMC)/Ministry of Health /Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation…etc). The Department also provides technical support to the committee established through a Cabinet decision to address climate-related impacts. The Department’s monthly rainfall outlook for July to September 2026 is attached

Monthly Rainfall Forecasts for July, August and September 2026
Month Rainfall forecast
July 2026

During July 2026, there is a higher probability of having near normal rainfall across most parts of the Western and Southern Provinces. The remainder of the country is expected to experience below normal rainfall.

August 2026

There is a higher probability of having below normal rainfall across most parts of the country during month of August 2026.

September 2026

There is a possibility of above-normal rainfall across most parts of the Western and Southern Provinces, while near-normal rainfall is expected in the Sabaragamuwa Province. Below-normal rainfall is likely in the remaining areas during September 2026.

Note: These long-range forecasts may change due to strong day-to-day atmospheric variability associated with the movement of weather systems such as atmospheric disturbances, low-pressure areas, and depressions, as well as intra-seasonal oscillations such as the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO). Therefore, in addition to the weekly and monthly forecasts, it is important to pay attention to the Department’s official announcements, weather advisories and warnings, as well as the daily weather forecasts issued by the Department of Meteorology.

News

Govt. move to extend retirement ages of top judges: Opp. complains to UN

Published

9 hours ago

2026/07/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Prof. Peiris addresses the media outside the UN compound in Colombo on Thursday on the controversial government move to extend the retirement ages of Superior Court judges, while former MPs Thalatha Atukorale, Dr Suren Raghavan and Premanath C. Dolawatta look on.

Former External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday (15) briefed the UN Resident Coordinator in Colombo, Marc-André Franche, on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s move to extend the retirement ages of the superior court judges and the delay in filling the vacancies in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

Prof. Peiris, the convenor of the People’s Joint Opposition, led the delegation that included UNP General Secretary and former Minister Thalatha Atukorale, former UPFA National List parliamentarian Suren Raghavan and ex- SLPP MP Premnath C. Dolawatta.

Having met the top official here, Prof. Peiris briefed the media on their decision to bring the developing situation to the notice of the UN.

Referring to the opposition of the legal fraternity to the NPP government’s plan, Prof. Peiris emphasised that the civil society, too, had opposed the politically motivated initiative.

Prof. Peiris said that instead of addressing the burning issues affecting the public, the government was creating new problems.

News

Dengue surge pushes hospitals to the brink as cases near 70,000

Published

9 hours ago

2026/07/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

A week-long crackdown to begin in 11 districts

Hospitals are coming under mounting pressure as the country’s dengue epidemic gathers pace, with nearly 70,000 infections and 48 deaths reported so far this year, prompting health authorities to launch an intensive week-long mosquito control campaign in 11 districts.

The National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) said 69,951 dengue cases had been reported by July 13, with 14,572 new infections recorded during the first 13 days of July alone. June saw the highest monthly caseload of the year, underlining the rapid spread of the mosquito-borne disease during the southwest monsoon.

Acting Director of the NDCU, Dr. Kapila Kannangara, warned that the hospital system was facing severe congestion due to the unprecedented influx of dengue patients.

“We are seeing an alarming increase in admissions. Hospitals are under tremendous pressure, and public cooperation is essential to bring the outbreak under control,” he said, announcing that a special one-week dengue control programme would be implemented across 11 high-risk districts.

Health authorities have identified 175 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) divisions as high-risk dengue zones. Public Health Inspectors will conduct inspections, eliminate mosquito breeding sites and initiate legal action against those maintaining mosquito-infested premises.

The Western Province continues to account for the largest share of infections, with Gampaha and Colombo among the worst-affected districts. Several hospitals are already operating beyond capacity as the number of admissions continues to climb.

Health officials attributed the surge to intermittent rains, poor waste disposal, stagnant water collections and inadequate community participation in vector control programmes.

The Ministry of Health has appealed to local authorities, schools, workplaces, religious institutions and households to inspect their premises regularly, clear blocked drains and roof gutters, cover water storage containers and remove discarded tyres, cans, bottles and other containers capable of collecting rainwater.

Medical experts urged the public not to ignore symptoms such as persistent fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, vomiting, abdominal pain and bleeding manifestations, stressing that early medical treatment is critical in preventing severe dengue and deaths.

Officials emphasised that eliminating mosquito breeding sites remains the single most effective way of controlling dengue, warning that unless communities actively participate, the outbreak could worsen during the ongoing rainy season.

With daily case numbers continuing to rise and hospitals struggling to cope, health authorities said the coming weeks would be crucial in determining whether the country can curb one of its worst dengue outbreaks in recent years.

By Ifham Nizam