A two-year-old elephant calf was killed in a collision with a truck on the Anuradhapura–Padeniya road in the Galgamuwa Mee Oya area.A herd of elephants, returning to the Teak Reserve after nighttime foraging, attempted to cross the road near the Galgamuwa bridge in the Alikele area—an identified elephant crossing point—when the lorry, travelling from Padeniya to Anuradhapura, struck the calf, killing it instantly.

Two people were in the lorry at the time. Local residents said the vehicle had fled the scene after the collision. The calf was later seen lying in the middle of the road, raising concerns among motorists.

Officials from the Galgamuwa Wildlife Officer’s Office have launched an investigation into the incident. Authorities reiterated warnings for motorists to exercise extreme caution when driving through known elephant corridors, especially at night.

Former Minister Douglas Devananda, who was arrested and remanded in connection with a firearms-related investigation, was granted bail by the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court yesterday.After being produced before Gampaha Magistrate Shilani Perera, Devananda was released on two personal bonds of Rs. 2 million each. The court ordered that the sureties must be two close relatives of the former Minister, and also imposed an overseas travel ban.

The case has been fixed for further hearing on 27 March.

A legal team representing Devananda, including President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris, appeared on his behalf.

Devananda was initially arrested by the CID on 26 December and produced before the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court, which ordered that he be remanded until 09 January, 2026. On 30 December, he was admitted to the Mahara Prison Hospital on medical advice after an assessment of his health condition.

The former Minister was taken into custody in connection with an incident in which his personal firearm had allegedly fallen into the possession of members of an organised criminal gang.

According to police, investigations revealed that a firearm issued to Devananda by the Sri Lanka Army for his personal use in 2001 was recovered following the interrogation of organised criminal figure ‘Makandure Madush’ in 2019. Subsequent verification of the weapon’s serial number confirmed that it had been issued to the former Minister.

The pistol was later found concealed in a forested area near a culvert in Weliweriya, police said.

Following these developments, the CID obtained a 72-hour detention order to question Devananda further. Police also said investigations are continuing into an additional 19 firearms that had reportedly been issued to him by the Army.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that a decision and statement made by the Speaker amounted to a violation of the Constitution and the sovereignty of the people. Speaking in reply to the Speaker’s ruling in Parliament, he emphasised the democratic principles of separation of powers and the system of checks and balances among the executive, legislature, and judiciary, all of which derive authority from the people.

The Opposition Leader said Parliament had a constitutional responsibility to safeguard people’s sovereignty and stressed that bodies such as the Constitutional Council were established to strengthen checks and balances and protect the independence of the judiciary.

Premadasa noted that calls for a parliamentary committee were intended to promote and safeguard judicial independence.

The Opposition Leader asserted that the Speaker’s decision constituted a fundamental breach of the Constitution and a violation of the people’s sovereignty as well as their fundamental and human rights.

His comments come in response to Speaker of Parliament Jagath Wickramaratne’s delivery of a ruling under Standing Order 27(3), declaring out of order a motion submitted by 31 Members of Parliament to appoint a Select Committee to examine the powers of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).