News
Environmentalists to move SC against return of 14 elephants to those who kept them previously
By Ifham Nizam
Environmentalists backed by Ven. Omalpe Sobitha said yesterday they would appeal against the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court order that 14 elephant calves taken into protective custody by the Wildlife Department, alleging illegal capture, be retunred to those who previously kept them.
They said they would do so to prevent a grave injustice being caused to the elephants.
Naturalist Sajeewa Chamikara alleged that order had come from none other than President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, when The Island queried whether the matter was taken up with President and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Rally for Animal Rights and Environment (RARE) Communication Coordinator, Panchali Panapitiya all 14 elephants were now juveniles and the sheer brutality and force that woudl be used to “tame” them was unthinkable. She said among the elephants to be returned was an animal which was gifted by then President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the previous Rajapaksa government. The elephant was later voluntarily handed over to the Pinnawala Orphanage.
The other elephants are owned by Dishan Wickremaratna – Matara, Waruna Kannangara – Horana, Chathuranga Weerasinghe – Alawwa, S.N. Roshan – Pannipitiya, Kamal Kithsiri – Kottawa, Samantha Wijemanna – Amithirigala, Buddhika Deshapriya – Hingula, Chief incumbent of Sri Sambodhi Viharaya – Colombo 7, Ajith Siri Kumara – Hokandara, Hasanthi Champika Karunaratna – Ganegoda and Bharatha Amaratunga – Meegoda.
Nature lovers Rukshan Jayawardene, Dr. Jagath Gunawardana, Sajeewa Chamikara, Hemantha Withanage, Supun Lahiru Prakash, Ravindranath Dabare, Nayanaka Ranwella and many other veteran conservationists and activists also expressed concern about the government’s plan.
Hemantha Withanage of Centre for Environmental Justice said that a recent gazette notification which enabled persons to seek fresh registration of elephants held with them had been cited.
Environmental Lawyer Dr. Jagath Gunawardena said that the particular gazette notification had been issued only recently but made applicable to cases filed earlier.
News
Cabinet approves transfer and maintenance of selected roads presently under PC’s and Local Authorities to the RDA
Considering the proposals forwarded by the District Coordination Committees, approval has been granted at the cabinet meeting held on 20-07-2026 to appoint a committee under the chairmanship of an Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to take further steps and submit recommendations regarding taking over the roads that do not belong to the Road Development Authority and are currently maintained under Provincial Councils or Local Government Institutes.
Taking into account the recommendations submitted by the aforementioned committee, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to take further steps for upgrading the said roads and to declare them as national highways, after examining fundamental qualifications, technical potential, and relevant criteria.
News
Obtaining financial facilities for the Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Program (Sub-program 2) from the ADB
The Cabinet has approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to enter into an agreement with the Asian Development Bank to obtain the policy-based
financial facility of US$ 50 million provided by the Regular General Capital Resources and US$ 50 million provided by the Concessional General Capital Resources of the Asian Development Bank for the Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Program (Sub-program 2)
A special delegation led by Deokuju Jung, President of the Korean Volunteer Association for Distinguished Service to the State, met Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (12) afternoon .
The discussions focused extensively on welfare programmes the association expects to implement in Sri Lanka and the support it hopes to obtain from the Government of Sri Lanka for these initiatives.
Attention was also given to the proposed implementation of a comprehensive programme in collaboration with the Government to support children with special needs in Sri Lanka.
The meeting was also attended by Ven. Wanawasi Rahula Thero, Founder of Namal Uyana and Chief Incumbent of the Namal Uyana Forest Monastery, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage and Korean Volunteer Association representatives Jungsun Choi, Junyoon Lim, Chaeeun Kim and Wonwook Choi.
[President’s Media Division]
Cabinet approves transfer and maintenance of selected roads presently under PC’s and Local Authorities to the RDA
Obtaining financial facilities for the Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Program (Sub-program 2) from the ADB
Delegation from Korean Volunteer Association meet Secretary to the President
Imran Khan’s PTI braces to fight federal takeover of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Nissanka’s return headlines Sri Lanka’s Test squad against Pakistan
HRCSL issues recommendation on seizure of four books by B. Piratheepan by Sri Lanka Customs
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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