News
Church opposes move to make key officer blamed for failing to prevent Easter carnage next IGP
By Norman Palihawadane
The Catholic Church yesterday protested against an alleged government move to promote Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena, faulted by a special presidential commission of inquiry for his failure to prevent the Easter Sunday carnage, in 2019, to the post of IGP.
Rev. Cyril Gamini, Spokesman for Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, addressing the media, in Colombo, said that Jayawardena should be held responsible for failure to prevent the deaths of about 270 persons in the Easter Sunday bombings.
“We condemn the move to appoint him the IGP despite his dereliction of duties. This is a betrayal of all Sri Lankans seeking justice. This is an act of treachery against those who perished in the carnage and their relatives. This is an insult to Catholics and Christians,” Rev. Gamini said.
“It is also clear that the incumbent government, led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, is working according to a sinister plan to protect those responsible for the carnage and to hide the truth. Appointments of this nature only make a mockery of the rule of law.
This appointment would further tarnish the country’s image and would further isolate us internationally,” Rev Gamini said.
The Cardinal’s Spokesman said that the Presidential Commission of Inquiry, which probed the Easter Sunday terror attacks, had, in its report, identified Jayawardena as one of the persons who had failed to prevent the terrorist attacks. He had received warnings from local and foreign sources. But he deliberately shirked his duties. He also erased all data from the computers. The CoI further recommended action against Jayawardena under the provisions of the Penal Code. The government failed to hold a disciplinary inquiry and, instead, appointed him as the Kandy Senior DIG. He was later used as a State Witness against the former IGP and Defence Secretary. As reported by The Island newspaper yesterday (09), this person has now been promoted to the second highest rank in the Sri Lanka police,” Rev. Gamini said.
“We demand justice. We call on people to join us, condemning this sinister move. We abhor this move to hide the truth. We vehemently oppose this act of insult against Catholics and Christians.”
It has been reported that the former Superintendent of the Boossa Prison S Dhammika has been shot dead by an unidentified gunman in Akmeemana.
The Search and Rescue Communication Exercise (SARCOMEX-25) was successfully conducted on 11 Mar 25 between the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Chennai, India, and MRCC Colombo, Sri Lanka. The exercise aimed to further strengthen regional search and rescue (SAR) services and enhance coordination during maritime emergencies.
The exercise simulated two challenging maritime scenarios; a flooding emergency on board and a man overboard situation within the Sri Lankan and Indian Search and Rescue Regions.
These scenarios were designed to evaluate real-time communication, inter-agency cooperation, and the operational efficiency of both MRCCs.
The exercise provided a valuable platform to identify gaps in SAR plans and improve overall response mechanisms of both MRCCs.
The Prime Minister’s Office strongly condemns the fraudulent cryptocurrency scam advertisements currently being promoted on Facebook and Instagram, falsely featuring Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and other prominent Sri Lankan figures. These deceptive ads, operated by foreign entities, aim to mislead the public and exploit the trust associated with well-known personalities.
It has come to our attention that these scam campaigns, originating from fraudulent accounts based in Lithuania, are actively targeting Facebook users in Sri Lanka.
Similar ads have recently featured Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Minister of Science and Technology MP Chrishantha Abeysena, and well-known journalists Amantha Perera and Sunanda Deshapriya, as well as other Sri Lankan public figures in previous instances.
Public Advisory
We urge citizens to exercise extreme caution when encountering online advertisements promoting cryptocurrency investments, particularly those falsely claiming endorsements from government officials and public figures. No government official or ministry has endorsed any cryptocurrency investment scheme.
Additionally, despite reports and removal requests, variations of these scams continue to appear on social media platforms, highlighting serious concerns about the inability of Facebook to curb fraudulent advertising effectively. We call upon Meta (Facebook’s parent company) to take immediate and stronger action to prevent the spread of these deceptive campaigns and safeguard Sri Lankan users from financial fraud.
How to Protect Yourself:
• Do not engage with or click on suspicious ads claiming endorsements from public figures.
• Report fraudulent advertisements directly on Facebook and Instagram.
• Verify all financial opportunities through legitimate sources before investing.
The Prime Minister’s Office remains committed to protecting the public from online fraud and will continue working with relevant authorities to address this growing issue. We urge media organizations and digital platforms to act responsibly in curbing the spread of misinformation and scams.
For official government updates, please refer to the Prime Minister’s Office’s official website and social media channels.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Hotpot chain compensates diners after teenagers urinate in soup
Former Superintendent of Prisons [SP] shot dead
SARCOMEX-25 concludes strengthening regional SAR services
-
News6 days agoPrivate tuition, etc., for O/L students suspended until the end of exam
-
Features7 days agoShyam Selvadurai and his exploration of Yasodhara’s story
-
Editorial5 days agoRanil roasted in London
-
Latest News5 days agoS. Thomas’ beat Royal by five wickets in the 146th Battle of the Blues
-
News6 days agoTeachers’ union calls for action against late-night WhatsApp homework
-
Editorial7 days agoHeroes and villains
-
Features5 days agoThe JVP insurrection of 1971 as I saw it as GA Ampara
-
Opinion4 days agoInsulting SL armed forces