News
Appeals Court petitioned to prevent closure of probes into Mahara prison riot that resulted 11 inmate deaths
By A.J.A. Abeynayake
A petition has been filed in the Court of Appeal seeking to quash a letter issued by the Attorney General to the CID instructing the latter to close the investigation into the deaths of 11 prisoners during a violent clash at Mahara Prison in November 2020.
The petition was filed by Menuwara Gedara Lasanthi, the wife of Sampath Pushpakumara, one of the prisoners who died in the clash.
In her petition, Lasanthi has named the Attorney General, the Director of the CID, and the Magistrate of Welisara as respondents.
The petition claims that the tragic incident on Nov 29, 2020 resulted in the deaths of 11 prisoners after gunshots were fired during a confrontation at Mahara Prison. Following a post-mortem inquiry, the Welisara Magistrate’s Court classified the deaths as criminal and ordered the CID to arrest the suspects and present them in court.
However, the petitioner alleges that the Attorney General has sent a letter to the CID instructing them to close the investigation and file the case, effectively halting any further legal proceedings. The petitioner argues that, despite claims from prison authorities that minimum force was used to control the incident, the wounds sustained by the deceased prisoners from gunfire indicate that humane methods were not employed to manage the unrest. This, according to the Magistrate’s ruling, suggests that the situation was mishandled.
The petition further challenges the Attorney General’s decision to close the case prior to the completion of the non-summary inquiry, which the petitioner claims violates legal procedures. According to the Criminal Procedure Code, the Attorney General has the authority to make decisions regarding ongoing cases, but the petition argues that such a decision should only be made after all relevant legal processes have been completed.
The petitioner has requested that the Court of Appeal issue a writ order to nullify the Attorney General’s instruction to close the investigation, asserting that this decision undermines the Attorney General’s responsibility to uphold legal authority. Additionally, the petitioner is seeking a writ of mandamus directing the CID and the Attorney General to resume the investigation into the deaths of the prisoners involved in the Mahara prison riot.
The Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development has recommended the establishment of Sri Lankan Standards, i.e. the import testing methodology for imported tires used for passenger cars and pneumatic tires for three-wheelers with the aim of ensuring a fair competitive environment for local
manufactures and ensuring consumer safety and security.
Taking into the said recommendations, “Import and Export (control regulations N0.08 of the 2026)” has been enacted to amend the existing regulations by means of the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2508/27 dated 2026-10-01, prescribing Sri Lanka standard 1212 for the import of passenger types (HS Code 4011.10.90) and Sri Lanka standard 1347 for the import of
pneumatic tires for three – wheeled vehicles (HS Code 4011.90.10).
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to submit the aforementioned regulations to Parliament for approval.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 02.06.2025 to introduce a new act to promote and providing legal provisions for facilitating the Public Private Joint Enterprises within Sri Lanka as well as the establishment of the National Agency for Public Private Partnership Joint Enterprises.
Accordingly, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the relevant draft bill and the Attorney General has given his clearance to the said draft bill.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to publish the said
draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby submit it to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Regulation, development and control of indigenous medical sector in Sri Lanka comprised of Ayurvedha, Sidhdha, Unani, Local Therapies are carried out under the provisions of Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961.
Although amendments were made to the act from time to time as per the requirements, the necessity of further amending the Ayurvedha Act has been identified to enable efficiently maintaining all activities of local medical field productively, further formalizing the regulation of the sector, taking actions to providing licenses applicable to export of local medicines, and achieving the progress and sustainable development goals in the local medical sector.
Based on the said factors, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to direct the Legal Draftsman to formulate a draft bill to amend the Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961.
Import and Export (Control) Regulations No. 08 of 2026
Draft Bill of the Public Private Partnership Enterprises Act to be gazzetted
Amendment of the Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961
Cabinet nod to amend the Sri Lanka Development Administration Institute Act No. 9 of 1982
Establishment of the National Higher Performance Centre
State patronage for the cremation ceremony of the late deputy prelate (Anu Nayaka Thero) of the Sri Laka Ramangya Maha Nikaya, Gatambe Rajopawanramadhipatha, Siri Chandawimala Wanshalankara, Chandrakeerthi Sri Amarawansha, Sadhdharmawageeshwara, Shasanashobhanna Most Venerable Keppetiyagoda Siriwimalabhidhana Thero
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