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Army to provide assistance to families of victims

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Fox Hill tragedy:

By Norman Palihawadane

Army Commander Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage  has ordered that assistance be provided to the families of those who were killed and injured at the Fox Hill Supercross 2024.

Army spokesman Maj Gen Rajitha Kumara told The Island yesterday compensation would be paid by a private company that organised the event and the Army would bear the logistics and costs of the funerals of those who were killed.

Seven persons, including a child, were killed, while 23 others were injured, following a tragic accident during the “Fox Hill Supercross 2024” racing event held at Diyatalawa on Sunday (21).

Among the dead were four officials of the racing event who were stationed as flag marshals. The other victims were civilian spectators, as reported by the police.

The deceased were identified as follows:  Shivakumar Dhanushika (8); Muththusamy Udayakumar (55), a resident of Welimada; Chamath Niroshan (19), a resident of Seeduwa; Ashen Heenatigala (20), a resident of Akuressa; Rasika Abeynaike (32),  Aruna Shantha Upaligamage (62), a resident of Matara; and Ganesh Kamalanath, also of Matara.

Rasika Abeynaike, a member of the Sri Lanka Army rugby team and stationed at the Salawa Army Camp, in Kosgama, was attending the racing event as a spectator while on leave. Abeynaike, who completed his education at Embilipitiya Maha Vidyalaya, and joined the Army Engineer Corps, was scheduled to be transferred to the Udawalawa Army Camp on the day following the incident. His final rites are to be performed at Galaha, Kandy, as per family sources.

Two other victims of the tragic accident, Ganesh Kamalanath and Aruna Shantha, both from the Matara area, and close friends, were fathers of three and two children, respectively.

Ashen Heenatigala from Akuressa in Matara, had recently sat for the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination in the Mathematics stream and was awaiting results.

All three were past pupils of Rahula College, Matara, police said

Police Media Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said that the accident had occurred when a race car veered off the race track and collided with a group of spectators.

The “Fox Hill Supercross 2024” racing event has now been temporarily suspended, police said.

The two drivers of the racing cars, involved in Sunday’s accident, were arrested while undergoing treatment in hospital.

Diyatalawa Police are conducting further investigations regarding the incident. Meanwhile, the Army has launched a separate internal investigation regarding the incident.

The 28th edition of the ‘Fox Hill Super Cross’, organised by the Military Academy Diyatalawa with the support of Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS), kicked off at Diyatalawa on Sunday (21), after a hiatus of 05 years. The last event was also suspended midway due to the Easter Sunday terror attacks on April 21, 2019.



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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura

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The National Building Research Institute has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura from 16:00 hrs on 25.09.2026 To 16:00 hrs on 26.09.2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Neluwa, Nagoda, Niyagama and Thawalama inthe Galle district, Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa and Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, and  Kothmale West, Ambagamuwa, Kotmale East and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district.

LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Elpitiya, Baddegama and Karandeniya in the Galle district, Walallawita in the Kalutara district, Deltota, Udunuwara, Gangawata Korale, Yatinuwara and Panvila in the Kandy district, Aranayake, Dehiowita, Mawanella, Deraniyagala and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district, Thalawakelle in the Nuwara Eliya district and Ratnapura and  Pelmadulla in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colombo district, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Katuwana and Walasmulla in the Hambanthota district, Ingiriya and Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara district, Hatharaliyadda, Poojapitiya, Medadumbara, Kundasale, Ududumbara, Thumpane, Akurana, Pathadumbara, Harispattuwa and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Warakapola, Bulathkohupitiya, Galigamuwa, Kegalle and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Polgahawela and Mawathagama  in the Kegalle district, Pitabeddara,  Kotapola and  Pasgoda  in the Matara district, Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district and Elapatha, Ayagama, Nivithigala, Kuruwita and Kalawana in the Ratnapura district

 

 

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22A, Judicature Amendment Bills passed with 2/3 majority

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Parliament yesterday passed the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill with two-thirds majorities, with 158 MPs voting in favour and 63 against each Bill.

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) voted with the SJB against the Bills.

NDF MPs Ravi Karunanayake and Faizer Musthapha and SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka were not present when the votes were taken.

The final vote on the Judicature (Amendment) Bill was announced at around 8.08 p.m. after Opposition MPs called for divisions on its clauses during the Committee Stage.

The votes followed a two-day debate which commenced on Thursday (24), after Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the Bills for their Second Reading.

The Supreme Court’s determination on the Bills was presented to Parliament on Tuesday (22) by Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne. The Court determined that the 22nd Amendment Bill did not require approval at a referendum and could be passed by a special two-thirds majority in Parliament.

The amendment provides for raising the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and that of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. It also provides for the Chief Justice to retire at 67 or after completing six years in office, whichever comes earlier.

The Speaker informed Parliament that the Judicature (Amendment) Bill could be passed by a simple majority.

The SJB opposed the legislation and its MPs attended Parliament dressed in black yesterday. The party also staged a protest at Polduwa Junction, Battaramulla, under the theme “No to 22, which destroys democracy”, with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several SJB politicians participating.

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TIN mandatory for key transactions from Nov. 1

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A valid Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Certificate will be required for a range of key transactions in Sri Lanka from November 1, 2026, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has announced.

The requirement, introduced under the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act, No. 11 of 2026, applies to transactions specified under Section 102(3) of the Inland Revenue Act.

Accordingly, individuals will be required to produce a valid TIN Certificate when opening an account at a bank or financial institution, obtaining approval for a building plan, registering or renewing the licence of a motor vehicle, registering land or title to land, registering a business, transferring shares in a company incorporated in Sri Lanka or obtaining a credit card.

In the case of share transfers, both the transferor and transferee will be required to provide TIN certificates.

The IRD said officials handling such transactions had been instructed to ensure that a valid TIN Certificate was submitted before processing or completing the relevant transaction.

The Department advised those who do not already have a TIN to obtain one in advance through its e-Services platform.

It said a printout of the TIN verification result showing the applicant’s National Identity Card number and TIN could also be accepted instead of the certificate.The IRD also reiterated that obtaining a TIN is mandatory for resident individuals aged 18 and above under the applicable provisions.

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