News
Chief Whip asks Opposition to learn from other countries and cooperate with govt. in Easter Sunday probe
Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday said that the Opposition Leader and his group in the SJB should learn from the examples of their counterparts in other democracies and support the investigations into the Easter Sunday carnage instead of acting like a headless chicken.
Addressing the media after attending a meeting to review the measures in place against Covid-19 in the Kurunegala District at Wilgoda SLPP office, the Minister said that Opposition parties in other countries had placed the national interests above their petty party agendas and politics.
“This could be seen in all other democracies. But take a look at our Opposition; it only looks for opportunities to raise wild allegations as regards the ongoing investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks. They are now protesting against the arrest of Rishad Bathiudeen.”
Fernando asked people to recall how the same political leaders had scoffed at the military operations during the time of the war, thinking that the LTTE was invincible. It is the very same people now demanding the release of Bathiudeen. The Opposition Leader and his men should be ashamed of their behaviour. The Easter Sunday carnage happened due to their blunders, and now they are trying to derail the ongoing investigations. Recently, religious and civil organisations got exposed for trying to drag Catholic people into their protests. Don’t they have an iota of concern for the national security of this country?”
He had called on numerous occasions, both in and outside Parliament, on the Opposition to support the government at least in the Easter Sunday carnage investigations, Minister Fernando said. “We extended our hand in good faith, but there seems to be no way we can knock some sense into the Opposition.
“We have let the law take its own course. There could be more arrests. That is up to the law enforcing agencies and investigators to decide whom to be arrested. Those guilty and responsible for the heinous crime will have to be punished. The government does not operate on the laws of Ranjan Ramanayake or Sajith Premadasa. Investigations were never this fast. What happened to the commission reports on the killings of Lalith Athulathmudali and Gen. Denzil Kobbekaduwa?” the Minister queried.
Fernando said that the yahapalana government had sacrificed the lives of people to maintain their electoral base. “It seems that our Opposition leader is ready to sacrifice even the lives of all the people in this country to get at the power to rule it.”
The Sri Lanka Navy rescued a fisherman from a local fishing trawler that encountered distress due to adverse weather conditions off the eastern coast of Sri Lanka.
The rescue operation took place on 17 July 2026, approximately 15 nautical miles off Pothuvil. The operation was launched following information received by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo.
In response, the Sri Lanka Navy deployed the Offshore Patrol Vessel SLNS Vijayabahu along with additional craft to conduct a search operation in the designated sea area, where they successfully located the distressed fisherman.
Following the rescue, the individual was brought aboard SLNS Vijayabahu, where naval personnel administered preliminary first aid. He was subsequently brought to the mainland and rushed for further medical attention.
Meanwhile, the Navy, along with the coordination of MRCC Colombo, remains constantly prepared to swiftly respond to the eventualities faced by maritime and fishing communities operating within the island’s Search and Rescue Region (SRR).
The countrywide dengue outbreak has intensified, with the death toll rising to 50, by July 16, as the number of reported infections surpassed 73,000, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).
The country has recorded 73,455 dengue cases so far this year, with the case fatality rate standing at 0.07 percent, highlighting the severity of the ongoing outbreak.
The Western Province continues to remain the worst affected region, accounting for more than half of the total cases, with 38,700 infections. The Gampaha District has recorded the highest number of cases in the province with 15,341, followed closely by Colombo with 14,625.
The Southern Province has reported 11,382 cases, while the Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces have each recorded more than 6,000 infections.
Dengue cases have shown a sharp increase in recent months, with June recording the highest monthly total of 21,538 cases, while July has already reported 18,076 infections. In comparison, 8,590 cases were reported in May, and 5,651 in April.
Health authorities have identified 175 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas as high-risk locations during the 27th epidemiological week. An average of 2,677 new dengue cases are being reported daily, prompting authorities to intensify prevention and mosquito control measures.
The Colombo High Court yesterday (17) resumed hearing the money laundering case filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The proceedings were held before High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga, where evidence was recorded from prosecution witnesses, under the direction of Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara.
President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing for Yoshitha Rajapaksa, cross-examined the witnesses during the hearing.
After recording evidence, the court ordered that further examination of evidence be postponed until July 24.
The Attorney General has filed indictments, alleging that Yoshitha Rajapaksa committed an offence, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, by purchasing five plots of land in Dehiwala and Ratmalana, valued at more than Rs. 73 million.
Davis cup Asia/Oceania Group IV 2026 to be held in Colombo from 20th to 25th July
Navy brings fisherman in distress off Pothuvil, ashore
Malinga, Asalanka seal Galle Gallants win in LPL opener
Showers may occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts
Dengue outbreak gallops ahead: Infections surpasses 73,455, leaving 50 dead
Evidence recorded in money laundering case against Yoshitha Rajapaksa
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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