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.”
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill to amend the State Mortgage and Investment Bank Law No. 13 of 1975
By Cabinet decision dated 2025-12-01, policy approval was granted to amend the definition of the term “animal” in the Animals Act No. 29 of 1958 by including, pigs, goats, and sheep, in addition to cattle and buffaloes, within the interpretation section of the act.
In accordance with the said approval, the Legal Draftsman has drafted an Amended Bill in all three languages, and the clearance of the Attorney General has also been obtained.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the
resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation to publish the draft Amendment Bill in the Government Gazette and thereafter to submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
News
Cabinet approves establishment of a ‘Trust’ to carry out the management of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
The Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre, comprising 11 floors, has been constructed with the assistance of the Government of India with the objective of serving as a hub for cultural activities in Sri Lanka and expanding bilateral cooperation for the promotion, preservation, and fostering the cultural heritage of Jaffna.
In accordance with the approval granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 2022-02-21, a Joint Management Committee has been appointed to make decisions relating to the affairs of the said cultural centre, in terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed for the operation of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre.
According to the provisions of the aforementioned MOU, upon completion of the construction of the project, the cultural centre should be transferred to the Jaffna Municipal Council through the Government of Sri Lanka.
Following such transfer, the relevant parties have reached an agreement to establish a ‘trust’ for carrying out the management activities of the centre. The Attorney General’s clearance has been received for the draft trust deed prepared for that purpose.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to establish the trust to continue the management activities of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
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Eshan Malinga keeps getting them in the second half
State Mortgage and Investment Bank Law No. 13 of 1975 to be amended
Animals Act No. 29 of 1958 amended
Cabinet approves establishment of a ‘Trust’ to carry out the management of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
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