News

Destruction to its natural habitat traps 15 Western Purple-faced Langurs

Published

5 years ago

2021/07/18

Sahan Weerasooriya

In the Karadiyana natural wetlands

By Ifham Nizam

Fifteen Western Purple-faced Langurs have been trapped in the Karadiyana natural wetlands due to the ongoing destruction to its natural habitat by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLD), researchers pointed out.

In 2020, some 337 animals were brought to the wildlife rehabilitation and healthcare centre in Attidiya. However, 270 of them perished especially due to loss of habitat.

Adjoining a river, a mangrove associated marshland of about 17 acres of wetlands have been excavated to create islets without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) by SLLD, the researchers claimed.

At present, what is left of this valuable wetland area is only about five acres. Most of the endemic and other species that lived there have either declined or had completely disappeared, wildlife experts said.

“The SLLDC not only destroys the serene environment but also wastes large amount of public money to excavate these wetlands”, a researcher pointed out.

Environmentalists strongly believe that it is high time the government called for an investigation into this rape of biodiversity

Wetlands in and around Colombo are intrinsically connected with the well-being of the city and its people. Not only do they play an important role in flood control, air purification, temperature control, food and medicine, the sense of peace and calm that this natural world offers is key to the mental well-being of humans, it has been pointed out.

Wetlands have a unique and rich biodiversity. The wetlands in and around Colombo are home to over 150 species of birds, 44 species of reptiles and 31 species of freshwater fish.

The survival of the two types of blind eels and the Horadandiya, the smallest freshwater fish in Sri Lanka found only on the western strip depends on the proaqtection of these wetlands. Gradual destruction of the wetlands has already resulted in endangering the survival of blind eels, and the other species are also close to being listed as ‘endangered’.

Of the 22 mammals that inhabit the wetlands, the purple-faced langur (purple-faced leaf monkey) and the fishing cat are on the endangered list. The purple-faced languris are listed in the IUCN’s (The International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List as one of the 448 species of monkeys in the world, and is also in the list of the 25 monkey species that are in the critically endangered list, facing extinction.

Established to reclaim and develop marshy and low-lying areas among other functions, the SLLDC has systematically destroyed and continues to threaten the survival of the biodiversity of the wetlands by excavating to enlarge waterways and boundaries, build roads, uproot trees, and play around with the natural boundaries of the wetlands, which further destroy habitats of many other species, environmentalists asserted.

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Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

7 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

News

Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

7 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

7 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.