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Devananda granted bail

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Former Minister Douglas Devananda, who was arrested and remanded in connection with a firearms-related investigation, was granted bail by the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court yesterday.After being produced before Gampaha Magistrate Shilani Perera, Devananda was released on two personal bonds of Rs. 2 million each. The court ordered that the sureties must be two close relatives of the former Minister, and also imposed an overseas travel ban.

The case has been fixed for further hearing on 27 March.

A legal team representing Devananda, including President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris, appeared on his behalf.

Devananda was initially arrested by the CID on 26 December and produced before the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court, which ordered that he be remanded until 09 January, 2026. On 30 December, he was admitted to the Mahara Prison Hospital on medical advice after an assessment of his health condition.

The former Minister was taken into custody in connection with an incident in which his personal firearm had allegedly fallen into the possession of members of an organised criminal gang.

According to police, investigations revealed that a firearm issued to Devananda by the Sri Lanka Army for his personal use in 2001 was recovered following the interrogation of organised criminal figure ‘Makandure Madush’ in 2019. Subsequent verification of the weapon’s serial number confirmed that it had been issued to the former Minister.

The pistol was later found concealed in a forested area near a culvert in Weliweriya, police said.

Following these developments, the CID obtained a 72-hour detention order to question Devananda further. Police also said investigations are continuing into an additional 19 firearms that had reportedly been issued to him by the Army.



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Members of the National Student Parliament meet PM

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Members of the National Student Parliament met Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Monday [02nd of February] at Temple Trees.

The representatives of the National Student Parliament, representing schools from across the island, visited the Temple Trees following their visit to the Presidential Secretariat and the Parliament.

Expressing her views on the occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated,

“The new education reforms were recently initiated starting from Grade One. Discussions are currently underway to include students entering Grade Six this year into the new education reform process in the future. The education reforms will not be halted, and the government is committed to implementing them in a systematic manner without shortcomings”.

She further noted that the reforms are being carried out under five main pillars, with the government’s key objective being to reduce disparities and provide children with quality education, while also nurturing a socially responsible community enriched with human values such as compassion, love for the environment, and a strong sense of civic responsibility.

The occasion was attended by the Deputy Director of Education Kasun Gunarathne, along with officials from the Ministry of Education and representatives of the National Student Parliament.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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Mrs. I.J. Aberathne appointed Director General of the Department of Trade and Investment Policy

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, to appoint Mrs. I.J. Aberathne to the post of Director General of the Department of Trade and Investment Policy with immediate effect.

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Cabinet gives green light to provide equipment for the promotion of Aesthetic Education in schools

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Although the teaching of art subjects such as music, dance, art, and drama under aesthetic education continues in the Sri Lankan school system, it has been observed that there is a severe shortage of equipment required for this purpose in many schools. Furthermore, a situation concerning the lack of modern equipment suitable for the needs of the children has also arisen, and it has been reported that most equipment available at present is outdated and dilapidated. It has been observed that this condition has an adverse effect on the quality of the aesthetic education and overall personality development of the children.

Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the Prime Minister in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education to implement a project for supplying aesthetic equipment for the promotion of aesthetic education in schools under an estimated cost of Rs. 1,215 million during the period of 2026 to 2028.

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