News

Do not burden Magistrates, but enhance office of Inquirers into Sudden Deaths on par with Presidents of LTs – NSC

Published

5 months ago

2025/10/7

The National Shoora Council (NSC), an apex body of Muslim civil society organisations in Sri Lanka has urged Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara not to overload the already overburdened judiciary with additional work related to inquests into sudden deaths currently handled mostly by Inquirers into Sudden Deaths (ISDs).

Presently only in instances of ‘reasonable suspicion of crime’ including criminal negligence, Magistrates are required under section 370(3) of the law relating to criminal procedure to handle inquests of deaths. That should remain, the NSC has said, but do not add the work of ISDs on to the Magistrates!

NSC’s letter to the Minister dated 5th October 2025, while welcoming the Justice Ministry efforts to streamline the country’s justice delivery system to be people friendly, less costly to the public and minimize the perennial problem of laws delays, has pointed out that some of the new proposals, if accepted, will contribute to laws’ delays. It will also make the process of releasing bodies through Courts much more costly to the grieving families.

Past records indicate that almost 99% of deaths though sudden, happen in the ordinary course of nature! It does not seem just or fair that these 99% should be subjected to the exceptional process of a magisterial inquiry and post mortems required without doubt for the less than 1% of the cases where crime is suspected!

Post mortems cost the government considerable additional sums of money and additional costs also to the grieving families. Dead human bodies are also entitled under international humanitarian laws and customary laws to respect and dignity. All religions too mandate dignified last rites to the dead!

We urge the government not to burden further the regular Courts of law but to enhance the office of the ISDs with facilities on par with the office of Presidents of Labour Tribunals, provide for higher educational qualifications for new recruits with fair emoluments.

As pledged by the government, changes to the existing laws should minimize delays, make the process less costly and the system, people friendly, the representations made by NSC President M. Zuhair PC and General Secretary Rasheed M Imthiyaz Attorney at Law have said.

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GMOA ups the ante, pulls out of ‘Arogya Clinics’

Published

1 min ago

2026/02/27

Thilina Walpola

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has decided to intensify its ongoing trade union action by withdrawing from participation in “Arogya Clinics” from next Monday (02).The association has been engaged in trade union action for over a month, calling for solutions to issues affecting medical officers.

Accordingly, the decision not to take part in the “Arogya Clinics” was taken by the GMOA’s Central Committee on the 25th, its committee member Dr. Prasad Colombage told The Island yesterday (26).

Dr. Colombage alleged that the government had launched around 50 Arogya Clinics countrywide based on political considerations, in addition to operating mobile clinics.

He further charged that neither the Minister of Health nor the government had so far made a meaningful intervention in response to the GMOA’s demands for solutions to the problems faced by government medical officers as well as issues in the health sector.

by Sujeewa Thathsara

News

CEB unions give govt. 24-hour ultimatum

Published

2 mins ago

2026/02/27

Thilina Walpola

Power sector trade unions yesterday (26) gave the government 24 hours to take steps to carry out the proposed restructuring of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) while safeguarding the rights of all employees.

Alleging that the government was attempting to restructure the CEB in an improper manner, the CEB unions staged a six-hour token strike from 12.00 noon to 6.00 p.m. yesterday.

The unions had earlier submitted a letter to the government outlining eight proposals to ensure a fair restructuring process, stating that the current restructuring plan would violate the rights of all employees.

A spokesman for the CEB trade unions told The Island yesterday that the 24-hour period would be the final opportunity granted to the government to ensure a fair restructuring, and that further decisions in this regard would be taken today (27).

by Sujeewa Thathsara

News

Confusion over this year’s Nekath Seettuwa

Published

3 mins ago

2026/02/27

Thilina Walpola

Several months have passed since the Sinhala New Year ‘Nekath Seettuwa’ (the table of auspicious times for this year’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year 2026) was submitted to the Department of Cultural Affairs for approval, but there has been no positive response from the officials, the Expert Committee of the National Astrologers’ Association says.

Ravishankha Senanayake, the National Coordinator of the association, told The Island yesterday (26) that the Nekath Seettuwa Committee had been dissolved in 2024. During discussions with the Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs regarding the approval of the Nekath Seettuwa, the association was instructed to prepare the table and consult with the Department of Cultural Affairs.

Following those instructions, the association prepared the Nekath Seettuwa for this year in July last year and submitted it to the Department of Cultural Affairs. However, Senanayake alleged that the officials of the department had neither held any discussions nor granted approval regarding the table.

He further stated that those wishing to use the Nekath Seettuwa—which has been prepared according to local traditions and ancient New Year customs, including auspicious times for the New Year, non-auspicious periods, and meritorious times—could contact the association at 0716854854 for further information.

by Chaminda Silva