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Expect more Easter Sunday type attacks: minister

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Sri Lanka risks facing more Easter Sunday style attacks, state minister for defence disclosed in parliament during a two-day debate on the country’s worst single terror attack against civilians in April 2019.Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon warned the legislature not to undermine intelligence services as their services were required to prevent the next attack.

“Don’t think that the Easter Sunday attack was the last. In the future too there could be more attacks,” Tennakoon said reading off a prepared text defending the role of the military intelligence and criticizing the “professional misconduct” of the police.

He criticized the police for botching up evidence from a house at Saindamaradu where 15 people linked to the Easter Sunday bombers died in an exchange of fire with the police. Those inside the house exploded themselves when they were cornered.

Tennakoon said the police did not obtain DNA evidence from scene leading to a repeat of the tests that caused suspicion of a cover up.

He said he was reluctantly compelled to disclose that the much talked about “Sonic Sonic” is a police inspector working for the intelligence but had to leave the main spy agency after his cover was blown.

“Sonic Sonic is a code name. Sonic Sonic is an intelligence officer who infiltrated the (Islamic extremist) terrorist group. He pretended to be a terrorist. He talked, worked like them. That is how you win the confidence of the terrorists. Not by being a policeman. Understand that.

“We must have a mature parliament that understands it. Which idiot can go before terrorists as a policeman and expect information. I ask you to understand this.”

“How can I ask an intelligence officer in future to carry out a mission if they run the risk of ending up in jail.”

He also disclosed that the much discussed “Abu Hind” was also a code name of an intelligence operative, but someone working for a foreign spy agency.

Abu Hind

Evidence before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry had showed that a person identified as “Abu Hind” was in close contact with the lead Easter Sunday bomber Zaharan Hashim. The Catholic church has asked the authorities to investigate the role of Abu Hind to understand who was really behind the suicide bombers.

Minister Tennakoon also told parliament that the military intelligence was aware and possibly in contact with Jamil, the man who went to the Taj but did not explode his bomb there. The minister was responding to allegations that military intelligence (MI) had gone to Jamil’s even before he set off the bomb at Tropical Inn, Dehiwala.Opposition MPs said identification of Jameel’s MI handlers could shed more light into those behind the Zaharan and his fellow suicide bombers.



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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Kalutara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura

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The Landslide Early Warning Centre of the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued early warnings to the Districts of Kalutara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura from 1600hrs on 13th June 2026 till 1600hrs on 14th June 2026.

Accordingly,

LEVEL I (YELLOW) landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surounding areas of Palindanuwara and Agalawatta in the Kalutara district,  Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya and Ayagama, Pelmadulla,
Godakawela, Elapatha, Kalawana, Ratnapura and Nivithigala in the Ratnapura district.

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INS Sharda departs Colombo concluding replenishment visit

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The Indian Naval Ship (INS) ‘Sharda’ departed the island today (13 Jun 26), concluding her replenishment purposes.

On departure  the vessel was accorded a traditional naval farewell by the Sri Lanka Navy at the Port of Colombo.

The visit also paved the way for vibrant personnel interactions, fostering camaraderie and goodwill. The crew of INS Sharda and personnel from the Sri Lanka Navy participated in a
friendly volleyball match and a joint yoga session. A

dditionally, Sri Lanka Navy personnel had the opportunity to visit the Indian naval vessel, while the visiting crew took time to explore several culturally significant landmarks across the island.

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Special Dengue Prevention Week declared in Colombo District from June 15 to 21

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A decision has been taken to declare a Special Dengue Prevention Week from 15 to 21 of June by the Colombo District Dengue Control Committee to curb the spread of the disease in the Colombo District.

This decision was taken at the meeting of the Colombo District Dengue Control Committee held on Friday  (12) at the Colombo District Secretariat under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

Compared to last year, the number of dengue cases reported this year has increased significantly. According to the National Dengue Control Unit, approximately 39,100 dengue cases have been reported island wide to date, of which 25.8% have been recorded in the Colombo District. Following this situation, the Colombo District has been identified as a high-risk district.

Health authorities informed that the increasing spread of the disease has been influenced not only by the nature of circulating virus but also to the lack of sufficient immunity among the population. They further noted that the recent period of heavy rainfall has aggravated the spread of Dengue.

It was also identified that the current outbreak is being reported more frequently from public places such as government institutions, private establishments, schools, and religious venues rather than from residential premises. Observations have identified improperly managed solid waste and drainage systems in offices and other public locations as major breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Accordingly, during the Dengue Prevention Week from 15 to 21 June, a series of measures will be implemented, including, organising community clean-up campaigns in government and private institutions, schools, residential areas, and other public spaces; Conducting inspections of high-risk premises by Divisional Secretariats and taking legal action, where necessary, followed by awareness programmes; Distributing informational leaflets, displaying banners, and carrying out public awareness campaigns through the media. Health authorities also requested school administrations not to involve students below Grade 10 in school cleaning programmes and to immediately notify the relevant Medical Officer of Health (MOH) office if a student is diagnosed with dengue.

The programme is expected to receive the active support and participation of the district’s political leadership, religious leaders of all faiths, public officials, local government institutions, the tri-forces, the police, and the general public.

The event was attended by the Chairperson of the District Coordination Committee, Members of Parliament, representatives of local government authorities, government secretaries, police officers, and officials representing the education and health sectors, among others.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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