News

Former IGP calls ex-President a habitual liar

Published

5 years ago

2020/10/10

By Rathindra Kuruwita

President Maithripala Sirisena used to lie as a habit, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara yesterday told the Presidential Commission probing Easter Sunday attacks.

Jayasundara made this statement when he was asked by Commissioners why he had failed to inform President Sirisena of the foreign intelligence that the State Intelligence Service (SIS) had received, of a possible terror attack, when he met Sirisena on April 14 and on April 16. Last week Sirisena said that Jayasundara met him on April 14 for the New Year and on 16 at the airport when he left the country.

“The statement the former president made before the Commission that I had boarded the flight on April 16 and greeted him is untrue. I did so when our relations were healthy.

“Why would Sirisena lie about this?” a member of the Commission asked.

The witness said that Sirisena lied as a habit.

“For example Sirisena had told the PCoI that I had visited him for the Sinhala and Hindu New Year in 2019, and stayed there for lunch. That too is a lie. I was there only for about ten minutes on that day. I didn’t have lunch. I only went to greet him as the Head of State in keeping with the Sri Lankan traditions.”

The former IGP also added that Namal Kumara, who alleged, in 2018, that there was a plan to assassinate former President Maithripala Sirisena and current President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, had been paid by Sirisena’s Office.

“Dr. Samantha Kithalawarachchi, the former Director of the Presidential Task Force on Drug Prevention, which was active at the time, told me that Kumara was paid by the Task Force too.”

Jayasundara added that Kumara had been given a reward of Rs. 500,000 from the Police Rewards Fund for providing information needed to arrest several suspects involved in riots at Digana.

Jayasundara also said that given that former Commandant of the Special Task Force (STF) Senior DIG M.R. Latheef had informed on April 2019 that the STF officers who were guarding former President Maithripala Sirisena knew about the intelligence received by the State Intelligence Service (SIS) on April 04, 2019 about a possible terror attack, it was highly likely that Sirisena was aware of this development.

Jayasundara said he had informed the SIS intelligence to SDIG Latheef on April, 09, 2019, and that the latter had submitted two reports, on 21 and 22 April, 2019, about the steps he had taken. Latheef had also informed the STF headquarters in the East as well as heads of STF camps, Jayasundara said.

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Heat index, is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts

Published

5 hours ago

2025/04/28

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 27 April 2025, valid for 28 April 2025

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED

Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

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People have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans sans ethnic or religious divisions- PM

Published

5 hours ago

2025/04/28

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that for the first time in history, mosques in Kandy had opened their doors to accommodate the needs of devotees visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and that people have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans beyond dividing into ethnicities and religions.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a public gathering held in the Paragahadeniya area in Kurunegala.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further stated:

“This country is undergoing a transformation we expected,so accordingly, we must operate in new ways. People are beginning to feel that we must work towards a new transformation. We can see this change even within our ministries. These days, sometimes when we visit ministries even after 5 PM, and ask if it is possible to have discussions, the officials are always open. Today, public officials are willing to work late into the night, until 9 or 10 PM. Officials have now started working without fear.

Remarkably, for the first time in history, Muslim mosques in Kandy remained open throughout the night to accommodate pilgrims visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. They even provided space for devotees to rest. There were no ethnic or religious tensions. What we saw was respect for other ethnicities and religions. This is happening because there is now a sense of a government that represents all Sri Lankan people, not just Sinhalese, Muslims, or Tamils”.

The event was attended by the candidates for the local government election including the residents of the area.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

Indian warship builder eyes 51% stake in Colombo Dockyard: FSP

Published

6 hours ago

2025/04/28

Thilina Walpola

The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) has urged the NPP government to prevent Japan’s Onomichi Dockyard Company from selling its 51% ownership stake in the Colombo Dockyard Limited (CDL) to Indian government-owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai, a leading shipbuilder.

FSP spokesman Pubudu Jayagoda told The Island yesterday (27) that the move seemed to be in line with the overall India-Sri Lanka understanding on the basis of the recently signed memorandum on defence cooperation.

Against the backdrop of deteriorating financial situation, the Japanese company has informed the board of directors of CDL of its plans to divest its 51 percent ownership stake in the international shipbuilding and repair company. The Japanese shipbuilder made the announcement in early Dec last year.

Alleging that an agreement has been reached on the sale of Onomichi’s controlling ownership stake to the Indian ship builder, Jayagoda questioned

the move as Mazagon primarily built a range of warships and attack submarines. Jayagoda pointed out that according to Mazagon’s profile, the Indian government-owned business undertaking was involved with European companies engaged in ship and submarine construction.

Addressing a Local Government election meeting at Weeraketiya, Pallekanda, in support of those contesting the May 6 election on the ticket of Jana Aragala Sandhanaya (JAS), the executive committee member of JAS Jayagoda emphasized that in terms of the agreement between Sri Lanka and Japan, Onomichi couldn’t sell its stake without the Sri Lankan government’s approval. Therefore, the NPP government should intervene to halt the Japanese-Indian move, the FSP spokesman said while urging the parliamentary opposition to publicly oppose the planned sale of the Japanese stake.

Among other stakeholders are Sri Lanka Insurance, Sri Lanka Ports Authority and EPF.

By Shamindra Ferdinando