News
India launches special Hindi language course for Sri Lanka Police
On the occasion of the World Hindi Day on January 10, 2022, the High Commission of India launched a ‘Hindi Proficiency Course’ for Sri Lanka Police personnel. The launch event was held at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), the cultural arm of the High Commission and was attended by Secretary, Ministry of Public Security Major General (retd.) Jagath Alwis, as the Chief Guest, and Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickramaratne, as the Guest of Honour. Acting High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Vinod K. Jacob also graced the occasion. The programme was attended by 70 senior Police officers and officials of the Sri Lanka Police.
During the event, the Acting High Commissioner read out special messages of the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and the Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar. Video messages of Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Mrs. Meenakshi Lekhi, and High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay, were also shared with the audience.
In his message, extending his wishes on the World Hindi Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the popularity of the Hindi language and its increasing usage in Information and Communication technology. Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar also extended his good wishes and expressed happiness on the organization of various events by Indian Missions abroad commemorating the World Hindi Day. MoS Mrs. Meenakshi Lekhi underlined that Hindi, as a language of peace and compassion, plays an important role in connecting India with other countries and their people. Through his special video message, High Commissioner Gopal Baglay, greeted Major General (Retd.) Jagath Alwis, Mr. C.D. Wickramaratne and other distinguished officers and staff of Sri Lanka Police. He expressed happiness on Sri Lanka Police personnel’s enthusiasm in learning Hindi language, both for their official work as well as personal interest.
Speaking on the occasion, Acting High Commissioner Shri Vinod K. Jacob recalled that the cultural and linguistic relations of Sri Lanka and India date back to more than two millennia, and in contemporary times, Hindi further strengthens these relations. He underscored that every year a large number of scholarships are offered by the Government of India to students of Sri Lanka to pursue their Hindi studies in reputed institutions and universities of India. SVCC plays a vital role in promotion of Hindi language all over the island. He also highlighted that Hindi is being taught in about 10 universities and 80 government schools in Sri Lanka. He recalled that recently, late Professor Indra Dassanayake was posthumously honoured with a “Padma Shri” award, one of the highest civilian honours of India, by the President of India in recognition of her contribution to the dissemination of Hindi language and literature in Sri Lanka. This reiterates the importance the Government of India attaches to its cultural ties with Sri Lanka and indicates its commitment to strengthen the India-Sri Lanka people-to-people bond.
Secretary, Ministry of Public Security Major General (retd.) Jagath Alwis expressed his happiness at the launch of the Hindi Course for Sri Lanka Police to mark the World Hindi Day. He thanked the Government of India and the High Commission of India for the assistance provided to the Sri Lanka Police from time to time. He also highlighted that the special Hindi course will help in strengthening the cultural relations between the two countries and also in promotion of tourism between the two countries.
The Hindi students of SVCC presented a cultural programme at the event and sang popular Hindi and Sinhala songs. The inaugural programme was followed by the first lecture of the Hindi course for Sri Lanka Police personnel.
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
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.
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.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the most part of the island after 1.00 p.m
Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations
Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area
Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.
Sri Lankan troops in joint anti-terrorist exercise in Russia
Nine Indian poachers brought to KKS with their boat
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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