News
JSA opposes appointment of two nominees to High Court
The Judicial Service Association of Sri Lanka (JSA) has opposed the proposition to appoint Deputy Secretary General of Parliament, Tikiri Jayathilaka, and another officer of the Attorney General’s Department, to the High Court.
Issuing a statement, the JSA has expressed discontent over the proposal made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The JSA pointed out that the assuming of duties as the Deputy Secretary General of Parliament has resulted in Tikiri Jayathilaka being disqualified to reassume duties as a member of the judiciary at any future stage.
The full text of the JSA letter to President Wickremesinghe: The Judicial Service Association (JSA) represents the judges of the Magistrate’s Courts and the District Courts across the island,The JSA has learnt that four names are proposed for the imminent appointments to the High Court. It has further learnt that these names include Mr. Tikiri Jayathilaka, currently serving as the Deputy Secretary General of the Parliament, and another officer from the Attorney General’s Department.
The JSA expresses hereby its profound discontent with regard to these proposed names on the following grounds.
Mr. Jayathilaka previously served as a Magistrate, since 2006, until he resigned to take over his appointment as an Assistant Secretary of the Parliament. His request to assign him to the parliamentary staff,as a secondment, was refused by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), for apparent reasons.
As such, his exposure to a non-legal institution was deemed to be a disqualification to reassume duties as a member of the judiciary, at any future stage. Consequently, his candidacy to re-enter the judiciary is quite contrary to the prior JSC decision that has already been taken concerning Mr. Jayathilake’s reoccupation in the judiciary.
In terms of Article 111(2)(a) of the Constitution, the President is vested with the power to appoint Judges to the High Court on the recommendation of the JSC. However, in this instance, there exists a decision made by the JSC preventing his admission to the Judiciary from Parliament, Accordingly, his admission to the High Court is a circumvention of a previous JSC decision that is unfavourable to him. The recommendation of the JSC under certain circumstances at this stage despite its previous decision cannot validate or substantiate his re-entering the judiciary.
The JSA is of the view that this endeavour results in detriment to the independence of the judiciary, especially the Independence of the judges of the trial courts.
The JSA has also known that the officer from the Attorney General’s Department is a far junior officer compared to the judicial officers who are next in line in judicial seniority.
It is a known fact that for most or the career judges, the appointment to the High Court has become the only career prospect. As such, this situation has resulted in frustration and disappointment among the judicial officers who serve throughout the country for years.
Therefore, the JSA requests His Excellency the President to refrain from appointing Mr. Jayathilaka to the High Court and consider the seniority when an officer from the Attorney General’s Department is appointed to the High Court.
The JSA believes that Your Excellency may pay immediate and close attention to this issue concerning the functioning of the judiciary without interference.
News
Presidential secretariat launches initiative to install sanitation facilities at fuel stations under “Clean Sri Lanka”
In a landmark move to promote public hygiene and accessibility, the Government on Wednesday (14) launched a national-level initiative to install modern sanitation facilities at fuel stations across the country under the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme.
The official launch was held at the Presidential Secretariat, with the participation of top government officials and key industry stakeholders.
The initiative aims to transform fuel stations into clean, safe and inclusive spaces by providing essential sanitation infrastructure accessible to all segments of the public, particularly women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities.
An MoU was signed between the Presidential Task Force on Clean Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Energy and the island’s four major fuel providers: Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Lanka IOC PLC (LIOC), Sinopec Energy Lanka (Pvt) Ltd and RM Parks (Pvt) Ltd.
Under the three-year programme, 540 modern public sanitation facilities will be established at selected fuel stations islandwide. The timeline for rollout is as follows:
| Company | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | 25 | 50 | 50 |
| LIOC | 25 | 50 | 40 |
| Sinopec | 25 | 50 | 75 |
| RM Parks | 25 | 50 | 75 |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 240 |
By the end of 2025, at least 100 of these facilities are expected to be operational, providing clean and user-friendly amenities to travellers across the country.
Speaking at the event, Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake stated, “This is not just a policy commitment but a promise to build a healthier, cleaner and more dignified Sri Lanka. The Clean Sri Lanka initiative seeks to deliver long-term public services that meet modern hygiene standards.” He also highlighted that this partnership between the public and private sectors sets an example for delivering effective and sustainable services. Plans are in place to encourage further participation from large-scale private sector entities, such as retail chains, to extend the reach and impact of the programme.
The event was attended by Secretary to the Ministry of Energy, Prof. Udayanga Hemapala; Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Russell Aponsu; senior executives from the four fuel providers; and officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Presidential Task Force.
News
Financial assistance from the President’s Fund for next of kin of victims of the Kotmale bus accident disbursed through Divisional Secretariats
On the instructions of President Anura Kumara Disanayake, the funds allocated from the President’s Fund for those who lost their lives in the recent bus accident in the Garandiella area, Kotmale have now been forwarded to the relevant Divisional Secretariats.
Accordingly, a sum of Rs. 1 million will be provided to the next of kin of each individual whose life was lost in the accident, and the funds will be handed over to their respective family members.
These funds have been released to the Divisional Secretariats of the following areas—Tissamaharama, Lunugamvehera, Welimada, Haldummulla, Ella, Kundasale, Bamunakotuwa, Paduwasnuwara West, Polpithigama, Wanathawilluwa, Chilaw, Buttala, Thanamalwila, Wellawaya, Kanthale and Rambewa where the 22 individuals who lost their lives in the accident were residents.
Shasheendra, too, is to be questioned soon
Former Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has filed an anticipatory bail application in the Fort Magistrate’s court in a bid to prevent the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) from taking him into custody in connection with the ongoing investigation into the importation of a stock of allegedly substandard organic fertiliser from China during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali has asked the CIABOCt to present its position regarding the issue at hand to the court on May 19.
The CIABOC has asserted that the transaction caused Sri Lanka a loss of USD 6.9 mn.
The CIABOC arrested former Additional Secretary (Development) to the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mahesh Gammanpila on April 28, 2025, over his role in the deal with China’s Qingdao Seawin Biotech in 2021.
At the time Mahesh Gammanpila served as the Secretary to the State Ministry of Agriculture, Shasheendra Rajapaksa had been its Minister. Gammanpila is the current Chief Secretary of the Uva Provincial Council.
Aluthgamage had been the Cabinet Minister at the time the government finalised the questionable deal with the Chinese company.
CIABOC, on May 5, told court that the investigations were continuing and the ministers who decided on the importation of fertiliser from China, too, would be arrested and produced in court.
According to the CIABOC website, Mahesh Gammanpila has caused approximately USD 6.9 million loss to the government by issuing orders to open the suspended Letters of Credit to import the substandard organic fertiliser consignment from Qingdao Seawin Biotech, China, in 2021.
Although Fort Magistrate granted bail to Gammanpila on May 5, he continued to be in remand as he couldn’t meet the bail conditions. The court has also imposed a travel ban on him. (SF)
Presidential secretariat launches initiative to install sanitation facilities at fuel stations under “Clean Sri Lanka”
Financial assistance from the President’s Fund for next of kin of victims of the Kotmale bus accident disbursed through Divisional Secretariats
About 75 mm of rainfall is likely at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Mullaittivu districts
-
Features4 days agoSAITM Graduates Overcome Adversity, Excel Despite Challenges
-
News4 days agoDestined to be pope:Brother says Leo XIV always wanted to be a priest
-
Sports4 days agoASBC Asian U22 and Youth Boxing Championships from Monday
-
Foreign News5 days agoMexico sues Google over ‘Gulf of America’ name change
-
Opinion4 days agoDrs. Navaratnam’s consultation fee three rupees NOT Rs. 300
-
Features3 days agoChampioning Geckos, Conservation, and Cross-Disciplinary Research in Sri Lanka
-
Business4 days agoDilmah – HSBC future writers festival attracts 150+ entries
-
Business4 days agoBloom Hills Holdings wins Gold for Edexcel and Cambridge Education