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Kiriella flays govt. over using Bogambara as a quarantine facility

Published

5 years ago

2020/11/19

By Saman Indrajith

Having COVID-19 infected prisoners in the old Bogambara prison premises in Kandy was like keeping a ticking time bomb in the city, Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament yesterday (18).

At the time for Notices of Motions and Orders of the Day, MP Kiriella, with the permission of the Chair, said that he had warned Bogambara prisons now used as a quarantine centre that it would lead to the transmission the virus but the authorities had not heeded his warning. “There was an incident last night. Some of the infected inmates escaped. The guards opened fire and one person died and another was admitted to hospital. Some others have made good their escape. This is a dangerous situation. As I once said this is nothing but a ticking time bomb.

“We removed prisoners from Bogambara and started developing the facility as a cultural centre. After the change of government the project was suspended. After the detection of COVID cases in prisons, the infected persons were brought to the former Bogambara prison, which It is in the heart of the Kandy city.

There are around 50 people working within the prison premises, and they come to the city to buy their provisions. Soon there would be a massive number of infections in Kandy. On the other hand, it is the city where the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha is kept. The location of a quarantine centre there is improper. Please shift this quarantine centre.”

Kurunegala District SJB MP Nalin Bandara said that the Bogambara prison buildings were more than 200 years old and posed a serious threat to the lives of those held there. “I, as a deputy minister, participated in the Bogambara prison development project. Some sections of the building are on the verge of collapse. We wanted to restore them owing to its architectural and historical value, but before the project got underway, there was a change of government. So, the threat of buildings collapsing is still there. In addition to the health hazard, there is a threat to the lives of those being held in that place. We hope the government will take necessary action to avert a disaster waiting to happen.?

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Members of Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee Officially Appointed

Published

1 hour ago

2026/05/5

Priyan

The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:

Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage

The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.

The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.

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Three prison guards arrested following the death of an inmate

Published

2 hours ago

2026/05/5

Priyan

(File pic)

Three prison guards attached to the Welikada Prison have been arrested by Borella Police following the death of an inmate on Monday (04).

News

CJ urged to inquire into AKD’s remarks on May 25 court verdict

Published

6 hours ago

2026/05/5

Sahan Weerasooriya

CJ Surasena

‘Bar Association must reveal its stand’

Civil society group ‘Free Lawyers’ has requested Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena to probe whether political pressure was brought on a Magistrate, or a High Court Judge, in respect of an ongoing high profile case.

Speaking to The Island on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said that they felt the urgent need to seek the CJ’s intervention, following the May Day declaration by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that the verdict of a case that was heard on 30 April would be given on 25 May. Tennakoon said that addressing the NPP’s main May Day rally at Maharagama, the President asked the people to be ready to celebrate that verdict. The President couldn’t have said so if he hadn’t been aware of the impending verdict, Tennakoon said, while emphasising the responsibility on the part of the Bar Association to state its position on the issue.

‘Free Lawyers’ recently captured pubic attention following its exposure of the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.

Responding to a query, Tennakoon said that on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Maithri Gunaratne, PC, on Monday, 4 April, wrote to both CJ Surasena and President of the Bar Association Rajeev Amarasuriya.

Alleging that President Dissanayake’s declaration caused immense harm to the independence of the judiciary and raised controversy over the judgement that would be given on 25 May, ‘Free Lawyers’ organisation also asked the CJ to inquire into whether the entire judicial process was under political pressure.

Tennakoon said that they expect the Bar Association to reveal its position on President Dissanayake’s statement. Tennakoon pointed out that during the May Day address, President Dissanayake made reference to 15 cases that were to be taken up during this month, whereas Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister, as well as Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, mentioned nearly 10 names of politicians, both sitting and former lawmakers, to be summoned beginning, May.

Tennakoon said that the NPP appeared to have used May Day to counter growing accusations over the Colombo port container controversy, coal scam, Rs 13.2 bn NDB fraud and theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury and USD 625,000 from the Sri Lanka Postal Service.

By Shamindra Ferdinando