News
Lawyer’s killing: UNP wants AG to intervene to set up police probe
… calls for resignation of Public Security Minister
The UNP has urged the Attorney General, who is the head of the Official Bar, to ensure the appointment of a suitable police team to investigate last Friday’s killing of Attorney-at-Law Buddhika Mallawaarachchi and his wife at Akuregoda. The UNP, in a statement issued yesterday (16), emphasised that the consent of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka must also be obtained.
The UNP said that the killing posed a serious threat to the integrity of Asia’s oldest Western-based legal system.
Referring to international precedents, the UNP stated that the killing of lawyers and constant death threats in the American continent had resulted in the closing of 70% of law offices in one district in Mexico.
It further recalled that a prosecutor in Ecuador and the President of the Port-au-Prince Bar Association in Haiti had been assassinated.
In addition, many lawyers, representing cartel leaders, have come under threat. Similarly, lawyers in British Columbia have been threatened with serious physical harm, and the Law Society of British Columbia recently issued notices advising members to seek police assistance if threats are made, it said.
The UNP has observed that in Sri Lanka these killings took place against a background of the Inspector General of Police taking a partisan stance against lawyers in a dispute between a lawyer and a policeman prior to the completion of the inquiry. In this instance, within two hours of the incident, the police, without an inquiry, stated that the shooting had been carried out by an organised criminal, the UNP has said, noting that this raises questions about the ability or willingness of the police to carry out investigations.
The UNP has said:
1. Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala, who is responsible for the deterioration of law and order, including these killings, must resign.
2. The Attorney General, as the head of the Official Bar, in discussion with the Inspector General of Police, must ensure the appointment of a suitable Police team to investigate this matter. The consent of the Sri Lanka Bar Association must also be obtained.
3. The government must take administrative and if necessary legislative measures to give effect to Article 9.4 of Luxemburg Convention – Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Lawyers Article 9.4. The Commonwealth Association on 09 January 2026 has also endorsed this Convention stating “if the lawyer is not protected then no one is protected”.
The UNP has said it stands in solidarity with the legal community and support efforts to ensure adequate protection for lawyers.
Three Sri Lankan leopard cubs that were born at the Singapore Zoo on Jan 1 have now made their public debut at the facility.
The two males and one female, born to mother Yala and father Asanka, are the first of their species yo be born at the Singapore Zoo. The last successful birth in Singapore was recorded at the Night Safari three decades ago.
The triplets, which are the pair’s first litter, are among around 80 Sri Lankan leopards in zoos worldwide.
The species is listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with fewer than 800 individuals estimated to remain in the wild.
Visitors can now see the triplets at the Wild Africa exhibit, said the Mandai Wildlife Group in a statement on April 16.
The cubs can be found in the exhibit with their mother daily until mid-May and, subsequently, every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Yala with her cubs in their nest box, a month after their birth on Jan 1. (Straits Times)
A leopard cub investigating a piece of meat suspended from a tree – one of the several enrichment items in the Wild Africa exhibit designed to keep the cats mentally and physically stimulated. (Straits Times)
Mandai Wildlife Group curator Anand Kumar said it took nearly three years and close collaboration across continents to bring together a compatible pair of Sri Lankan leopards.
(Straits Times)
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-zoos-first-sri-lankan-leopard-cubs-make-their-public-debut?ref=top-stories
The Sri Lanka Navy has seized a local multi- day fishing trawler, it’s four man crew together with a consignment suspected to be narcotics off the Southern Coast of the island.
The vessel is presently being escorted to the Dikowita fisheries harbour for further investigations and legal proceedings.
Latest News
Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and Southern provinces and in Monaragala district
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 15 April 2026, valid for 16 April 2026.
The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern
and Southern provinces and in Monaragala district.
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
Singapore Zoo’s first Sri Lankan leopard cubs make their public debut
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