News
Markar pleads with Speaker to guard the dignity of parliament from moves to manipulate judiciary, AG
By Saman Indrajith
SJB Parliamentarian Imthiaz Bakeer Markar on Thursday called on Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena not to allow any room for incidents that would harm independence, dignity and decorum of Parliament at a time when public keep a watchful eye on certain moves and influences to manipulate the judiciary and the Attorney General’s Department.
Raising a privilege issue Markar said that people are concerned of the moves to manipulate the judiciary and the processes of the Department of the Attorney General by certain political powers. “I bring to the notice of the Speaker some serious moves to undermine the dignity of parliament and plead respectfully to take action to prevent them and to ensure dignity, independence and esteem of this Parliament,” the MP said.
He said that a report of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges was given to the MPs on Tuesday (18) and the report has found that his privileges had been seriously breached by certain parliament offices with regard to his presenting of a private member bill to ensure youth representation in local government bodies. “The same bill was moved in the House as a bill presented by government MP Premanath C Dolawatte. There had been serious manipulations that had taken place when my Bill was forwarded to the Bills Office in Parliament and to the Department of Attorney General. These manipulations had taken place despite clearly outlined processes for the private member bills. These guidelines and processes have been clearly violated deliberately,” the MP said.
He said that he had submitted his draft bill in three languages to the Bills Office in Parliament on Jan 06, 2022. The government MP submitted only the Sinhala copy of his draft bill after six months and its trilingual translations were given on August 22, 2022. The Government MP’s Bill was sent to the Department of Attorney General four days after that while they took another two months to send my draft bill.
The Committee on Ethics and Privileges has found that there had been a breach of my privileges because of this manipulative act. I call on the Speaker to act against those responsible for these manipulations and not to allow any room for such acts that undermine parliament’s dignity. This is a time when people are watchful of certain moves and influences to put pressure on the judiciary and the department of attorney general to circumvent the laws. In such a context, it is a must that the Speaker should ensure the faith of people in parliament is not harmed,” Markar said.
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
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