News
Minister Lanza tells Sajith to get facts right before pointing finger at govt.
By Norman Palihawadane
Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure State Minister Nimal Lanza on Tuesday said that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa should get his facts right before pointing finger at the government whenever something went wrong.
“Now, the Opposition Leader blames the government for the ferry disaster in the Kurunchenkerny lagoon in Kinniya. It is his party men, with the SLMC, who are running the Kinniya Urban Council that gave the permit for the ferry service. They are responsible for the tragedy, but the Opposition is blaming us.
The Opposition Leader should blame his party men for giving that permit for ferries to transport people, exposing them to danger,” Minister Lanza said during an inspection tour to the Muthurajawela marshland to meet people there.
Minister Lanza said that the government extended its condolences to the victims and an investigation was underway into the unfortunate incident. Eleven other children had been admitted to hospitals in Kinniya and Trincomalee, he added. The ferry was transporting around 25 children and teachers to school at the time of the incident.
“Some claim the ferry belongs to the Road Development Authority. That is not true. There is a need to construct a bridge across this lagoon. Those now trying to blame the government did nothing to construct the bridge during their yahapalana government. We have commenced the work and we will expedite that project. It is the urban council there that should be held responsible for giving the permit for the unsafe ferry to operate in this dangerous place,” the Minister said.
Police Media Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police Nihal Talduwa said the bodies of the victims were kept at the Kinniya Hospital.
SSP Nihal Talduwa said Police and Navy teams had been deployed to search for the missing.
The Navy says it deployed eight rescue teams to locate the missing persons, following the ferry tragedy adding that the rescue and recovery mission comprised teams representing the Rapid Action Boat Squadron (RABS) and the Special Boat Squadron along with Marines and Divers.
News
Police officers donate LKR 9,687,462 from day’s salary to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund
A sum of LKR. 9,687,462, raised from day’s salary officers of the Police Department, has been donated to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to support the recovery of communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah and to assist in rebuilding the country following the disaster.
To date, officers of the Police Department have contributed over LKR. 74 million to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund through three such contributions of one day’s salary.
The donation was presented on Wednesday (22) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat by the Personal Assistant to the Inspector General of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police C. C. Bamunuarachchi, to the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Chief Inspector Udaya Kumara, Officer-in-Charge of the Police Secretariat, was also present on the occasion.
[Presidents Media Division]
Latest News
Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 26 April 2026, valid for 27 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, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time.
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.
News
Opposition asks for PSC to probe Treasury theft
Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the illegal diversion of Treasury funds, amounting to US$2.5 million to a third-party account.
Premadasa has said both the chairmanship and a majority of the Committee’s membership should be held by the Opposition to ensure impartiality.
The government has not only failed to account for the loss of US$2.5 million but also deliberately withheld information from Parliament, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) and the public, Premadasa has told the media, accusing the ruling party of seeking to deflect responsibility by initiating an internal departmental inquiry, which he describes as a biased process designed to justify predetermined conclusions.
The Opposition Leader has said only a transparent and independent probe could establish the facts, adding that such an investigation could be effectively carried out through a Parliamentary Select Committee led by the Opposition.
He has also warned that the alleged failure to inform Parliament about the missing funds amounted to a serious breach of accountability.
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