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Nuwara Eliya cops goofed and allowed Zahran and others to escape from training camp

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By Rathindra Kuruwita

NTJ members, including its leader Zahran Hashim, who had taken part in a Jihadist training programme in Nuwara-Eliya, on May 8, 2018, had gone scot-free as the Nuwara-Eliya Police failed to find any incriminating evidence, the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks has been informed.

The Police had arrived at Thakhila Holiday Inn, where Zahran had his training camp, at around 4 pm, and those undergoing training were still in the premises. The police were alerted in the morning by a resident.

An Officer attached to PCoI police unit, SI Sanjeewa Sampath of CID told the PCoI that a resident had informed former IGP Pujith Jayasundara that a suspicious group was at the guest house.

“Thilakaratne Ilesinghe, a resident who lives close to Thakhila Holiday Inn, where Zahran conducted his training camp, had initially tried to contact Nuwara Eliya Police. But his attempts to contact them had failed, so he called former IGP Pujith Jayasundara,” the Officer said.

The representative from the Attorney General’s (AG) department, who led the evidence, asked the witness how the resident had found the IGP’s contact number. 

The witness said that the resident had noted down the IGP’s contact number from a television programme telecast earlier.

“In the statement, Ilesinghe mentioned that those who stayed in the lodge did not go out unlike others who come to visit Nuwara Eliya,” Sampath told the Commission.

The witness said in the statement Ilesinghe had also mentioned that although he had informed the police of the suspicious group, the police had only come around 4pm in the evening to search the lodge.

“In the statement Ilesinghe said that three police officers came to conduct the search operation in a patrol car, but they were unable to find anything suspicious in the guest house,” SI Sampath said.

Investigation officer also said that during their inquiry they found that Zahran had conducted preachings related to Islamic extremism and his associates had given lectures on weapons training and manufacturing bombs.



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Police officers donate LKR 9,687,462 from day’s salary to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

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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]

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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

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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.

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Opposition asks for PSC to probe Treasury theft

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Sajith

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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