News
Political interference prevents police from eradicating drug menance -JVP
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, on Saturday, said that many crimes remained unsolved not due to the failure of the police but due to political interference.Addressing a rally, in support of the JVP-led NPP at Maligawatte, Dissanayake said that Sri Lanka had a Police Department that could solve any crime if it was given a free hand. “Yet, the killings of Lasantha Wickrametunga,
Wasim Thajudeen, Rohana Kumara and assaulting of Keith Noyahr remain unsolved crimes. This is not because the police have failed. It is because the rulers at the time of these crimes were behind them,” Dissanayake said.
The JVP leaders said that the police could curtail the drug menace if they were given free rein. “Ours is an island nation. Synthetic drugs, such as heroin and ICE, cannot be produced here. They are smuggled in. If the police, and other agencies, fighting against narcotics, are free from the influence of drug dealing politicos, they can solve the crimes. We have a Navy that fought successfully against the LTTE sea tigers. The Navy is capable of stopping drug smuggling into the country through sea routes. It is the politicians of the government who was the drug barons. As long as these politicos ruled the country it would never be able to get rid of the narcotic problem,” the JVP leader said.
He said that successive governments, since independence, had come to power, promising to probe the wrongdoings of the previous governments and to institute legal actions against them. “No such thing has ever happened. The two main parties have ruled the country in turns and they always protected each other. People can put an end to this if they vote wisely,” Dissanayake said, adding that only the JVP-led NPP could take action against those who ruined the country’s economy.
News
Financial allocations for the development of infrastructure in provincial schools have been provided to all provinces – PM
Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya stated that the necessary financial allocations for the development of infrastructure in provincial schools have been provided to all provinces. She emphasized that these funds must be utilized effectively for school development and requested that relevant authorities submit proposals to address existing shortcomings in school infrastructure.
The Prime Minister made these remarks during a cordial meeting with Muslim women in the Wellawaya area on 1st of March.
Subsequently, the Prime Minister met with the Chief Sanghanayake of the Uva Wellassa region and the Chief Incumbent of Yudaganawa Rajamaha Viharaya, Venerable Rajakeeya Panditha Most Venerable Galtemwatte Nandarathana Nayaka Thero, and briefed him on the current progress of the new education reforms.
She further stated that, while ensuring due recognition for vocational education, steps are being taken to develop 50 vocational training centers equipped with modern courses, covering all 25 districts of the country. She also noted that new education reforms will be introduced for Grade 6 starting in 2027, and that the printing of new textbooks will be entrusted to the Educational Publications Department of the Ministry of Education.
The occasion was attended by Uva Province Governor Attorney-at-Law Kapila Jayasekara, Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security R.M. Jayawardhana, Member of Parliament Ruwan Wijewardene, local government representatives, the Buttala Divisional Secretary and the District Secretary.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Department of Immigration and Emmigration has decided effective from 28th February 2026, to grant a free fourteen (14) day visa extension to all tourists who are unable to leave Sri Lanka due to flight cancellations. 
The Maldives Coast Guard Ship Huravee arrived at the Port of Colombo for replenishment purposes on 02 Mar 26. The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in compliance with time-honoured naval traditions.
The ship is a 48.9m long Offshore Patrol Vessel which is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Nafiu Mohamed.
Meanwhile, the ship’s crew is scheduled to visit several tourist attractions in the city of Colombo, during their stay in the island.
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Financial allocations for the development of infrastructure in provincial schools have been provided to all provinces – PM
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