News
Public Security Minister vows to keep out political interference in police work
Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (retd.) Sarath Weerasekera yesterday vowed that he would not let the police service to be politicised on his watch.
Addressing 105 newly appointed officers in charge of police stations, during a programme held at the Ministry in Battaramulla, the Minister said: “Policemen must not do political work. They should not do anything illegal just because they are ordered to do so by politicians. You have to work for the benefit of the people.”
Minister Weerasekera told the OICs not to take orders from politicians. “An OIC must keep in his mind the needs and welfare of the people of his division. That should be the first priority when you discharge your duties. Do not be afraid of repercussions if you work properly to the letter and for the benefit of the people in good faith. If something goes wrong I myself, my Secretary Maj. Gen. Jagath Alwis and the IGP Chandana Wickremaratne will stand by you. We’ll protect you if you do the right thing.”
Minister Weerasekera said the police department was very different from other public sector institutions. “It is a department that lost the lives of around 3,500 policemen fighting against the LTTE; about 15,000 of its personnel got infected by the COVID-19 while on duty. Of them around 55 died. Around 230 policemen died on the roads while performing traffic duties. This is a department in which personnel discharge their duties putting their lives in danger while fighting against underworld members, organised criminals and robbers. So the police department should not be equated to other departments in the public service,” the Minister said.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to the project to provide technological solutions to prevent wild elephants from being hit by trains was signed yesterday (01) afternoon at the President’s Media Centre, under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Coordinated through the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, the project is being implemented as a public-private partnership, with the Railway Department, the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Forest Conservation Department working together, with full financial support from People’s Bank.
The system consists of three-beam detection, passive infrared (PIR) sensors, automatic temperature sensors and a tamper alarm system to detect animals weighing more than 20 kilogrammes and unauthorised interference. Signal lights (red/yellow/green) installed on either side of the railway tracks, together with a special screen installed inside the locomotive cab, will alert the driver in advance to the exact location of an elephant.
A demonstration test of the system was successfully conducted at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage premises in the presence of the relevant officials, following which a report on the system was prepared.
The system will be implemented as a pilot project from next month at 13 locations where wild elephant accidents are frequent. A newly developed website is also scheduled to be launched to enable the progress of the project to be viewed live.
Additional General Manager of Railways P.D.S.B. Chandrasena, Director General of Wildlife Conservation M.S.L.R.P. Marasinghe, Conservator General of Forests S.C. Palamakuumbura and Chairman of People’s Bank Chandana Guniyangoda signed the relevant MoU. Officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, including Presidential Additional Secretary (Clean Sri Lanka) Engineer S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, as well as senior officials from the Railway Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Conservation Department and People’s Bank, were also present.
[President’s Media Division]
The Commissioner General of Examinations has announced that the results of the 2026 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination have been released online, and can be viewed on the department’s official website: www.doenets.lk
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed Sri Lanka on Monday, 31 August, to undertake an official visit to Bhutan to participate in the Global Conscious Food Systems Summit, scheduled to be held in Bhutan.
During her visit, Prime Minister Dr Amarasuriya participated in the opening plenary of the Summit on 1 September, where she delivered a keynote address under the theme “Rising to the Moment: Igniting Consciousness to Address the Polycrisis.”
The Prime Minister will also engage in discussions with international leaders and representatives on strengthening cooperation towards sustainable food systems, food security and resilient communities.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
MoU signed for technology to prevent wild elephant-train collisions
Grade 5 scholarship exam results released
Prime Minister participates in Global Conscious Food Systems Summit in Bhutan
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