News
Ret. Maj. Gen arrested on false claim of murder, treasure hunting released
IGP and HRC urged to conduct probe
Retired Major General Kithsiri Ekanayake has called upon IGP Weerasooriya to inquire into the circumstances under which the Beliatta police arrested him in late August on a murder charge, in addition to implicating him on digging for treasure, in his own land, in the Beliatta police area.
Ekanayake has also complained to the Human Rights Commission (HRC), as well as the Police Ombudsman, in this regard.
Ekanayake, who served the Army for 36 years, before retiring in February 2021, said that he still found it hard to believe that the police arrested him on a claim made by a 14-year-old boy of seeing four or five persons taking a woman to the land owned by him and cutting her head off while a ritual was taking place.
Responding to The Island queries, the retired officer said that he obtained necessary approvals from relevant authorities to establish an agrivoltaics project meant to use land, simultaneously, for both solar energy generation and agriculture. “In fact, before we conducted ‘pooja’ to seek blessings, I contacted the OIC of the Beliatta Police Station, over the phone, as he was not present at the station at the time I visited,” the SLLI retired officer said. According to him, the IGP, as a person who rose to the highest rank after having joined the service as a constable, would find it relatively easy to understand how the ordinary people were subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment.
The second witness, who also gave evidence, happened to be 17-year-old Induwarage John who had been previously produced in the same court for a narcotics-related offence. The Magistrate has found fault with the police for producing such a witness.
Gramasevaka Samansiri Abeygunasekara told court that the retired officer obtained approval from the relevant authorities to set up, what he called, a solar project.
Having considered the 14-year-old eyewitness Epitakaduwa Lokugamage Thenul Devunaka’s evidence and that investigations conducted by the Special Task Force (STF) and other specialised personnel hadn’t revealed the disappearance of a female of about 18 years of age in the country and no digging had taken place at all, Acting Magistrate Shyamila Butawatta, on 18 September, terminated the proceedings on the basis that under section 186 of the Penal Code a successful prosecution couldn’t be achieved. The Magistrate pointed out that the Archaeology Department has declared that the land in question was not an archaeological site and there was no evidence to suggest that digging for treasure took place.
Magistrate Butawatta also directed the releasing of five suspects along with court productions.
Ekanayake of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) had been assigned to the Task Force 1/58 Division and was involved in the operations throughout the Vanni campaign. Ekanayake survived a mine blast, near Kalmunai point, on 17 November, 2008, amidst intense ground operations, both in the west and east of Vanni.
Ekanayake said that he was in remand at the Angunakolapalessa Prison for nearly four weeks and, one one occasion, he felt so disappointed when a television presenter quoted President Anura Kumara Dissanayake as having said how a Major General was digging for buried treasure. “The police should be ashamed for treating people like this. I served the country at a time many feared to join the services. Just imagine what those who served the military and especially those who fought under my command think of me when the media reported what transpired in a court. I sincerely hope the IGP will look into this matter without delay.”
Ekanayake said that he couldn’t help but weep on the floor of the Angunakolapalessa Prison when the TV announcer made humiliating remarks.
Ekanayake said that at the time he was locked up at the Beliatta Police Station, a person, in civvies, addressed him in filth, while the police assaulted two of the five persons arrested on that day.
Former Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, and Attorneys-at-Law Edward Jayasinghe, Sumendra Fernando, Bhathiya Malagala and Imali Kurugama appeared for the suspects. Initially, Attorney-at-Law Mohotti appeared for the suspects. The suspects, included soldier A.P. Manjula, on leave prior to retirement, an assistant ‘yakaduru’, a traditional drummer and a person engaged in helping ritualistic performances.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has challenged NPP MP Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana to repeat what it called a false claim made in Parliament about anagreement between SJB leader Sajith Premadasa and BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya.
The Colombo District MP Vithana alleged that Amarasuriya had recently received an assurance from Premadasa, who is also the Opposition Leader, that he (Amarasuirya) would be fielded as the SJB Chief Ministerial candidate at the Western Province PC polls in return for BASL campaigning against the government’s move to extend the retirement age of the superior court judges.
A top BASL spokesman told The Island that in case the lawmaker repeated the allegation outside Parliament, without the cover of parliamentary privilege, due legal consequences would follow.
The text of the statement: “The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (“BASL”) views with deep dismay the false utterances made today in Parliament by
Government Member of Parliament Mr. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Withanage regarding the President of the BASL, Mr. Rajeev Amarasuriya.
The BASL categorically states that the allegations are utterly false, baseless, and made with malicious intent.
The BASL is deeply concerned by the abuse of parliamentary privilege to make unfounded and defamatory false utterances, thereby seeking to mislead and misguide the public.
Furthermore, such cheap political attacks on the BASL will not succeed. The legal fraternity of Sri Lanka stands united and will face any challenge to its independence and integrity.
In respect of the proposal to increase the retirement age of the Judges of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, it has been the firm view of the Bar that constitutional amendments affecting the Superior Courts should never be undertaken in an ad hoc manner or in response to temporary circumstances. Amendments of such constitutional importance should only be introduced where there exists a demonstrable institutional necessity, transparent public justification and broad and defensible stakeholder consultation. Public confidence in constitutional governance depends upon the process adopted as much as the substance of the amendment itself.
The BASL has, throughout its history, stood firm against any threat to democracy, the independence of the judiciary, and the Human Rights of the people including the right to protest. The BASL has spoken out without fear or favour, regardless of which government is in power. The legal community is well aware that the BASL does not, and will not, play politics.
The BASL challenges Member of Parliament Mr. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Withanage to repeat the said false utterance outside Parliament without the cover of Parliamentary Privilege so that due Legal Consequences can follow.”
By Shamindra Ferdinando ✍️
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara will meet a delegation from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) this week to discuss the government’s hotly disputed decision to introduce a constitutional amendment to increase the retirement ages of judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.
Both the Justice and National Integration Ministry and the BASL confirmed the scheduled meeting.
The BASL, in a letter dated 16 July, 2026, addressed to Minister Nanayakkara, who is also an Attorney-at-Law, requested that a delegation, consisting of members of the executive committee of the BASL, and senior members of the profession, be granted an opportunity to discuss the issues at hand.
Responding to The Island queries, sources revealed that the government, with an overwhelming 2/3 majority in Parliament, was determined to go ahead with the controversial constitutional amendment, whereas the BASL, too, remained inflexible in its opposition to the move.
The BASL reiterated that as emphasised in their 16 July dated letter, addressed to Minister Nanayakkara, the premier legal body expected the government to put on hold the process until meaningful consultations take place among principal stakeholders of the justice sector.
The BASL wrote to Minister Nanayakkara on 30 March, 2026, seeking clarifi-cation regarding the proposed constitutional amendment and in the absence of response, raised the issue with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on 25 May, 2026. Sources said that the President, too, refrained from responding to the BASL’s letter and they didn’t have any other option than stepping up pressure.
By S.K. Samaranayake ✍️
A team of police officers, led by Kadawatha Police Station Chief Inspector Buddhika Rajapaksha, has arrested two members of an organised motorcycle theft gang, along with three stolen motorcycles, and 14 grams of heroin, in their possession.
The Kadawatha Police are conducting investigations to arrest another suspect connected to the gang. Police stated that the suspects had concealed the stolen motorcycles at their residences in Eldeniya, Kadawatha. Further investigations are being carried out by the Kadawatha Police to determine whether the suspects are addicted to drugs.
Under the supervision of Senior Superintendent of Police, Nuvan Asanga, the Kadawatha Police are conducting further investigations to ascertain whether the suspects have stolen any other motorcycles.
US and Iran hit pause on strikes for second day
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
Chamika, Colambage help Galle Gallants consolidate top spot
BASL challenges NPP MP to repeat false claims outside Parliament
Judges’ retirement age row: Govt.-BASL powwow on the cards
Organised motorcycle theft gang apprehended
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Features1 day agoMBS: The Man of the Last Laugh
-
Features1 day agoA Landmark Gathering of Minds: The Ceylon Journal Roundtable Revives the Spirit of Intellectual Dialogue
-
Midweek Review5 days agoThree high-profile alleged suicides shaping key investigations
-
Latest News1 day agoDevelop a programme to allocate underutilised state land for investment by returning migrant workers – President
-
Life style1 day agoA proud Sri Lankan voice in Australian Parliament
-
News2 days agoFort Magistrate orders arrest of MP Archchuna
-
Editorial1 day ago‘Cockroaches’ tame a mighty regime
-
Editorial2 days agoAn indictment of all parties