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Sajith assures justice to Easter Sunday victims
Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa on Thursday wrote to Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith assuring him that a future SJB Government will implement the recommendations made by the PCol on Easter Sunday attacks in full.
He added that the public will have complete access to previously classified information pertaining to the attacks as well as a completely transparent investigation with public, televised hearings and testimonies in order to maintain the highest standards of investigative ethics.
Given below are excerpts of Premadasa’s letter: “Our nation is yet to recover from the devastation caused by the 2019 Easter Sunday Attacks that targeted innocent civilians in churches and hotels; killing 270 and injuring over 500, damaging historic catholic churches and ruthlessly targeting devotees attending Easter Sunday prayers.
“Diverse segments of civil society have consistently urged the Government to conduct impartial, thorough and transparent investigations into the said attacks in order to seek justice on behalf of the victims and their families as well as to finally reveal the real planners and perpetrators of the Easter Sunday Attacks.
“A Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCol) was appointed to investigate all aspects of the Attacks and following a lengthy inquiry, the PCoI submitted its report with recommendations as far back as December 2019 and March 2020. The PCol report, in its entirety, was never released to the public, its un-redacted contents still undisclosed. The Government has also seemingly reneged on its own reassurance to implement the recommendations of the PCol.
“We note with great concern the ad-hoc transfer of the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), SSP Shani Abeysekara, who was also the lead investigator into the Attacks. Abeysekara’s removal from the investigation as well as being remanded and harassed by the authorities warrants further investigation and explanation.
“SSP Shani Abeysekara filed a Fundamental Rights Application in the Supreme Court. The revelations made by him in his Petition show that he was conducting a thorough investigation into the Attacks and also revealed a possible conspiracy beyond mere extremism that might have assisted in orchestrating the attacks.
“Former Attorney General Dappula De Livera is also on record referring to a “Grand Conspiracy” behind the Easter attacks. I am certain the Attorney General between February 2021 and May 2021 would have had access to the full report of the PCol and to all other related material, thus De Livera is well-placed to form such a conclusion.
“The superficial nature of the investigations in to the Attacks by the present regime is a source of immense frustration for us all.
We pledge that a future “Samagi Jana Balawegaya” Government will implement the recommendations made by the PCol in full as well as assuring the public of complete access to previously classified information pertaining to the Attacks as well as a completely transparent investigation with public, televised hearings and testimonies in order to maintain the highest standards of investigative ethics.”
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Flood warning issued to the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara
Due to heavy rainfall received in the upper catchment areas of the Mahaweli River over the past few hours, there is a risk of minor flooding in the low-lying areas surrounding the Mahaweli River within the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara.Residents living in the above mentioned areas and motorists using roads passing through these areas are urged to exercise extreme caution and remain highly vigilant regarding the prevailing situation.
Furthermore, residents living in close proximity to the Mahaweli River in these areas are advised to remain highly alert to the situation and take all necessary precautions to protect themselves from any potential flooding.The relevant disaster management authorities are requested to take all necessary measures in response to this situation.
The National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide Red Alerts to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya effective from 14:00 hrs on 20.09.2026 To 14:00 hrs on 21.09.2026
Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, Dehiowita, Aranayake, Deraniyagala, Mawanella and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district and Kothmale West, Kotmale East, Ambagamuwa and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district
LEVEL II [AMBER] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Padukka in the Colombo district, Nagoda, Thawalama and Neluwa in the Galle district, Bulathsinhala, Palindanuwara, Walallawita and Agalawatta in the Kalutara district, Ganga Ihala Korale in the Kandy district, Bulathkohupitiya and Kegalle in the Kegalle district, Akuressa and Pitabeddara in the Matara district, Thalawakele in the Nuwara Eliya district and Pelmadulla, Ratnapura, Ayagama, Kuruwita and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I [YELLOW] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka in the Colombo district, Niyagama and Baddegama in the Galle district, Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Ingiriya in the Kalutara district, Udapalatha and Yatinuwara in the Kandy district, Galigamuwa, Warakapola and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Kotapola, Pasgoda and Athuraliya in the Matara district, and Eheliyagoda, Kalawana and Elapatha in the Ratnapura district.
News
Development projects can deliver results to the people more quickly when the political authority and the public service work together towards a common goal – PM
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that development projects can deliver results to the people more quickly when the political authority and the public service work together towards a common, people-oriented objective.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in a discussion held on Friday [September 18] at the Western Province Council Auditorium to review the progress of the development project to rehabilitate Rathmalana Kandawala Road and the drainage system on either side of the road, within the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council limits in the Colombo District.
The project, which commenced on September 10, 2026, is scheduled to be completed before June 30, 2027. Implemented by the Provincial Road Development Authority (PRDA), the project includes the construction of a bridge at a cost of Rs. 64 million, the rehabilitation of the drainage system at a cost of Rs. 930 million, and the rehabilitation of the road at a cost of Rs. 115 million.
The Prime Minister also paid special attention to the progress of the responsibilities assigned to the Western Province Council, the Irrigation Department and the Ratmalana Divisional Secretariat in accordance with decisions taken at the previous committee meeting. Attention was also given to the current status of the plans being carried out by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLRDC), as well as the construction and maintenance activities being undertaken by the Provincial Road Development Authority (PRDA).
Commending the expedite and commendable progress of the project, the Prime Minister particularly appreciated the commitment demonstrated by officials of the relevant government institutions to work in close coordination with one another and in collaboration with the political authority.
The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of taking measures well in advance to control flooding and minimise its impact on Colombo and several other districts in view of the rainy weather that may affect the Western Province during the latter part of this year.
The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Colombo District Coordinating Committee and Member of Parliament Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, Chairperson of the Ratmalana Divisional Coordinating Committee and Member of Parliament Samanmalee Gunasinghe, Chairman of the Roads Sub-Committee of the Colombo District Coordinating Committee Dewananda Suraweera, Mayor of the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council Parakum Shantha, Chief Secretary of the Western Province K.G. Pradeep Pushpakumara, along with a number of government officials.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Flood warning issued to the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara
Landslide Red Alerts issued to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya
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Development projects can deliver results to the people more quickly when the political authority and the public service work together towards a common goal – PM
Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Colombo, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
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