News

Sajith assures justice to Easter Sunday victims

Published

4 years ago

2022/04/24

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

Published

3 hours ago

2026/04/27

Priyan

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]

Latest News

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

Published

11 hours ago

2026/04/27

Priyan

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.

News

Opposition asks for PSC to probe Treasury theft

Published

12 hours ago

2026/04/27

Sahan Weerasooriya

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.