News
Sarath draws RW’s attention to humiliation of military officers
Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, MP, has drawn the attention of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to the humiliation caused by travel restrictions imposed on senior serving and retired military officers and two former Presidents by the US, Australia and Canada.
In a letter dated 25 Oct., the former Public Security Minister has pointed out to the President that among the affected were Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and CDS General Shavendra Silva. None of them have been charged with any war crimes or pending “war crime charges” in local or foreign judicial courts.
Pointing out that Western countries have used UNHRC resolutions as an excuse to humiliate those who gave political and military leadership to defeat the LTTE, termed even by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation as the most ruthless terrorist organisation, MP Weerasekera alleged that successive governments failed pathetically to apprise the UNHRC properly regarding the war and the relevant Geneva conventions covering it.
Recently, the US denied visa to MP Weerasekera, a former Navy Chief of Staff, thereby denied him an opportunity to join a parliamentary delegation to Washington. However, close on the heels of the US denial, China invited the former minister to attend an international conference in Beijing.
MP Weerasekera alleged that some officers have been prevented from taking part in “peace missions” and their nominations were either delayed or refused on the basis of unsubstantiated war crimes allegations.
Explaining how the then UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon went out of his way to trap war-winning Sri Lanka in war crimes investigation, the lawmaker questioned the red carpet welcome afforded to Ki-moon when he visited Sri Lanka several months ago.
The SLN veteran has pointed out that Sri Lanka should ask the international community to deal with accountability issues here as a ‘non-international armed conflict’ and certainly not as an ‘international armed conflict’
In spite of the UN appointed Panel of Experts (Darusman Report) and the report of the Office of Human Rights Commissioner (OISL) too recognizing the war against the LTTE was a ‘Non International Armed Conflict’ and the applicable law is ‘International Humanitarian Law’ and the same has been confirmed in the ruling of EU General Court which rejected an appeal to lift the ban on LTTE, Sri Lanka was being relentlessly targeted.
Three Sri Lankan leopard cubs that were born at the Singapore Zoo on Jan 1 have now made their public debut at the facility.
The two males and one female, born to mother Yala and father Asanka, are the first of their species yo be born at the Singapore Zoo. The last successful birth in Singapore was recorded at the Night Safari three decades ago.
The triplets, which are the pair’s first litter, are among around 80 Sri Lankan leopards in zoos worldwide.
The species is listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with fewer than 800 individuals estimated to remain in the wild.
Visitors can now see the triplets at the Wild Africa exhibit, said the Mandai Wildlife Group in a statement on April 16.
The cubs can be found in the exhibit with their mother daily until mid-May and, subsequently, every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Yala with her cubs in their nest box, a month after their birth on Jan 1. (Straits Times)
A leopard cub investigating a piece of meat suspended from a tree – one of the several enrichment items in the Wild Africa exhibit designed to keep the cats mentally and physically stimulated. (Straits Times)
Mandai Wildlife Group curator Anand Kumar said it took nearly three years and close collaboration across continents to bring together a compatible pair of Sri Lankan leopards.
(Straits Times)
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-zoos-first-sri-lankan-leopard-cubs-make-their-public-debut?ref=top-stories
The Sri Lanka Navy has seized a local multi- day fishing trawler, it’s four man crew together with a consignment suspected to be narcotics off the Southern Coast of the island.
The vessel is presently being escorted to the Dikowita fisheries harbour for further investigations and legal proceedings.
Latest News
Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and Southern provinces and in Monaragala district
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 15 April 2026, valid for 16 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, Eastern
and Southern provinces and in Monaragala district.
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
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