By Shamindra Ferdinando

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila yesterday (03) accused the National People’s Power (NPP) government of making an attempt to promote a relatively junior officer as the Head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI).

The former parliamentarian and Attorney-at-Law named the officer holding the rank of Colonel.

Addressing the media at the PHU office at Pita Kotte, Gammanpila alleged that the NPP wanted to bring the DMI under a Colonel married to a senior activist of Lanka Guru Seva Sangamaya.

The one-time JHU stalwart compared the NPP’s actions with that of the Yahapalana administration (2015-2019) comprising the UNP and the SLFP that debilitated the intelligence services. Gammanpila charged that the ruination of the intelligence services facilitated the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage.

According to the PHU leader, five Brigadiers and seven Colonels had been either sidelined or moved to various commands in various parts of the country to accommodate the NPP favourite. Having named all officers concerned, the former Minister pointed out the absurdity in placing one of them as the director of the Army band.

Gammanpila claimed that as a Colonel couldn’t be made the head of the DMI suddenly, the NPP has brought in an Engineers’ officer holding the rank of Brigadier as a temporary measure.

The former Minister said that the issue should be vigorously raised in Parliament as national security is at stake. Responding to The Island queries, the former lawmaker emphasized the responsibility on the part of the NPP to ensure that the once proud intelligence services remained fully geared to meet any eventuality.

Gammanpila also noted the changes that had been effected at the State Intelligence Services (SIS) as well as the Office of the Chief of National Intelligence against the backdrop of the government decision to do away with the Office of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

By Ifham Nizam 

The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) has initiated legal action to prevent the rising number of elephant deaths due to collision with moving trains.

The petition, filed in the Supreme Court under case number SCFR 38/2025, holds multiple authorities accountable, including the Director of Wildlife Conservation, Sri Lanka Railways, the Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Environment and Wildlife, and the Attorney General.

CEJ Chairman Hemantha Withanage emphasised the severity of the situation, stating, “Train collisions have become a major threat to Sri Lanka’s elephant population, which is a crucial part of our natural and cultural heritage. The authorities have failed to implement effective solutions, despite repeated warnings and expert recommendations.”

Recent statistics indicate that during the past 13 years alone, at least 151 elephants have died in collision with trains. These incidents frequently occur in areas where railway lines pass through elephant habitats, and elephants are not visible at night.

The Committee for the Prevention of Elephant Deaths by Train Collisions (CPEDTC) has identified 21 key measures to mitigate this issue, including improved monitoring, fencing in high-risk areas, and adjusting train schedules in critical zones.

Withanage further stated, “We cannot afford to lose more elephants due to negligence. Urgent action is required .

Sri Lankan ambassador to Cambodia Wijayanthi Edirisinghe has discussed ways and means of strengthening trade, investment and economic cooperation with Minister of Commerce of Cambodia, Cham Nimul at their Ministry of Commerce in Phnom Penh recently.

The Foreign Ministry press release: “During the discussions, Ambassador Edirisinghe highlighted the longstanding and friendly relations between the two countries and emphasized Sri Lanka’s commitment to deepening economic ties. She underlined the potential to further enhance bilateral trade especially in key sectors such as agriculture, textiles and tourism, and encouraged Cambodian investment in Sri Lanka’s priority sectors including manufacturing, logistics, agriculture and technology.

Ambassador Edirisinghe also pointed out the growing footprint of Sri Lankan companies in Cambodia, particularly in finance, logistics, IT, and tourism sectors, while noting the increasing interest of more IT companies to explore opportunities in the Cambodian market.