News
Tamil grouping defends pulling down of National flag at Jaffna University
The Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) has strongly defended students of the Jaffna University who pulled down the Sri Lankan National flag and hoisted black flags on 4 February as part of coordinated protests in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
Students, civil society organisations and families of the disappeared took part in these protests, northern sources said.
However, the University Grants Commission (UGC), which reportedly declared the protest unlawful, has called for investigations and disciplinary action against the students involved.
The Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) has defended their right to protest.
In a media statement issued by its spokesperson Suresh K. Premachandran, the DTNA stated that since Sri Lanka attained independence, Tamil people had for decades marked Independence Day as a day of mourning through black flag protests.
Premachandran noted that Sri Lanka had historically been divided into Sinhala and Tamil kingdoms, which were unified by British colonial rulers in 1833 for administrative convenience. He further asserted that governance of the island was subsequently handed over to the Sinhala majority upon independence, leaving the Tamil nation without political safeguards.
The DTNA stated that there was no legal basis to deem the hoisting of black flags unlawful within a university or elsewhere, provided that no harm is caused to persons or property. It, therefore, condemned the UGC’s call for investigations and punitive action, as well as any compliance with such demands by university authorities.
The Alliance also called on the academic community to ensure that universities remain spaces where students can pursue their education freely and without fear, including the exercise of their democratic rights.
It further noted that those who came to power through mass protests and student-led mobilisation should reflect on whether it is just to suppress the democratic expression of Tamil students today.
The protests at the University of Jaffna formed part of a broader wave of demonstrations across the “Tamil homeland” on 4 February, where black flags were raised and vigils held to mark what many Tamils continue to regard as a day of mourning rather than independence.
Advisory for strong winds and rough seas for Multi-day boats in the Bay of Bengal deep sea areas
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 05.00 p.m. 18 September 2026, valid for the next 24 hours.
PLEASE BE AWARE!
The atmospheric disturbance to the North of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, is likely to develop into a low pressure area within the next 24 hours.
Due to its influence, wind speed over the Bay of Bengal sea areas will increase during the next few days starting from
tomorrow (19th).
The wind speed in the sea areas marked under the “Advisory” category on the map below will increase to 55-65 kmph at times and those sea areas will be rough or very rough at times.
Navel and fishing communities engaging the activities over this sea area are advised to be vigilant and be attentive to the future forecasts and bulletins issued by the department of Meteorology in this regards.
Text and Pic by Priyan de Silva
Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) Ranga Dissanayake has questioned whether some promises contained in the National People’s Power (NPP) manifesto, A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life, could be fulfilled even if the government wanted to implement them.
Dissanayake raised the issue during a discussion following the release of the third biannual report on manifesto monitoring by the March 12 Movement, at the BMICH, on Wednesday.
He questioned whether the report had taken into account legal and institutional constraints affecting the implementation of certain pledges.
Citing the proposal to establish Anti-Corruption Investigation Offices in each district, Dissanayake said such offices could be established only with the agreement of CIABOC and that amendments to the Anti-Corruption Act would be necessary.
He also referred to the pledge to abolish the Executive Presidency, noting that successive governments had made similar commitments since 1994. He questioned whether there had been adequate consideration of where the powers vested in the Executive President would be transferred if the system were abolished.
On the proposal to establish a Public Prosecutor, Dissanayake questioned whether the Government intended to maintain the office alongside the Attorney General, who currently performs prosecution-related functions.
Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Manjula Gajanayake said Dissanayake’s remarks should be regarded as his personal views and not as Government policy.
Monitoring and Evaluation Consultants M. Thilakarajah and D.D. Mataharaarachchi presented the third-phase findings, covering January to June 2026.
The corruption case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against former Navy Commander, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, and Yoshitha Rajapaksa was set for a pre-trial conference by the Colombo High Court.
The case was taken up before the Colombo High Court on Thursday (17), when the accused, who are currently out on bail, appeared before the court. After considering the submissions made, the court ordered that the case be called for a pre-trial conference.
The CIABOC had filed the case against the accused, alleging that a corruption offence was committed by sending Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, for training at the Royal Naval College in the United Kingdom despite him not having the required qualifications.
Advisory for strong winds and rough seas for Multi-day boats in the Bay of Bengal
Showers in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya Districts
Some NPP manifesto promises may be difficult to fulfil – CIABOC DG
Yoshitha and ex-Navy chief Karannagoda’s case fixed for PTC
Court orders probe into Wimal’s rally speech
Court to rule on Dilith’s writ petition on September 30
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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