News
Theft of explosives, act of vandalism jolt police into action
… authorities concerned about possible links to Easter Sunday suicide bombers
By Norman Palihawadana
The police and intelligence services have launched a probe following an attack that broke the glass shield of a Buddha statue near Dadimudda kovil at Hingula, Mawanella, the scene of several attacks on Buddha statues in late December 2018.
Subsequent investigations revealed those who had carried out the Mawanella attacks carried out the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide attacks which claimed the lives of 270 people.
Police headquarters stepped up security in the area following the latest incident.
Police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana yesterday (30) told The Island that the intelligence services and the CID had been deployed. The Kegalle and Mawanella police had initiated a separate investigation.
The police have obtained footage from the CCTV cameras in the area.
The incident took place close on the heels of the alleged theft of a stock of explosives from a rock quarry in Mawanella.
Police said that the owner of a rock quarry at Molliyagoda in Mawanella had complained to the police about the alleged theft of the explosives which had taken place on December 22.
Police said that among the items missing from the quarry were 15 kilos of ammonium nitrate, six water-gel pellets, 20 detonators, 35 metres of detonator cord and one 70 A battery.
The CID has taken over the investigations while personnel from State Intelligence have also been sent to Mawanella to investigate the theft.
A discussion with the Catholic Council was held on Thursday (21) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat under the co-chairmanship of Minister of Science and Technology, Chrishantha Abeysena and Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Discussions focused on administrative issues relating to Catholic schools taken over by the Government, the formulation of a structured teacher cadre system for Catholic religious education, the need to recruit Catholic nuns and priests into the teaching profession and the establishment of a mechanism to obtain the support of the Ministry of Education for the administration of Government-acquired Catholic schools.
It was also decided that discussions with the Catholic Council would be held three times annually, while Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage would serve as Secretary to the forum.
Expressing appreciation on behalf of the Catholic Council, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith thanked President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Government for facilitating the discussion.
His Eminence further stated that the expectation was to ensure every student, without discrimination, is given the opportunity to learn his or her own religion and stressed the importance of resolving the prevailing issues within the education sector.
Also present at the occasion were Most Rev. Bishop Harold Anthony Perera, Most Rev. Bishop Christy Noel Emmanuel, Most Rev. Bishop Anton Ranjith, Most Rev. Bishop Wimal Siri Jayasuriya, other clergy representing the Catholic Council, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa and senior officials of the Ministry of Education.
(PMD)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to broaden the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, which was launched last year. Unlike the inaugural edition held in November 2025 that featured eight Associate teams, the second edition will comprise 10 teams, including five Test-playing nations. The tournament is scheduled to be held in November this year.
Italian Navy’s ITS GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE, which arrived in Colombo (21 May 2026) on a replenishment visit, departed the island today (22 May).
The Sri Lanka Navy bade a customary farewell to the departing ship in compliance with naval traditions at the port of Colombo.
During her brief stay in Colombo, the Commanding Officer of the ship, Commander Antonio BUFIS called on the Commander Western Naval Area at the Western Naval Command Headquarters.
Catholic Council reconvenes after nine years
ICC to widen Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy
Italian Navy’s ITS GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE departs following replenishment visit
PM meets Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations
Tennessee execution called off after failed lethal injection
Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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