News

Weerasekera says attack on Chamuditha exploited by anti-national forces

Published

4 years ago

2022/02/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Premadasa: SJB has never betrayed the country

By Saman Indrajith

Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (retd) Sarath Weerasekara called on the SJB in parliament yesterday not to undermine national interest for petty political gains.

Responding to a question raised by SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, the Minister said that the recent attack on the house of TV journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama was being used by anti-national forces in view of the UNHRC session in Geneva.

The Minister said that a report has been called from the State Intelligence Service (SIS) to ascertain whether there was any security threat to Samarawickrama.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security has sought guidance and advice from the Victims and Witnesses Protection Authority to provide security to Samarawickrama in accordance with the order issued by the Piliyandala Magistrate’s Court.

Opposition Leader Premadasa said that no steps were taken to provide security to Samarawickrama in accordance with the court order. Some police personnel were assigned at Samarawickrama’s residence on Monday night after the government had come to know that he would raise this issue in the House yesterday.

Minister Weerasekara said some police personnel had been assigned as per the directives from the Victims and Witnesses Protection Authority on providing security to Samarawickrama as per the court order.

Minister Weerasekara said police mobile patrols had been deployed in the area and a police patrol book was also placed at the gate of Samarawickrama’s house for a long time now and that police had visited his house around midnight on the day of the incident.

Minister Weerasekera said that the CCTV footage taken from 92 cameras were being scrutinized and some footage which are unclear, were sent to the Moratuwa University for intense scrutinizing.

The Minister said the Opposition Leader was attempting to make allegations regarding media freedom to meet political ends ahead of UNHRC sessions in Geneva. “You were a member of the former government which sponsored UN resolutions against this country,” the Minister said.

Opposition Leader Premadasa said that SJB had never betrayed the country.

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News

Animal Welfare Draft Bill to be Gazetted

Published

21 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

A specialists committee has been appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation adhering to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 29.12.2025 for submitting appropriate recommendations analyzing the provisions of the draft bill formulation in regard to Animal Welfare.

Based on the recommendations of the said Committee, the Legal Draftsman has been instructed at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 18.05.2026 to prepare the final bill on the animal welfare.

Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the draft bill and the clearance of the Attorney General has been received in the connection.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to publish the said draft bill in the
Government Gazette Notification and subsequently forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.

News

Legal provisions on marking voters using indelible ink during elections removed

Published

21 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

Under the legal provisions for elections in this country since 2004, it is mandatory for voters who come to mark their votes to verify their identity through a valid identity card, and it is also mandatory for all such voters to be marked with an appropriate mark using indelible ink. The dual purpose of these two functions is to prevent a voter from voting more than once in a single election.

It has been observed that having to follow two different
methods at the same time to achieve the same objective hinders the efficiency of the duties performed at the polling stations and also incurs additional costs to the government.

Therefore, it has been deemed appropriate to remove the legal provisions regarding the use of indelible ink and marking the voter with the appropriate mark from all election acts.

Accordingly, the development activities of the province, as well as national security, will benefit. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the
President to take necessary steps to remove the legal provisions

• Section 36 of the presidential Election Act, No 15 of 1981
• Section 38 of the Parliamentary Election Act, No 01 of 1981
• Section 36 of the Provincial Council Election Act, No 02 of 1988
• Section 53 A of the Local Government Elections Ordinance (262 Authority)
• Section 21 of the Referendum Act No 7 of 1981

News

Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts

Published

21 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 24 JUNE 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 24 June 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m.

Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expectedat times over the Western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.