News
Zacky Jabbar’s untimely death: Fond memories will continue to linger
BY SURESH PERERA
The heart-wrenching news of the untimely death of senior journalist Zacky Jabbar (60) left his colleagues at The Island devastated.
Nobody expected Zacky to make a silent exit because that was not the way he lived – a lively character who always made his presence felt.
Knowing his penchant for travel, his absence was no cause for immediate concern, but it was only after calls to him went unanswered for too long that inquiries were made from his friends and acquaintances. However, they had neither seen nor heard from him for some time.
It was at that point his brother Zalman was contacted after much effort as Zacky was typically a private person who kept details of his family circle close to his chest. His privacy was tightly guarded.
He lived alone at his home in Kumaragewatte, Pelawatte. And that was where his brother found him dead last Wednesday.
Calls poured in as news of his sudden death spread across the media network. Many were the tributes paid to the senior journalist on Facebook and other social media platforms.
After a stint at Browns, Zacky cut his teeth in journalism at the now defunct ‘Sun’ newspaper, which he joined in 1985. Later he joined The Island and developed his career as a journalist covering the political round with close contacts in the UNP and the previous government.
The Kaduwela Acting Magistrate ordered Zacky’s body to be released to his brother Zalman for burial. The funeral was held on Thursday at the Muslim burial grounds at Battaramulla.
As the sun set on Zacky Jabbar, his colleagues in The Island and across the media spectrum bid an emotional farewell to a man who has left behind fond memories that will continue to linger.
Goodbye, Zacky, goodbye, until we meet again in a world beyond the stars!
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
AKD: Govt. agenda on track despite Ditwah disaster
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