News
AG to move SC against Trial-at-Bar ruling: Tiran
Acquittal of group indicted for smuggling 197 kg of heroin
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, will soon move the Supreme Court against the recent acquittal of five persons indicted at the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar for the possession of nearly 197 kgs of heroin.
Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said so when The Island raised the growing public discontent over the acquittal of the entire group, intercepted and arrested by the Navy (SLNS Sagara), in international waters, in April 2019.
Asked how he expected to restore public confidence in the much-touted government offensive against narcotics trade, considering the failure of the AG Department’s to bring the high profile case to a successful conclusion, Minister Alles said the SC would be moved tomorrow or the day after.
Rajaratnam succeeded Dappula de Livera, PC, in May 2021. At the time of the detection, the incumbent Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, had served as the AG.
The Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar, having concluded the hearings within six months, acquitted and discharged the suspects on April 06, 2023, on the basis the prosecution failed to prove the charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt. The Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar Bench comprising Colombo High Court Judges Adithya Patabendige, Manjula Thilakaratne and Mahesh Weeraman, held that there were serious contradictions in the evidence led by the prosecution.
Minister Alles acknowledged his concerns over contradictions in evidence given by police officers. State Defence Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon told The Island that this particular issue received their prompt attention.
Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, appointed a Trial-at-Bar following a request made by AG Rajaratnam.The suspects in this case were Jayakody Arachchige Anura Chaminda Appuhamy, Thawarasa Sudakaran, Aglesa Pillai Thawarasa, Yaddihi Arachchige Lasantha Priyalal and Kandayiya Chandrakumar.
Navy headquarters directed Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) SLNS Sagara to intercept the fishing craft carrying heroin after police alerted the presence of the vessel in international waters.
The then head of the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), Senior DIG Sajeewa Madawatte, had been at the Trincomalee harbour to take the suspects into custody. Although the weight of the recovered heroin had been given as 293.19 kilos subsequently that amount was reduced to 196 kilos and 986 grams.
Senior DIG Medawatte was transferred out of the PNB, in July 2020, in the wake of the disclosure of the alleged involvement of several PNB personnel, with narcotics dealers. Madawatte now heads the Support Service, in addition to being the senior officer in charge of the North Western Province. Several attempts made by The Island to contact Senior DIG Medawatte weren’t successful.Police spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that the media would be briefed of the developments once he got in touch with DIG in charge of Police Legal Division.
In terms of the provisions of the Establishments Code on payment of festival advance to government officers, there’s a possibility of obtaining rupees 10,000/- as an advance for celebrating festivals of Theipongal, Ramazan, Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Wesak, Deepavali, and Christmas as well as for pilgrimages (Sri Paada pilgrimage and Hajj pilgrimage).
Provisions have been given to recover the said advance in 08 installments or if required earlier without interest. It has been proposed by the Budget 2026 to increase the said festival advance up to rupees 15,000/-.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local governments to revise the relevant provisions so that the festival advance can be increased up to rupees 15,000/- .
As per the approval given by the cabinet meeting held on 02-06-2025, action is being taken at present to offer the underutilized lands/properties of the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Etate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation Company which are under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure which have been identified under stage one to suitable investors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure to provide following lands/properties on a lease basis to the suitable investors for optimal utilization following the prescribed procurement procedure.
• underutilized lands/properties identified under stage two owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Estate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation
Company,
• The Mawarala watte land and the Tea factory 40.48 hectares in extent, located in Matara District belonging to the Tea Shakthi Fund.
• The underutilized land of 1,541 hectares in extent of Kondachchi Estate is enjoyed by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
The drafting of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has commenced with the objective of equitable distribution of the benefits of the fisheries industry and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. This policy has been updated from time to time according to current requirements. However, steps have not been taken to obtain the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
According to the policy declaration of the present government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been redrafted, updating the aforementioned policy in line with the economic and development objectives of the government.
The recommendations of the Department of National Planning have been received for the drafted policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine
Resources to implement the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, integrating it with other relevant policies.
Lanka Premier League draft set to take place on March 22
Trump to meet Venezuelan opposition leader Machado at the White House
Festival advance for government officers to be increased
Providing underutilized lands/properties to suitable investors for optimal utilization.
Implementation of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy
Expressions of Interest called to develop selected locations within the Pelawatte Sugar Factory premises
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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