Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ananda Wijepala, recently said that rehabilitation centres would be established at district level to help drug addicts. In addition to the proposed centres, at district level, another centre would be set up at the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board’s centre, located in Handessa, Kandy.

Addressing the Kandy District programme of the National Operation to Eradicate Toxic Drugs, held at the Kandy District Secretariat auditorium, Minister Ananda Wijepala said: “2,146 individuals, addicted to toxic drugs, have been rehabilitated. Parents have the opportunity to voluntarily submit their children, who are addicted to drugs, for rehabilitation. This is the best opportunity for parents, who live in fear that their drug-addicted children will be exposed to society.”

The Minister also stated that a new programme would be introduced soon for drug addicts to voluntarily join rehabilitation programmes.

Ministers K. D. Lalkantha, Hansaka Wijemuni, Prasanna Gunasena, Provincial Governor Sarath Abayakoon, Member of Parliament Thanura Dissanayake, Deputy Inspectors General of Police, Kandy District Secretary Indika Udawatta, and a group of senior police officers attended the occasion.

by S.K. Samaranayake

The Global Sri Lanka Forum (GSLF) has requested President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to ensure Major General Sallay receives unimpeded access to top-tier medical care, that his safety is guaranteed, and that his legal case is expedited via standard, transparent judicial channels rather than prolonged administrative detention.

The text of the GSLF letter: “The Global Sri Lankan Forum (GSLF), an organisation representing the collective voice of expatriate Sri Lankan professionals, academics, and civil society members worldwide, addresses this urgent communication to Your Excellency regarding a matter of grave concern.

“We write to bring to your immediate and urgent attention our profound concerns regarding the critical health condition and ongoing administrative detention of Retired Major General Tuan Suresh Sallay, the former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS).

“According to verified reports from legal counsel and family members, Major General Sallay’s physical well-being has entered a severely compromised and dangerous phase following a prolonged hunger strike initiated during his custody. He remains hospitalised in a critical state under a detention order issued under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

“While the GSLF fully supports your administration’s mandate to pursue comprehensive, transparent and fair investigations into the tragic 2019 Easter Sunday attacks to achieve long-awaited justice for the victims, we firmly believe that the mechanisms used to achieve justice must reflect the highest standards of the rule of law.

“We respectfully request Your Excellency to consider the following vital points on humanitarian and legal grounds:

“As the executive authority under whose direct mandate the detention order under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) was issued, the ultimate legal and moral responsibility for the safety, well-being and preservation of life of the detainee rests inherently with your office. Should any unfortunate, irreversible or fatal consequence occur to Major General Sallay while held under this executive order, the responsibility for such an outcome would inevitably be attributed to the issuing authority.

“Under both the Constitution of Sri Lanka and international humanitarian treaties to which our nation is a signatory, the state bears an absolute obligation to preserve the life, health, and dignity of any individual held in state custody. A critical medical crisis occurring during administrative detention poses profound ethical and legal challenges to the state.

“Major General Sallay has dedicated decades of his life as a high-ranking military officer safeguarding the sovereignty and national security of Sri Lanka. While no individual is above the law, basic tenets of natural justice dictate that long-term detention without formal indictments should be avoided. The presentation of clear evidence before an independent judiciary remains the cornerstone of a civilized democracy.

“At a time when Sri Lanka is navigating complex geopolitical landscapes and seeking to strengthen global diplomatic and economic ties, the handling of high-profile detainees under extraordinary laws is closely monitored. Any tragic outcome or perceived lapse in basic humanitarian protocols risks severely damaging the nation’s international reputation, human rights record, and standing among global watchdogs.

“As the chief executive and the authority responsible for executive orders within the republic, the ultimate power to ensure equity, compassion, and the preservation of fundamental rights rests with your esteemed office.

“Therefore, on behalf of the global Sri Lankan diaspora, the Global Sri Lankan Forum earnestly appeals to Your Excellency to intervene on urgent humanitarian grounds. We respectfully request that your administration ensures Major General Sallay receives unimpeded access to top-tier medical care, that his safety is robustly guaranteed, and that his legal case is expedited via standard, transparent judicial channels rather than prolonged administrative detention.

“We remain confident that Your Excellency will approach this delicate matter with the statesmanship, equity, and commitment to the rule of law that your office represents.”

Prasad Gonakumbura on behalf of civil society group, Next, has requested the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to inquire into the arrest of Binoy Hettiarachchi, a media coordinator with the People’s United Opposition led by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Gonakumbura, in a letter to the HRCSL, has said that the police arrested Hettiarachchi on 18 June in the Kollupitiya area along with opposition activist Sugeeshwara Bandara, former private secretary to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa but was released about four hours later as there was no reason to detain him.