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Avant Garde case accused acquitted

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Avant Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi and seven others were acquitted and discharged yesterday by the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar in connection with maintaining a floating armoury in the seas off Galle harbour.

The case was heard before a three-judge bench comprising Justices Aditya Patabendige, Manjula Tillakaratne and Mahen Weeraman.

The Attorney General had filed 7,573 charges against them including operating a floating armoury onboard the MV Avant Garde off the coast of Beruwala near the Galle Harbor, illegal possession and transportation of 203,395 live ammunition without a licence on board the ship and causing a financial loss to the tune of Rs. 11.4 billion to the state by granting approval to the Avant Garde Maritime Services to operate a floating armory in the Galle Harbor from 07 August 2012 to 8 January 2015. On the 17th of January 2020, after considering the objections, the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar said only 19 charges could be carried forward.

Justice Patabendige, declaring the verdict, said that former defence secretary, Karunasena Hettiarachchi had told the court that the Defence Ministry had given permission to Avant Garde and Rakna Lanka Company, established under the Defence Ministry, to maintain a floating armoury in the Red Sea.

Hettiarachchi said there was Defence Ministry permission to keep arms and ammunition in the ship. The defence submitted a letter issued by the Defence Ministry to prove this and the prosecution had failed to prove that this was not an authentic document. Hettiarachchi had also agreed that it was an authentic document, Justice Patabendige said.

The other defendants acquitted are former Chairman of Rakna Lanka Security Company Victor Samaraweera, Vishwajith Nandana Diyabalanage, Nilupul de Costa, former Additional Secretary of the Defence Ministry Saman Dissanayake, Albert Thilakaratne and the Ukrainian Captain of the ship, Gennadiy Gavrylov. P.B. Premachandra, who had also been named as a defendant in the case passed away during the trial.



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Landslide early warnings issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended till 8AM on Sunday (21)

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The Landslide Early Warning Centre of the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has extended the Landslide Early Warning issued to the districts of Badulla,  Kandy,  Kurunegala,  Matale and Nuwara-Eliya till  08:00AM on Sunday (21st December 2025)

The LEVEL III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Medadumbara, Doluwa, Ududumbara and Minipe in the Kandy district,  and Nildandahinna, Hanguranketha, Mathurata and
Walapane have been extended.

LEVEL II AMBER   landslide early warnings have also been issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions  and surrounding areas of Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Passara,  Meegahakivula, Badulla, Lunugala and  Kandeketiya in the Badulla district,  Thumpane, Harispattuwa, Udapalatha, Kundasale, Akurana, Poojapitiya, Udunuwara, Pathadumbara, Pasbage Korale, Gangawata Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Yatinuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Panvila, Pathahewaheta and Deltota in the Kandy district,  Rideegama in the Kurunegala district,  Ukuwela, Naula, Matale, Ambanganga Korale, Rattota, Pallepola, Wilgamuwa, Yatawatta and Laggala Pallegama in the Matale district,  and Nuwara-Eliya in the Nuwara-Eliya district.

LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of  Uva Paranagama, Welimada, Haputhale, Haldummulla, Ella and
Bandarawela in the Badulla district, Alawwa, Mallawapitiya,
Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kurunegala district,  and Kothmale East, Ambagamuwa Korale, Kothmale West, Thalawakele and Norwood in the Nuwara-Eliya district.

 

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PM says govt. will introduce a new Constitution to abolish executive presidency

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Harini Amarasuriya

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya yesterday sad that the Executive Presidency would be abolished, in line with the NPP’s election manifesto.

Speaking in Parliament, in response to a question raised under Standing Order 27/2 by Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa, the Prime Minister said the abolition would take place through a proposed new Constitution.

She added that preliminary work on drafting the new Constitution had already begun, with previous committee reports and other proposals being studied to guide the process.

“A concept paper on the draft will be presented to the Cabinet,” Amarasuriya said, noting that a formal study has been initiated on abolishing the Executive Presidency.

She said that the move cannot be implemented without introducing a new Constitution.

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Opposition Leader rises in defence of Dr. Bellana 

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Sajith

Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that the suspension of duties imposed on Dr. Rukshan Bellana, Deputy Director of the National Hospital, amounted to a violation of his fundamental rights.

Raising the issue during parliamentary proceedings, Premadasa, who is also the SJB Leader, questioned the decision to suspend the senior medical officer for issuing a statement to the media, particularly on matters relating to children’s medicines.

He said health was a fundamental right and noted that two children had reportedly died, stressing that the focus should be on accountability over the incident rather than penalising a medical professional for speaking out.

Premadasa criticised the authorities for suspending Dr. Bellana solely for communicating with the media, asking whether such action constituted justice for families who had lost their children.The Opposition Leader said silencing officials, who raise concerns, undermines fundamental rights and does not address the underlying issues related to patient safety and public health.

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