News
CA dismisses Nagananda’s call for postponing A/L
By Chitra Weerarathne
The Court of Appeal has dismissed a Writ Application filed by public litigation activist/lawyer Nagananda Kodituwakku, requesting the Court to issue a mandatory order to postpone the GCE Advanced Level Examination scheduled to commence next Tuesday (8).
The bench comprised Justice Sobitha Rajakaruna. Kodituwakku told the Court that due to teachers’ strike and the pandemic, those sitting the examination had not been able to complete their studies. The petitioner asked the court to intervene to allow students to have at least 20 more weeks to prepare for the examination.
The Director General of National Education should take this into account, the petitioner said. Counsel Krishmal Warnasuriya intervened and objected. He said he appeared for a group of children sitting the exam.
Nagananada Kodituwakku asked the Court of Appeal to issue a mandatory order to postpone the exam.
The petitioner Kodituwakku had asked the Court to cancel the A/L examination time table by a Writ of Certiorari. The right to education of children had been violated by the authorities, he said.
Justice Sobitha Rajakaruna said that the fundamental rights jurisdiction was in the Supreme Court only. But the Court of Appeal has the right to look into public interest issues, Kodituwakku said. Intervention should not be considered, Kodituwakku said.
Warnasuriya said that the petitioner Kodituwakku was trying to file petitions and stop the GCE A/L examination due next week. A citizen of this country who has no interest in the A/L examination has no right to waste the time of the Court, Warnasuriya argued.
Counsel Krishmal Warnasuriya said that Kodituwakku had petitioned as an Attorney-at-Law when he was not. Kodituwakku replied that he had been suspended from the Bar only for another one month. He said that he did a service to the people by complaining about the LP gas explosions. He said that he wanted the exam postponed for a little while only.
(Ms.) Nina P. Cainglet, Ambassador of the Philippines to Sri Lanka based in Dhaka, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the Prime Minister’s Office on May 16, 2025.
The Prime Minister welcomed Ambassador Cainglet and extended her congratulations on the new appointment. The discussion focused on expanding cooperation in trade and tourism, with both sides expressing their commitment to exploring new opportunities in these key sectors. The meeting also addressed consular matters relating to the Filipino community in Sri Lanka. In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured continued dialogue and necessary support on relevant issues.
The meeting was attended by Ms. Judienne Capiz, Vice Consul of the Embassy of the Philippines in Dhaka, Pradeep Saputhanthri, Secretary to the Prime Minister; Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister; Ms. S.S. Premawardhane, Additional Secretary, Bilateral Political Affairs (East); and M.R. Keegel, Deputy Director, Southeast Asia & Central Asia Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division].
The Bribery Commission on Friday filed a corruption case against former Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and ex-BOI Director General Jayantha Edirisinghe, accusing them of misusing public cash for a lavish newspaper ad campaign back in 2014.
They stand accused of siphoning Rs. 1.7 million in state funds to publish 11 newspaper supplements marking the second inauguration anniversary of then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 19, 2014.
According to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), the move amounted to a clear breach of anti-graft laws, with five formal charges now filed before the Colombo High Court.
The case, centred around alleged misuse of Board of Investment (BOI) funds, is backed by 21 pieces of documentary evidence and testimony from 15 witnesses.
The Bribery Commission maintains that the ad blitz had no official sanction and led to a direct loss of Rs. 1,748,877.76 to the state.
Inspector General of Police T.M.W. Deshabandu Tennakoon is set to face formal questioning tomorrow (May 19) over serious allegations of misconduct and abuse of power, parliamentary sources said on Friday.
A special committee appointed to investigate the claims will commence formal proceedings next week, following several rounds of preliminary discussions held within the parliamentary complex in recent weeks.
The IGP has been officially notified to appear before the committee and is expected to face the inquiry for the first time at 2:00 PM in Committee Room No. 8.
The committee, which met again on Thursday (15) to finalise arrangements, is investigating allegations that Tennakoon misused his official powers in a manner deemed severe and improper.
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