News
Chamuditha questions delay in protection even after court directive
‘Would I be still alive for the next court hearing ?’
By Chitra Weerarathne and Shamindra Ferdinando
Hiru anchor Chamuditha Samarawickrema says that in spite of a directive issued by the Kesbewa Magistrate to the Witness Protection Division of the police to provide security to him, law enforcement authorities were yet to do so.
One-time Director of President Maithripala Sirisena’s Media Unit, Samarawickrema yesterday (22) said he hadn’t been provided personal protection regardless of the court directive issued on Feb 18 consequent to Kuvera de Zoysa, PC, moving court over an attack on his house at the Gangarama Road, Wewala, Piliyandala, in the early hours of Feb 14.
Samarawickrema said that his life and the lives of his wife and their 14-year-old daughter were at risk as those who carried out the attack as well as the mastermind behind it remained at large over a week after the incident.
Samarawickrema said that the CCTV footage made available to the police by him as well as those who lived along the road revealed that the intruders who arrived at the housing scheme comprised at least five persons. The driver of the vehicle captured on the CCTV was among them, Samarawickrema said.
When The Island pointed out that the police headquarters had, on Monday night around 10 pm, announced that appropriate security had been provided to the housing scheme area after the IGP C.D. Wickremaratne received the court directive, Samarawickrema questioned the rationale behind deploying the police in the housing scheme area instead at the targeted house.
Police headquarters said that after having received the court directive action had been taken to forward it to the Witness Protection Authority through the Secretary to Public Security Ministry to obtain guidelines and advice. Pending specific instructions from the authority, the Senior, DIG, Western Province had been directed to provide ‘suitable’ security, the police headquarters said.
Samarawickrema said that those responsible quite conveniently had forgotten that he was under threat. Samarawickrema said that perhaps, by the time the case would be taken up again on March 25th, he wouldn’t be alive to continue the fight.
Appreciating the concerns expressed by journalists’ organizations here and abroad, Samarawickrema urged the government to apprehend those responsible without further delay.
Kuvera de Zoysa, President’s Counsel appeared with Henry Newman, Pasindu Bandara and Devika Kottegoda for Samarawickrema.
Samarawickremema said that the Witness Protection Division on Monday afternoon had recorded his statement at his home.
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri which arrived at the Port of Colombo on a formal visit on 04 Apr 25, departed the island today (07 Apr). The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the ship’s stay in Colombo, crew members of INS Sahyadri took part in several programmes organized by the Sri Lanka Navy, aimed at enhancing mutual cooperation. In addition, they also explored some tourist attractions in the country. Further, personnel of Sri Lanka Navy had the opportunity to visit INS Sahyadri, gaining insights into her operational capabilities.
Latest News
Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre has issued an Advisory for Severe Lightning for the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district.
The advisory issued at 02.00 p.m. today [07 April 2025] is valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 07 April 2025
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district. There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
The report of the “Census of Population and Housing 2024,” conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics, was officially handed over to President Anura Kumara Disanayake this morning (07) at the Presidential Secretariat.
This preliminary report has been prepared based on island wide data collected between October and December 2024.
The report provides details on Sri Lanka’s population, its growth and the distribution of the population across districts.
The information gathered through the census is vital not only for the government but also for other institutions in formulating policies and development plans essential for the country’s progress. Significantly, for the first time in the history of census-collecting in Sri Lanka, data collection was carried out using tablet computers and user-friendly mobile devices.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Finance & Planning, Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana, Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics D.D.G.A. Senevirathne and several other officials.
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