News
Church claims Gota ally Namal Kumara’s allegation a ploy to derail Easter Justice
(UCAN)Colombo Magistrate Nilupuli Lankatilake on Jan 1 remanded social activist Namal Kumara for 14 days, after he was arrested for insulting the nation’s only Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.
Kumara’s statements have not only insulted the Church leader but also offended Christians across the nation, police told the court. They wanted Kumara’s remand, citing potential religious and social unrest.
An audio recording that Kumara released during Christmas week insulted Cardinal Ranjith. The recording went viral on social media.
Police arrested Kumara on the complaint of Rev Jude Chrisantha, the director of National Catholic Communication. The complaint called for a thorough police investigation into the “harm caused.”
Chrisantha alleged Kumara is an “accomplice in the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks in which bombs went off almost simultaneously in three Churches and three luxury hotels, killing 270 people and injuring some 500.
The priest alleged that Kumara was “plotting another incident at the request of a third party.”
“We believe this was a deliberate attempt to defame” the cardinal’s reputation, Chrisantha told media on Dec. 30.
He alleged the audio recording was associated with former MP Ranjan Ramanayake.
Chrisantha suggested it was intentionally used to damage the reputation of the cardinal, who spearheads a campaign seeking justice for the families of the Easter Sunday victims.
Kumara is reportedly a supporter of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Media reports quoting investigators say officials loyal to the powerful Rajapaksa family were complicit in the Easter Sunday bombings.
Kumara met journalists after he filed a complaint with the presidential secretariat seeking an investigation into the audio clip. However, he said his “aim is to defend the Cardinal, not to defame him.”
Rajapaksa supporters are also accused of fabricating stories to mislead the bombing investigation and to divert public attention from it, allowing criminal collaborators to escape accountability.
“Kumara played a key role in this mission and now appears to be setting the stage for another conspiracy,” said activist Surin Sarath.
Sarath wanted police to conduct “a thorough investigation” and ensure justice.
He told UCA news on Jan. 2 that the allegations have “severely harmed Cardinal Ranjith’s reputation and the feelings of the Catholic community.”
Latest News
Heat Index at ‘Caution level’ in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology
at 3.30 p.m. on 25 March 2026, valid for 26 March 2026.
The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in
Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry
of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Colombo declared that the United States and Sri Lanka maintain a long-standing defence partnership, grounded in transparency, mutual respect, and shared interests.
The official said so in response to The Island query regarding President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent bombshell disclosure, in Parliament, that his government declined to allow the US Air Force to use the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, following the eruption of the latest West Asia war.
We sought views of the US on President Dissanayake’s claim against the backdrop of Sri Lanka being a party to the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) since 2007. Sri Lanka extended the ACSA in 2017, for another 10-year period, and its extension comes up next year.
The President revealed that the US had requested permission to use Mattala, between 04 and 08 March.
Claiming that the request had been made on 26 February, two days before the war began, President Dissanayake said that the US had sought to land two aircraft, carrying eight anti-ship missiles, but that the request had been turned down to maintain Sri Lanka’s neutrality. The President revealed that the aircraft were to come from a US base in Djibouti.
The US embassy pokesperson explained that questions related to operational movements, including ‘Operation Epic Fury’, should be directed to the Department of War (DOW) in Washington.
Camp Lemonnier is the primary base of operations for US Africa Command in the Horn of Africa. China, too, has its only overseas military base in Djibouti in the vicinity.
Military sources said whatever various interested parties said about US-Sri Lanka relations, the former provided significant intelligence support during last phase of the conflict that enabled the Navy to hunt down floating LTTE arsenals in international waters. Of the eight LTTE vessels sunk, the US backed four hits with specific intelligence, sources said.
News
No decrease in remittances from workers due to Gulf conflict, but significant drop in tourist arrivals – CB Governor
Sri Lanka’s worker remittances had not seen a decrease despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Central Bank (CBSL) Governor, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said yesterday.
“Based on currently available data, they have not seen a decline in remittances. In fact, according to that we have observed, is a slight increase in remittances in the past few days, ” the Governor said at a media conference held at the Central Bank head office in Colombo.
Governor Weerasinghe also mentioned that he had not seen any reports about Sri Lankans returning to the country from the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict.
The Central Bank Governor, however, acknowledged that there had been a decrease in tourist arrivals. He confirmed that tourist arrivals had decreased by around 17 percent due to the current volatile situation in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has decided to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at the current level of 7.75%, following its latest Monetary Policy Board meeting.
By Hiran H Senewiratne
UN votes to recognise enslavement of Africans as ‘gravest crime against humanity’
Meta and YouTube found liable in landmark social media addiction trial
Showers expected in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts after 2.00 pm.
Heat Index at ‘Caution level’ in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts
US dodges question on AKD’s claim SL denied permission for military aircraft to land
No decrease in remittances from workers due to Gulf conflict, but significant drop in tourist arrivals – CB Governor
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Features3 days agoTrincomalee oil tank farm: An engineering marvel
-
News6 days agoCIABOC tells court Kapila gave Rs 60 mn to MR and Rs. 20 mn to Priyankara
-
Features6 days agoScience and diplomacy in a changing world
-
News1 day agoSenior citizens above 70 years to receive March allowances on Thursday (26)
-
Features3 days agoThe scientist who was finally heard
-
News1 day agoJapanese boost to Sri J’pura Hospital, an outright gift from Tokyo during JRJ rule
-
News5 days agoColombo, Oslo steps up efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in key environmental priority areas
-
News1 day agoCEB Engineers warn public to be prepared for power cuts after New Year