News

Church in quandary over outgoing AG’s incriminatory claims, seeks explanation

Published

5 years ago

2021/05/20

Sahan Weerasooriya

… AG Department’s culpability, too, raised

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Catholic Church was in a deepening quandary over the outgoing Attorney General Dappula de Livera’s shocking declaration that he couldn’t move court in respect of suspects due to the failure on the part of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to complete investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, Rev. Cyril Gamini Fernando said on Tuesday (18).

President’s Counsel de Livera owed an explanation without further delay as the people were led to believe the investigations were on track until the bombshell claim was made, Rev Fernando said.

The AG on May 15 declared that he was not in a position to present charges or indictments against those who conspired and also aided and abetted.

The AG is scheduled to retire on May 25.

Rev. Fernando said that the AG’s serious accusation directed at the CID should be examined against the backdrop of him handling the Easter Sunday inquiry right from its inception. The Church spokesman said: “Solicitor General de Livera received an Acting appointment a week after the Easter Sunday carnage followed by approval by the then Constitutional Council. Having followed the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) report that dealt with the Easter Sunday carnage as well as the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) dossier we are aware of the failure on the part of the AG’s Department in 2017 to act on information provided by the police in respect of suicide bomber Zahran Hashim. Did the AG’s Department inquire into the very serious lapse on their part before the disclosure at the PSC?”

Livera succeeded Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, who received appointment as the Chief Justice.

Responding to another query, Rev Fernando, who is also the parish priest of Kurana St. Anne’s Church said that the PSC and PCoI revealed how the AG’s Department literally sat on that particular file for two years. Was it negligence or could there be some other explanation, Rev Fernando asked, urging the current political leadership, those who been at the helm at the time of the blasts, the AG and the police to clarify matters.

Examination of parliamentary debate on the Easter attacks and other related statements made in Parliament this year underscored the need to review (i) the developments in the run-up to the 2019 Easter carnage, (ii) coordinated multiple attacks and (iii) the post-incident scenario, Rev. Fernando said.

Rev. Fernando noted that Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (retd) Sarath Weerasekera is on record as having said that he called for a report from the CID in the wake of the AG’s latest allegation.

Rev Fernando said that the Catholic Church was seriously worried about the status of the investigation and the judicial proceedings as no less a person than the AG who bore the primary responsibility in this regard had faulted the country’s premier investigation agency.

Referring to a spate of changes at the CID since the change of government in Nov 2019, Rev. Fernando questioned who would take the responsibility for negligence on the part of the AG’s Department, shoddy handling of investigations as alleged by the AG and the political leadership’s accountability in that regard.

Rev. Fernando noted that the high profile intervention made by the AG in October last year when the CID quietly released Riyajj Bathiudeen, who had been arrested in April 2020 in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks. Then again the suspect had been re-arrested in April this year in terms of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Rev. Fernando pointed out. Regardless of the person at the helm at the AG’s Department, the public expected tangible measures to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to justice.

Acting Solicitor General Sanjay Rajaratnam has been nominated as de Livera’s successor.

Shammil Perera, PC, represented the interests of the Catholic Church at the P CoI, Rev Fernando said, urging the political leadership to ensure no holds barred investigation.

The Church felt the need to vigorously take up the issue at hand in spite of the crisis the country was facing due to the alarming increase in the number of Covid-19 deaths and the positive cases, Rev Fernando said.

Referring to an exclusive interview the outgoing AG had with Sirasa,(when?) Rev Fernando said that President’s Counsel de Livera should explain what he really meant by the Easter Sunday carnage was a massive conspiracy. Having perused both the PSC and the P CoI and plethora of other reports, the AG had now gone on record that those foreigners allegedly involved in the Easter Sunday project would never be legally dealt with.

Rev Fernando said that they were also quite surprised by the AG’s declaration that though Naufer Maulavi was a key conspirator and leader of the group he couldn’t be still considered the mastermind. This was very much contrary to what the Public Security Minister said both in and out of the Parliament. Responding to another query, the Church spokesperson said that the claim of a massive conspiracy had been in the backdrop of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) receiving specific intelligence relating to the Easter attacks.

He had discussed the matter with Archbishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith and a decision was made to talk with other interested parties. The Church believed the delay in addressing the post-Easter Sunday issues and bringing the investigation into a successful conclusion posed a serious threat to national security, Rev Fernando said.

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News

National Communication Programme for Child Health Promotion (SBCC) has been launched. – PM

Published

10 mins ago

2026/01/11

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Government has commenced necessary measures to maintain preschool education under a framework, align preschool education with a unified curriculum, conduct teacher training in a systematic manner, and ensure quality standards.

The Prime Minister made these remarks on Saturday (10) at the Temple Trees, participating in the launch of the National Communication Programme for Child Health Promotion, aimed at promoting social and behavioural change (SBCC) among early childhood children. The programme is jointly organized by the Health Promotion Bureau, the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, UNICEF, and the Clean Sri Lanka Programme.

Addressing at the event, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:

“Early Childhood Development (ECD) has a major impact on a country’s human development and future progress. It is a widely accepted fact that a child’s future depends largely on early childhood development. Many aspects essential for a child’s growth occur within the first five years of life. The experiences, care, and love a child receives during this period are decisive.

The social integration, relationships, and environmental influences experienced in early childhood form the foundation for shaping an individual as an adult. Early childhood development influences life to an extent that it becomes difficult to change when it grows into adulthood.

The responses of adults to children’s actions, the way they interact with them, and the care they provide are extremely important. Therefore, early childhood development should never be viewed as the sole responsibility of parents. It is a collective responsibility of all citizens.

No child can be raised into a good citizen by parents alone. In all our lives, beyond our parents, there have been many who influenced us, showed us love, and provided care. It is due to the collective support of all these individuals that we have reached where we are today. The government views child care as a social responsibility. Supporting a child, providing care, ensuring protection, education, and health facilities are social responsibilities. In this regard, the intervention of the Clean Sri Lanka Programme to communicate these values to the public is important.

The role of the preschool teachers plays a special and vital role for children. The love, care, attentive listening, and responses children receive during this stage are decisive for their development. Teachers carry out a crucial intervention in the lives of children. An education policy on early childhood development has been formulated, with UNICEF providing technical assistance. Steps are being taken to operate preschool education under a single framework, align it with a unified curriculum, systematically conduct teacher training, and ensure quality standards.

Recognising early childhood development as a specialised area within education, the Prime Minister affirmed that the relevant interventions will be made accordingly.

Addressing the event, Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Ms. Saroja Paulraj stated that the Ministry has identified the standardisation and development of early childhood development as a primary goal for the year 2026. She noted that children who leave the warmth of their mother’s embrace and father’s shoulder and come to preschool teachers expecting the same love and care from their teachers. Conveying that warmth through words and expressions is a responsibility entrusted to teachers. The love and safe environment children receive shape their ability to love the environment and respect others.

Minister of Health and Mass Media, Nalinda Jayatissa, also addressed the gathering, stating that the goal of the government is to build a beautiful future generation capable of leading the country, free from the various hardships and challenges faced today.

He emphasised that creating a healthy population is a challenge, particularly in preventing non-communicable diseases. Children aged three to five today will become a generation aged 18 to 20 by 2040. Continuous and comprehensive programmes such as this are essential to protect that generation from non-communicable diseases. In some instances, interventions are required even during the preconception and prenatal stages.

He further highlighted that preschool and early childhood development centre teachers shoulder a tremendous responsibility in driving a major transformation in the country’s future.

The event was attended by the Governor of the Sabaragamuwa Province, Ms. Champa Janaki Rajarathne; the Governor of the Uva Province, Attorney-at-Law Kapila Jayasekara; the Governor of the North Central Province, Wasantha Jinadasa; the Governor of the North Western Province, Thissa Kumarsiri Warnasuriya; the Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Dr. Namal Sudarshana; the Member of Parliament, Dr. Najith Indika; the Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Sri Lanka, Ms. Emma Brigham; the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; the Senior Additional Secretary to the President (Finance and Economic Affairs), Mr. Russell Aponsu; the Additional Secretary to the President (Clean Sri Lanka), S. P. C. Sugishwara; Secretaries to Ministries; Provincial Chief Secretaries; the Commanders of the Tri-Forces; officials of subject-related ministries; provincial council officials; preschool teachers; preschool children; and parents.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

News

Level I landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended

Published

28 mins ago

2026/01/11

Priyan

The Landslide Early Warning Centre of the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has extended the landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya till 1600hrs today (11).

Accordingly, the LEVEL I YELLOW early warnings issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Lunugala, Meegahakiwula,Welimada, Kandaketiya, Hali_Ela, Badulla, Uva Paranagama in the Badulla district, Minipe and Ududumbara in the Kandy district, Wilgamuwa, Ukuwela, Ambanganga Korale, Rattota and Laggala_Pallegam in the Matale district, and Nildandahinna, Walapane, Mathurata and Hanguranketha in the Nuwara-Eliya district will be in force until 1600hrs today (11)

News

Experts: NPP education reforms unsuitable for SL

Published

5 hours ago

2026/01/11

Thilina Walpola

Proposed education reforms have drawn sharp criticism from education professionals, teacher unions and student organisations, who warned on Thursday that the changes risk undermining child safety, widening inequality and imposing unaffordable costs on parents.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo, Dr Ayomi Irugalbandara of the Faculty of Education at the Open University of Sri Lanka said the proposed reforms appeared to be largely modelled on foreign education systems without adequate consideration of local realities.

She took particular issue with proposals to integrate social media use into the school curriculum, noting that several developed countries have moved in the opposite direction by preventing children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms.

“Most of these modules are not appropriate for this country,” Dr Irugalbandara said. “We warn parents that these reforms place children at risk.”

Concerns were also raised over digital content linked to the revised curriculum. Inter-University Students’ Federation Convener Madushan Chandrajith said the Grade Six Information and Communication Technology (ICT) module included QR codes that directed students to a controversial YouTube channel.

“Who will take responsibility for children accessing such content?” he asked, calling for clear accountability mechanisms for material linked through digital platforms used in schools.

Secretary of the Workers’ Struggle Centre, Duminda Nagamuwa, criticised the government’s approach to the reform process, comparing it to the fertiliser policy introduced under former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He alleged that the authorities were pushing ahead with education reforms despite opposition from academics, teachers and other stakeholders.

Nagamuwa also highlighted the economic burden on families, noting that Sri Lanka’s poverty rate had increased from 12.5 percent to 25 percent. He questioned how parents were expected to afford smartphones or tablet computers required for students to access QR code-linked educational content.

“The government is asking parents to bear costs they simply cannot afford,” he said.

Ceylon Teachers’ Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin said schools had already begun collecting money from parents in anticipation of the reforms, including funds to purchase smart boards.