News
Colombo HC lawyers slam TT, police over recent mayhem
… demand probe into lawmaker’s killing
By Shamindra Ferdinando
President of the Colombo High Court Lawyers’ Association Lakshman Perera yesterday (13) said that Sri Lanka’s fate depended on the success of the ongoing efforts to stabilise its economy.
Attorney-at-Law Perera said all political parties, represented in Parliament and outside, including the civil society, should realise the country was in such a bad state there would be anarchy if the bid to form an interim administration failed.
Asked whether Perera, in his capacity as the President of the Colombo High Court Lawyers’ Association, endorsed the swearing in of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister, the spokesperson said that he couldn’t take a position on the issue without consulting the membership.
Perera, however, acknowledged the responsibility on the part of all stakeholders, both in and outside the political mainstream, to reach a consensus on a viable agreement on the developing economic-political-social crisis.
The official asserted that the violence unleashed on those who had been demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the entire Cabinet of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, on Monday (09) in Kollupitiya and Fort police areas and retaliatory attacks were a grim reminder to those wielding political power at different levels.
Lawyer Perera said that an explosive situation created by unprovoked attacks carried out by those who had been at a meeting chaired by then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa were now threatening to ruin the country unless consensus on a political settlement could be reached soon.
The association, in a statement that had been issued by its President Lakshman Perera and Secretary Sarath Ekanayake before the swearing in of Wickremesinghe as the Premier roundly condemned the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) for the wanton attack on protesting public.
Estimating the number of persons wounded in indiscriminate attacks at 150, they held the Colombo police responsible for their failure to thwart the Temple Trees project. The lawyers asserted that the police had been irresponsible in their conduct therefore guilty of what they called inadequate discharge of duty.
The lawyers’ association questioned the failure on the part of the police to anticipate serious breach of peace in the wake of such a large gathering at Temple Trees or receive advance warning from the intelligence services.
In the harshest recent criticism of the police by them, the Colombo High Court Lawyers’ Association alleged that the Colombo police had unashamedly served the interests of Temple Trees rather than enforcing laws.
Following Attorney General Sanjaya Rajaratnam’s intervention, IGP C.D. Wickremaratne directed the DIG, in charge of the CID to investigate May 09 incidents.
Commenting on the police and the Special Task Force (STF) deployed at Temple Trees on the day of the incidents, the lawyers alleged that law enforcement authorities turned a blind eye to brutal attacks on protesters. They intervened only after the first wave of attacks, the lawyers alleged, urging the IGP to take responsibility and resign forthwith.
The lawyers insisted that the attacks could have been prevented by the IGP.
Warning of further escalation of protests unless growing public grievances weren’t addressed, the grouping of lawyers declared that they didn’t have faith in Prasanna Ranatunga, who served as the Public Security Minister at the time of the incidents.
Ranatunga succeeded retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera at the last round of cabinet appointments.
They alleged Ranatunga lacked the capacity to handle the May 09 attacks that triggered a spate of incidents in areas outside the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Mobs set ablaze Ranatunga’s residence in Gampaha.
The association also underscored the responsibility on the part of the government to investigate the killing of Polonnaruwa District SLPP lawmaker Amarakeerthi Atukorale in the Nittambuwa police area and his police bodyguard.
The slain MP was on his way home after attending the Temple Trees meeting when vigilantes intercepted his vehicle.
The association declared six demands namely (1) resignation of the IGP (2) legal action against Senior DIG in charge of the Western Province Deshabandu Tennakoon (3) a transparent and thorough investigation into May 09 attacks carried out on those demanding the change of government (4) Fully cooperate with the HRCSL (Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka) (5) establish rule of law (06) implementation of the Constitution and international instruments pertaining to human rights.
Warning that the public were suffering as a result of the pathetic failure of the political party system, the association said the situation would be further aggravated if those who wield political power sought to protect their interests at the expense of the national interests. The association declared that it wouldn’t hesitate to support what it called a progressive movement to establish democracy and rule of law in case the current political party system continued to fail the country.
The Sri Lanka Navy successfully recovered its Fast Attack Craft P 4447 following a successful salvage operation, bringing a multi-stage emergency response to a close.
The craft, which ran into distress during a routine patrol on 15th August 2026 off Angulana, was brought to the surface on 11th September, from a depth of approximately 80 feet. It was
subsequently towed to the Colombo Dockyard premises.
The initial phase of the operation immediately following the incident focused on search and rescue. A joint effort involving the Navy, Air Force, Police, and local fishermen from Angulana
resulted in the rescue of 11 crew members. The search and rescue phase drew to a close with the recovery of the remains of the Second in Command of the craft, on 4th September.
Following the search and rescue phase, specialized Navy diving and salvage teams launched a dedicated recovery phase against rough sea conditions and underwater challenges, adhering to
strict safety protocols. The Navy’s marine, hull, electrical, and electronic engineering teams utilized specialized technical know-how and equipment to raise the vessel in stages.
Thus, the salvage operation marked an outstanding achievement attained through the professionalism, technical expertise of Navy divers, and coordinated contribution of all
engineering and technical branches of the Sri Lanka Navy. Technical support and specialized expertise were also extended by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Colombo Dockyard PLC.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Opposition should intensity its focus on the forthcoming selection of a member of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and remain vigilant as Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne, MP, the head of the Constitutional Council (CC) tasked with making the relevant recommendation, is under investigation by the CIABOC, sources familiar with the ongoing inquiry told The Island.
Chethiya Goonasekara, PC, is expected to complete his three-year term on Dec 31, 2026. Sources pointed out that CIABOC Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation made by the 10-member Constitutional Council.
The CIABOC initiated the investigation following a complaint lodged by suspended Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne in early February this year. Sources said that as Goonasekera is scheduled to complete his term toward the end of 2026, the CC would have to call applications soon to choose the successor.
Goonasekara received his appointment from President Ranil Wickremesinghe in January 2024. A Justice W. M. N. P. Iddawala was appointed Chairman of the CIABOC. The other commissioner is K. Bernard Rajapakse.
Asked whether Iddawala and Rajapakse, too, would complete their terms soon, sources said that in terms of the Anti-Corruption Act No 09 of 2023, the Chairman of CIABOC would hold office for a period of five years, second commissioner (K. Bernard Rajapakse) for four years and the third commissioner (Chethiya Goonasekara) for a period of three years.
Sources said that the Opposition as well as civil society representatives in the CC should take up the issue of Speaker facing an investigation by the CIABOC taking part in the forthcoming selection process. Responding to queries, sources emphasized that the issue was whether in terms of Section 107 of the Anti-Corruption Act the participation of the Speaker in the selection process amounted to a violation of the Act itself.
The current members of the CC are Dr Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker and Chairman of the Constitutional Council, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister, Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, Bimal Rathnayake, MP, Aboobucker Athambawa, MP, Ajith P. Perera, MP, Sivagnanam Shritharan, MP, Austin Fernando, Civil society representative, Prof. Wasantha Seneviratne, Civil society representative and Ranjith Ariyaratne, Civil society representative.
Sources pointed out that in spite of the sensitivity of the case, the CIABOC recorded Kularatne’s statement in the second week of August, six months after he lodged the complaint.
The CIABOC on 3, 8 and 10 Sept recorded the statements from the Transport Officer, Deputy Director, Administration and Assistant Director, Finance regarding the use of facilities by the Speaker, those assigned to his staff and other relevant matters.
The NPP named Dr. Wickramaratne as the Speaker after Asoka Ranwala resigned over controversy regarding his higher education qualifications.
SJB lawmaker Dayasiri Jayaskera has repeatedly raised the issues concerning the Speaker with the focus also on the Speaker using two government-managed residences, relevant staff in addition to expenditure on food, transport and fuel provided to the Speaker’s private secretary.
Political sources said that trouble erupted after the Parliamentary Staff Advisory Council in late January sacked Kularatne accusing him of providing false information to secure his appointment. Before being appointed as the Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament in 2023, Kularatne held several high-ranking positions, including Secretary to the Chief Government Whip, Additional Secretary to the President, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Additional Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition.
The SJB declared in Parliament that Ranwala should be brought back as the Speaker as they have no faith in Wickramaratne. MP Mujibur Rahuman jokingly told parliament that the Opposition wouldn’t raise Ranwala’s educational qualifications.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has stressed the need to conduct a comprehensive countrywide cadre revision urgently.
GMOA spokesman Dr. Lasitha Dhammika told The Island that the failure on the part of successive governments to conduct cadre revision caused the deterioration of the public sector health services. Due to the absence of required statistics, they hadn’t been able to fully comprehend the situation on the ground and to ascertain the requirements of the public.
Dr. Dhammika pointed out the expansion of the services without supporting statistics and the need to initiate an immediate cadre revision. According to him, the GMOA had raised this issue with successive governments without success. The GMOA spokesman said that they also sought relevant information from the Health Ministry in terms of the Right to Information (RTI) Act two weeks ago but was yet to receive response.
(SF)
Fast Attack Craft P 4447 recovered in successful salvage operation
Showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Central, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North-central and North-western provinces
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Tharanga wins Ultimate Javelin title
CIABOC member’s appointment: Controversy over Speaker under probe heading selection process
GMOA: Countrywide cadre revision not done since 2015
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