News
Easter Sunday carnage: Sajith promises fresh probe under an SJB govt.
By Saman Indrajith
Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that if he was elected President, he would launch a fresh Presidential Commission probe into the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
Premadasa said that he along with the rest of the people had been demanding justice over the Easter Sunday terror attacks for the past five years. “I have raised many questions on this floor, but the government has failed to respond to them.”
Premadasa outlined the measures that would be taken to serve justice to the victims and to find out the masterminds behind the carnage.
“If am elected President, within two months, a seven-member Commission, consisting of local and international experts, will be set up under the Commissions of Inquiry Act No. 17 of 1948. The Commission will be tasked with studying the entire security programme in the past and present, without limitations. It will also be vested with powers to obtain statements from any person in any institution without any restriction,” the Opposition Leader said.
“Within six weeks of the establishment of the Commission, I will set up a permanent investigation office, consisting of foreign intelligence and security services, including the Scotland Yard, and FBI, as well as local intelligence and security agencies to work together. It will be made mandatory for the Attorney General to file indictments or take necessary action subject to the laws of the land subject to the recommendations and orders of the Commission,” Premadasa said.
Premadasa added that he would also set up a permanent High Court to hear cases against the persons charged with offences related to the Easter attacks.
He said that new laws would be brought in to establish a Public Prosecutor’s Office independent of the Attorney General. For this purpose, the Commissions of Inquiry Act No. 17 of 1948 and the Judicature Act No. 2 of 1978 would have to be amended.
News
Establishment of an Institutional Framework to Inagurate Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority
Policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 08.06.2026 to establish the Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority for identification and
execution of a formal and long – lasting remedy to secure the central hills including the upper hydro catchment areas enabling them to sustain amidst extreme weather conditions
due to natural calamities and human activities as well as to be used for the sustainable development of the country.
Accordingly, a concept paper has been prepared including
institutional structure, activities, powers, active subject area as well as administrative and coordination mechanism for the proposed authority by an expert technical committee appointed by the Secretary to the President.
Based on the said concept paper, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill including legal provisions required for the establishment of Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority.
News
Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
With the objective of securing the traditional livelihood and the eco system of the indigenous community, it has been recognized the necessity of introducing a formal regulation methodology to secure their engagement in livelihood activities by being more sensitive to the existing laws.
Thereby, the Fauna and Flora (regularizing) regulations under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (Authority 469) have been prepared so that nominated activities within the prescribed area to a member of the indigenous community
who has been registered for securing the rights acquired from law or custom or usage or traditional stance to execute an act within a certain state land that is fundamental to the survival of the indigenous community permission can be granted
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the said regulations in the government gazette notification and thereby submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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M. M. D. J. Senarathne, appointed Director General of the Department of National Botanical Gardens
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to appoint M. M. D. J. Senarathne, who is the senior most officer in Grade I of Sri Lanka Scientific Service se
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