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Easter Sunday controversy: New Public Security Minister to seek audience with Archbishop

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Church sceptical about govt. move 

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Newly-appointed Public Security Minister Prasanna Ranatunga says he will seek an appointment with Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith soon to brief him on the progress of investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage.

Alleging that members of the Opposition had made unsubstantiated claims in Parliament, during a recent debate on the Easter Sunday carnage, on the basis of various statements attributed to the Cardinal and other senior priests, Minister Ranatunga said he was prepared to brief the Catholic clergy.

Last year, the Cardinal declined to meet Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris to discuss the issues at hand. Top spokesperson for the Church, Rev. Cyril Gamini Fernando, told The Island that there was nothing to discuss. The government should without further delay implement the recommendations of its own Presidential Commission of Inquiry.

The Public Security Minister issued a statement in this regard in the wake of the Cardinal leaving for the Vatican with a 60-member group comprising the clergy and family members of the Easter Sunday victims for an audience with the Pope.

Referring to declarations made by Opposition lawmakers, Minister Rnatunga challenged them over unconfirmed claims that the Easter Sunday conspiracy had been initially planned in Malaysia and then the operations moved to India ahead of the carnage on 21 April. Minister Ranatunga asked Opposition members to reveal the identity of those who perpetrated the attacks if their identities were known to them.

Alleging that Opposition members endangered the lives of intelligence officers by implicating them in the Easter Sunday massacre, Minister Ranatunga asked whether they intended to commit the Millennium City type betrayal of the military. He was referring to the exposure of a safe house run by the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) way back in January 2002.

Rev. Fernando pointed out that instead of addressing their concerns the government recently caused further controversy by acknowledging Ranatunga’s predecessor, Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekeras security contingent used a vehicle belonging to one of the Easter Sunday bomber. Rev. Fernando asked whether there was any point in receiving a fresh briefing from the new Public Security Minister against the backdrop of the government deliberating suppressing information.

The Church spokesperson declared that they would present their case to the world. The Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) took Easter Sunday attacks twice last year.



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Police officers donate LKR 9,687,462 from day’s salary to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

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A sum of LKR. 9,687,462, raised from day’s salary officers of the Police Department, has been donated to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to support the recovery of communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah and to assist in rebuilding the country following the disaster.

To date, officers of the Police Department have contributed over LKR. 74 million to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund through three such contributions of one day’s salary.

The donation was presented on Wednesday  (22) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat by the Personal Assistant to the Inspector General of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police  C. C. Bamunuarachchi, to the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Chief Inspector  Udaya Kumara, Officer-in-Charge of the Police Secretariat, was also present on the occasion.

[Presidents Media Division]

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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time

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Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 26 April 2026, valid for 27 April 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time.

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.

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Opposition asks for PSC to probe Treasury theft

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Sajith

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the illegal diversion of Treasury funds, amounting to US$2.5 million to a third-party account.

Premadasa has said both the chairmanship and a majority of the Committee’s membership should be held by the Opposition to ensure impartiality.

The government has not only failed to account for the loss of US$2.5 million but also deliberately withheld information from Parliament, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) and the public, Premadasa has told the media, accusing the ruling party of seeking to deflect responsibility by initiating an internal departmental inquiry, which he describes as a biased process designed to justify predetermined conclusions.

The Opposition Leader has said only a transparent and independent probe could establish the facts, adding that such an investigation could be effectively carried out through a Parliamentary Select Committee led by the Opposition.

He has also warned that the alleged failure to inform Parliament about the missing funds amounted to a serious breach of accountability.

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