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Former ministers Bathiudeen, Haleem visited house of suspect arrested over Easter bombings several times

Published

5 years ago

2020/11/17

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Former ministers Rishad Bathiudeen and Mohamed Haleem on several occasions had visited the house of Muhinuddin Isham Ahamed, arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday bombings, it was revealed yesterday at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Easter Sunday bombings.

Nilantha Sanjeewa Fonseka, the Grama Niladhari of No 536/A division of the Dehiwala Mount Lavinia MC limit, where Isham’s house is located, revealed that before the PCOI yesterday.

The State Counsel (SC) leading evidence asked the witness if he had to look into a number of persons in his Grama Niladari division in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks.

Fonseka said that he had to help police looking for Muhinuddin Isham Ahamed, who is the son of Mohamed Hanifa Muhinuddin living at No. 213/3, Quarry Road, Dehiwala.

The witness said that the day before the Easter Sunday attacks, Isham had held a meeting with a large number of youth in the area. The witness added that Isham was studying at a private university, and was also working for a private company.

Fonseka said that there was a Thowheed Jamaat mosque near where Isham lived and that the mosque was a hotspot of trouble even before the Easter Sunday attacks.

“Isham also frequented the mosque. After the attack, Isham as well as three other residents of the area, Mohommad Akram Awkam, Wuhari Mohamed Rafiq and Mohommad Akram Sajihar were arrested,” he said.

“Did any politicians come there after Isham was arrested?” the SC asked the witness.

“Yes, a few VIPs came. Former ministers Rishad Bathiudeen and Mohamed Haleem visited Isham’s house on several occasions,” Fonseka said.

An office assistant of the Dehiwala – Mt. Lavinia MC also testified before the PCOI and said that he had seen Bathiudeen visiting Isham’s house.

Dhammika Priyantha Samarasinghe, the owner of the house where Isham and his family had lived on rent also testified before the Commission yesterday.

The witness said that various youth had visited the house during the night to meet Isham and he had seen Bathiudeen leave the house about two days after Isham’s arrest on 26 April, 2019. The witness said Bathiudeen had spent about 30 minutes in the house.

Inspector of Police (IP) Samantha Jayamahamudali, who is attached to the Commission’s Investigation Unit, who also gave evidence before the Commission, said he had recorded a statement from Hanifa Muhinuddin and Isham.

In addition, he said that he had obtained a report regarding the official vehicles used by former Minister Bathiudeen, State Minister Buddhika Pathirana, Secretary to the Ministry Ranjith Asoka and Additional Secretary J. M. S. N. Jayasinghe.

Rishvie Habib, the attorney-at-law who represented the former Minister Bathiudeen was given an opportunity by the Commission to cross-examine the witness. Habib said he had sought instructions from his client, who was currently in remand custody.

Accordingly, the Chairman of the Commission directed the Secretary to the Commission to look into the legal possibility of making necessary arrangements.

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Naval and fishing communities are advised not to venture into the sea areas extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle Hambantota for next 24 hours

Published

2 hours ago

2025/07/19

Priyan

Warning for strong winds and rough seas.
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 10.00 a.m. on 19 July 2025 for the period until 10.00 a.m. on 20 July 2025

The sea areas extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle Hambantota will be rough or very rough with strong gusty winds up to (60-70) kmph.

The wave height (about 2.5 – 3.0 m) may increase in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota. Therefore, there is a possibility that nearshore sea areas extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota, may experience surges due to sea waves.

Naval and fishing communities are advised not to venture into the sea areas extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle Hambantota for next 24 hours.

The naval and fishing communities engaged in fishing and naval activities in the sea areas extending from Puttalam to Trincomalee via Mannar and Kankasanthurai are requested to be vigilant in this regard and to be attentive to future forecasts issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.

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Economics or entrepreneurship must go beyond monetary values and be tied to humanity — Prime Minister

Published

10 hours ago

2025/07/19

Priyan

The Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that despite the fact that societal tendencies give priority to the monetary value, economics and entrepreneurship should be disciplines rooted in humanity, and the concept of a “care economy” serves as a good example of this approach.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in a program held on Friday (18) at the Ministry of Education to inform officials about the development of modules for financial literacy and entrepreneurship, which are included as subjects under the new educational reforms.Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka, Senior Professor Harendra Dissabandara, shared his insights on the current state of financial literacy in Sri Lanka and the way forward and the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeysekara, expressed his views on the financial literacy activities in the country.

Further addressing the event, Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:

“We clearly come to see that your support and blessings have forwarded the new education reforms we are trying to implement. As the Ministry of Education, it brings forward a great strength and these reforms are more than just curriculum changes.

What we need is a developed society, not just economically, but spiritually and ethically as well. Wealth is not just about money.

In that sense, the transformation we are trying to bring about through education is deeply significant.

The theft, corruption, and fraud we see in today’s society are not committed by people lacking subject knowledge but by those who know the subject very well. That is why it has been so hard to address. Therefore, we must learn financial literacy and entrepreneurship together with human values, to develop them as ethical disciplines. What we need are entrepreneurs who love the environment, society, and have compassion for one another”.

The Prime Minister further emphasized the importance of considering what state society would fall into if women were only engaged in financially valuable work.

Addressing this event the Deputy Minister of Labour and Economic Development, Professor Anil Jayantha Fernando, added:

“Incorporating financial literacy into school education is extremely important. Many people fall victim to pyramid-like financial scams due to a lack of proper understanding. Therefore, the public must have a strong grasp of financial literacy. It is often those with high financial literacy who carry out financial fraud. Along with subject knowledge, we need to empower society with values to manage this situation”

The event was attended by the Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwawa; officials from the Ministry of Finance; the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka; the Colombo Stock Exchange; and other institutional representatives.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

News

Students from Vidyaloka College Kandy, Vidyaloka College Weranketagoda and Junior School Digampathaha visit the President’s House

Published

10 hours ago

2025/07/19

Priyan

Students from Vidyaloka College in Kandy, Vidyaloka College in Weranketagoda and Junior School Digampathaha had the opportunity to participate in the Vision programme organized by the Presidential Secretariat on Friday (18).

This programme, jointly conducted by the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Education and the Parliamentary Department of Communication, aims to provide students with practical exposure relevant to their education.

As part of the programme, students were given the opportunity to visit the Presidential Secretariat, the President’s House, the Port City Colombo and the Parliament.

In line with the initiative, students were also educated on the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme and its conceptual importance.

To emphasize the value of environmental conservation, symbolic plant saplings were presented to the participating schools.

Addressing the students, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara emphasized that the country needs a generation capable of making significant contributions across all sectors to achieve national development. He noted that with such contributions, Sri Lanka can rise to global prominence.

Bandara further stated that personal transformation must begin from within by cultivating positive attitudes and that this internal change is the foundation for building Sri Lanka into one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

Also present at the event were Director General of Public Relations at the Presidential Secretariat Dharmasiri Gamage, Director of Tri-Forces Coordination Air Commodore Asiri Gallage, Assistant Director Major Nadeeka Dangolla, school principals, teachers and a group of parents.