News
Four cops further remanded over death of housemaid in their custody
By A.J.A. Abeynayake
Four police personnel arrested over their alleged involvement in the custodial death of R. Rajakumari, a housemaid, were yesterday ordered by Colombo Additional Magistrate Harsha Kekunawala to be further remanded until 18 September.
Three of the four suspects, two police sergeants and a constable, were scheduled to be produced at an identification parade yesterday, but it was postponed by a week after the accused raised an objection in that regard.
Appearing on behalf of the aggrieved party, Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera informed the court that as per information received by him, the OIC of the Welikada Police Station transferred from his post following Rajakumari’s death had been reinstated as the Welikada OIC once again.
That could potentially hinder the ongoing investigations into the housemaid’s death, the lawyer said.
Colombo Additional Magistrate Harsha Kekunawala did not issue an order in that regard.
41-year-old R. Rajakumari, a resident of Badulla, was arrested on May 11 based on a complaint made by her employer, film producer and businesswoman Sudharma Netticumara, she had stolen gold jewellery.
The suspect later died while in the custody of the Welikada Police. Her relatives raised suspicions, alleging that she had been assaulted.
On 25 August, Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawala ordered the CID to arrest the suspects linked to the housemaid’s death.
The situation report issued by the Disaster Management 1000hrs today [06th January 2026] confirms that 21,514 persons belonging to 6,592 family units who were displaced due to the floods and landslides are still at 225 safety centers.
Z total of 6,037 houses were destroyed while 108,476 houses were partially damaged due to floods and landslides.
Latest News
Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale, Monaragala and Nuwara Eliya
The landslide early warning center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale, Monaragala and Nuwara Eliya in force from 1200hrs on 06th January to 1200hrs on 07th January 2026.
Accordingly,
Level III RED landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Udadumbara in the Kandy district, and Nildandahinna and Walapane in the Nuwara Eliya district.
Level II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Kandaketiya in the Badulla district, Wilgamuwa in the Matale district, and Hanguranketha and Mathurata in the Nuwara Eliya district.
Level I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Hali_Ela, Badulla, Passara, Lunugala, Welimada and * Meegahakiwula in the Badulla district, Doluwa in the Kandy district, Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district, and Bibila in the Monaragala district.
The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology has issued an advisory at 11.30 pm on 05 January 2026 regarding a low pressure area over South-east Bay of Bengal Sea area.
The low-level atmospheric disturbance in the Bay of Bengal, to the southeast of the Sri Lanka has intensified into a low-pressure area.
Hence, showery condition over the island, particularly
in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces is expected to enhance from January 8th.
The Meteorological Department is constantly monitoring the behavior of the system.
The general public are requested to be attentive to the future forecasts and bulletins issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regards.
21,514 persons remain at 225 safety centers as at 10AM today [06]
Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale, Monaragala and Nuwara Eliya
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