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Gen. Wanasinghe dies at 91

Published

1 year ago

2025/06/14

Hamilton Wanasinghe

Former Army Commander and ex- Defence Secretary, General Hamilton Wanasinghe, with a long service record during one of the most turbulent times in this country’s recent history, passed away yesterday (13) at the age of 91.

During the period of terrorism in the late ’80s and early ’90s (1988-1991), Gen. Wanasinghe provided invaluable service to protect the country. He passed away while undergoing treatment at the Army Hospital, in Narahenpita. He joined the Army as a cadet officer in 1954, received his basic military training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He later rose through the ranks, starting as a Second Lieutenant and serving in various capacities in the Army.

Before becoming the Army Commander, he held numerous important positions within the Army. In 1988, he was appointed as the 11th Commander of the Army.

Wanasinghe retired from the Army in 1995, after which he held several prominent positions, including as the Director of Unified Operations and the Secretary of Defence in Sri Lanka.

Born at Malvana, Gampaha, he received his primary and secondary education at Ananda College in Colombo. A skilled athlete, he was also a member of the school’s cadet corps and held the rank of Major in the school’s rifle shooting team. Wanasinghe won numerous accolades during his school years as well as throughout his military career.

He also represented Sri Lanka in international rifle shooting competitions, including the Ceylon Inter-Dominion Rifle Shooting Championship. Gen. Wanasinghe was responsible for introducing the sniper unit in the Sri Lanka Army, which played a critical role in ending the country’s brutal civil war.

The final rites for General Hamilton Wanasinghe will take place on Sunday, 15 June, with full military honours, at the Army’s Memorial Grounds. His body is currently resting at his residence in Malvana, as confirmed by Army spokesperson Brigadier Varuna Gamage.

Additionally, his only son, Maj Gen. Sanjaya Wanasinghe, served as the 2nd Major General of the Regimental Headquarters of the Army. His wife was also a victim of a terrorist attack during the war period at Elephant Pass.

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“Rathuwewi Mihimadala” Book Launched with the Participation of the Prime Minister

Published

2 hours ago

2026/08/30

Priyan

The book “Rathuwewi Mihimadala”, written based on the life story of Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Leader of the Democratic Left Front, was launched on Friday [August 28] at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

Speaking to the media afterwards about Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:

“Vasudeva Nanayakkara is a prominent figure in Sri Lankan politics, particularly within the left-wing political movement. There were several influential figures within the left movement, and that left-wing influence also contributed to bringing the country to where it is today. Politically, there were areas where we agreed and areas where we did not. However, I have great respect for the contribution made by Vasudeva Nanayakkara to left-wing politics. When I entered Parliament in 2020, Vasudeva Nanayakkara was also in Parliament. We sat in the same row, and we spoke about many important as well as interesting moments in his political career. I believe some of these experiences have also been included in this book.”

The event was attended by members of the Maha Sangha, Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara, former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Speakers Karu Jayasuriya and Chamal Rajapaksa, as well as party members, family members and friends.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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Sun directly overhead Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon today (30)

Published

12 hours ago

2026/08/30

Priyan

The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.

The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (30) are Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and
Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon.

News

Lanka tracks 11 US-sanctioned Iranian tankers off coast

Published

14 hours ago

2026/08/30

Thilina Walpola

(AFP) Sri Lanka’s maritime authorities were monitoring a fleet of 11 US-sanctioned Iranian oil tankers just off the island’s southern coast, the foreign minister said Wednesday.

The tankers were spotted close to the Galle harbour where an Iranian frigate, IRIS Dena, was sunk by a US submarine in March, killing 104 sailors. Sri Lanka’s navy rescued 32 Iranian sailors from that frigate.

Iranian vessels have been in limbo, unable to return to their home port because of a US blockade.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign minister Vijitha Herath said the tankers were in international waters where they had freedom of navigation.

“These ships are away from our territorial waters… we have no hold on them, nor have we facilitated them,” Herath told AFP.

The military deployed reconnaissance aircraft and patrol boats to monitor the vessels outside Sri Lanka’s 12-nautical-mile territorial waters, a military official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

“There is no indication of any ship-to-ship transfer of oil or illegal discharge of pollutants, so there is no basis for Sri Lankan authorities to take action against them,” the official said.

Many Iranian merchant vessels moved east towards the Strait of Malacca and Singapore due to US sanctions, while several remained near Sri Lankan waters, authorities said.

Sri Lankan officials said Washington had not formally notified Colombo about sanctioned Iranian-flagged vessels