News
Grenade inside Borella Church: retired doctor arrested, weapons recovered from Piliyandala home
by Hemantha Randunu
Police investigating the recovery of a hand grenade from All Saints Church, Borella, have arrested a 76-year-old retired doctor, living in Pilyandala. Police say the arrest was made following information elicited from the main suspect who had served as a security officer for about eight years at a medical centre, run by the doctor in Piliyandala.
Police say that the suspect had served at the Piliyandala government hospital for a long time.
Police have recovered four pistols,one revolver, two swords, a ‘Rambo’ knife, and another weapon. Under interrogation, the doctor has claimed that he is a collector of weapons. The police recovered the weapons in a bedroom on the ground floor of his three-storeyed residence.
Investigators believe the doctor was also behind the planting of a hand grenade at Lanka Hospital late last year. The detection was made while Minister Chamal Rajapaksa and Air Force Commander Air Marshal Sudarshanan Pathirana were receiving treatment at the hospital.
Senior officials said that clandestine activities of the doctor had come to light during interrogation of the main suspect taken into custody in the Panamure area.
Earlier, Archbishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith rapped the government over the handling of the investigations into the incident at All Saints Church. The police recovered the grenade in late afternoon on January 11.
Both the doctor and the person arrested in Panamure have been detained at the Foreshore Police station.
In terms of the provisions of the Establishments Code on payment of festival advance to government officers, there’s a possibility of obtaining rupees 10,000/- as an advance for celebrating festivals of Theipongal, Ramazan, Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Wesak, Deepavali, and Christmas as well as for pilgrimages (Sri Paada pilgrimage and Hajj pilgrimage).
Provisions have been given to recover the said advance in 08 installments or if required earlier without interest. It has been proposed by the Budget 2026 to increase the said festival advance up to rupees 15,000/-.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local governments to revise the relevant provisions so that the festival advance can be increased up to rupees 15,000/- .
As per the approval given by the cabinet meeting held on 02-06-2025, action is being taken at present to offer the underutilized lands/properties of the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Etate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation Company which are under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure which have been identified under stage one to suitable investors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure to provide following lands/properties on a lease basis to the suitable investors for optimal utilization following the prescribed procurement procedure.
• underutilized lands/properties identified under stage two owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Estate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation
Company,
• The Mawarala watte land and the Tea factory 40.48 hectares in extent, located in Matara District belonging to the Tea Shakthi Fund.
• The underutilized land of 1,541 hectares in extent of Kondachchi Estate is enjoyed by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
The drafting of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has commenced with the objective of equitable distribution of the benefits of the fisheries industry and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. This policy has been updated from time to time according to current requirements. However, steps have not been taken to obtain the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
According to the policy declaration of the present government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been redrafted, updating the aforementioned policy in line with the economic and development objectives of the government.
The recommendations of the Department of National Planning have been received for the drafted policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine
Resources to implement the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, integrating it with other relevant policies.
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Festival advance for government officers to be increased
Providing underutilized lands/properties to suitable investors for optimal utilization.
Implementation of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy
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