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Ishalini’s death: 35 arrested, more arrests likely

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By Norman Palihawadane

Police have so far recorded statements from 35 people with regard to the death of 16-year-old Jude Kumar Ishalini at the residence of former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen. More arrests were likely, according to police.

Police headquarters sources said that the wife and father-in-law of Bathiudeen, as well as a broker who brought the teenager to the Bathiudeens, had been arrested over the incident.

The brother-in-law of Bathiudeen was arrested over a separate rape incident said to have taken place at Bathiudeen’s official residence when he was a minister.

Several police teams had been deployed to investigate the incident, Police said.

Police spokesman Senior DIG Ajith Rohana said the police would continue to report facts to the court and would take all measures to bring the perpetrators to justice.

At the age of 15, Ishalini was sent to work as a domestic aide at Badurdeen’s Colombo residence and a week ago she was admitted to the hospital with burns and succumbed to her injuries while being treated for serious burns at the Colombo National Hospital for 12 days.

The suspects were produced on Saturday before Colombo Additional Magistrate Kanchana Neranjana de Silva, who permitted them to be detained for 48 hours for questioning.

The Additional Magistrate also ordered that they be produced before court today (26)

It was revealed in court on Saturday that a broker residing in the Dayagama area who is currently in custody had provided 11 children as domestic aides to various members of the family of former Minister Bathiudeen.

Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris told the Court that the death of 16-year-old Ishalini, who worked as a maid at the suspect’s house, was a tragedy.

The Deputy Solicitor General said that a network was in operation to provide children from poverty stricken families faced with economic hardships, to rich families. Those innocent children were then made to serve as domestics of rich families.

The forensic medical report on the death of the girl has revealed that she had been sexually assaulted.

DSG Peiris said that the girl had come to work as a maid to pay off a loan of Rs. 30,000 taken by her mother.

According to the Deputy Solicitor General the incident was a good example of the modern child slave trade.



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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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