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JVP chides Administrative Service unions for not taking up arrest of SLAS officer over social media post
BY Saman indrajith
The JVP-led National Intellectuals’ Organisation yesterday flayed the Administrative Service Unions for not taking up the arrest of an administrative officer over a social media post.
Former ministerial secretary and ex-chairman of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service Officers’ Union, Ashoka Peiris, addressing the media, at Battarmulla said that Chamila Jayasinghe, an assistant commissioner of the Land Settlement Department had been arrested for a Facebook comment critical of the government.
“Several months ago, the CID officers visited his residence and questioned him on sharing a post with others. A few days ago he was taken into custody by the CID for being critical of the government. On Saturday, Jayasinghe was released on bail. The administrative service unions should stand for the rights of Jayasinghe.”
Peiris said the arrest was a serious threat to the administrative service. “In addition to this, Health Ministry Secretary Dr. S. H. Munasinghe, citing provisions of the Establishments Code, had already issued a circular to the effect that disciplinary action would be taken against any official of the Ministry of Health who issued statements to the media criticising the government’s policies and administrative procedures. Peiris said everybody had the freedom of expression irrespective whether they are public servants or not. It was a right guaranteed by the Constitution, he added.
Senior Lawyer Upul Kumarapperuma said that the freedom of expression was a fundamental right guaranteed by the Section 14-1 (a) of the Constitution and stood above the regulations of the Establishments Code.
“The recent arrests indicated that the government was bent on suppressing dissenting views. One such example was the arrest of a youth for honking when a road was closed to allow a Chinese delegation to travel,” he said.
Attorney-at-Law Charith Galhena also addressed the press.
Lakbima Rice Mills (Pvt) Ltd, based in Polonnaruwa, has contributed Rs. 100 million to the Government’s ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to provide relief to communities affected by Cyclone Ditwa.
The donation cheque was handed over this morning (13) at the Presidential Secretariat to Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, by Dudley Sirisena, Chairman of the Araliya Group of Companies.
Latest News
Advisory for severe lightning issued to the Districts of Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara
Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
at 12.30 p.m. 13 December 2025 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 13 December 2025 for Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts.
There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
Based on the prevailing disaster situation and the upcoming festive season, arrangements have been made to provide a nutrition allowance worth Rs. 5,000 to pregnant mothers.
This allowance, which will be provided only once, will be given to pregnant mothers who were registered at maternal clinics on or before 30 November 2025.
The distribution will take place through the Divisional Secretariat offices from 16 December, as a program of the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
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