News

Kiriella complains about Hizbullah catching coronavirus in custody; govt reveals serious charges being probed against him

Published

5 years ago

2021/01/11

By Saman Indrajith

Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullah, had been denied justice for nine months and he had tested positive for COVID-19, Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament on Thursday.

“If the government has any evidence then it should charge any person including Hizbullah. If he had been involved in anything at all they could have charged him with that. He is being detained without charges,”

Hizbullah has been in the custody of the CID following his arrest in April, 2020.

He was arrested for allegedly maintaining contacts with a suicide bomber involved in the 2019 Easter Sunday Terror attacks.

“When I asked the Minister of Public Security, he said that there was evidence and presented a list of them. There is no point in reading out the list in Parliament. The due process is that they should be presented in Court. Either the government should do so, or release the suspect.”

Last Thursday, Chief Opposition Whip Kiriella with permission from the Chair, asked the government to release Hizbullah. “Hizbullah has been a brilliant young lawyer at Hulftsdorp. The government is keeping him without filing charges. You can release him on bail.”

Minister of Public Security Rear Admiral (Retd) Sarath Weerasekara said that Hejaaz Hizbullah had been accused of many wrongdoings in connection with the Easter Sunday Attacks. “We have information that he has spoken thrice to suicide cadres who blew themselves up during the Easter Sunday carnage. He is married to an Egyptian woman who has links with another terrorist organisation. He has managed an institute by the name of Pearl of Unity, where lectures were conducted by Zahran. That institute received funds from an organisation called Qatar Charity, which has been banned by the UN as a terrorist organisation. These are only some of the reasons why he is being held. Investigations are still in progress. I request you not to speak on behalf of a suspect such as Hizbullah.”

MP Kiriella said that charges should be presented in Court and not in Parliament.

Minister Weerasekera: That is the sole purpose of investigating. The investigations are being conducted to find evidence to produce him in Court.

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Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya

Published

11 hours ago

2026/01/8

Priyan

The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya for the next 24 hours commencing at 1200hrs today [08]

Accordingly
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Ududumbara in the Kandy District, Wilgamuwa in the Matale District, and Nildandahinna and Walapane in the Nuwara Eliya District.

LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Meegahakiwula, Welimada, Kandaketiya, Lunugala, Badulla, Passara, Uva Paranagama and Hali_Ela in the Badulla District, Ambanganga Korale in the Matale District, and Mathurata and Hanguranketha in the Nuwara Eliya District.

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Warning for deep depression over South-east Bay of Bengal Sea area

Published

17 hours ago

2026/01/8

Priyan

Deep depression Track. [Source: RSMC]

Warning for deep depression over South-east Bay of Bengal Sea area.
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre, Department of Meteorology at 10.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 for the period until 10.30 a.m. 09 January 2026

The depression in the Bay of Bengal to the southeast of Sri Lanka has intensified into a deep depression and is centered near latitude 5.4°N and longitude 85.3°E, about 420 km southeast of Pottuvil at 05.30 a.m. today (08th). The above system is currently (10:00 a.m.) located about 300 km southeast of Pottuvil.

It is very likely to move west-northwestwards across the southwest Bay of Bengal and cross the Sri Lanka coast between Hambantota and Kalmunai between 5.30 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. on Friday [9th January 2026].

Hence, showery, and windy condition over the island, particularly in the Northern, NorthCentral, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces is expected to enhance from today (08th).

For the Land area:

DAMAGE EXPECTED:
• Damage to huts, temporary shelters and light structures
• Destroy the roof tops/ sheets etc.
• Damage to power and communication lines.
• Breaking of tree branches and uprooting of large avenue trees.
• Damage to paddy crops, banana, papaya trees and orchards.
• Damage to harbor yachts
• Flash flood
• Sea water inundation in low lying areas in the near coast.

Action suggested for the Land area:
• Coastal hutment dwellers are advised to move to safer places. Other people in the affected areas to remain indoors.
• People living in hilly areas (particularly landslide prone areas) and low lying areas in river basins are requested to be vigilant.
• Drivers and people using roads in the hilly areas are requested to be vigilant.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• General public is requested to be vigilant regarding impending extreme weather situation.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
• Requested to be attentive about future advisories issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.

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Showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces and showers about 50-75 mm in other areas

Published

22 hours ago

2026/01/8

Priyan

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 08 JANUARY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

The depression over the Bay of Bengal, located to the southeast of Sri Lanka, was centered near latitude 5.3°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 490 km southeast of Pottuvil, at 11:30 p.m. yesterday (07). It is expected to move west-northwestwards and towards the eastern coast of the island during next 24 hours. This system is likely to intensify further into a deep depression during the next 12 hours.

Cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva, Central and Southern provinces. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere in the Island after 1.00 p.m. Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces. Fairly Heavy showers about (50 – 75) mm are likely at some places in the other areas of the island.

Strong winds about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over the Eastern slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota, Gampaha, Colombo and Monaragala districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.