News

Now, Herath dares Udaya to release Easter carnage committee reports

Published

1 year ago

2024/10/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Vijitha and Udaya

By Rathindra Kuruwita

If Udaya Gammanpila had access to documents on the Easter Sunday attacks that the current administration does not have, he should hand them over to the government without asking the government to release them, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister of Public Security Vijitha Herath said yesterday.

Responding to a query at the Cabinet press briefing, Herath said Gammanpila had been a Cabinet Minister of the government of Gotabaya Rajapaksa and that he should have pressed the former President to release documents pertaining to

the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday attacks.

“We feel there is a need to conduct a fresh investigation into the attack. We have announced the commencement of the probe. We will soon issue a report on this,” he said.

On Monday (14) Gammanpila called on the government to release two unpublished committee reports on the Easter Sunday attacks within one week.

Gammapila warned that should the government fail to release the reports, he would publish them online.

“None of these reports are incomplete, and none have gone missing,” he stated.

In June 2023, Wickremesinghe established a Committee of Inquiry to investigate the actions and responses of the intelligence and security services.

Retired Judge A.N.J. de Alwis was tasked with investigating the conduct of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), the Chief of National Intelligence (CNI), and other relevant authorities.

At the time of the Easter Sunday attacks, Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena led the SIS, while retired DIG Sisira Mendis served as the CNI, a role previously held by intelligence veteran General Kapila Hendawitharana.

In September, Wickremesinghe appointed a three-member committee to investigate allegations made by Britain’s Channel 4 regarding the alleged involvement of military intelligence in the Easter Sunday attacks. The President’s announcement followed a denial issued by the Ministry of Defence on behalf of the government.

The Committee, chaired by retired Supreme Court Judge Syed Ishrat Imam, also included retired Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody, a former Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), and President’s Counsel Harsha Soza. Senior Assistant Secretary to the President Sarthanjali Maheswaran served as the Commission’s Secretary.

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News

SAARC journalists meet in New Delhi

Published

1 hour ago

2026/02/6

Priyan

President of SJF Sri Lanka Chapter Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi hands over a memento to Dr Alok Kumar Mishra Joint Secretary of the Association of Indian Universities

Members of the South Asian Journalists Forum have gathered at the University of New Delhi for a two day conference themed ‘Peace and Co-operation’.

Journalists from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India are attending the conference hosted by the University of Delhi in collaboration with the India Chapter of SJF, and will deliberate on how the media can act as a catalyst for regional stability and mutual coexsistence.

A tree plantation campaign was also held at the Ghandi Bhawan premises of the University to mark the event and symbolize growing regional ties.

The Sri Lanka delegation is led by President of SJF’s Sri Lanka Chapter Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi.

News

Governor of Gujarat met with Sri Lanka PM to discuss exposition of Devnimori Relics

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/6

Priyan

The Governor of the of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat, along with the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Harsh Sanghvi, met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Thursdy [February 05] at the Parliamentary Complex to discuss the arrangements related to the exposition of the Devnimori Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha, which have been brought to Sri Lanka under the patronage of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India.

These sacred relics of Lord Buddha were discovered during archaeological excavations conducted in the 1960s at the historic Devnimori site in Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Until now, these relics had never been taken outside India. As a result of discussions held between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Sri Lanka, the people of Sri Lanka have been granted this rare opportunity to venerate these sacred relics.

The exposition of the relics is being held for a period of seven days, from February 05 to February 11, at the Gangaramaya Temple in Hunupitiya, Colombo. Discussions were held between both parties regarding the arrangements related to this event.

The discussion was attended by Samar Nanda, Joint Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Culture; Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, Acting High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka; Abhijit Halder, Director General of the International Buddhist Confederation; along with several others.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

INS GHARIAL makes port call in Colombo

Published

9 hours ago

2026/02/6

Priyan

The Indian Naval Ship (INS) GHARIAL made a port call in Colombo for operational turnarounds on 04 Feb 26. The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in compliance with naval traditions.

Commanded by Commander Gaurav Tewari, INS GHARIAL is a vessel with a length of 124.8 meters.

During this visit, ten (10) Bailey Bridges, brought by ship, through the coordination of the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka, will be handed over to the Disaster Management Center. These bridges will provide temporary transportation links while bridges damaged across the island by adverse weather conditions are repaired.

The crew’s itinerary features scheduled goodwill activities with the Sri Lanka Navy, alongside visits to several tourist attractions across the island.