News
Public protests: Alles claims UN pleased with police response
By Shamindra Ferdinando
In the wake of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s declaration in parliament that the armed forces would be deployed to quell fresh unauthorised anti-government protests meant to oust his government, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles yesterday (24) said that UN Resident Representative Hanna Singer-Hamdy was quite pleased with the way law enforcement authorities had controlled the recent Opposition protests.
Minister Alles said so when The Island asked the SLPP National List lawmaker the outcome of his meet with the top UN official at his ministry on Wednesday (23).
The Minister said that the UN official had appreciated the police response to the 02 Nov., Opposition protest that was blocked near the Technical junction, Maradana. Asked to explain, Minister Alles said that the police had refrained from using water cannon and tear gas and dispersed the crowd though quite a crowd gathered at the behest of political parties and trade unions.
The one-on-one took place at the ministry where they exchanged views on a spate of public protests in the past few months. Ministry spokesperson Akila Tennakoon quoted the UN official as having assured Minister Alles of the continuing UN support for the ongoing operations meant to curb narcotics as well as assistance to Non Govermental Organizations (NGOs).
Responding to another query, Minister Alles emphasised that President Wickremesinghe reiterated in parliament on Wednesday (23) the government stand on the protests. ‘We have said this repeatedly. Unauthorised protests will not be allowed under any circumstances. There is absolutely no change in that position,” Minister Alles said.
Alles is the fourth lawmaker to handle public security since the last parliamentary election. Chamal Rajapaksa, Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera and Prasanna Ranatunga handled public security portfolio before Tiran Alles received the appointment.
Protests meant to disrupt public life and economy wouldn’t be tolerated, Minister Alles said adding that, the UN Resident Representative comment indicated the response of the international community to the developments here.
The meeting between Public Security Minister and UN Resident Representative took place in the wake of media disclosure that SSP G.H. Marapone, in charge of Colombo South Division declined to carry out unauthorized directives. The reports followed a meeting Minister Alles had with senior police officers, including IGP C.D. Wickremaratne on Nov 15. Civil society activist and attorney-at-law Nagananda Koditiwakku while appreciating the stand taken by SSP Marapone urged law enforcement authorities not to follow illegal orders issued by the government.
SSP Marapone declined to comment on the issue at hand. The official suggested that The Island contact the police spokesperson.When Minister Alles has queried the failure on the part of the police to arrest former MP Hirunika Premachandra engaged in a protest outside UN, Colombo, the SSP, South is reported to have explained there was no basis for arrests. The IGP, too, has pointed out that arrests outside the UN, Colombo could have caused problems.
The recent arrest of two women demanding the immediate release of those who had been remanded under the terms of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in Panadura though been ignored earlier by the Kollupitiya police, too, had been discussed at the meeting chaired by Minister Alles.
Police spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that the issue at hand had been discussed at the conference chaired by the Public Security Minister and the officer concerned responded to the questions raised therein. Attorney-at-Law Thalduwa said that the former MP and 14 others were subsequently arrested after they blocked the Cinnamon Gardens police on Nov 14. They were granted bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Nandana Amarasinghe. They were released on cash bail of Rs. 10,000 and a surety bail of Rs. 5 million each. The case was then ordered to be postponed until February 13, 2023.
Former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was produced before the Hulftsdorp court, after being arrested by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and produce
The U.S. Navy ship USS Tulsa (LCS 16) arrived at the Port of Colombo this morning, 7 October 2026 for replenishment purposes.
The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with naval traditions.
The 127.7-metre-long platform is a Littoral Combat Ship commanded by Commander BM Wanier. Commissioned on 16 February 2019, USS Tulsa has since been in service with the US Navy.
The ship previously made a port call in Sri Lanka on 27 August 2025.
Govt. tells fuel distributors to maintain stocks to ensure uninterrupted supplies
by Saman Indrajith and Norman Palihawadane
The government had instructed private fuel distributors to maintain minimum stocks and ensure uninterrupted supplies to the market, Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka told Parliament yesterday (06).
Karunathilaka said the Ministry of Energy Secretary had notified the relevant companies of the requirement, following a reduction in supplies by some private distributors, amid higher international fuel prices.
The Minister said private companies had informed the government that they were facing losses because international prices had risen while fuel was being sold, locally, at prevailing prices. As a result, some companies had reduced the volumes released to the market.
The reduced supplies had increased the burden on the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), whose share of the diesel market had risen from about 54% to 82%, the Minister said.
“The CPC currently holds an 82% share of the market,” he said, adding that it had increased its supplies, compared with February, to compensate for the reduction by private distributors.
Karunathilaka said the government could not, under the existing agreements with private companies, specify the quantities they should supply to individual filling stations. However, it could require them to maintain minimum stocks in the country.
The Minister said the Energy Ministry had already instructed companies that had failed to maintain the required stocks to take steps to prevent supply disruptions.
The Minister attributed the queues reported at some filling stations to reduced supplies from private distributors, as well as normal variations in fuel distribution. He also said demand for CPC fuel had increased because private companies generally did not provide fuel to dealers on credit, while the CPC offered a three-day credit facility.
“We expect that, as the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation takes on this additional burden, the problem will ease to some extent by Wednesday or Thursday,” Karunathilaka said.
He said instructions had also been issued to increase supplies to CPC filling stations. A special discussion on the issue is scheduled for today (07), with officials of the Energy Ministry and CPC expected to participate,
along with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Meanwhile, Petroleum Dealers’ Association officials have called for an early solution to the supply issue. Association Chairman D.V. Shantha Silva said queues had been reported at many filling stations, mainly those operated by private distributors.
He said the situation was not due to an overall shortage of fuel, but was linked to reduced orders by Lanka IOC, Sinopec and R.M. Parks amid concerns over losses incurred on fuel sales.
The Ceylon Petroleum Private Tanker Owners Association has urged motorists to refrain from panic buying, saying there was no nationwide disruption to fuel supplies.
The government earlier increased fuel prices and introduced a per-litre diesel subsidy following concerns raised by distributors over rising international prices.
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