News
Ranawaka calls for release of all volumes of PCoI report to clear people’s doubts
The SJB on Sunday called on the government to release 22 volumes of report of the Presidential Commission of inquiry into the Easter Sunday carnage.
SJB MP Patali Champika Ranawaka addressing the media in Colombo said that people had serious doubts about the Easter Sunday carnage investigations because the government had withheld 22 out of 23 volume-report of the Commission of Inquiry that conducted a 16-month probe on terror attacks.
“Catholics have doubts. Muslims have doubts. There is unrest among people because the government keeps hiding some vital information contained in those 22 volumes of the PCoI report. For example, I gave a factual testimony. The commissioners lauded it as an expert testimony. It is included in one of those volumes. How could people know facts contained in testimonies by various witnesses? In my testimony, I recommended that certain issues be investigated to prevent occurrence of such a calamity again. The government is not doing that. We cannot afford a recurrence of such violence.
“It was I who first warned of the radical Islamic movements having the potential to evolve into a terror outfits. I published a book in 2001and warned of Islamic extremism allied with Wahabism was operating in the country. It is a known fact that we still have such elements within the Muslim community. The majority of Muslims know of this very well and try to distance themselves from those extremists as much as possible.
“Thowheed Jamaath is a very insignificant movement. According to the Janak de Silva report, Zahran left Thowheed Jamaath with a small number of followers. It was they who became the terrorist group that carried out the Easter Sunday carnage. Within Thowheed Jamaath rank and file were paid-informants of security forces. Even Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, speaking to the media at the Rajopanaramaya in Getambe, said that information had been solicited from such informants for money.
Several people including the former Attorney General have said that there was a conspiracy behind the Easter Sunday probe. Two years have elapsed since the attacks. The US has taken to courts the culprits responsible for the attacks found by their law enforcement agencies. We have not yet properly compensated the victims.”
The Sri Lanka Navy rescued a fisherman from a local fishing trawler that encountered distress due to adverse weather conditions off the eastern coast of Sri Lanka.
The rescue operation took place on 17 July 2026, approximately 15 nautical miles off Pothuvil. The operation was launched following information received by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo.
In response, the Sri Lanka Navy deployed the Offshore Patrol Vessel SLNS Vijayabahu along with additional craft to conduct a search operation in the designated sea area, where they successfully located the distressed fisherman.
Following the rescue, the individual was brought aboard SLNS Vijayabahu, where naval personnel administered preliminary first aid. He was subsequently brought to the mainland and rushed for further medical attention.
Meanwhile, the Navy, along with the coordination of MRCC Colombo, remains constantly prepared to swiftly respond to the eventualities faced by maritime and fishing communities operating within the island’s Search and Rescue Region (SRR).
The countrywide dengue outbreak has intensified, with the death toll rising to 50, by July 16, as the number of reported infections surpassed 73,000, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).
The country has recorded 73,455 dengue cases so far this year, with the case fatality rate standing at 0.07 percent, highlighting the severity of the ongoing outbreak.
The Western Province continues to remain the worst affected region, accounting for more than half of the total cases, with 38,700 infections. The Gampaha District has recorded the highest number of cases in the province with 15,341, followed closely by Colombo with 14,625.
The Southern Province has reported 11,382 cases, while the Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces have each recorded more than 6,000 infections.
Dengue cases have shown a sharp increase in recent months, with June recording the highest monthly total of 21,538 cases, while July has already reported 18,076 infections. In comparison, 8,590 cases were reported in May, and 5,651 in April.
Health authorities have identified 175 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas as high-risk locations during the 27th epidemiological week. An average of 2,677 new dengue cases are being reported daily, prompting authorities to intensify prevention and mosquito control measures.
The Colombo High Court yesterday (17) resumed hearing the money laundering case filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The proceedings were held before High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga, where evidence was recorded from prosecution witnesses, under the direction of Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara.
President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing for Yoshitha Rajapaksa, cross-examined the witnesses during the hearing.
After recording evidence, the court ordered that further examination of evidence be postponed until July 24.
The Attorney General has filed indictments, alleging that Yoshitha Rajapaksa committed an offence, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, by purchasing five plots of land in Dehiwala and Ratmalana, valued at more than Rs. 73 million.
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Showers may occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts
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