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Sajith complains people even attend courts with trepidation

Published

12 months ago

2025/02/20

By Saman Indrajith

Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa raised concerns in Parliament yesterday (19) over the prevailing security situation in the country, questioning whether people could even go to courts without fearing for their lives.

Speaking at the commencement of sittings, Premadasa stated, “People attend court fearing for their lives. If they are not even safe inside court premises, what does that say about the state of security in this country? This is a grave issue. We demand that the Minister of Public Security make a special statement on this matter.”

His remarks came in response to Kurunegala District SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekera, who raised the issue of the recent assassination of underworld figure Ganemulle Sanjeewa inside Magistrate Court No. 05 at Aluthkade.

Jayasekera said, “Ganemulle Sanjeewa was shot dead inside the courtroom by an assailant disguised as a lawyer. This is an alarming security lapse, raising serious concerns about the safety of judges and lawyers. Moreover, another shooting took place in Middeniya on Tuesday night, claiming two more lives. With this latest incident, the total number of killings in recent times has risen to 78. The government must take this issue seriously.”

Chief Government Whip and Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa assured that the government was fully engaged in addressing the issue.

“The police, STF, and intelligence agencies have been assigned to investigate the matter. As you know, many of these underworld activities are orchestrated by Sri Lankan criminals operating from overseas. You may have seen that, with the assistance of foreign authorities, we have been extraditing some of these individuals from Dubai and India in recent days. It has also been observed that black money and drug money play a significant role in these incidents,” Dr. Jayatissa said.

Premadasa reiterated the need for stronger public security measures to protect innocent lives.

“In some of these shootings, even innocent bystanders, including children, have been killed. We need a stronger security framework. We are willing to support the government in this effort, but it must take the initiative. Today, people cannot even approach the courts without fearing for their lives. We demand that the Public Security Minister address this House on the matter.”

In response, the Chief Government Whip reaffirmed the government’s commitment to dismantling underworld networks.

“We are actively engaged in breaking these networks apart. As you may have seen, we have recalled firearms issued by the Ministry of Defence. The extradition process for wanted criminals is ongoing. While we cannot disclose all details due to ongoing investigations, we assure you that we are doing everything within our power to put an end to this,” he said.

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Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka pays courtesy call on PM

Published

47 mins ago

2026/02/19

Priyan

The Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka Dr. Siri Walt paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on the 17th of February at the Temple Trees.

Welcoming the Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka the Prime Minister briefed the Ambassador on her recent visit to Davos to participate in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting noting that the series of high-level bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the Forum, along with two important industry visits provided valuable insights for Sri Lanka’s economic engagement.

The discussion focused on Switzerland’s vocational education and training (VET) system, with particular interest in exploring possible cooperation and knowledge-sharing opportunities.

The Prime Minister also conveyed her appreciation for the assistance extended by the Government of Switzerland following Cyclone Ditwah. She emphasized Sri Lanka’s need for enhanced technical assistance during the ongoing rebuilding phase, especially in relation to the reconstruction of bridges and railway infrastructure.

Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Switzerland, and to expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

First Secretary (Political) of the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo Ms. Justine Boillat, First Secretary (Migration) of the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo Ms. Andrea Kienast and the Secretary to the Prime Minister, Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatt and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Foreign Employment, Tourism.attended the meeting.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

Advisory for low pressure area in the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka

Published

2 hours ago

2026/02/19

Priyan

Location of the low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal Sea area

Advisory for low pressure area in the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka.
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 03.00 pm on 18 February 2026

Multiday boats fishermen and naval community are warned that the low-pressure area still persists over the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka. Under the influence of this system, heavy showers or thundershowers, Strong winds about (50-60) kmph, and rough or very rough seas can be expected in these sea areas.

The Meteorological Department is constantly monitoring the behavior of the system.

The naval and fishing communities are requested to be attentive to the future forecasts and bulletins issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.

News

Canada concerned about delay in holding PC polls

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/19

Sahan Weerasooriya

Canadian High Commissioner Isabelle Martin shaking hands with Minister Abayaratne

Canada, said to be the home to the largest Tamil Diaspora community, has expressed concern over the delay in holding Provincial Council (PC) elections. Canadian High Commissioner Isabelle Martin, on Monday (16), took up the issue with Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Professor Chandana Abayaratne.

Sources quoted Prof. Abayaratne as having told the Canadian HC that the delay was not deliberate on the part of the government. The Minister blamed, what the sources called, certain legal, technical and delimitation issues for the delay.

India compelled Sri Lanka to enact the 13th Amendment to the country’s Constitution to enable the setting up of the Provincial Council system, in line with the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord, which Sri Lanka signed under duress in July 1987.

Prof. Abayaratne has assured the Canadian HC that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, too, recognised the importance of strengthening the Provincial Council system as a solution to ethnic issues and that urgent steps would be taken in that regard.

During the discussion, matters relating to strengthening political, economic and social relations between the two countries were discussed.

In May 2020, Canada declared that Sri Lanka had perpetrated genocide during the war against the LTTE. Canada also sanctioned former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa in January 2023 over alleged war crimes.

The Canadian HC also explained her country’s ‘Indo-Pacific’ strategy and how Sri Lanka could benefit from it.

In particular, Canada’s “Pathways to Peace” project will support reconciliation between nations, and to improve communication by encouraging the learning of mutual languages as a second language, and it was also agreed to provide more opportunities for Sri Lankan students to pursue higher studies in Canada.

The Canadian delegation also expressed its willingness to provide the necessary technical assistance to solve the drinking water problems in Puttalam, Mannar and the North-Eastern provinces under technical cooperation, and to implement the relevant projects after a preliminary study.

by Shamindra Ferdinando