News
SC grants leave to proceed with petition seeking order to halt illegal silica mining
The Supreme Court on Monday (04) granted leave to proceed with a petition filed by the Environmental Justice Centre, together with several other parties, including local residents, seeking an order to halt illegal silica sand mining in an extent of over 200 acres in the Madampe area due to the resulting environmental damage.
The petition, which was called before the Court yesterday for confirmation of facts, was considered by a bench comprising Justices Achala Wengappuli and K. Priyantha Fernando. Senior Counsel Dr. Ravindranath Dabare appeared on behalf of the petitioners and presented submissions highlighting the environmental harm caused.
The petitioners allege that the Northwestern Provincial Environmental Authority has been continuously issuing Environmental Clearance Certificates, in violation of the law, despite clear environmental degradation. In response, the Supreme Court bench extended an interim injunction which was previously issued to prevent the continuation of sand mining, until the final determination of the case.
The Court also fixed the petition for hearing on February 20 next year.
Furthermore, the bench ordered that until a final verdict is delivered, all sand mining activities at the 30 identified sites that have been revised from an initially claimed 40, must be halted and the current status of those areas must be maintained.
The petitioners initially claimed that illegal sand mining was taking place at around 40 locations across nine Grama Niladhari (GN) divisions in Madampe. However, they later submitted a revised document to Court, correcting the number of mining sites to 30.
Emphasising the significance of the case, the Supreme Court noted that, as the petition deals with a serious environmental concern, affecting the country, all responsible parties must take collective action to seek solutions that minimise environmental damage.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
AKD: Govt. agenda on track despite Ditwah disaster
SL to receive 10 helicopters from US
Foreign couple held over alleged biopiracy at Horton Plains
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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