News
SF assassination bid trial: Witness confirms LTTE suicide bomber’s stay at suspect’s home
By A.J.A Abeynayake
R.P. Swarnalatha Abeykoon, a witness in a Colombo High Court case against the suspects of the attack on the then-Army Commander Sarath Fonseka in 2006, on Wednesday (29), identified that Durga, the LTTE suicide bomber involved in the attack, had been staying at the home of the second accused, Shanmugalingam Suriyakumar, whose house was located near her own.
Under the direction of Senior Deputy Solicitor General Lakmali Karunanayake, Abeykoon explained that the bomber had stayed at Suriyakumar’s home for some time. Although she could not recall the woman’s name, Abeykoon testified that Suriyakumar’s wife had introduced the bomber as a relative.
Abeykoon further noted that she had recognised the bomber’s face from media coverage of the attack and had confronted Suriyakumar about the woman, observing that he appeared visibly shaken by questioning.
A few years before the attacks Suriyakumar, his wife, their child, and the bomber moved to a rented house in Weliweriya, and Abeykoon had not seen the woman again. She heard that the woman had moved to Colombo to attend a beauty culture training course.
During the Sinhala and Hindu New Year celebrations in 2006, Suriyakumar’s family returned to his parents’ home near Abeykoon’s residence, but the bomber was absent. Abeykoon sent a meal to the woman, who later called to express her appreciation.
Despite suffering from health issues, Abeykoon appeared in court to provide testimony. Senior Deputy Solicitor General Karunanayake expressed gratitude on behalf of the department and the court for her cooperation.
High Court Judge Navaratne Marasinghe ordered the Criminal Investigation Department to provide transport for Abeykoon’s return home. The judge also scheduled the next hearing for 17 February and issued a summons for Judicial Medical Officer Dr K. Sirikumara to testify for the prosecution on that date.
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.
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