News
SJB to challenge 20A in Supreme Court

By Akitha Perera
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya was planning to move the Supreme Court against the 20th Amendment (20A) ‘to safeguard the mechanisms introduced by the 19th Amendment to ensure independence of the judiciary and the public service”, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella said yesterday.
Addressing the media at the SJB head office, in Pitakotte, MP Kiriella said the proposed 20A would deprive the people of their democratic rights and they would to all out to obstruct what he called the government’s march towards dictatorship. The first step in that battle would be going before the Supreme Court against the proposed amendment, Kiriella said.
Kiriella said: “People have not forgotten how they held elections to the Wayamba Provincial Council. There were numerous malpractices and irregularities including the mobilising of police and public service officials to support the ruling party rig that election. The judiciary was also influenced. Those actions paved the way for a public debate and it was agreed that the police, judiciary and public service be made independent.
“It was as a result of that discussion, the 17th Amendment to the Constitution was introduced with independent commissions.
All parties voted for it. That amendment introduced independent commissions and a Constitutional Council was set up to make appointments to those commissions. That council had the powers even to reject a name sent by the President.
“What happened thereafter? They brought in the 18th Amendment which concentrated all powers in the hands of the President again. The 17th Amendment was abolished. People asked for strengthening the state institutions and making them independent. As a result we introduced the 19th Amendment to the Constitution to prune down some draconian powers vested of the executive presidency. We re-established independent commissions which ensured democracy. Now, the incumbent government has brought in another amendment to do away with those democratic mechanisms and to consolidate powers in the hands of the president.
The proposed 20th Amendment will vest some powers in the hands of the executive presidency including that to appoint judges. This will pave way for a dictatorship.
One of the excuses they give is that they introduced this amendment to ensure stability of the government. That is a blatant lie. As per the provisions of the proposed amendment, the president could dissolve parliament one year after the formation of a government. Does it ensure stability?
We will go before the Supreme Court and hope that the court will help save democracy in this country,” MP Kiriella said.
SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva also addressed the press.
News
UN asks govt. to vacate ‘remaining lands still occupied and used economically by the military’

Military-held land down to 9% in North and East
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has said that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, during discussions with the Sri Lankan government, stressed the importance of releasing the remaining lands still occupied and used economically by the military.
OHCHR has included updated information provided by the government on land releases in its reports to the Human Rights Council, the OHCHR said.
OHCHR team member Jeremy Laurence said so in response to The Island query regarding the HC’s call for release of land which both serving and retired officers considered unfair.
The Island posed the following question to the HC’s office: “At the conclusion of the UNHRC Chief’s visit to Sri Lanka recently, one of the issues he raised was the failure on the part of the armed forces to vacate public and private property held in the Northern and Eastern provinces. However, the military insists that approximately 91% of the total land held at the time of the conclusion of military operations, in May 2009, had been released. We would like to know whether the UNHRC Chief hadn’t been briefed by the government of Sri Lanka or the UN Mission in Colombo on the vacation of approximately 91% of the land held by the military in 2009.
The Island contacted OHCHR as suggested by the UN Mission in Colombo.
The military pointed out that of over 24,000 acres held in the Jaffna and Kilinochchi sectors in 2009, less than 2,500 acres remained in their hands. “We are down to the bare minimum. Further reductions will pose major challenges,” one retired officer said.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
News
Need to attend to sick wild elephants promptly discussed at high-level meeting

A high-level discussion on the urgent treatment of sick wild elephants was held on Monday (July 7) at the Ministry of Environment under the patronage of Minister of Environment Dr. Dhammika Patabendi and Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody.
Senior veterinary officers representing the Wildlife and Zoological Parks Veterinary Officers’ Association participated in the discussion alongside Secretary to the Ministry of Environment Rohitha Udawawala and Director of Veterinary Services of the Department of Wildlife Conservation Dr. Tharaka Prasad.
The focus of the meeting was to streamline rapid response measures to treat elephants suffering from illnesses in the wild and to ensure timely access to life-saving antibiotics and medical resources.
Commenting on the need for swift intervention, Environment Minister Dr. Dhammika Patabendi said:
“We cannot allow delays when it comes to the treatment of our wild elephants, especially those suffering from life-threatening conditions. These majestic creatures are an integral part of our natural heritage, and it is our duty to act fast. We are committed to providing our veterinary officers with the tools, resources, and policy support necessary to carry out this responsibility efficiently.”
Discussions also focused on identifying infected elephants promptly, administering treatment without delay, and addressing any shortages in medical supplies such as antibiotics. The officials explored avenues to ensure logistical and infrastructural support for veterinarians working in the field.
Significant attention was drawn to the existing cadre shortages within the Department of Wildlife Conservation’s veterinary and technical teams. Plans were discussed to address these gaps with the approval of the Department of Management Services and the Ministry of Public Administration.
Additionally, the need to provide field veterinarians with appropriate technical facilities and mobility support was emphasized as a key priority in enabling effective on-ground operations.
The meeting concluded with an understanding that urgent procedural and administrative steps would be taken to fast-track recruitment, supply of medication, and operational improvements necessary to protect the health of Sri Lanka’s wild elephant population.
By Ifham Nizam
News
Navy seizes contraband pesticides and seeds in Puttalam and Kalpitiya

The Navy detected a significant haul of smuggled pesticides and seeds during operations conducted in Puttalam and Kalpitiya from 20 to 30 June, 2025. The separate operations also resulted in two dinghies and a lorry also being taken into custody, Navy Headquarters said.
In a search operation on 20 June, the Northwestern Naval Command’s SLNS Vijaya inspected a suspicious lorry near Alankuda Beach, Puttalam, resulting in the vehicle, along with 32 sacks of pesticide materials and seeds suspected to have been smuggled into the country, being taken into custody.
On 28 June, during another search near Ippantivu Island, Kalpitiya, naval personnel spotted and took into custody two dinghies carrying 15 sacks of pesticide materials intended for smuggling.
It is suspected that the smugglers abandoned the contraband, along with the lorry and dinghies, due to heightened naval surveillance. The seized items were handed over to the Katunayake Customs Preventive Office for further investigation and legal action.
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