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SL College of Psychiatrists condemns caning of girl

Published

5 years ago

2021/03/6

Statement by the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists on the recent beating to death of a nine-year-old girl in Delgoda in a brutal exorcism ritual

It was widely reported in both public and social media recently that a nine-year-old girl was caned to death by an exorcist in the belief that it would drive an evil spirit away. It was further reported that the mother of the girl believed her daughter had been possessed by a demon and took her to the home of the ritualistic healer so a ritual could be performed. The police media spokesman reported that the exorcist first applied oil on the girl and then began to hit her repeatedly with a cane, due to the belief that the demon needed to be expelled.

Caning a 9-year-old is considered a cruel act in any civilized society but caning a nine-year-old child until she dies is downright barbaric and inhuman. Such acts belong firmly to stone-age societies. From the information available to us, this child was caned as an act of exorcism. Just the rationale of beating a vulnerable body of a nine-year-old to punish a demon is beyond belief. The beliefs in demonic possession and exorcism too belong to another era and relate to a belief system of middle ages in Europe. Such ancient thinking is still common in our society and seen in all segments of society. We would like to note that deaths and suffering due to ancient beliefs and practices are more common than this reported case.

We in Sri Lanka too have made little progress in countering these ancient beliefs and practices over the last 50 years. However, Psychiatry and other related psychological sciences have advanced to the extent that these so-called possession states and other similar behaviours can be explained and treated.

It is well known that possession states occur when there is a temporary loss of sense of personal identity and the individual may act as if they have been taken over by another personality, spirit or force. It is a psychiatric disorder called “Possession disorder” for which effective psychological and behavioural treatments are available. This may occur due to underlying significant stressors that the individual may be undergoing and may be associated with clinical depression. Medication may be helpful in such situations.

These individuals who repeatedly go into trance and possession states should be referred for psychiatric assessments following which they may be referred for psychiatric or psychological treatments. Today, every district in Sri Lanka has a general psychiatry and a child psychiatry clinic that can investigate these abnormal behaviours and deliver treatment. But unnecessary suffering and death due to persistent belief in demonic forces continue to happen. We would like to urge the Health Ministry, Education Ministry and the media to join us in educating the public about the real nature of these beliefs and practices.

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Navy seize an Indian fishing boat poaching in northern waters

Published

13 hours ago

2026/01/3

Priyan

During an operation conducted in the dark hours of 01 Jan 26, the Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 11 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, off Kovilan of Kareinagar, Jaffna.

The Northern Naval Command spotted a group of Indian fishing boats engaging in illegal fishing, trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. In response, naval craft of the Northern Naval Command were deployed to drive away those Indian fishing boats from island waters off Kovilan.

Meanwhile, compliant boarding made by naval personnel resulted in the seizure of one Indian fishing boat and apprehension of 11 Indian fishermen who continued to engage in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

The seized boat (01) and Indian fishermen (11) were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna for onward legal proceedings.

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Tri-Forces donate LKR. 372 million, a day’s pay of all ranks to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

Published

19 hours ago

2026/01/3

Priyan

Members of all ranks from the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force have collectively donated a day’s basic salary to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Accordingly, the total contribution made by the Tri-Forces amounts to LKR. 372,776,918.28.

The cheques representing the financial contributions were handed over on Wednesday (31 December) at the Presidential Secretariat to the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

The donations comprised LKR. 250 million from the Commander of the Army, Major General Lasantha Rodrigo; LKR. 73,963,879.71 from the Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda and LKR. 48,813,038.97 from the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe.

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, was also present on the occasion.

News

CEB demands 11.57 percent power tariff hike in first quarter

Published

21 hours ago

2026/01/3

Thilina Walpola

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) seeking an 11.57 percent increase in electricity tariffs for the first quarter of 2026, citing an estimated revenue shortfall and additional financial pressures, including cyclone-related damages.

According to documents issued by the PUCSL, the proposed tariff revision would apply to electricity consumption from January to March 2026 and includes changes to both energy charges and fixed monthly charges across all consumer categories, including domestic, religious, industrial, commercial and other users.

Under the proposal, domestic electricity consumers would face increases in unit rates as well as fixed monthly charges across all consumption blocks.

The CEB has estimated a deficit of Rs. 13,094 million for the first quarter of 2026, which it says necessitates the proposed 11.57 per cent tariff hike. The utility has noted that any deviation from this estimate whether a surplus or a shortfall will be adjusted through the Bulk Supply Tariff Adjustment (BSTA) mechanism and taken into account in the next tariff revision.

In its submission, the CEB said the proposed revision is aimed at ensuring the financial and operational stability of the power sector and mitigating potential risks to the reliability of electricity supply. The board-approved tariff structure for the first quarter of 2026 has been submitted to the PUCSL for approval and subsequent implementation, as outlined in Annex II of the proposal.

The CEB has also highlighted the financial impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which it said caused extensive damage to electricity infrastructure, with total losses estimated at around Rs. 20 billion. Of this amount, Rs. 7,016.52 million has been attributed to the first quarter of 2026, which the utility said has a direct bearing on electricity tariffs.

The CEB warned that if external funding is not secured to cover the cyclone-related expenditure, the costs incurred would need to be recovered through electricity tariffs in the second-quarter revision of 2026.

Meanwhile, the PUCSL has said that a decision on whether to approve the proposed tariff increase will be made only after following due regulatory procedures and holding discussions on the matter.

By Sujeewa Thathsara ✍️