News
SLA contingent armed with clubs: Opposition demands explanation from MoD, Army headquarters
Public Security Minister says troops never got involved; inquiry not needed
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Public Security Minister Tiran Alles yesterday (12) said that there was no need to investigate the presence of persons in military uniform, armed with wooden sticks and iron roads as they never engaged the protesters during the incidents in Colombo on 07 March.
The Minister said so when The Island inquired whether a ministerial level investigation was underway into the Opposition’s allegations. The military never entered the scene, Alles said.JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, last week, released pictures of men in uniform, armed with wooden sticks at the scene of the protests launched by university students.
The Public Security Minister insisted that the military hadn’t been deployed against protesters though troops were called in some instances.FSP spokesperson Pubudu Jagoda said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Defence Minister should explain how men in uniform armed with clubs and iron bars had positioned themselves near the police. An explanation is required as Army spokesman, Brigadier Ravi Herath had clearly denied that the men in uniform were members of the military.
Brigadier Herath was not immediately available for comment. He didn’t answer his mobile phone.Jagoda said that either the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government was prepared to use the military and the police in a para-military role or deploy ex-military personnel, and thugs as in the 80s.
Army Commander Lt. Gen. Vikum Liyanage should set the record straight, the former JVPer said. The government should be ashamed of its failure to identify those deployed alongside the police, six days after the media captured them, the FSP spokesperson said.
Jagoda said that the government couldn’t remain in the denial mode as the public questioned whether members of private security firm, Avant Garde, or Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Limited (RALL), affiliated to the Defence Ministry, were involved in attacking protests.
Retired DIG Priyantha Jayakody told The Island that the military couldn’t be deployed in the absence of a state of Emergency unless called in by a law enforcement officer, holding the rank of SP and above. He said that the identity of the officer who called for the military could be easily established if the government genuinely wanted to inquire into this.
Jayakody stressed that the contingent deployed near the protest wouldn’t have carried wooden poles, unless they received specific instructions from higher authority. The ex-DIG recalled how men armed with clubs had moved out of Temple Trees on the morning of May 09, 2022, to carry out meticulously planned attacks on those demanding the resignation of the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Jayakody emphasised that only two types of batons could be used – the normal baton and the one used by anti-riot squads.Responding to allegations, Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that the military had moved in, on a request from the police. He said there shouldn’t be any ambiguity over the circumstances the troops arrived at the scene ahead of the protests.
Both Jayakody and Jagoda said that the Parliament should inquire into the disturbing development. Jagoda said that those rejected by the electorate, but determined to hold onto power, at any cost, were causing further chaos.The Police launched one of fiercest attacks on protesters on March 07, near Royal College and the Colombo University. A security officer at the Colombo University caught up in the tear gas attack died at the National Hospital due to complications.
Protesting Development Officers continued their hunger strike near the Presidential Secretariat, Colombo yesterday (01), for the seventh consecutive day.The protesters, who are members of the Lanka School Development Officers’ Association, are demanding that they be absorbed into the teacher service as they have served as teachers in state-run schools for nearly seven years.
Secretary of the Association, Viraj Manaranga, said the protesters were seeking an urgent meeting with the President. He added that a presidential aide had visited the protest site and offered to arrange for a meeting with the President on 03 Feb., but the union insisted on an earlier date. Manaranga warned that failure to grant a meeting could trigger a massive protest in Colombo today (02).
Four officers participating in the hunger strike have been hospitalised due to deteriorating health, while two more joined the fast on Saturday (31).
In a bid to raise awareness of their grievances, on 30 January a delegation of the All Island Development Officers’ Association visited Most Venerable
Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera, Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, and subsequently with the Chapter’s Registrar, Ven. Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Thera. The prelates said promises that had been made to them should be fulfilled.
The protest began on 26 January as a satyagraha, after authorities failed to respond to repeated requests to integrate the officers into the teaching service. The escalation into a fast-unto-death underscores the protesters’ frustration over the prolonged delay
by Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon
The long-vacant post of Auditor General would be filled on 03 Feb., after months of controversy and delays, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake said on Friday (31) in Kandy.
The Constitutional Council met at the Parliamentary complex on Friday to discuss the appointment but failed to reach a decision on a suitable candidate. The President had previously proposed four names on four separate occasions, all of which were rejected. The Council is now set to consider the fifth nominee.
The post has remained vacant since April 2025, following the retirement of Chulanta Wickramaratne, who served as the 41st Auditor General. More than 10 months have passed without a permanent appointment.
Sources said a female officer in the Auditor General’s Department has been nominated again, though her previous recommendation was rejected due to some allegations against her.
Meanwhile, senior audit officer Dharmapala Gammanpila, with 31 years of service and the department’s most senior official, has received backing from the Mahanayake Theras of the three Nikayas, the Maha Sangha, and several civil society groups for appointment as the 42nd Auditor General.
Sources noted that the three civil society representatives on the Constitutional Council will play a crucial role in the final decision.
by Chaminda Silva and SK Samaranayake
Two 18-year-old youth were arrested by the Southern Division of the Western Province Crime Division on 31 January for allegedly aiding and abetting two murders carried out in Dehiwala and Kohuwala. ICE (crystal meth) was found in their possession at the time of arrest.
The suspects are residents of Mount Lavinia and Boralesgamuwa, according to the police. They are accused of having helped carry out a murder at a hotel in the Dehiwala Police Division on 9 January, 2026, and an attack on a person travelling in a three-wheeler at Bodhiyawatta, Kohuwala, on 12 December, 2025.
Police said the charges included sending photographs of the victims to a criminal living overseas.
Investigations revealed that the youth had acted under the direction of a criminal known as Sando.
Under the guidance of Janaka Kumara, Director of the Southern Division of the Western Province Crime Division, investigations are being led by Police Inspector Hemanta Kumara, assisted by Sub-Inspectors Prasanna Gunathilaka and Prasanna (40248), and Constables Chaminda (72987), Anil (79598), Kumar (88762), and Senanayake (19363), who are continuing the probe.
by Norman Palihawadane and Chaminda Silva
Showers expected in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Western, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Central provinces
Development Officers threaten to intensify their protest
Auditor General to be appointed tomorrow
Two arrested for aiding and abetting murder
CID summons former First Lady again
Remembering Upali Wijewardene, founder of Upali Group of Companies
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
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