News

Stalin accuses Minister Weerasekera of lying

Published

5 years ago

2021/07/10

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The government tarnished the reputation of the country by forcefully taking people from the court complex, in broad daylight, against court orders, General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) Joseph Stalin yesterday told The Island. The government, which blatantly flaunted the rule of law, now had no right to accuse anyone of damaging Sri Lanka’s international image, he said.

The government was endangering the lives of the Opposition activists by packing them off to quarantine centres and placing them in unsafe environments, Stalin added

Stalin, who is currently undergoing quarantine at the Mullaitivu Air Force Base, said that they had been forcibly taken from Court premises on Thursday even though the Magistrate said she had no powers to order them to be quarantined.

Stalin and 32 others were arrested on Thursday while protesting against the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) bill. The police used a directive issued by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) banning public demonstrations.

“I heard yesterday morning that Minister of Law and Order, Sarath Weerasekera saying that we were given tooth brushes, medicine and clothes at the Negombo Police Station. That is all lies,” he said.

One of those arrested needed an inhaler and the Negombo Police refused to get one claiming that it cost Rs. 1,200, Stalin said.

“We were given a quarter of a loaf of bread and a banana each at Chilaw Police station and we were taken to the Mullaitivu quarantine centre in the wee hours of Friday. We didn’t get any food till past 10 am. I am saying this because we expect good treatment, I am telling this because the Minister is lying about how we were treated.”

Stalin said that the police had no right to arrest protesters using the directive of the DGHS because it was not a law. The actions of the government showed its desperation.

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News

SAARC journalists meet in New Delhi

Published

9 hours ago

2026/02/6

Priyan

President of SJF Sri Lanka Chapter Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi hands over a memento to Dr Alok Kumar Mishra Joint Secretary of the Association of Indian Universities

Members of the South Asian Journalists Forum have gathered at the University of New Delhi for a two day conference themed ‘Peace and Co-operation’.

Journalists from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India are attending the conference hosted by the University of Delhi in collaboration with the India Chapter of SJF, and will deliberate on how the media can act as a catalyst for regional stability and mutual coexsistence.

A tree plantation campaign was also held at the Ghandi Bhawan premises of the University to mark the event and symbolize growing regional ties.

The Sri Lanka delegation is led by President of SJF’s Sri Lanka Chapter Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi.

News

Governor of Gujarat met with Sri Lanka PM to discuss exposition of Devnimori Relics

Published

10 hours ago

2026/02/6

Priyan

The Governor of the of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat, along with the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Harsh Sanghvi, met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Thursdy [February 05] at the Parliamentary Complex to discuss the arrangements related to the exposition of the Devnimori Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha, which have been brought to Sri Lanka under the patronage of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India.

These sacred relics of Lord Buddha were discovered during archaeological excavations conducted in the 1960s at the historic Devnimori site in Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Until now, these relics had never been taken outside India. As a result of discussions held between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Sri Lanka, the people of Sri Lanka have been granted this rare opportunity to venerate these sacred relics.

The exposition of the relics is being held for a period of seven days, from February 05 to February 11, at the Gangaramaya Temple in Hunupitiya, Colombo. Discussions were held between both parties regarding the arrangements related to this event.

The discussion was attended by Samar Nanda, Joint Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Culture; Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, Acting High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka; Abhijit Halder, Director General of the International Buddhist Confederation; along with several others.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

INS GHARIAL makes port call in Colombo

Published

17 hours ago

2026/02/6

Priyan

The Indian Naval Ship (INS) GHARIAL made a port call in Colombo for operational turnarounds on 04 Feb 26. The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in compliance with naval traditions.

Commanded by Commander Gaurav Tewari, INS GHARIAL is a vessel with a length of 124.8 meters.

During this visit, ten (10) Bailey Bridges, brought by ship, through the coordination of the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka, will be handed over to the Disaster Management Center. These bridges will provide temporary transportation links while bridges damaged across the island by adverse weather conditions are repaired.

The crew’s itinerary features scheduled goodwill activities with the Sri Lanka Navy, alongside visits to several tourist attractions across the island.