News
Stalin accuses Minister Weerasekera of lying
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.
News
Police officers donate LKR 9,687,462 from day’s salary to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund
A sum of LKR. 9,687,462, raised from day’s salary officers of the Police Department, has been donated to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to support the recovery of communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah and to assist in rebuilding the country following the disaster.
To date, officers of the Police Department have contributed over LKR. 74 million to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund through three such contributions of one day’s salary.
The donation was presented on Wednesday (22) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat by the Personal Assistant to the Inspector General of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police C. C. Bamunuarachchi, to the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Chief Inspector Udaya Kumara, Officer-in-Charge of the Police Secretariat, was also present on the occasion.
[Presidents Media Division]
Latest News
Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 26 April 2026, valid for 27 April 2026.
The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry
of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
News
Opposition asks for PSC to probe Treasury theft
Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the illegal diversion of Treasury funds, amounting to US$2.5 million to a third-party account.
Premadasa has said both the chairmanship and a majority of the Committee’s membership should be held by the Opposition to ensure impartiality.
The government has not only failed to account for the loss of US$2.5 million but also deliberately withheld information from Parliament, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) and the public, Premadasa has told the media, accusing the ruling party of seeking to deflect responsibility by initiating an internal departmental inquiry, which he describes as a biased process designed to justify predetermined conclusions.
The Opposition Leader has said only a transparent and independent probe could establish the facts, adding that such an investigation could be effectively carried out through a Parliamentary Select Committee led by the Opposition.
He has also warned that the alleged failure to inform Parliament about the missing funds amounted to a serious breach of accountability.
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