News
Tharindu files FR petition against his arrest: IGP among respondents
Journalist Tharindu Uduvaragedara has filed a fundamental rights petition against the police against forcibly arresting, assaulting and detaining him in a police cell. Uduvaragedara alleged that he was arrested as he was returning home after covering a protest.
Uduvaragedara, who is currently working as the National Organiser of the Federation of Media Workers’ Unions as well as the editor of the Whatnews website, filed the fundamental rights petition on June 12th.
Last year (2023) on July 28, he was arrested and assaulted after reporting a protest in Borella.
The incumbent Inspector General of Police Deshbandu Tennakoon, who had been the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Western Province at the time, Borella Police Station Officer in Charge?? Janaka Withanage and former Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickramaratne and others have been named as respondents in the fundamental rights petition filed by lawyer Manjula Balasuriya on behalf of lawyer Swastika Arulingam.
A case against Tharindu Uduwaragedara has been pending in the Colombo Magistrate’s Court for almost a year, and even at the time of filing the fundamental rights case, the police have failed to file specific charges regarding his arrest.
On June 11, 2024, when the case was heard before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court No. 2, the police said that more people should be arrested, so they should be given time.
Lawyer Swastika Arulingam requested that if no further criminal charges are filed there, Tharindu Uduwaragedara be released from court proceedings.
Here, the magistrate said that if charges are not filed by the next court session, he will do so.
Since the inauguration of the current President Ranil Wickremesinghe, there have been a number of incidents of police assaulting, arresting and harassing journalists.
The report on press freedom issued by the International Federation of Journalists on May 3, 2024 also mentioned the restrictions on press freedom in Sri Lanka and the arrest of journalist Tharindu Uduvaragedara.
Also, Kurunegala journalist Bimal Ruhunage and Bingiriya journalist Dineth Kumara were arrested and remanded. The complaints of both journalists will be examined before the Human Rights Commission.
In terms of the provisions of the Establishments Code on payment of festival advance to government officers, there’s a possibility of obtaining rupees 10,000/- as an advance for celebrating festivals of Theipongal, Ramazan, Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Wesak, Deepavali, and Christmas as well as for pilgrimages (Sri Paada pilgrimage and Hajj pilgrimage).
Provisions have been given to recover the said advance in 08 installments or if required earlier without interest. It has been proposed by the Budget 2026 to increase the said festival advance up to rupees 15,000/-.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local governments to revise the relevant provisions so that the festival advance can be increased up to rupees 15,000/- .
As per the approval given by the cabinet meeting held on 02-06-2025, action is being taken at present to offer the underutilized lands/properties of the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Etate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation Company which are under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure which have been identified under stage one to suitable investors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure to provide following lands/properties on a lease basis to the suitable investors for optimal utilization following the prescribed procurement procedure.
• underutilized lands/properties identified under stage two owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Estate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation
Company,
• The Mawarala watte land and the Tea factory 40.48 hectares in extent, located in Matara District belonging to the Tea Shakthi Fund.
• The underutilized land of 1,541 hectares in extent of Kondachchi Estate is enjoyed by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
The drafting of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has commenced with the objective of equitable distribution of the benefits of the fisheries industry and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. This policy has been updated from time to time according to current requirements. However, steps have not been taken to obtain the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
According to the policy declaration of the present government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been redrafted, updating the aforementioned policy in line with the economic and development objectives of the government.
The recommendations of the Department of National Planning have been received for the drafted policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine
Resources to implement the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, integrating it with other relevant policies.
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Festival advance for government officers to be increased
Providing underutilized lands/properties to suitable investors for optimal utilization.
Implementation of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy
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