News

Udaya seeks Court of Appeal intervention to prevent his arrest

Published

10 months ago

2025/09/2

Sahan Weerasooriya

Udaya and Ulugetenne

Comments on Ulugetenne’s case triggers probe against PHU Leader:

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila has moved the Court of Appeal in a bid to prevent his arrest over views expressed regarding the remanding of former Navy Commander Admiral (retd.) Nishantha Ulugetenne. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested Ulugetenne, a former Ambassador to Cuba, on 28 July, over the alleged disappearance of a person named Shantha Samaraweera on the basis of a statement given by Selvathambi Mahendran, alias Bharathi, of the LTTE.

The former Minister and Attorney-at-Law filed his application in terms of Article 140 of the Constitution. Among the six respondents are Public Security Ministry Secretary retired SDIG Ravi Seneviratne, IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya, SDIG, CID, Asanka Karawita and CID Director SSP (retd.) Shani Abeysekera.

Gammanpila has submitted the application through his power of attorney holder Kahatapitiya Kankanamalage Sandyan Nalaka Perera. The ex-lawmaker sought the Court of Appeal intervention claiming that there was a bid to remand him for a period of one year in terms of the ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) Act.

The ex-Minister said that the CID had found fault with him for commenting on the arrest of Ulugetenne on the basis of a statement made by an ex-LTTE cadre. The Petitioner asserted that he has a right to comment on the propriety of an arrest under Article 14 (1) (a) of the Constitution.

Gammanpila reiterated that the separatist movement and LTTE sympathisers, living here and abroad, sought to tarnish the image of the war-winning armed forces by the arrest of Ulugetenne.

Attorney-at-Law Achala Seneviratne, on 12 August, declared that they lodged a complaint against Gammanpila over the media briefing, as well as an interview given to a Sinhala newspaper. The lawyer alleged that Gammanpila, through his actions, sought to instill fear among the witnesses in this particular case involving Ulugetenne.

The CID has informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court that an investigation has been initiated to determine whether the remarks made by the former Minister amounted to an offence under Section 3(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act No 56 of 2007 and under Section 120 of the Penal Code. (SF)

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News

Animal Welfare Draft Bill to be Gazetted

Published

8 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

A specialists committee has been appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation adhering to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 29.12.2025 for submitting appropriate recommendations analyzing the provisions of the draft bill formulation in regard to Animal Welfare.

Based on the recommendations of the said Committee, the Legal Draftsman has been instructed at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 18.05.2026 to prepare the final bill on the animal welfare.

Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the draft bill and the clearance of the Attorney General has been received in the connection.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to publish the said draft bill in the
Government Gazette Notification and subsequently forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.

News

Legal provisions on marking voters using indelible ink during elections removed

Published

8 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

Under the legal provisions for elections in this country since 2004, it is mandatory for voters who come to mark their votes to verify their identity through a valid identity card, and it is also mandatory for all such voters to be marked with an appropriate mark using indelible ink. The dual purpose of these two functions is to prevent a voter from voting more than once in a single election.

It has been observed that having to follow two different
methods at the same time to achieve the same objective hinders the efficiency of the duties performed at the polling stations and also incurs additional costs to the government.

Therefore, it has been deemed appropriate to remove the legal provisions regarding the use of indelible ink and marking the voter with the appropriate mark from all election acts.

Accordingly, the development activities of the province, as well as national security, will benefit. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the
President to take necessary steps to remove the legal provisions

• Section 36 of the presidential Election Act, No 15 of 1981
• Section 38 of the Parliamentary Election Act, No 01 of 1981
• Section 36 of the Provincial Council Election Act, No 02 of 1988
• Section 53 A of the Local Government Elections Ordinance (262 Authority)
• Section 21 of the Referendum Act No 7 of 1981

News

Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts

Published

9 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 24 JUNE 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 24 June 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m.

Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expectedat times over the Western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.