News
Underworld figure ‘Middeniye Kajja’ and daughter shot dead in contract killing
By Hemanta Randunu
A notorious underworld figure, Aruna Widanagamage alias Middeniye Kajja, and his six-year-old daughter, were shot dead, on Tuesday (18) night, by contract killers at Kadewatta Junction in Middeniya, Tangalle. Initial police investigations indicate that the killing was carried out by a gang operating in the southern region.
Widanagamage’s eight-year-old son was also seriously injured in the attack and is currently receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit of the Embilipitiya Hospital.
Widanagamage was travelling on a motorcycle, with his three children, after dropping off his eldest child at a friend’s house. While heading towards another location, with his remaining two children, two hired gunmen on a motorcycle followed and ambushed them at around 10.15 PM, firing shots from a T-56 assault rifle.
Widanagamage died at the scene, while his six-year-old daughter succumbed to her injuries after being admitted to the Tangalle Hospital. His eight-year-old son remains under intensive care with severe injuries.
Police records indicate that Widanagamage was involved in numerous criminal activities across Tangalle, Middeniya, Karandeniya, Meegahama, and Medamulana, including extortion, contract killings, illegal possession of weapons, and armed robberies. His primary source of income was said to be gambling on ‘buru’, a local card game. Police investigations have revealed that on the night of the attack, he had left his children at a friend’s house and was on his way to a gambling den.
In 2024, he was involved in a robbery in Weeraketiya, where he and his accomplices, armed with weapons, stormed a gambling establishment, terrorised those present, and robbed cash. He had been imprisoned for this crime but was released on bail a few months ago.
Widanagamage, separated from his wife, was living with his three children at the time of his death.
According to police records, he had been implicated in multiple criminal cases, including a 2014 house robbery in Middeniya, an extortion case involving death threats in Embilipitiya in 2019, robbing a jeep in Beliatta and three-wheeler in Weeraketiya. He had also been arrested in possession of a T-56 firearm and 30 live bullets in 2019 and was further accused of robbing a bus and stealing money from gambling establishments in 2021.
No suspects have been arrested in connection with the double homicide of Widanagamage and his daughter. However, five special police teams have been assigned to investigate the case, under the direct supervision of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Kithsiri Jayalath and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nishantha Soysa in the Southern Province.
The Sri Lanka Navy seized three Indian fishing boats and apprehended 10 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, during a special operation conducted in the sea area north of Mannar and off the Delft Island in the dark hours of 19 Feb 25.
The Indian fishing boat, together with 04 fishermen aboard, held by the North Central Naval Command was brought to the Talaimannar Pier and they will be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Mannar for legal action. Meanwhile the 02 Indian fishing boats and 06 fishermen held by the Northern Naval Command were brought to the Kankesanthurai Harbour and they will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for legal proceedings.
Including the recent operation, the Navy has held 13 Indian fishing boats and apprehended 99 Indian fishermen for poaching in Sri Lankan waters, thus far in 2025.
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal submitted by the Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody to proceed with the establishment of two solar power plants capable of producing 50 megawatts and 70 megawatts at Sampur, Trincomalee, as a joint venture between Sri Lanka and India.
Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, said yesterday (20) that an agreement had been reached between the governments of Sri Lanka and India to set up those solar power plants in two phases—50 megawatts in the first stage and 70 megawatts in the second stage. The project will be undertaken as a joint venture between the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and India’s National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) under a construction, ownership, and operation model.
He noted that the proposed 50 MW solar power project would be implemented by Trincomalee Power Company Ltd, a partnership between the CEB and NTPC to develop the previously planned coal power project at Sampur.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal to take the necessary steps to advance the project’s implementation, the Cabinet Spokesman said.
by Sujeewa Thathsara
The Health Professionals’ Association has announced plans to take strong professional action unless the recent government decision to reduce overtime and leave entitlements for full-time and part-time medical and nursing staff.
This ultimatum came during a meeting held in Colombo on Feb 19, where several health workers’ unions gathered to discuss the implications of the budgetary changes.
Ravi Kumudesh, President of the Health Professionals’ Association, said that if the authorities failed to provide fair solutions soon, they would be compelled to launch a strike.
“We have given the Health Minister seven days to engage in meaningful discussions and resolve these issues,” Kumudesh said, highlighting the sacrifices health professionals made, working around the clock to deliver essential services.
The Joint Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine (JCPSM) also expressed concern over the budget’s impact on health sector employees.
Meanwhile, other professional unions have also voiced their dissatisfaction with the budget. Ven. Ulapane Sumangala Thera, President of the Association of Education Professionals, pointed out that the expected salary increases for schoolteachers and principals had not been granted.
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