February 02, Colombo (LNW): A massive haul of illicit drugs intercepted at sea has been sent for forensic examination following orders issued today by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

The consignment, valued by investigators at more than Rs. 3 billion, was recovered by the Sri Lanka Navy during an operation late last month and later brought ashore at the Dikowita Fisheries Harbour. Eleven fishermen taken into custody in connection with the seizure were linked to the multi-day fishing vessel from which the narcotics were found.

Police Narcotics Bureau officers produced the cache before court amid heightened security, presenting the drugs packed in 15 sealed protective bags. After reviewing submissions made by the police, Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama directed that the entire stock be forwarded to the Government Analyst and instructed officials to obtain a comprehensive analytical report.

According to investigators, the seizure includes more than 260 kilogrammes of narcotics, comprising large quantities of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as “ice”, along with a substantial amount of heroin. The interception took place on January 25 during a naval patrol targeting suspected drug trafficking activities off the coast.

Following the court’s ruling, the exhibits were formally sealed and dispatched to the Government Analyst under the supervision of the Court Registrar, as authorities continue inquiries into what is believed to be one of the largest recent maritime drug busts.

February 02, Colombo (LNW): The Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court has ordered that four Buddhist monks, including Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera, along with six other individuals, remain in remand custody until February 09, 2026.

The group was produced before court in connection with the alleged installation of a Buddha statue within a designated coastal zone in Trincomalee without the necessary legal clearance. Authorities contend that the placement violated regulations enforced under coastal conservation laws.

The matter traces back to an incident on November 16 last year, when tensions reportedly escalated after officials moved to remove the statue from the site. According to police, the Coast Conservation Department had previously raised objections, maintaining that the structure had been erected without formal approval from the relevant authorities.

Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the construction and subsequent unrest are continuing, while the court has directed that the suspects be held pending further proceedings.

February 02, Colombo (LNW): The United States Embassy in Sri Lanka has announced a temporary reduction in its routine communications, citing a funding gap in Washington that has triggered a partial shutdown of the US federal government.

In a notice shared via social media, the embassy said it would limit Facebook updates to essential safety and security messages until normal government operations are restored. Non-urgent posts and regular informational content will be paused during this period.

The embassy sought to reassure the public that, despite the funding disruption, passport and visa services are expected to continue both within the United States and at overseas diplomatic missions, including Colombo, subject to operational conditions. Travellers and applicants have been encouraged to consult the official US State Department website for the most up-to-date information on consular services and office hours.

A lapse in appropriations occurs when the US Congress is unable to approve federal funding legislation in time, forcing certain government activities deemed non-essential to be curtailed. Diplomatic missions in several other countries have issued similar advisories as the funding stalemate affects US government operations worldwide.

February 02, Colombo (LNW): Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya has underscored that every major government policy and long-term development strategy must be shaped around a simple principle: no child in Sri Lanka should be denied access to vocational or higher education because of financial hardship.

She made these observations while speaking at a workshop on budget planning and institutional strategy for the vocational education sector, attended by heads and senior representatives of nine state-affiliated institutions, including two universities. The event, held in Colombo, focused on strengthening coordination and long-term planning within the sector.

The Prime Minister stressed that the plans of vocational and technical institutions must be closely aligned with the country’s broader National Economic Development Plan. While recognising the sector’s role in producing a skilled workforce, she said education reform should go beyond technical competence, placing equal emphasis on values such as empathy, ethical conduct and social responsibility in order to develop professionals with a strong sense of humanity.

Dr Amarasuriya noted that expanding opportunities for children from economically vulnerable backgrounds was a core responsibility of the State, adding that vocational education could play a decisive role in helping young people build secure and dignified futures.

Turning to global trends, she pointed to the growing influence of artificial intelligence on education and employment, observing that even internationally there is no clear consensus on how AI will transform vocational fields and the world of work. This uncertainty, she said, made it all the more urgent for Sri Lanka to integrate vocational training more firmly into the mainstream education system through timely and well-planned reforms.

She also cautioned that technological revolutions often prioritise profit, warning that Sri Lanka must avoid being left behind as it was during earlier phases of industrial change. Although digital platforms have expanded access to learning, she noted that technology has clear limits in professions rooted in human care and interaction, such as childcare and elder care, where compassion and interpersonal skills remain irreplaceable.

The discussion further explored the need for more flexible education pathways, enabling students to advance through vocational training to the highest academic levels, including doctoral studies, while also allowing working individuals to enter or re-enter education at different stages. Participants agreed that such flexibility must be matched with rigorous standards to protect quality and maintain public confidence in the education system.

February 02, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Police have unveiled a wide-ranging security and traffic operation ahead of a major religious event at the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple, where Sacred Relics brought from India will be displayed to the public from early February.

The Relics are expected to arrive in the country on February 04, 2026, with the public exposition beginning at 6.00 a.m. the following day. The display will remain open continuously, day and night, until 7.00 a.m. on February 11, drawing large crowds of local and overseas devotees to central Colombo.

Police say comprehensive measures are being put in place to ensure the safety of worshippers and to manage congestion in the surrounding areas. Members of the public attending the exposition are requested to cooperate fully with security checks and crowd control arrangements throughout the seven-day event.

With significant numbers anticipated, devotees have been advised to remain alert and take personal responsibility for safeguarding valuables such as cash, jewellery and travel documents. The use of mobile phones inside the Sacred Chamber will not be permitted, and visitors are strongly discouraged from bringing helmets, bulky bags, jackets or other unnecessary items into the temple grounds.

Motorists travelling through the area have been reminded to observe traffic instructions and to park only in approved locations. Police officers will be deployed at key points to assist the public and to regulate traffic flow. Visitors are also urged to dress and conduct themselves in keeping with Buddhist customs when entering the temple premises.

To ease congestion, several roads around Gangaramaya will be closed temporarily to vehicular traffic during the exposition period. In addition, a dedicated shuttle bus service will operate from selected parking locations to transport devotees to and from the temple.

Police have stressed that public cooperation will be essential to maintaining a calm and orderly environment, noting that both free and paid parking facilities have been arranged to accommodate the influx of vehicles.

The following arrangements will be in effect during the exposition:

Road Closures

* Jinarathana Mawatha from the James Peiris Mawatha junction towards the temple
* Jinarathana Mawatha from the Hunupitiya Wewa Road junction towards the temple
* Jinarathana Mawatha from the Lake Crescent (Hunupitiya Road) junction towards the temple
* Park Street from the Jinarathana Mawatha junction towards the temple
* Staple Street from the Muttiah Road junction
* James Peiris Mawatha from the Muttiah Road junction

Special Shuttle Service Locations

* Old MOD Grounds parking area
* Port City parking area
* Parking area near the Shangri-La Hotel

Restricted Parking Areas

* Navam Mawatha
* Perahera Mawatha
* Ramanayake Mawatha
* James Peiris Mawatha
* Jinarathana Mawatha
* Muttiah Road
* Altair Avenue
* Staple Street
* Dawson Street
* Union Place
* Hyde Park Corner
* Baybrook Place
* Park Street
* Lake Crescent
* Hunupitiya Wewa Road
* Dharmapala Mawatha

Free Parking Areas

* Port City parking area
* Parking area near the Shangri-La Hotel
* Old MOD Grounds
* F. R. Senanayake Mawatha parking area
* Dhanapala Mawatha, Viharamahadevi Park vicinity
* Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha (Green Path) parking area
* School Road parking
* Vauxhall Street parking
* Vacant land at the former Sathosa premises near Colombo City Centre

Paid Parking Facilities

* Private parking near Gamini Roundabout
* Parking area opposite Lake House
* Access Tower building parking
* Old Manning Market grounds
* Chamas Parking

Police have appealed to the public to plan their journeys in advance and to follow instructions issued by officers on duty, emphasising that these measures are intended to ensure a secure, dignified and spiritually enriching experience for all who attend.

February 02, Colombo (LNW): The Legal Officers’ Association of the Attorney General’s Department has voiced strong concern over what it describes as a wave of unfounded personal attacks aimed at Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe (Jnr), PC, and senior officers of the Department while carrying out their official responsibilities.

In a statement issued following a Special General Meeting held on January 29, 2026, the Association said a resolution addressing the matter was adopted unanimously. The resolution notes that the recent spate of hostile commentary appears neither spontaneous nor isolated, but rather part of a deliberate effort to apply pressure on the Attorney General and weaken the institutional independence of the Department.

The Association observed that similar campaigns have surfaced periodically in the past, and warned that social media platforms are increasingly being exploited to manufacture an exaggerated sense of public outrage. Such tactics, it said, risk distorting public perception and eroding confidence in key state institutions.

Legal officers cautioned that sustained attempts to intimidate the Attorney General’s Department could have far-reaching consequences, potentially damaging the rule of law, the administration of justice and the foundations of democratic governance. If allowed to continue unchecked, the Association warned, public trust in the legal system could be severely compromised.

At the same time, the Association expressed appreciation to the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, members of the legal community and members of the public who have publicly defended the Attorney General and the Department. It highlighted the Attorney General’s professional integrity and impartiality, while also drawing attention to the heavy workload managed by the Department despite acute shortages of staff and resources.

The Association called on all stakeholders to take an active role in countering misinformation, noting that persistent personal attacks have a demoralising effect on state counsel and threaten to undermine their ability to serve the public interest effectively.

Reaffirming its full confidence in Attorney General Ranasinghe, the Association underscored its commitment to performing its duties independently, fairly and in strict accordance with the law under his leadership. It also stressed that while the Attorney General, like any public official, is subject to the law, established legal remedies exist for those who are genuinely aggrieved by decisions of the office.

The statement concluded by urging the public to exercise restraint and responsibility online, cautioning against the spread of unverified allegations. Such conduct, the Association said, only fuels misinformation and weakens the independence of the Attorney General’s Office and the broader justice system.

February 02, Colombo (LNW): The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has announced a further escalation of its industrial action, citing continued inaction by the authorities on a range of long-standing grievances.

The association confirmed that the enhanced measures would take effect from 8.00 a.m. today (02), following what it described as the absence of any meaningful engagement or acceptable proposals from the Ministry of Health.

Under the expanded action, government doctors will cease issuing prescriptions or formal recommendations for medicines and medical equipment that are not available within hospital pharmacies. Referrals for laboratory investigations to be carried out outside hospitals will also be halted when such services cannot be provided internally.

In addition, GMOA members will withdraw from voluntary participation in health camps and clinics organised by political groups, and will no longer agree to staff newly opened wards or units unless the approved cadre of medical officers is in place. Doctors have also been instructed not to examine patients in settings where minimum standards for safety, privacy and support staff are not met.

Specialist services will be restricted to the hospitals to which consultants are officially assigned, with specialists stepping back from covering duties at other institutions that lack permanent specialist staff.

The GMOA first launched island-wide industrial action across government hospitals on January 26 after presenting a set of demands to the government. At the time, the association granted the Minister of Health a 48-hour period to announce concrete solutions.

According to the GMOA, that deadline passed without any satisfactory response. Following an emergency meeting of its Executive Committee held on the morning of January 31, 2026, the association resolved to press ahead with uninterrupted and intensified trade union action until its concerns are adequately addressed.

February 02, Colombo (LNW): Several spells of shower will occur in Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces and in Hambanthota district, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (02).

Showers or thundershowers are likely at several places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts after 2.00 p.m. Fairly heavy falls about 50 mm are likely at some places.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts during the early hours of the morning.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.


Marine Weather:

Condition of Rain:
Showers will occur at several places in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Pottuvil to Kankasanthurai via Batticaloa and Trincomalee. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in the other sea areas around the island in the evening or night.

Winds:
Winds will be north-easterly and wind speed will be (25-35) kmph. Wind speed can increase up to (45-50) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Kaluthara to Mannar via Colombo and Puttalam, and from Hambantota to Pottuvil.

State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Kaluthara to Mannar via Colombo and Puttalam, and from Hambantota to Pottuvil will be fairly rough at times. Other sea areas around the island will be moderate.

Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.