September 11, Colombo (LNW): A delegation of 30 Sri Lankan government media professionals has recently concluded a two-week advanced training programme in India, aimed at strengthening professional capacity and deepening bilateral ties in the sphere of public communication and media affairs.

The group, which included representatives from the Prime Minister’s Media Division, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Government Information, and district-level media units, participated in the programme from August 17 to 30, 2025.

Their visit formed part of a broader initiative stemming from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement during his official visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025, offering 700 annual training slots to Sri Lankan professionals across various fields.

The programme was organised by the Government of India at the request of Sri Lanka’s Department of Government Information and coordinated by the Indian High Commission in Colombo. Sessions were hosted at some of India’s foremost institutions, including the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS), the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), and the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

Participants engaged in a wide array of interactive workshops and seminars covering key areas such as media strategy, public diplomacy, digital communication trends, crisis media handling, and press relations in the age of social media. These sessions were led by senior Indian officials, academics, and media experts.

The programme also offered a rich component of experiential learning. Delegates visited the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), and the Kalinga Stadium, where they gained insight into India’s integrated approach to disaster communication, education outreach, and infrastructure development.

A highlight of the visit was a meeting with the Chief Minister of Odisha, during which discussions centred on fostering stronger cooperation in public information services and strategic communication.

Beyond professional engagement, the Sri Lankan officials were introduced to India’s broader economic landscape, including its rapid strides in digital governance, technological innovation—including developments in artificial intelligence—and public service delivery systems.

Cultural immersion was also part of the agenda, offering participants the opportunity to explore India’s historical landmarks, diverse traditions, and renowned hospitality.

September 11, Colombo (LNW): A new regulation aimed at enhancing passenger safety during long-distance travel is set to come into effect soon, according to Minister of Transport Bimal Rathnayake.

The regulation will apply to buses and vans that operate over extended distances, particularly those crossing provincial boundaries or travelling more than 100 kilometres.

Speaking to the media, Minister Rathnayake outlined that the forthcoming rules are built around six core safety criteria, with a particular focus on pre-journey vehicle inspections.

Under the proposed law, it will become compulsory for all long-distance passenger transport vehicles to undergo a basic safety check no more than 48 hours before commencing a journey. Whilst the inspections are not exhaustive mechanical overhauls, they will cover critical aspects such as tyre condition, brake functionality, and the integrity of mirrors—components that, if neglected, have been linked to past accidents.

“These checks are essential—not burdensome. We’re not talking about stripping the vehicle down, but ensuring that its most vital parts are in proper working order before it embarks on a long journey with passengers,” Rathnayake explained.

He added that any vehicle transporting passengers across provincial lines must obtain a certified inspection report as proof of compliance before setting off.

The Minister urged the public, especially those organising group excursions or tours, to verify that transport providers have conducted the required safety inspections. “People must not take this lightly. Leisure trips should not come at the cost of safety. Ensuring the vehicle is certified isn’t just a matter of legality—it could save lives,” he said.

Rathnayake emphasised that the only way to uphold safety standards in the public transport sector is through enforceable regulation. He noted that recent incidents have underscored the need for tighter oversight, especially when it comes to private transport services hired for long-distance travel.

The Ministry is expected to announce the official implementation date for the new regulations shortly, along with further details on inspection procedures and certification authorities.

September 11, Colombo (LNW): The Kingdom of the Netherlands has extended a further grant of €730,000 to support Sri Lanka’s ambitious initiative to improve rural infrastructure through the construction of hundreds of small bridges across the island.

The latest financial contribution reflects a deepening partnership between the two nations and a shared commitment to sustainable rural development.

According to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the new funding will help address additional financing needs that have arisen during the final stages of the project, ensuring its timely and successful completion.

The Rural Bridges Project—designed to strengthen connectivity and ease transport difficulties in isolated communities—aims to construct 162 small to medium-scale bridges in rural regions, improving access to markets, schools, hospitals, and public services.

As of September 2025, 151 of these structures have already been completed, marking a physical progress rate of 96 per cent. The remainder is expected to be finalised by February 2026.

The project was initially supported through a loan agreement with Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A. of the Netherlands, which provided 75 per cent of the required capital—amounting to €41.8 million. The balance was originally covered by a €13.9 million grant from Invest International, the Netherlands’ development finance institution.

However, recognising Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic challenges, the Dutch government adjusted its support in 2024 by significantly increasing its grant portion—rising to approximately 35% of the project’s overall cost.

This additional assistance, worth around €5.3 million, allowed Sri Lanka to cancel part of the remaining undrawn loan, thereby reducing its external debt exposure.

With the latest disbursement of €730,000, total grant support from the Netherlands now stands at just under €19 million—representing approximately 37 per cent of the entire project budget.

September 11, Colombo (LNW): The Court of Appeal has directed several key government figures, including the Ministers of Lands and Environment, to respond to legal proceedings urging the introduction of a comprehensive national land management framework.

The court’s order follows a public interest petition filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice, raising alarm over the absence of a coherent policy to govern the country’s limited land resources.

The case was heard today (11) before Justices Dhammika Ganepola and Adithya Patabendi, who instructed the named parties to present their official responses by November 28.

Representing the petitioners, Attorney-at-Law Ravindranath Dabare argued that Sri Lanka’s current approach to land allocation and regulation is fragmented and inconsistent. He noted that critical zones such as farmland, protected forests, wetlands, and residential areas have not been clearly identified or managed under a unified national strategy.

“This lack of direction has led to widespread misuse and degradation of vital land resources,” Dabare told the court, adding that the situation has triggered both environmental degradation and socio-economic inefficiencies across multiple sectors.

He further warned that without a national land use plan, the country remains vulnerable to unchecked development, poor agricultural planning, and increasing human-wildlife conflicts, among other challenges. As an island nation with finite territory, Sri Lanka cannot afford to approach land governance in a piecemeal manner, he emphasised.

The court, after considering the initial arguments, issued notices to several senior officials, including the Director General of Wildlife, requesting detailed explanations on the current state of land management policies and what measures, if any, are being considered to address the gaps.

September 11, Colombo (LNW): A renewed call for justice has emerged in the controversial death of Makandure Madush, a figure long associated with organised crime, who was killed under murky circumstances while in police custody nearly five years ago.

His widow, Gayani Muthumali, has now lodged an official complaint at Police Headquarters, urging authorities to conduct an independent and transparent inquiry into the events that led to his death.

Speaking to the reporters after submitting her statement, Muthumali voiced serious doubts about the official narrative, insisting that the death of her husband was not only suspicious but emblematic of a deeper rot within the justice system.

“For over a year and a half, he remained in custody,” she said. “If he had been tried and sentenced through the courts, we would have accepted that. But to die without due process, to be killed as if his life had no worth, while supposedly under state protection—there is something gravely wrong with that.”

Muthumali also pointed out that a motorbike, reportedly linked to a rival gang, was found at the scene of the incident, yet no updates have been given on any follow-up investigations or suspects. “We’ve waited for five years. We’ve heard nothing. All we want is for the truth to come out,” she added.

When questioned about her prolonged silence, she admitted that she had previously been reluctant to step forward. “At the time, I didn’t feel safe, and I wasn’t prepared to speak. But today, I have some faith that there is space in this country for justice to prevail. That’s why I chose to act now.”

Muthumali is being supported by Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera, who claims that Madush had been cooperating with authorities for over a year before his death, allegedly providing sensitive details about illegal activities involving individuals in positions of power—ranging from police officers to prominent political figures.

Perera warned that there had been attempts to suppress this information, suggesting that Madush’s death may have been part of a broader effort to silence him. “We are not making wild accusations,” he said. “We are calling for a proper investigation into how a detainee under state protection ends up dead, under circumstances that have never been clearly explained.”

Madush’s journey through the justice system began in early 2019 when he was apprehended in Dubai during an international sting operation. He was deported to Sri Lanka and initially held by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) from May 2019. Months later, in October 2020, he was transferred to the Colombo Crimes Division. Merely four days after this handover, on 20 October, he was shot and killed during a police operation in Maligawatte, where officers claimed he had been taken to identify a concealed drug cache.

The official explanation has done little to satisfy critics. Questions linger over operational procedures, accountability, and the timing of the fatal encounter.

Adding fuel to the controversy, Deputy Labour Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe made a startling remark in Parliament on September 09, suggesting that Madush had access to confidential information implicating over 80 politicians in large-scale narcotics trafficking.

In light of this, Madush’s death is increasingly being viewed not just as the end of a criminal career, but as a potential act of silencing—one that may have been orchestrated to prevent damaging disclosures from reaching the public domain.

September 11, Colombo (LNW): Authorities have indicated that the final report into the devastating bus crash near Ella earlier this month is expected to be released shortly, as fresh details emerge about the technical and human failures that contributed to the tragedy.

Speaking to the press, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake shared early findings from the ongoing investigation. According to the Minister, the accident appears to have been triggered by a critical mechanical failure: the bus’s braking system overheated while descending a steep slope, rendering it virtually useless at a crucial moment.

Technical inspections revealed that grease had been leaking into the rear right wheel drum for some time, gradually eroding the integrity of the brakes. Additional signs of excessive heating were observed in other wheel drums as well, suggesting long-standing neglect in vehicle maintenance.

Compounding the mechanical failure was the driver’s lack of familiarity with both the vehicle and the terrain. This was reportedly his first time operating that particular bus, and he was also unfamiliar with the route.

Investigators believe these factors may have significantly impaired his ability to respond to the emergency. Fatigue has also been cited as a contributing element, though further analysis is pending.

The crash occurred on the night of 4 September as a group of Tangalle Municipal Council workers and their families were returning from a recreational trip to Nuwara Eliya. The bus veered off the Ella–Wellawaya main road, resulting in the deaths of 15 passengers and injuries to 17 others. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, prompting the Tangalle Youth Society to organise a religious ceremony in memory of the victims.

In response to the incident, the Road Development Authority has moved swiftly to enhance safety on the Ella–Wellawaya route, installing protective barriers and new warning signage at the accident site.

Minister Rathnayake used the moment to draw attention to broader issues in Sri Lanka’s road safety landscape. He pointed to persistent flaws in driver training systems, citing corruption and low standards in many driving schools across the country. These deficiencies, he warned, have made it increasingly difficult to produce competent, professional drivers.

To tackle these concerns, the government is considering a series of reforms. Among them are electronic monitoring systems for driving schools, greater regulation of training programmes, and the introduction of biometric systems such as fingerprint-based identification to improve accountability during the licensing process.

The Minister also called for a shift in the role of the Department of Motor Traffic—from merely issuing licences to actively ensuring road safety standards are upheld. Proposals are being reviewed to decentralise administrative tasks in order to streamline services and reduce bottlenecks at regional motor vehicle offices.

September 11, Colombo (LNW): A concerning trend in the health profile of Sri Lanka’s police force has prompted the government to initiate a dedicated mobile medical programme aimed at tackling the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among state employees.

Health and Media Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, speaking at the inaugural session of the Arogya mobile health clinic in the Gampaha District yesterday (10), revealed that police officers account for the highest proportion of NCD cases within the public sector.

According to the Minister, nearly a third of all reported NCD cases among state workers are from the police force, which comprises approximately 84,000 personnel.

“These officers shoulder immense responsibilities and work under high-stress conditions. Sadly, we are seeing too many lives lost while on active duty due to preventable illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension,” he said.

The Arogya initiative—rolled out under the broader Healthy Sri Lanka campaign—aims to offer regular and accessible health screenings to police officers. The programme includes a range of services such as medical consultations, dental and eye check-ups, blood sugar and cholesterol testing, psychological counselling, nutritional guidance, and even ayurvedic consultations. Officers found to be at risk will be referred for further treatment at major government hospitals, including the Colombo National Hospital and Negombo Hospital.

The first round of clinics saw participation from over 600 officers across Kelaniya, Gampaha, and Negombo police divisions. Medical professionals, including specialists and nurses from prominent hospitals, volunteered their services for the day-long event.

Minister Jayatissa confirmed that the mobile clinic programme will operate throughout the week for public sector employees and their families, with plans to reach remote communities during weekends. The goal, he said, is not only to safeguard the health of public servants but also to bring essential healthcare services closer to those who may otherwise lack access.

September 11, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that all 109 Sri Lankan nationals currently residing in Nepal are safe and accounted for, despite the ongoing unrest in the country. The assurance comes as tensions continue to escalate in several areas of Nepal, prompting heightened security measures and widespread public concern.

In an official statement, the Ministry noted that it is maintaining continuous communication with the Sri Lankan Embassy in Kathmandu, as well as with members of the Sri Lankan community on the ground, to ensure timely updates and provide assistance where required.

A separate group of 73 Sri Lankan pilgrims who had travelled to the Buddhist heritage site of Lumbini by road from India has also safely returned to Indian territory, according to the Foreign Ministry. Embassy officials reportedly worked in close coordination with Nepalese immigration authorities to facilitate their swift and secure border crossing.

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Kathmandu stated that the Nepal Army has now assumed responsibility for maintaining order in affected areas, and has instructed residents to remain indoors as a precautionary measure. In light of the deteriorating situation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly advised all Sri Lankans in Nepal to stay indoors and exercise maximum caution until the situation stabilises.

Officials further announced that Sri Lankans in Nepal requiring urgent assistance can contact the embassy at any time via the dedicated 24-hour helpline: +977 9851048653.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Thushara Rodrigo confirmed that the government is closely monitoring developments in Nepal and will take further steps to ensure the safety of its citizens if necessary.

September 11, Colombo (LNW): Parliament is scheduled to reconvene this morning at 9:30 a.m., with key legislative business on the agenda.

The second reading of the National Audit (Amendment) Bill is expected to be taken up during the day’s proceedings.

In addition to the audit legislation, the government is also poised to table a supplementary estimate seeking additional funds for the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing.