June 12, Colombo (LNW): A former senior officer attached to Colombo’s criminal investigations unit has disclosed that a controversial police shooting incident in late 2023 was carried out under direct instructions from his superior, despite clear legal and ethical concerns.

Appearing before a parliamentary oversight committee on Wednesday, retired Chief Inspector Anselm de Silva recounted the events surrounding a covert police operation that took place at a beachfront hotel in Weligama on December 30, 2023. The inquiry forms part of a wider investigation into the conduct of suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP), Deshabandu Tennakoon.

De Silva, who formerly headed operations at the Colombo Crime Division, stated that he had received verbal instructions from then-Acting Director of the unit, Assistant Superintendent Neville de Silva, to lead a tactical mission against what was described as a suspected gathering of criminal figures at the W15 Hotel.

The operation escalated dramatically when, according to the former officer, police personnel opened fire on the hotel’s signboard and exterior wall. Moments later, the officers were met with return fire from unknown assailants, resulting in one of the team members sustaining a gunshot wound. The situation quickly descended into chaos, prompting an urgent withdrawal.

“I gave the order to retreat immediately,” De Silva told the committee. “There was a terrifying moment when the Special Task Force transport didn’t start—had it failed altogether, more lives could have been lost.”

Significantly, the officer admitted that the official statement submitted after the incident had been deliberately falsified. The fabricated account was allegedly crafted to mislead investigators into believing the team had been targeted by an unknown third party, thereby distancing the operation from police culpability.

This version, he said, was prepared on the advice of ASP Neville de Silva, who suggested that such a narrative would shield them from criminal or disciplinary consequences.

Only after realising that the matter was unlikely to be brushed aside did the former Chief Inspector approach the Criminal Investigation Department with the true sequence of events. Since then, he has been interdicted from service and no longer receives his pension, which he described as a heavy personal cost for following what he now views as a deeply flawed command decision.

“I acknowledge that we followed orders which were unlawful,” he testified. “In this institution, refusing an instruction from above often results in being marginalised or transferred without explanation.”

De Silva went on to reveal further troubling details, including the use of forged vehicle registration plates on the police vehicle used during the raid. At least one of the officers involved has reportedly fled the country.

By: Isuru Parakrama

June 12, Colombo (LNW): The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has issued a strongly worded letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, expressing serious concern over reports of an alleged irregular release of a convicted inmate from Anuradhapura Prison under the guise of a Presidential Pardon.

The incident has triggered widespread unease within legal circles over possible procedural violations and institutional malpractice.

In its letter dated June 11, 2025, the BASL urged the President to take immediate steps to address the issue, highlighting that Article 34 of the Constitution permits the Head of State to grant pardons.

However, the Association stressed that such powers must be exercised in a manner that is “transparent, procedurally sound, and consistent with judicial precedent.”

Referring to the Supreme Court judgement in Hirunika Premachandra v. Attorney General (SC/FR 221/2021), the BASL pointed out that the President’s clemency powers are subject to judicial review, especially when there are indications that due process may have been undermined.

The association noted that the alleged release has raised serious questions over the misuse of administrative authority, breaches in internal controls of the prison system, and a potential breakdown in procedural integrity.

According to the BASL, subsequent clarifications from the Presidential Media Division revealed that no such official pardon had been granted by President Dissanayake, suggesting that the release may have been unauthorised. The letter described these developments as indicative of “serious institutional failings” and warned of potential abuse of power.

“The Rule of Law must prevail without exception,” the BASL stated, urging that there should be no tolerance for arbitrary or unlawful releases that may disregard victims’ rights or judicial decisions.

To address the concerns, the BASL called on the President to launch a “full and impartial investigation” into the matter. It emphasised the need to identify and hold accountable all those involved, including disciplinary or legal action where necessary.

It also urged the strengthening of transparency and accountability within the Department of Prisons, particularly through institutional reforms.

June 12, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is currently undertaking an official tour of the Federal Republic of Germany, was received with full state honours at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, where he met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The ceremonial welcome, held at the historic presidential residence, marked the commencement of a day of diplomatic engagement between the two heads of state.

Following the formalities, President Dissanayake and President Steinmeier entered into in-depth discussions aimed at fortifying the cordial ties that have existed between Sri Lanka and Germany for decades.

The dialogue reportedly covered a broad spectrum of areas, with a pronounced emphasis on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the economic sphere, expanding avenues for international collaboration, and cultivating closer ties in education and tourism.

Of particular note was a mutual interest in deepening cooperation in vocational training programmes—an area seen as pivotal for both nations in terms of skill development and employment generation.

President Dissanayake, who departed from Colombo earlier this week, landed at Berlin Brandenburg International Airport earlier in the day, commencing what is expected to be a series of high-level engagements with German political and business leaders.

He is accompanied by a high-ranking delegation, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijith Herath, as well as other senior officials from the Sri Lankan government.

June 12, Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern and North-western provinces, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (12).

Heavy falls above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts.

Several spells of showers may occur in the Northern province and in Anuradhapura district.
Strong winds of about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central, Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.

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 coast extending from Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle.

Winds:
Winds will be south-westerly.

wind speed will be (35-45) kmph and can increase up to (60-70) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Kankasanthurai via Puttalam and Mannar and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota.

Wind speed will be (30-40) kmph in the other sea areas around the island.
Wind speed can increase up to (50-55) kmph at times in the sea areas extending from Chilaw to Galle via Colombo and from Kankasanthurai to Trincomalee via Mullaittivu.

State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Kankasanthurai via Puttalam and Mannar and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambanthota will be very rough at times. Naval and fishing communities are advised not to venture into these sea areas, until further notice.
The sea areas extending from Chilaw to Galle via Colombo and from Kankasanthurai to Trincomalee via Mullaittivu will be rough at times.

The wave height may increase (about 2.5 – 3.0 m) in the sea areas off the coast extending from Mannar to Pottuvil via Puttalam, Colombo, Galle and Hambantota (this is not for land area).

Naval and fishing communities are requested to be vigilant in this regard.

Temporarily strong wind gust and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.

Tensions remain high in Los Angeles after several days of violent protests sparked by aggressive immigration raids conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in predominantly Latino neighborhoods. The unrest has resulted in dozens of arrests, widespread disruption, and a controversial military deployment ordered by President Donald Trump.

Protests Sparked by Federal Raids

Demonstrations began on Friday after reports emerged that ICE had arrested over 100 undocumented immigrants in coordinated operations across the city. A major operation in the Westlake district and another in the heavily Hispanic suburb of Paramount drew particular outrage. ICE confirmed that 44 people were arrested at a job site and an additional 77 in wider LA operations. Rumors of a raid at a Home Depot in Paramount were later denied by officials, though the store became a protest flashpoint.

Violence Erupts Across the City

While initial demonstrations were peaceful, the situation escalated dramatically over the weekend. Protesters shut down the 101 Freeway, set self-driving cars ablaze, and clashed with police outside key federal buildings. Downtown LA was declared an “unlawful assembly” zone after police accused protesters of throwing incendiary devices. Officers in riot gear responded with flash-bang grenades and pepper spray.

The federal building in downtown LA, reportedly holding ICE detainees, became a central protest site. On Saturday, ICE claimed more than 1,000 demonstrators surrounded and attacked the building.

In Paramount, National Guard troops were deployed to protect businesses, and tear gas was used to disperse crowds. Police reported 29 arrests on Saturday and 27 more on Sunday.

Military Deployment Raises Legal and Political Questions

President Trump initially deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles on Saturday, bypassing California’s state leadership. On Monday, he ordered an additional 2,000 troops and 700 marines to the city, citing “rebellion” under a rarely invoked federal statute.

This marks the first time since 1965 that the National Guard has been deployed to California without the governor’s consent. Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass condemned the move, calling it unconstitutional and inflammatory. The state has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing the deployment violates the 10th Amendment, which protects states’ rights.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the military presence an “inflammatory escalation unsupported by conditions on the ground.”

Federal Forces Supporting ICE, DHS Operations

The National Guard has been tasked with securing federal agents from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), but not with conducting immigration enforcement or routine policing. The LAPD remains responsible for law enforcement in the city.

Despite threats, Trump has not invoked the Insurrection Act, which would allow federal troops to engage in civilian law enforcement — a move he considered during the 2020 racial justice protests.

Controversial Deportation Drive Expands

The recent raids are part of Trump’s broader push to launch what he has called the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. Los Angeles, home to millions of immigrants, has been a major focus. In May, ICE reported the arrest of 239 undocumented migrants during a week-long operation in the city.

Critics say the campaign has gone too far, citing cases of legal residents being detained and deported. The White House has since raised its target to 3,000 ICE arrests per day nationwide.

Public Divided on Trump’s Immigration Policy

Despite the unrest, a CBS News/YouGov poll conducted in early June showed 54% of Americans approve of Trump’s immigration policy, while only 39% support his approach to inflation and 42% approve of his economic plan.

Life Continues in Parts of the City

While protests have roiled parts of downtown, other neighborhoods have remained largely calm. The annual LA Pride parade went ahead as scheduled in closed-off areas, offering a stark contrast to the unrest just miles away.

Mayor Bass reassured the public, saying: “We stand with all Angelenos, no matter where you were born.”

Unregulated mining in the deep sea should not be allowed to go ahead, the head of the United Nations has warned.

“The deep sea cannot become the Wild West,” UN Secretary General António Guterres said at the opening of the UN Oceans Conference in Nice, France.

His words were echoed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who declared the “oceans are not for sale”.

The remarks appear to refer to the decision by President Trump in April to begin issuing permits for the extraction of critical minerals in international waters.

There is increasing interest in extracting precious minerals from what are called metallic “nodules” that naturally occur on the seabed.

But marine scientists are concerned about the harm that could be caused.

“The ocean is not for sale. We’re talking about a common shared good,” President Macron said. “I think it’s madness to launch predatory economic action that will disrupt the deep seabed, disrupt biodiversity, destroy it.”

This issue is one of a number on the agenda in France, including over-fishing, plastic pollution and climate change.

Over 2,000 of the world’s scientists met last week to review the latest data on ocean health – they recommended to governments meeting this week that deep sea exploration be halted whilst further research be carried out on the impacts.

More than 30 countries support this position and are calling for a moratorium – but President Trump has not rowed back on his executive order.

A treaty for our oceans

A key aim of the UN oceans conference, which runs until Friday, is to get 60 countries to ratify a High Seas Treaty and thus bring it into force.

This agreement was made two years ago to put 30% of international waters into marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2030, in the hope it would preserve and help ecosystems recover.

President Macron declared in his opening speech that an additional 15 had ratified but that only brings the total number to 47.

The UK government has not yet ratified the agreement, though on Monday it said a ban on a bottom “destructive” type of fishing that drags large nets along the seafloor could be extended across MPAs in England.

Even if enough countries sign there are concerns from environmentalists, including Sir David Attenborough, that there is nothing explicit in the Treaty to ban bottom trawling in these MPAs.

Bottom trawling is one of the more destructive fishing practices that can lead to accidentally killing larger marine species.

BBC

Males account for 50.5% of the workforce in Sri Lanka’s Public and Semi-Government sectors, slightly outnumbering females, who make up 49.5%, according to the Preliminary Report of the 2024 Census of Public and Semi-Government Sector Employment released by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS). This is despite females comprising 51.61% of the national population, with males at 48.39%.

The census estimates that 1,156,018 individuals are employed across Public and Semi-Government institutions. Of this, the Central Government accounts for the majority, employing 59.5% of the total workforce.

Gender Disparities by Sector

The report highlights a nuanced gender distribution across sectors:

• Provincial Government Sector: Female representation is significantly higher. 310,573 female employees are engaged in this sector—more than double the number of male employees (152,707).
• Central Government and Semi-Government Sectors: Male employees dominate, with 148,439 malescompared to 64,747 females, reflecting a two-to-one ratio.

In terms of employment distribution:

• Central Government: 475,483 in the public sector and 213,186 in the semi-government sector.
• Provincial Government: 463,280 in the public sector and 4,069 in the semi-government sector.

Overall, nearly 80% of the workforce is employed in the public sector.

Job Security and Employment Status

Job security remains high within the public sector, where over 97% of employees hold permanent positions. In contrast, the semi-government sector has a lower proportion of permanent employees, indicating relatively less employment stability.

Historical Context and Delay

The 2024 Census is the ninth in a series of censuses dating back to 1980, when the first scientific effort was made to map the public and semi-government workforce. Subsequent censuses were conducted in 1985, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2016. Although the ninth census was initially scheduled for 2020, it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the country’s economic crisis.

The report provides crucial data for government planning and policy development, particularly in assessing gender dynamics and workforce composition across national and provincial administrations.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Japan recently conducted a mobile Consular service in Ashikaga, located in Tochigi Prefecture, to provide essential services to the Sri Lankan community residing in the region.

Embassy officials addressed a wide range of community needs, offering assistance with passports, visas, driving licenses, education, health, and more. Key services included affidavit issuance, passport endorsements, and other vital consular functions. The initiative saw a large turnout from Sri Lankans, underscoring the importance and relevance of such outreach programmes.

The mobile service was held in conjunction with the “Poson Kalapaya” celebration organised by the Ohana Association in Tochigi. The event, held to mark Vesak and Poson Poya, featured over 600 artistically illuminated lanterns, creating a serene and spiritually uplifting atmosphere that brought together both Sri Lankans and Japanese in a shared cultural experience.

An art competition was also organised as part of the festivities, and participating children—both Sri Lankan and Japanese—were recognised for their creativity with school bag prizes.

The religious observances were graced by Ven. Mawathare Chandima Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Tochigi Paramita Meditation Centre, and Ven. Varawila Wijayawansa Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Saithama Kumagaya Anandameth Viharaya, along with members of the Maha Sangha.

The Embassy’s initiative highlighted its ongoing commitment to ensuring inclusive service delivery while strengthening cultural and spiritual bonds among the overseas Sri Lankan community.

In a novel effort to promote Ceylon Tea in the Belgian market, the Sri Lanka Embassy in Brussels hosted a ‘Ceylon Tea and Belgian Chocolate Pairing Workshop’ on Tuesday, June 3, at the official Sri Lanka Residence in Brussels. The event aimed to creatively elevate the profile of Ceylon Tea by pairing it with premium Belgian artisanal chocolates, offering a curated sensory experience for industry professionals and connoisseurs alike.

Organised in collaboration with Stijn Van Schoonlandt, a certified Tea Master, international speaker, and Regional Director for Europe of the International Tea Masters Association, the workshop attracted Tea importers, distributors, sommeliers, chocolatiers, and other stakeholders from across Belgium’s specialty food sector.

Welcoming attendees, Ambassador Chandana Weerasena encouraged participants to explore business and tourism opportunities in Sri Lanka, with a special focus on engaging with local Tea producers and discovering the country’s scenic Tea Trails across the central highlands.

Minister Commercial of the Embassy, Thavishya Mullegamgoda, delivered a presentation on the diversity and quality of Ceylon Tea. She emphasized its unique journey “from plantation to palate” and underscored its global reputation for flavour, purity, and provenance.

The highlight of the event was the pairing session conducted by Mr. Schoonlandt, who introduced six distinctive varieties of Ceylon Tea—including Mellow Black Tea, Ceylon Bloom, Cinnamon Cigar, OP1, FBOPF SP, and Spice Chai. These were thoughtfully matched with Belgian chocolates such as praline, milk chocolate, white chocolate, dark chocolate, and lime-infused chocolate, creating a nuanced tasting experience.

The Tea used in the workshop was sourced from acclaimed Sri Lankan exporters including Amba Estate, Bogawantalawa Ceylon Tea (Pvt) Ltd, Kaley Tea Estate, and Rosyth Artisan Teas. Displayed prominently at the venue, these teas showcased Sri Lanka’s capacity to produce diverse and high-quality offerings tailored for global markets.

The evening concluded with discussions on strategies to expand Ceylon Tea’s footprint in Belgium, while guests enjoyed Sri Lankan finger foods paired with signature Tea and chocolate combinations—blending culture, commerce, and cuisine in a unique diplomatic initiative.