November 17, Colombo (LNW): The Supreme Court has thrown out the fundamental rights application lodged in 2021 by Venerable Thiniyawala Palitha Thero against former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, with the bench declining to permit the matter to advance any further. The case was taken up today before Chief Justice Padman Surasena.
Venerable Thiniyawala Palitha Thero had alleged that in 2014 the Central Bank, acting under government instruction, had unlawfully transferred US$6.5 million to an American public relations firm owned by a US national, Imad Subheri, for a campaign intended to promote Sri Lanka in the United States.
The Thero contended that Mr Cabraal, who was Governor at the time, bore responsibility for authorising the payment and that this had consequently infringed the Thero’s fundamental rights.
During today’s proceedings, Attorney Suren Gnanaraaj, representing Mr Cabraal, argued that two separate Magistrates’ Courts had previously examined charges related to the same subject matter and had acquitted his client. He added that subsequent appeals lodged before the High Court had upheld the Magistrates’ Courts’ findings, reinforcing Mr Cabraal’s innocence. On that basis, he maintained that the allegation now placed before the Supreme Court lacked merit.
Mr Gnanaraaj further noted that a similar case had been brought before the Court of Appeal by another complainant, and that, in that instance too, Mr Cabraal had been cleared of wrongdoing.
The Attorney General’s Department presented submissions in the current hearing, while junior counsel appearing on behalf of President’s Counsel Farman Kasim advanced arguments for Venerable Thiniyawala Palitha Thero.
After reviewing all submissions, the three-member bench—comprising Chief Justice Padman Surasena, Justice Mahinda Samayawardena and Justice Sampath Wijeratne—decided not to allow the petition to progress and formally concluded the case.
Supreme Court Rejects Fundamental Rights Petition Against Former Central Bank Chief
Sri Lanka Signs 70 MOUs with Foreign Nations in First Year of Government
November 17, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has inked 70 memoranda of understanding with countries across the globe during the first year of the current administration, Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath announced in Parliament today (17).
According to the minister, these agreements span a wide geographical spectrum, including 20 nations in South Asia, 19 in East Asia, 15 from Europe and the West, four from the Middle East, four from Latin America, and another four from the Caribbean region.
High Court Approves Indictments Against Former Minister Rambukwella and Family
November 17, Colombo (LNW): The Colombo High Court has formally accepted charges against former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, along with his son Ramith, daughter Amali, and their domestic assistant Nipuni Krishnajina, in connection with two separate investigations launched by the Bribery Commission.
The indictments were presented before High Court Judge Mohamed Mihal, after which all four defendants were released on bail. Pre-trial hearings for the two cases have been scheduled for January 12 and 14, 2026.
In addition, further charges were brought against Keheliya Rambukwella and his son Ramith in a third case, for which they were also granted bail. The pre-trial conference for this matter is set to take place on January 20, 2026.
The proceedings stem from allegations that the former minister acquired property and other assets unlawfully during his time in office, prompting the Bribery Commission to take legal action.
Tensions in Trincomalee Over Buddha Statue Prompt Police Intervention
November 17, Colombo (LNW): Trincomalee witnessed a tense episode yesterday following the placement of a Buddha statue at a Dhamma School within a local Buddhist temple.
Speaking in Parliament today (17), Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala confirmed that the statue was temporarily removed by the police after concerns over potential unrest.
Minister Wijepala assured lawmakers that plans are in motion to reinstall the statue at the Dhamma School today, under heightened police protection to ensure its safety. “The statue was taken into police custody after we received intelligence suggesting a risk of damage. A clear directive has been issued for it to be returned today with special security measures in place,” he explained.
The minister also addressed a separate matter, noting that the Department of Coast Conservation had lodged a complaint concerning an allegedly unauthorised restaurant in the area. He said law enforcement is preparing to take action, but emphasised that any proceedings must follow the court’s guidance.
Meanwhile, Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam criticised the minister for reversing his earlier stance. Posting on social media, he described the move as “a significant climbdown,” arguing that claims of potential vandalism were unconvincing and an affront to the Tamil community, which has a long history of respecting religious sites.
A video shared online shows a Buddhist monk asserting that the site is of religious heritage significance. However, the land is reportedly under the Coastal Conservation Department’s jurisdiction, with existing court orders restricting development. Police confirmed that the statue had been temporarily taken to a station after tensions escalated at the site.
Leonids Meteor Shower to Dazzle Skies Over Sri Lanka
November 17, Colombo (LNW): Stargazers across Sri Lanka are set to witness the Leonids meteor shower over the next two nights, promising a dazzling celestial display.
The annual event is expected to be clearly visible to the naked eye, making it accessible to anyone with a clear view of the night sky—no telescopes or special instruments are necessary.
Dr Gihan Weerasekara, a senior lecturer in astronomy, advised that the peak viewing times will be around midnight tonight and again in the early hours of tomorrow, offering an excellent opportunity for enthusiasts and casual observers alike to catch the fleeting streaks of light.
GMOA Delegation Holds Talks at Presidential Secretariat Amid Industrial Action
November 17, Colombo (LNW): A delegation from the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), which launched a trade union protest earlier today, has arrived at the Presidential Secretariat to engage in high-level discussions.
The meeting is taking place under the direct oversight of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, with several senior GMOA officials reportedly participating in talks aimed at resolving the doctors’ key demands.
Minister Nalinda’s Duplicity: The Cracks in the JVP–NPP Narrative
By Adolf
The duplicity within the JVP–NPP government has now become a running joke among the public. What was once marketed as a movement of integrity, simplicity, and sacrifice is steadily being exposed as a political project built on half-truths, selective narratives, and theatrics. A recent example was their claim that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe had 39 advisors. What they conveniently failed to mention was how many of those advisors worked without pay and often travelled at their own expense. Even more ironic is that Duminda Hulangamuwa, who supported Wickremesinghe, now serves as an “economic advisor” to President Anura. Does he travel at his own expense? And since when does a tax advisor become an economic advisor? These contradictions reveal a government more focused on smearing predecessors than delivering results.
NPP government claim they fixed this also; what a joke?
From the outset, the JVP leadership projected themselves as champions of the ordinary citizen. They promised to live simply, travel simply, and lead by example. But, as MP Sujewa Senasinghe recently revealed, the reality is far different. Minister Nalinda and other senior figures who pledged to fly economy and avoid privileges have quietly upgraded their comforts, taking full advantage of state resources while lecturing the public on austerity.
The inconsistency is glaring. Sunil Handunnetti once dramatically claimed he wore torn underwear as a symbol of personal sacrifice. Today, he insists the poor must not depend on the government—an abrupt shift from populist humility to ideological detachment. This transformation isn’t merely ironic; it exposes the hollowness of their earlier public performances.
Another recent incident amplified this pattern of doublespeak. A team of policemen was dispatched—at state expense—to “verify” reports of a former president attending a university event. The government then claimed the visit was fabricated. But if it was fake, how did the former president attend the ceremony? The episode laid bare both administrative chaos and a political appetite for spectacle. This government seems far more interested in headline-chasing inquiries than in delivering steady, responsible governance.
Meanwhile, the NPP is losing cooperative elections across the country. These elections are closest to grassroots sentiment, and the results tell a clear story: frustration, disillusionment, and waning trust. Running the government strictly on the IMF’s austerity framework, combined with constant witch-hunts for public consumption, is eroding whatever goodwill they initially had. The theatrics may energize their diehard supporters, but they do nothing to tackle economic hardship or institutional drift.
The Prime Minister’s behaviour encapsulates this contradiction. He pledged to travel by bus and embody the “common man.” Instead, he began with a double cab and now travels in a Maybach Benz with a large security contingent. The contrast between words and actions could not be sharper. Anura Kumara Dissanayake is no different; his conduct mirrors the same pattern of preaching simplicity while embracing privilege.
If the NPP truly wishes to embody the values they claim to represent, they should learn from the poorest president the world ever had — José “Pepe” Mujica of Uruguay — who continued to drive his old Volkswagen Beetle even while serving as head of state. That was authenticity. What the JVP–NPP offers today is mere performance. Until they align their rhetoric with their behaviour, their credibility will continue to crumble — one contradiction at a time.
New Zealand Delegation Strengthens Ties with Sri Lanka During Insightful Week-Long Visit
November 17, Colombo (LNW): A New Zealand delegation has returned home after a week in Sri Lanka that organisers describe as both eye-opening and promising for the future of bilateral cooperation.
The group of 14 emerging leaders, travelling under the auspices of the Asia New Zealand Foundation—a non-partisan organisation dedicated to enhancing New Zealanders’ understanding of Asia—spent several days engaging with Sri Lanka’s business community, cultural institutions and civil society.
The visit, which took the delegation from bustling Colombo to the mist-covered hills of Nuwara Eliya, was designed to give participants a closer look at Sri Lanka’s shifting economic landscape and its diverse cultural traditions. Through a series of meetings with policymakers, academics, entrepreneurs and community leaders, the group was offered a nuanced picture of a country charting a path forward after recent economic pressures.
Tim McCready, one of the delegates, said the immersive nature of the trip made a significant impression. He noted that while New Zealand and Sri Lanka enjoy long-standing ties—shaped by migration, education, and a mutual love of cricket—the full potential of the relationship becomes clearer when experienced on the ground. “You quickly realise there’s real appetite on both sides to do more together, whether that’s in trade, knowledge-sharing or people-to-people links,” he said.
Trade between the two nations continues to grow steadily. Last year, New Zealand sent goods valued at roughly US$335 million to Sri Lanka, dominated by dairy exports, while Sri Lankan imports into New Zealand—mainly tea, coffee, clothing and rubber-based products—were worth just over US$60 million. The opening of New Zealand’s High Commission in Colombo in 2021, and Sri Lanka’s new mission in Wellington earlier this year, has added fresh momentum to the relationship.
While in Colombo, the delegation was briefed by New Zealand High Commissioner David Pine and took part in a networking event that brought them into conversation with an eclectic mix of Sri Lankan professionals—from UN officials and journalists to policymakers, artists and corporate leaders. One delegate commented that the breadth of perspectives shed light on “a country buzzing with ideas and ambition”.
Among the most memorable moments of the trip was a visit to the Tea Leaf Trust in Nuwara Eliya, where the group met young people from tea-estate communities enrolled in the organisation’s one-year skills and personal development programme. Justine Roberts, another member of the delegation, described the experience as “deeply moving”, praising the programme’s impact on participants’ confidence and career prospects.
The group also spent time with Dilmah CEO Dilhan Fernando, who offered a candid look into the company’s long-standing commitment to ethical business and sustainable practice. Delegates said his emphasis on purpose-led leadership and long-term thinking resonated strongly in a global climate where corporate responsibility is under heightened scrutiny.
Another highlight was a visit to Hayleys, Sri Lanka’s largest conglomerate, where Chairman and Chief Executive Mohan Pandithage discussed how the company maintained its focus on staff welfare, community support and environmental goals during periods of national difficulty. Delegates noted the impressive scale of Hayleys’ operations and its consistent emphasis on sustainability across its business units.
As the group reflected on the week, several commented that the visit had not only broadened their understanding of Sri Lanka but also strengthened their conviction that the two island nations can build a more substantial and mutually beneficial partnership in the years ahead.
Kotahena Shooting: Police Arrest Woman Over Alleged Role
November 17, Colombo (LNW): Police have detained another suspect in connection with the fatal shooting that took place in Kotahena earlier this month, as investigators continue to unravel what they describe as a carefully coordinated attack.
The Colombo District Crime Division reported that the arrested woman, a 32-year-old resident of Aduruppuveediya in Colombo 13, is believed to have assisted the gunmen by arranging a vehicle and relaying information about the victim’s movements.
Officers say early inquiries suggest she had been in communication with an underworld figure based overseas who is thought to have orchestrated the operation.
The shooting occurred on November 07 along 16th Lane in Kotahena, when a group of assailants drove to the location, opened fire on their target, and escaped immediately afterwards. The victim, a 43-year-old man, later died from his injuries. Investigators have since established that he had links to Balachandran Pushparaj, widely known as “Pukudu Kanna,” a prominent figure in Colombo’s criminal underworld.
Earlier, Police arrested six suspects, including the alleged shooter, two male accomplices, and two female suspects.
Authorities say further arrests are likely as they piece together the wider network involved in the killing, with detectives continuing to examine communications, vehicle movements, and possible financial transactions tied to the case.
Government Expands Medical Support for Severe Drug Dependence
November 17, Colombo (LNW): Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala has announced that ten hospitals across the country have now been assigned to treat individuals suffering from acute drug addiction, marking a significant step in the government’s effort to strengthen its national anti-narcotics strategy.
Speaking at the Kalutara District gathering of “A Nation United” — a nationwide initiative aimed at addressing social challenges through community engagement — the Minister said the decision reflects a growing need for specialised medical care for those battling severe substance dependence.
He noted that the government intends to broaden rehabilitation services and improve coordination between healthcare providers and law enforcement.
In addition, Minister Wijepala revealed that the new headquarters for the National Council on Drug Control is to be established in Torrington. According to him, the office will function as a central hub for planning, policy development, and inter-agency collaboration, with the aim of creating a more cohesive national framework to combat drug abuse.