By: Isuru Parakrama

June 03, Colombo (LNW): Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has firmly denied speculation about any plans to replace Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya or to reorganise the current Cabinet.

Speaking at briefing held at the Department of Government Information in Colombo this (03) afternoon, Dr. Jayatissa addressed swirling rumours that have gripped political circles and media outlets in recent days.

Dr. Jayatissa dismissed suggestions of an impending Cabinet reshuffle as baseless, asserting that no discussions or decisions have been made to alter the government’s leadership structure.

He accused certain groups, in collusion with sections of the media, of spreading misinformation to serve their own agendas, urging the public to disregard such reports.

June 03, Colombo (LNW): In a distressing event at Kuliyapitiya Technical College, four students have been arrested following an incident that allegedly drove a fellow student to attempt suicide.

The troubling episode, linked to reported ragging, has raised serious concerns about student welfare at the institution.

Yesterday afternoon, a first-year female student reportedly leapt into a nearby lake in a desperate act. Local residents acted swiftly, pulling her from the water and ensuring she was rushed to Kuliyapitiya Hospital for urgent care.

Medical staff have confirmed that, whilst shaken, the young woman is stable and receiving treatment, with her condition described as non-life-threatening.

Initial police inquiries suggest the student’s actions were a direct response to a humiliating ragging ordeal, a practice that continues to plague educational institutions despite efforts to curb it.

The four arrested students, all enrolled at the same college, are now in custody as authorities delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The investigation aims to uncover the extent of the ragging and whether others were involved in perpetuating or enabling the behaviour.

The incident has sparked outrage amongst the local community, with calls for stricter measures to prevent such harmful traditions.

Kuliyapitiya Police are continuing their inquiries, vowing to address any systemic issues that may have contributed to this alarming event.

June 03, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles, for bilateral discussions held at the Presidential Secretariat earlier today.

The meeting marked a renewed commitment by both nations to strengthen a diplomatic partnership that has endured for more than seven decades.

The talks, described as cordial and forward-looking, revolved around deepening economic ties, reinforcing political cooperation, and expanding collaboration on regional security issues.

According to official sources, the two leaders explored new avenues for strategic engagement, particularly in the Indo-Pacific context.

President Dissanayake extended his gratitude to the Australian Government for its continued support in various critical sectors. He highlighted Canberra’s contributions to Sri Lanka’s efforts in enhancing maritime safety, countering transnational crime, and addressing pressing issues such as people smuggling and the illicit arms trade.

These areas, the President noted, are vital to regional stability and the protection of national sovereignty.

Mr Marles arrived on the island yesterday evening, accompanied by a delegation of senior officials aboard a special aircraft operated by Australia’s Ministry of Defence. His visit underscores the growing importance of Sri Lanka in Australia’s broader regional security and economic framework.

June 03, Colombo (LNW): The government is preparing to dismantle longstanding legal obstacles that have hindered the return of citizens who fled the country during the protracted civil conflict with the LTTE and have since been living as refugees in India.

Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala announced that preliminary steps are already underway to revise existing immigration and emigration regulations.

These changes are intended to support the reintegration of thousands of displaced individuals who sought safety in Tamil Nadu during the years of violence that engulfed Sri Lanka’s north.

Many of these individuals have spent decades in Indian refugee camps, unable to return to their homeland due to restrictive legal frameworks. Minister Wijepala acknowledged that the current laws present significant barriers to re-entry and resettlement.

He confirmed that a Cabinet proposal aimed at amending these legal provisions is in preparation and will soon be presented for formal approval.

Meanwhile, authorities in Talaimannar have detained three individuals who arrived from India by sea, underscoring the urgency of legal reforms. The group—a young couple aged 24 and their toddler—reportedly made the journey from Rameswaram. Police investigations indicate they originally fled Sri Lanka by boat in May 2023 and were attempting to return outside official channels due to the legal constraints still in place.

June 03, Colombo (LNW): Richard Marles, Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, commenced an official visit to Sri Lanka this morning (03), marking a significant diplomatic engagement aimed at deepening bilateral ties between the two nations.

Upon his arrival, he was formally welcomed at Bandaranaike International Airport by Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Sunil Watagala.

This visit, seen as a reaffirmation of Australia’s growing interest in South Asian regional partnerships, includes a series of high-level meetings with senior members of the Sri Lankan government.

Marles is scheduled to hold discussions with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, whose administration has been working to reposition Sri Lanka as a strategic hub in the Indian Ocean through a policy of non-alignment and diversified international engagement.

The discussions are expected to cover a broad spectrum of issues including maritime security, defence capacity-building, and regional cooperation on transnational threats.

Marles will also meet with Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, who oversees not only diplomatic affairs but also labour migration and tourism—two sectors where collaboration with Australia continues to grow.

The Australian government has expressed interest in expanding opportunities for skilled migration from Sri Lanka, particularly in healthcare and engineering, whilst also encouraging increased tourism exchanges.

A key engagement during the visit will be a formal luncheon hosted at Australia House in Colombo, where Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya is expected to be the Chief Guest. The event, attended by government officials, business leaders, and representatives from civil society, is aimed at fostering people-to-people connections alongside formal state-level dialogue.

Defence cooperation remains central to Mr Marles’ agenda. He is set to engage in detailed bilateral talks with Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (Retired) Aruna Jayasekara. These discussions are likely to address joint training initiatives, maritime surveillance, and enhancing interoperability between the two countries’ defence forces.

Australia has provided support in areas such as naval capability development and disaster response coordination in the past, and there are expectations of new frameworks being proposed to deepen such assistance.

Marles is accompanied by a delegation of senior officials from Australia’s Department of Defence, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Prime Minister’s Office, underscoring the strategic weight of the visit.

June 03, Colombo (LNW): Authorities at the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) have confirmed that a recent cyber intrusion targeting their SMS communication system has not resulted in any loss or compromise of sensitive customer data.

The incident, which unfolded on Sunday, involved an unauthorised attempt to access the Board’s web-based systems, leading to a temporary disruption in its SMS services.

According to Additional General Manager Pradeep Herath, whilst the infiltration allowed the unidentified perpetrator to send out around 10,000 deceptive text messages to customers’ mobile phones, internal systems containing user data remained secure.

The attacker reportedly issued messages urging recipients to make payments in exchange for access to their own information—a tactic reminiscent of common phishing or ransomware schemes, though no payment platform was engaged.

The Board acted swiftly to regain control of the SMS platform, cutting off the unauthorised access and restoring normal operations within hours. Affected customers were subsequently notified about the fraudulent nature of the messages, with reassurances that no action was required on their part.

The organisation has since launched a specialised programme to enhance the security infrastructure surrounding its digital platforms.

This breach has raised broader concerns over the vulnerability of state-run digital infrastructure. In response, the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has announced plans to implement round-the-clock monitoring mechanisms for public sector websites.

Charuka Damunupola, a senior cybersecurity analyst at SLCERT, noted that weaknesses in existing security protocols may have contributed to the success of the intrusion. He stressed the urgent need for robust preventative measures across all government-managed web platforms.

June 03, Colombo (LNW): The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to former cabinet minister Keheliya Rambukwella and his son, Ramith Rambukwella, who are currently under investigation for alleged abuse of public funds.

The decision was made by Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali following detailed submissions presented by both the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and the defence.

The court ruled that both individuals be released on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 each, in addition to two surety bails amounting to Rs. 1 million per suspect. As part of the bail conditions, a travel ban has been imposed on both the former minister and his son, barring them from leaving the country while the legal proceedings are ongoing.

The corruption case centres on allegations that Keheliya Rambukwella, during his time as a government minister, orchestrated the appointment of fifteen individuals to his personal staff without proper authorisation.

These appointments, according to the complaint lodged by the Bribery Commission, resulted in a financial loss exceeding Rs. 8 million to the state, through the illicit collection of salaries, allowances, and overtime payments made to these personnel.

Rambukwella was initially detained on May 07, whilst his son, a former national cricketer, was arrested two weeks later after voluntarily appearing before the anti-corruption authorities to provide a statement.

The case is now set to resume on October 10, when the court will review the progress of the investigation.