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.

June 03, Colombo (LNW): Several spells of showers will occur in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (03).

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.

Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in and 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 or thundershowers will occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle.

Manly fair weather will prevail over the other sea areas around the island.

Winds:

Winds will be south-westerly.

wind speed will be (30-40) kmph and can increase up to 50 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 (20-30) kmph in the other sea areas around the island.

Wind speed can increase up to 45 kmph 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 Hambantota will be rough at times.

The sea areas extending from Chilaw to Galle via Colombo and from Kankasanthurai to Trincomalee via Mullaittivu will be fairly rough at times.

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

June 02, Colombo (LNW): A senior delegation from Australia led by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka tomorrow (02) for a diplomatic visit aimed at reinforcing strategic ties and fostering closer defence cooperation between the two countries.

The visit, announced by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marks an important chapter in the growing partnership between Colombo and Canberra, particularly in the realms of maritime security, regional stability, and mutual support in geopolitical matters.

During his stay, Mr Marles is expected to engage in official discussions with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

These courtesy calls are intended to review ongoing bilateral engagements and explore fresh avenues for collaboration in areas ranging from defence training and security coordination to economic partnerships and regional diplomacy.

Further engagements will include a high-level dialogue with Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (Retired) Aruna Jayasekara, where both parties are likely to delve into regional defence concerns, joint military exercises, and capacity-building initiatives.

As part of the diplomatic hospitality, Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya will host a luncheon at the Australia House in Colombo, where she will also serve as the Chief Guest. The gathering is expected to underscore the long-standing ties between the two Commonwealth nations, whilst celebrating shared values and people-to-people connections.

The Deputy Prime Minister will be accompanied by senior officials from Australia’s Department of Defence, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Prime Minister’s Office, highlighting the importance placed on this visit by Canberra. Their presence is expected to contribute to a series of parallel consultations with Sri Lankan counterparts across multiple sectors.

June 02, Colombo (LNW): The nation’s foremost body of legal professionals has called for immediate action to address a critical leadership gap at the helm of the Right to Information Commission.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has issued a formal communication to the Constitutional Council, expressing grave concern over the continued vacancy of the position of Chairperson of the Commission, a post considered integral to safeguarding citizens’ access to public information.

The letter, jointly signed by BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya and Secretary Chathura Galhena, underscores the urgent need to restore full operational capacity to the Commission, which has been without a Chairperson since the departure of retired Supreme Court Justice Upali Abeyratne on 9 March 2025.

In the absence of a new appointment, the Commission’s ability to discharge its legal duties, particularly those involving oversight and enforcement of the public’s right to information, has been significantly impaired.

The Right to Information Act, enacted in 2016, outlines the Chairperson’s central role in leading the Commission’s deliberations, issuing directives, and ensuring administrative accountability. Without a properly appointed Chairperson, the BASL argues, the Commission is unable to function with the effectiveness and credibility that the law requires.

This vacancy, the BASL notes, comes at a time when public interest in governmental transparency is increasingly urgent, with citizens relying on mechanisms like the RTI Commission to obtain answers on matters of governance, accountability, and public expenditure.

The lack of leadership at the top, they caution, risks eroding public trust in the very institutions designed to protect democratic rights.

The letter calls upon the Constitutional Council, which is constitutionally mandated to advise on key appointments to independent commissions, to fulfil its obligation without further delay.

The BASL stressed that recommending a suitably qualified and independent candidate for Presidential appointment would be a strong affirmation of the state’s commitment to openness, accountability, and the rule of law.