April 10, Colombo (LNW): Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, who is currently under suspension, has been released on bail following his appearance before the Matara Magistrate’s Court.

The high-profile figure, embroiled in an ongoing legal investigation related to a shooting in southern Sri Lanka, was granted bail today (10) under two personal sureties valued at Rs. 1 million each.

His release follows a brief remand period that began after he surrendered to authorities on March 19, having evaded arrest for nearly three weeks. The surrender was initiated through a formal legal motion submitted to the court, a move that came shortly after a warrant was issued in connection with a shooting near a coastal hotel in the Pelena area of Weligama, Matara.

The incident, which occurred on the final day of 2023, has since triggered significant controversy and public concern, particularly as it implicates several senior police personnel.

The shooting, which reportedly took place outside the W15 Hotel, prompted the Matara Magistrate’s Court to order the arrest of eight police officers, including former members of the Colombo Crimes Division and the then-Inspector General himself.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was tasked with executing the arrests and presenting the accused before the judiciary.

Efforts by the former police chief to halt his arrest via judicial channels proved unsuccessful. A writ petition seeking a court injunction against the arrest order was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on March 17.

The appellate judges instead reinforced the original directive, instructing the CID to proceed without delay in apprehending the former official.

In parallel to the judicial developments, Parliament has initiated its own proceedings against the former Inspector General. A resolution to form a special committee to investigate his conduct was passed earlier this week.

The motion aims to examine accusations of professional misconduct and alleged abuses of authority during his tenure, with the stated goal of determining whether he should be formally removed from office.

April 10, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry responsible for labour affairs has announced a comprehensive uplift in private sector wages, as part of a broader economic strategy outlined in the government’s 2025 financial roadmap.

The changes, intended to support income security and enhance worker welfare, mark one of the most significant wage policy shifts in recent years.

According to the Ministry’s official communication, a phased increase in both the basic salary and minimum daily wage will take effect this year, following approval by the Cabinet.

The revised wage structure proposes a hike in the basic salary from Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 27,000, alongside an increase in the minimum daily wage from Rs. 700 to Rs. 1,080.

These measures are grounded in commitments made within the national budget for 2025, and the relevant legislative framework is expected to be tabled in Parliament in the coming weeks.

Historically, the minimum wage figure of Rs. 21,000 has been a composite amount, comprising Rs. 17,500 under the National Minimum Wage of Workers (Amendment) Act, Rs. 1,000 under the 2005 Budgetary Relief Allowance Act, and a further Rs. 2,500 allocated in the 2016 Budgetary Relief Allowance legislation.

The forthcoming changes will incorporate an additional Rs. 3,500 that had previously been distributed as a separate relief allowance, consolidating it into the base wage and effectively raising the financial floor for workers.

Looking ahead, the Ministry has revealed that a further increase is anticipated in 2026. At that time, the basic salary is projected to climb to Rs. 30,000, while the daily minimum wage is set to rise to Rs. 1,200.

This dual-phase wage enhancement plan forms part of a broader effort to ease the burden of living costs and foster a more equitable labour market across the country’s private sector.

Government officials argue that these steps are essential in aligning national wage standards with rising inflation and the evolving demands of the workforce.

They also believe it will have a positive spillover effect, stimulating domestic consumption and improving household stability, particularly in low-income communities.

Whilst some in the business community may raise concerns about short-term cost implications, authorities maintain that the initiative is both fiscally responsible and socially necessary.

April 10, Colombo (LNW): The sixth edition of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit concluded in Bangkok on April 04, 2025, marking a significant moment for regional diplomacy and collaboration.

The event, held under the theme “Prosperous, Resilient and Open BIMSTEC,” also included the 20th Ministerial Meeting and the 25th Senior Officials Meeting. Hosted by Thailand, the summit convened leaders and senior delegates from across South and Southeast Asia.

Sri Lanka’s delegation was led by Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, who was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra, as well as senior representatives from the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministries.

In her address, Prime Minister Amarasuriya extended her gratitude to the Thai government and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for their hospitality and the smooth conduct of the summit.

During her remarks, Dr Amarasuriya reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s dedication to fostering deeper regional ties, especially in the domains of science, technology, and innovation.

She highlighted the island nation’s role as the lead country in this sector, and expressed confidence in the forthcoming operationalisation of the BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Colombo. This initiative is anticipated to provide a platform for member states to collaborate on innovation-driven growth, capacity-building, and research partnerships.

Equally emphasised was the recently concluded Plan of Action on Human Resource Development. Dr Amarasuriya urged its swift rollout, noting the central role that skilled and adaptable workforces will play in steering the region through complex future challenges. According to her, human capital investment must remain a cornerstone of regional strategies for sustainable development.

The Prime Minister also drew attention to the untapped potential for intra-regional trade, transport linkages, and economic cooperation. She stressed the need for candid dialogue, cross-border knowledge exchange, and a commitment to dismantling outdated bottlenecks in connectivity.

Upgrading infrastructure—not only in terms of roads and ports but also in digital and energy domains—was cited as a necessary step to unlocking BIMSTEC’s full potential.

At the ministerial level, Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra represented Sri Lanka in the signing of the BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Cooperation—an accord designed to facilitate enhanced maritime safety, resource sharing, and logistical collaboration amongst member nations.

Furthermore, additional memoranda of understanding were finalised with the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), signalling BIMSTEC’s intention to foster strategic ties beyond the Bay of Bengal.

The summit culminated in the adoption of several key frameworks and documents. These included the 6th BIMSTEC Declaration, the BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030—a roadmap outlining long-term priorities and integration goals—and new rules of procedure for institutional mechanisms within the bloc.

Leaders also endorsed the Report of the Eminent Persons Group, a strategic blueprint to guide BIMSTEC’s evolution over the coming decade.

In a gesture of solidarity, the summit concluded with a joint statement expressing support for Myanmar and Thailand in the aftermath of the March 28 earthquake. The message reinforced the collective spirit of regional unity that underpinned the summit proceedings and affirmed the grouping’s readiness to stand together in moments of crisis.

April 10, Colombo (LNW): The government is preparing to initiate a fresh and more comprehensive animal census amid concerns over the reliability of previous data collected on the country’s wildlife populations.

The move comes as part of a broader strategy to implement structured animal management policies that align with international standards.

Addressing the media following a regional development meeting in Kandy, Agriculture Minister K. D. Lal Kantha acknowledged that the earlier attempt at conducting a national animal census had significant shortcomings.

He remarked that whilst it marked a step in the right direction, it fell short of providing the precise data required for effective policy planning.

The Minister emphasised that globally, countries with well-established wildlife and agricultural policies rely on rigorous census exercises before initiating any management measures.

Citing Australia as an example, he noted that even species such as kangaroos are monitored through detailed censuses before control or conservation actions are undertaken.

Sri Lanka, he stated, lacks a consistent history of systematic animal enumeration. The absence of dependable statistics, particularly in rural and forested regions, has made it difficult for authorities to formulate targeted interventions.

This gap in information has become increasingly significant given recent reports of growing human-wildlife conflicts in various parts of the island.

Minister Lal Kantha reiterated that accurate animal data is essential, especially when managing species whose populations are either surging beyond sustainable levels or are at risk.

He indicated that following the upcoming census, the government intends to roll out targeted programmes to address issues posed by certain species, notably monkeys, whose interactions with human settlements have escalated in recent years.

April 10, Colombo (LNW): Today marks the beginning of a significant debate in Parliament, focused on the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into allegations surrounding illegal detention centres and torture chambers purportedly operating within the Batalanda Housing Scheme.

The debate, set to start at 11:30 this morning, is expected to run until 5:30 p.m. and will span a full two days.

The debate follows the release of the Commission’s comprehensive report, which was officially presented to Parliament March 14. The report outlines disturbing claims regarding the establishment of covert detention facilities and the systemic abuse carried out within them.

These findings have raised serious concerns about human rights violations and the rule of law.

Whilst the first session of the debate will take place today, attention now turns to the second session, which is scheduled for May. Parliamentarians will continue their discussions on the allegations and the government’s role in addressing such matters.

After today’s proceedings, Parliament will adjourn for a brief period, reconvening on May 08. This pause allows time for further reflection on the implications of the Commission’s report, with many MPs expected to call for a thorough investigation and the establishment of measures to prevent similar abuses in the future.

April 10, Colombo (LNW): Showers will occur at times in Western and Southern provinces and in Puttalam district.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in Sabaragamuwa, Central, and Uva provinces and in Ampara, Batticaloa and Polonnaruwa districts during the afternoon or night.

Fairly heavy rainfall of above 50 mm are likely at some places in Southern, Sabaragamuwa, Uva and Central provinces and in Ampara district.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces during the morning.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka during April 05 to 14 in this year. The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (10) are Hatthikuchchi, Kalankuttiya, Halmillewa, Ipalogama, Palugaswewa, Habarana at about 12:11 noon.

Marine Weather: