July 08, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka is confronting a significant shortfall in law enforcement personnel, according to a statement delivered in Parliament by Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala.

Addressing lawmakers this (08) morning, the Minister disclosed that the country requires an additional 28,000 officers to meet its policing needs.

The current shortage, he noted, is placing strain on the nation’s ability to maintain public order and deliver effective community policing.

To counter the deficit, the government has initiated measures to bolster the ranks, with plans underway to recruit 5,000 new officers as a matter of urgency.

This immediate intake is intended to relieve pressure on the overstretched police force and enhance security coverage across the country.

July 08, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s highest court has found that two farmers were unlawfully treated by police during a public demonstration held in 2018, criticising the authorities’ failure to address the growing problem of wild elephant incursions into rural communities.

The Supreme Court determined that the arrest and subsequent remanding of the farmers constituted a violation of their fundamental rights.

The protest, staged along the Polonnaruwa–Mahiyanganaya road, was intended to draw attention to the increasing danger posed by wild elephants entering agricultural villages—an issue that had gone largely unaddressed by state agencies at the time.

The court’s judgment makes clear that peaceful expressions of public concern must not be met with arbitrary police action.

The ruling, delivered by Justice Yasantha Kodagoda with agreement from Chief Justice Murdhu Fernando and Justice S. Thurairaja, held the then-Officer-in-Charge of the Aralaganwila Police, S. M. L. R. Bandara, personally liable. He has been ordered to pay Rs. 30,000 in compensation to each of the affected individuals, R. A. Gamini Jayaratna and H. R. Eranda, from his own funds.

In a strongly worded judgment, the bench stressed that remanding individuals purely on the basis of police requests is inconsistent with judicial responsibility. It reiterated that bail should ordinarily be granted, and that the denial of bail should only occur under legally justified exceptional circumstances.

In addition to addressing the conduct of law enforcement, the court turned its attention to the root of the protest: the threat posed by wild elephants. The Director General of Wildlife was ordered to develop a comprehensive strategy to prevent these animals from straying into populated areas—a long-standing issue affecting many rural communities.

Copies of the judgment have been sent to several senior officials, including the Attorney General, Inspector General of Police, and heads of the Wildlife, Forest Conservation, and Mahaweli authorities. These agencies have been instructed to take appropriate follow-up action, ensuring that both the rights of citizens and the safety of their communities are more robustly protected in the future.

July 08, Colombo (LNW): Earlier today (08), Mohamed Sheriff Abthul Wazeeth was officially sworn in as a Member of Parliament representing the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) through the National List.

The oath of office was administered by the Speaker of Parliament, Dr Jagath Wickramaratne.

Wazeeth assumes the seat left vacant following the resignation of former SLMC National List MP, Muhammathu Saali Naleem. Naleem relinquished his position in March this year in order to contest the upcoming 2025 Local Government Election, with intentions to represent the Eravur Urban Council—a move that signals his continued involvement in grassroots-level governance.

The Election Commission of Sri Lanka confirmed Wazeeth’s appointment through an official Gazette, issued after the SLMC General Secretary formally submitted his name for consideration. The process followed standard constitutional procedures governing the replacement of National List MPs.

July 08, Colombo (LNW): In a recent development in Sri Lankan politics, Ushettige Don Nishantha Jayaweera has formally been appointed to Parliament under the National List of the National People’s Power (NPP), following the official publication of a Gazette notification by the country’s Election Commission.

Jayaweera’s entry into the legislature comes in the wake of a vacancy created by the departure of Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma, who stepped down from his seat as well as his position as Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning.

In accordance with standard procedures, the NPP formally nominated Jayaweera’s name for the now-vacant National List position.

Upon receiving this nomination, the Election Commission proceeded with the necessary formalities, culminating in the publication of the relevant Gazette notification, thereby confirming Jayaweera’s assumption of duties as a Member of Parliament.

July 08, Colombo (LNW): Several spells of showers will occur in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts, with a few showers being expected to occur in the North-western province, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (08).

Strong winds of about (40-50) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.

Marine Weather:

Condition of Rain:

Showers will occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Matara via Colombo and Galle.

Winds:

Winds will be Westerly to South-westerly and wind speed will be (30-40) kmph.

Wind speed can increase up to (55-60) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Kankasanthurai via Mannar and from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota.

Wind speed can increase up to (45-50) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Matara via Colombo and Galle and from Kankasanthurai to Vakarai via Trincomalee.

State of Sea:

The sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Kankasanthurai via Mannar and from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota will be very rough at times. The sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Matara via Colombo and Galle and from Kankasanthurai to Vakarai via Trincomalee may be fairly rough at times.

The wave height (about 2.0 – 2.5 m) may increase in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Matara via Colombo and Galle (this is not for land area).

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

July 07, Colombo (LNW): The Parliament of Sri Lanka has firmly dismissed recent accusations directed at Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne, following claims submitted to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) concerning alleged misuse of public resources.

In a detailed public statement, the parliamentary authorities refuted the charges, which included suggestions of excessive fuel use, unauthorised occupation of state property, and an inflated allocation of official vehicles. The statement aimed to clarify the Speaker’s entitlements and practices in response to growing speculation.

According to the official communication, Speaker Wickramaratne has voluntarily chosen to limit his entitlements, notably declining the open-ended fuel provisions reportedly enjoyed by some of his predecessors.

Instead, he has opted to receive the same monthly fuel quota provided to Cabinet Ministers—currently capped at 900 litres.

Addressing further points of contention, the statement explained that the Speaker is permitted two official vehicles for his use, while a separate van is assigned to his Media Unit to facilitate parliamentary communications.

Additionally, three members of his personal staff—a Private Secretary, a Coordination Secretary, and a Public Relations Officer—receive transport allowances and official vehicles as part of their professional responsibilities.

July 07, Colombo (LNW): A legal dispute concerning the exclusion of Sri Lankan students from the MBBS programme at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) may soon reach an amicable resolution, the Supreme Court was informed today (07).

The development follows the university’s recent decision to resume admissions for local applicants, a move that could render the matter moot.

The case was initiated by a group of ten prospective medical students who had sought entry into KDU’s undergraduate medical programme. They filed a Fundamental Rights application challenging what they saw as an arbitrary and unjustified decision to deny local students the opportunity to enrol.

The petition named a range of officials and institutions as respondents, including the KDU administration, the University Grants Commission, and several senior government figures such as the Minister of Education, the Minister of Health, and the Prime Minister.

When the matter came before the Supreme Court, presided over by Chief Justice Murdu Fernando and Justices Mahinda Samayawardena and Menaka Wijesundara, legal counsel for the petitioners indicated that the basis of the petition may no longer exist, given the university’s reversal of its earlier stance.

Barrister Hafeel Farisz, appearing on behalf of the petitioners, informed the court that a settlement was under consideration and that his clients were in the process of reviewing the new developments. He added that a final position would be presented after obtaining formal instructions from the students involved.

The court was satisfied with the update and agreed to adjourn the matter until July 24, providing time for both parties to finalise their respective positions.

Legal representation for the petitioners included Hafeel Farisz, alongside Nishika Fonseka and Shannon Tillekeratne, instructed by Shayamalee Athukorale. Deputy Solicitor General Nirmalan Wigneswaran appeared on behalf of the KDU and other respondents.