By: Isuru Parakrama

February 23, Colombo (LNW): In a significant development, it was decided to expunge a controversial comment made by Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage regarding SJB MP Rohini Kaviratne from the official Hansard.

The comment, which addressed the opposition MP by an incorrect surname, sparked immediate outrage in the chamber, leading to heated objections from MPs.

The incident unfolded when Deputy Minister Hewage made a disparaging remark about MP Kaviratne during his speech, calling her by a different surname. This comment quickly prompted SJB MP Harsha De Silva to demand its removal from the parliamentary record.

His objection led to a tense exchange between the two MPs, with Hewage insisting that he had been referring to a different individual with a similar name. However, his explanation failed to calm the growing tensions, and the debate escalated further.

The controversy was eventually defused when Chief Government Whip Minister (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa intervened, offering an apology on behalf of Deputy Minister Hewage. He confirmed that, in line with parliamentary standards and the need to maintain respectful discourse, the objectionable remark would be expunged from the Hansard.

Amidst the uproar, Ruling Party MP (Dr.) Kaushalya Ariyaratne took to social media to express her disapproval of the incident. Whilst she was not present in the chamber at the time, Ariyaratne condemned the use of what she termed “unparliamentary” language towards a female opposition MP.

In a statement shared on Facebook, she emphasised her commitment to feminist principles and her unwavering support for a political culture rooted in integrity and respect.

“I was not present in the chambers today, but I later learned about the use of ‘unparliamentary’ language toward a female opposition MP during the speeches. As a woman who stands firmly for feminist principles, I cannot personally condone what took place in Parliament,” Ariyaratne wrote. “We are here to build a political culture rooted in integrity, respect, and the values we have long fought for. My commitment to these principles remains stronger than ever!”

February 23, Colombo (LNW): The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has initiated legal proceedings against 39 traders for engaging in illegal practices such as selling rice at inflated prices and hoarding stocks.

This action follows a series of raids conducted across several areas, primarily targeting the Kegalle and Gampaha districts.

During these operations, the CAA uncovered several violations of trade regulations. A total of 16 traders were found to be selling rice at exorbitant prices, significantly higher than the government-approved rates.

Additionally, 10 traders were caught hoarding rice, a practice that has led to artificial shortages and price increases.

Another 10 traders were penalised for failing to display the required price information, further violating consumer rights.

Amongst the traders identified, those selling Keeri Samba rice were found to be charging anywhere from Rs. 270 to Rs. 310 per kilogram—far above the acceptable price range.

The CAA has warned that such actions will not be tolerated and has vowed to continue its efforts to protect consumers from exploitation, particularly during times of economic strain.

The authority is now pursuing legal action against the traders involved, and further investigations are expected in the coming weeks to ensure that market practices are brought back in line with fair trade regulations.

February 23, Colombo (LNW): The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has voiced its growing concerns over the rising number of complaints lodged against police officers, with allegations of torture, arbitrary arrests, unlawful detention, harassment, and failure to act on complaints.

The Commission highlighted that these issues continue to undermine public trust in the police force and impede progress in safeguarding human rights.

In a recent statement, the HRCSL revealed that a high-level meeting was held to address these pressing concerns, with the aim of fostering dialogue between the Commission and the Sri Lanka Police.

The meeting, convened at the HRCSL headquarters, saw the participation of the HRCSL Chairman, commissioners, senior staff, as well as key figures from the police, including the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Deputy IGP for Legal Affairs, and the Director of the Human Rights Division of Sri Lanka Police.

The HRCSL acknowledged the efforts made by the new police administration to tackle these issues, including ongoing capacity-building initiatives, institutional restructuring, and the implementation of new strategies and technologies.

However, the Commission stressed the need for greater focus on the actions of law enforcement officers, particularly with respect to the Special Investigation Unit’s role in probing allegations of torture and enforced disappearances committed by police personnel.

A key concern raised by the Commission was the disturbingly low number of prosecutions and convictions in cases of police misconduct, especially regarding torture.

In addition to this, the HRCSL called attention to the need to safeguard the rights of human rights defenders, specifically their right to peacefully protest and advocate for human rights without fear of retaliation or harassment by the authorities.

Furthermore, the Commission expressed concern over the lack of gender diversity within the police force, particularly the underrepresentation of women, and the need for greater inclusion of Tamil-speaking officers in areas where such representation is crucial for effective communication and community engagement.

The HRCSL noted that these issues would be addressed through upcoming recruitment initiatives aimed at improving diversity within the police force.

The meeting concluded with the Acting IGP acknowledging the Commission’s concerns and outlining the steps taken by the police in response to the allegations of torture, including proceedings under the Torture Act of 1994.

The Acting IGP also agreed to issue an advisory to all police officers to raise awareness about Section 26 of the HRCSL Act, which provides legal protection to HRCSL officers from any legal actions arising from their official duties.

February 23, Colombo (LNW): In a recent letter addressed to the Minister of Health, the Animal Welfare Coalition (AWC) raised serious concerns about the current management of the rabies eradication programme, questioning why it is being overseen by the Health Ministry when experienced veterinary professionals in the Veterinary Department are available to take charge.

The AWC has expressed its suspicions regarding the shift of responsibility for the programme in 2017, noting that although it was initially transferred to the Health Ministry for a six-month period, it was later handed back permanently, seemingly benefiting certain officials.

The Coalition has also pointed to discrepancies in the allocation of resources for the programme.

Despite the fact that the country requires approximately two million anti-rabies vaccines annually to achieve herd immunity, only 1.15 million doses were distributed in 2024.

Furthermore, whilst Rs. 200 million had been approved for the sterilisation programme aimed at controlling the dog population, only half of that amount, Rs. 100 million, was actually utilised.

The letter also contained troubling allegations, with the AWC claiming that in 2024, a senior official from the Health Ministry attempted to curtail important animal welfare initiatives.

“We have strong grounds for suspicion that, despite the existence of a dedicated public veterinary unit within the Ministry—staffed with experts in rabies control—their contributions have been disregarded. As a result, the unit remains inactive, whilst a handful of individuals have pursued ineffective strategies that have only served to hamper rabies eradication efforts,” the letter stated.

The AWC also pointed out inaccuracies in statements made by officials regarding the scope of the rabies problem. The Minister of Health recently informed Parliament that 184,926 people had received treatment for animal bites in 2024.

Whilst this figure is correct, the AWC pointed out that 90 per cent of these cases involved bites from domesticated animals, which is a critical detail often overlooked in discussions about rabies control.

Despite the Health Ministry’s long-standing commitment to addressing rabies, the Coalition argued that it has failed to effectively manage or prevent bites from domestic animals, which are responsible for the majority of rabies transmission in the country.

Based on these concerns, the AWC has concluded that the Health Ministry’s efforts to eradicate rabies have been largely ineffective and called for the programme to be transferred to the Department of Animal Production and Health, which they believe is better suited to handle the issue.

February 23, Colombo (LNW): Acting Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya has revealed alarming figures regarding organised crime across Sri Lanka, disclosing that 58 criminal gangs and around 1,400 of their affiliates have been identified operating throughout the country.

The Acting IGP shared this information during a public statement today, shedding light on the scale of the ongoing threat posed by these groups.

Weerasooriya further disclosed that, so far this year, 22 individuals have lost their lives in violent incidents linked to organised crime.

Of these, 17 were shot dead, and five were brutally hacked to death.

The situation highlights the growing severity of gang-related violence within the nation, with law enforcement under increasing pressure to address the issue.

In a shocking revelation, the Acting IGP also confirmed that certain members of the police and armed forces have been implicated in these criminal activities.

So far, 11 personnel, including two police officers, one soldier, one airman, and seven army deserters, have been arrested in connection with these incidents, further complicating the challenge faced by authorities.

In addition to these disturbing revelations, Weerasooriya reported that extensive police investigations under the current government have led to the seizure of a large number of firearms.

These include 13 T56 rifles, 15 revolvers, 21 pistols, 75 12-bore firearms, seven repeaters, 805 shotguns, and four other firearms, which have been removed from circulation.

To intensify efforts to combat organised crime, the Acting IGP announced the introduction of a new reward programme, offering Rs. 1 million for any information leading to the recovery of T56 firearms.

This initiative is aimed at encouraging the public to assist law enforcement in tackling the growing threat of illegal weaponry.

Additionally, a dedicated hotline, 1997, has been established for citizens to report criminal activity and illicit firearms.

February 23, Colombo (LNW): Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi, has made an official visit to Colombo, where he engaged in discussions with Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Vijitha Herath.

During the visit, the two leaders explored various avenues for expanding the already growing ties between the two nations.

The meetings, which took place on Friday, also saw al-Muraikhi meet with Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arun Hemachandra, to further discuss areas of potential collaboration.

The main focus of the talks revolved around strengthening both bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Discussions covered a range of important issues, including the possibility of increasing mutual engagement in key sectors like foreign employment, tourism, and foreign affairs.

Following the meeting, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath expressed optimism about the outcome of the talks, sharing his thoughts on social media.

“We had a productive discussion focused on enhancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Looking forward to strengthening our ties!” he posted on ‘X’, emphasising the positive direction the diplomatic relationship is heading.

I had the honor of welcoming H.E. Soltan Saad Al-Moraikhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, and his delegation to Sri Lanka. 🇶🇦🤝🇱🇰

We had a productive discussion focused on enhancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Looking forward to strengthening our… pic.twitter.com/fxcOneD5Pg

— Vijitha Herath (@HMVijithaHerath) February 22, 2025

February 23, Colombo (LNW): A significant meeting was held in Parliament yesterday (22) to address the Opposition’s request for a greater presence in the Parliamentary Committees.

The session, chaired by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, was attended by several key figures, including the Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, and the Secretary General of Parliament, Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera.

During the meeting, the Leader of the House expressed appreciation for the Speaker’s announcement on February 19 regarding the matter.

Following this, a formal letter outlining the Government’s position on the issue was submitted to the Speaker, which was then read aloud during the discussion.

The Chief Opposition Whip took the opportunity to reiterate the Opposition’s request for an increase in their representation on Parliamentary Committees.

In response, the Leader of the House assured that the Government would carefully consider the matter and provide a formal stance as soon as possible, signalling a willingness to engage further on the issue.

February 23, Colombo (LNW): A fifth individual has been apprehended in connection with the tragic triple murder that occurred in Middeniya earlier this week, as reported by local authorities.

The arrest was made yesterday (22) in Thelambuyaya, an area within the Weeraketiya Police Division, by officers from the Tangalle Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau.

The man, aged 29, is a resident of the Wekandawala area in Thelambuyaya. His arrest brings the total number of people detained in connection with the brutal killings to five, with one of the suspects identified as a police constable.

Amongst the initial four suspects, three were arrested on February 21 and have been granted a 72-hour detention period by the Walasmulla Magistrate’s Court.

The court order allows investigators to carry out further questioning as they work to piece together the events leading up to the shooting.

The horrifying incident took place on Tuesday evening (20) near the Kadewatta Junction in Middeniya. The victim, a father travelling with his two children on a motorcycle, was targeted in a cold-blooded attack. He was killed instantly by the gunfire, while his two young children were left critically wounded.

The children, a six-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old son, were quickly transported to hospitals in Embilipitiya and Tangalle. Despite receiving medical attention, the young girl tragically passed away shortly after arriving at Tangalle Hospital, while her brother succumbed to his injuries the following day.

February 23, Colombo (LNW): In a significant development, three more individuals have been detained by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) for their involvement in the assassination of notorious underworld figure Sanjeewa Kumara Samararatne, widely known as “Ganemulla Sanjeewa.”

This latest wave of arrests brings the total number of suspects apprehended in relation to the brutal murder to eight.

The three suspects, who were arrested on the February 23, are all residents of Gampaha and Udugampola.

Amongst them is 22-year-old Damidu Lakshan from Malwatte Road, Gampaha, who has been charged with possessing the firearm used in the shooting and providing it to the assailant the day before the murder.

Additionally, two men from Udugampola, 25-year-old Damith Anjana Nayanajith and 19-year-old Chamod Gimhan, have been taken into custody.

They stand accused of assisting the gunman by transporting both him and another accomplice in a three-wheeler following the execution of the crime.

The police have revealed that the investigation into Sanjeewa’s assassination is progressing rapidly, with further details about the circumstances surrounding the killing expected to emerge soon.

Law enforcement officials are continuing their efforts to piece together the full extent of the conspiracy and identify other potential perpetrators involved in orchestrating the attack.

February 23, Colombo (LNW): The rainy condition is expected to enhance over Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva, and Central provinces and in Hambantota district for the next few days from tomorrow (24), the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (23).

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Galle, Matara, Kaluthara and Rathnapura districts in the evening or night.

Mainly dry weather will prevail elsewhere over the island.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva and North-central provinces and Kurunegala district 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.

Marine Weather: