May 20, Colombo (LNW): The committee appointed to investigate allegations of serious misconduct against Sri Lanka’s suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon has decided to proceed with its inquiry, dismissing all preliminary objections raised by the defence.

According to the Parliamentary Communications Department, the inquiry committee, chaired by Supreme Court Justice P.P. Surasena and comprising Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawala and E.W.M. Lalith Ekanayake—who also chairs the National Police Commission—convened at Parliament yesterday (19).

This marked the first appearance of IGP Tennakoon before the committee since the inquiry was announced.

During the hearing, the committee officially presented Tennakoon with a charge sheet listing 23 separate allegations, all reportedly centred on gross abuse of authority during his time in office.

The charges are believed to pertain to his conduct in politically sensitive policing matters and alleged misuse of power, though the full contents of the charge sheet remain confidential.

Tennakoon was represented by Attorney-at-Law R.S. Weerawickrama, who submitted three preliminary objections and two formal requests to the committee in an attempt to challenge the legitimacy or procedural fairness of the inquiry.

However, Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris and Deputy Solicitor General Rajitha Perera, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General’s Department, raised strong objections to the defence’s submissions, arguing that the inquiry was both lawful and essential given the gravity of the allegations.

After reviewing the arguments, the committee unanimously dismissed all objections, stating that the matter warranted a full and uninterrupted investigation.

The next hearing has been scheduled for 28 May at 2.00 p.m., during which further examination of the charges and evidence is expected to take place.

May 20, Colombo (LNW): Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has been ordered to remain in remand custody until June 03, following his appearance at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (20) in relation to a corruption probe being conducted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali extended the remand period after reviewing submissions from both prosecution and defence counsel regarding three ongoing cases that allege serious financial misconduct during Rambukwella’s tenure in public office.

The court also approved a request by CIABOC to name Rambukwella’s son, Ramith Rambukwella, as a suspect in one or more of the related complaints, a move that signals the investigation’s expansion beyond the former minister alone.

Whilst the specific nature of Ramith Rambukwella’s alleged involvement has not been publicly disclosed, legal sources suggest that it could involve financial transactions or associations deemed integral to the primary charges.

Rambukwella, who has served in multiple ministerial portfolios including media and health, was arrested earlier this year following a string of complaints lodged with the Bribery Commission.

He was brought to court today under prison custody, having already been remanded during previous hearings.

May 20, Colombo (LNW): A five-member committee tasked with re-evaluating the Batalanda Commission Report is set to hold its inaugural meeting today (20), initiating a process that could reopen scrutiny into one of Sri Lanka’s most controversial periods of political repression.

The committee, chaired by Senior Additional Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya, PC, was appointed by Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe following the recent handover of the Batalanda Commission Report to the Attorney General’s Department by the President’s Office.

The decision to revisit the report comes in the wake of renewed public debate sparked by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s appearance on Al Jazeera’s Head to Head programme in early March, during which he was questioned about past allegations linked to state-sanctioned violence.

Covering the politically volatile years from 1988 to 1990, the Batalanda Commission Report investigates a series of grave human rights violations—including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and illegal detentions—allegedly carried out at an unofficial detention centre in Batalanda.

The commission, initially appointed in the 1990s, had recommended legal action against certain individuals, but successive governments did not pursue prosecutions.

The newly formed review panel has stated that it aims to submit its findings to the Attorney General without delay, focusing on key areas of concern identified during its reassessment.

This swift timeline reflects growing public and political interest in uncovering the full extent of state accountability during one of the darkest chapters in Sri Lanka’s modern history.

Legal analysts suggest that the outcome of the review could have significant implications—not only for possible criminal prosecutions but also for truth and reconciliation efforts in a country still reckoning with multiple cycles of political violence.

While no formal charges have been brought so far as a result of the original commission’s findings, a renewed legal review could pave the way for long-awaited accountability measures or at the very least, official clarification on previously obscured events.

The political stakes are high, given that some of the individuals named in connection with the Batalanda allegations have occupied senior political roles in the decades since, including top executive positions.

The process may also raise questions about institutional memory and the state’s willingness to revisit unresolved injustices in a credible manner.

The Attorney General’s Department has so far refrained from commenting on the potential scope of legal action but confirmed that the review process would be conducted independently and guided by the law.

The committee is expected to examine not only the original report’s content but also additional evidence and testimonies that may have surfaced in the years since its publication.

May 20, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Education has commenced the application process for student admissions to Grade 12 under the Advanced Level (A/L) Vocational Stream for the 2025 academic year, offering an inclusive opportunity for students regardless of their G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) examination results.

In a significant move aimed at expanding access to technical and practical education, the Ministry announced that passing the O/L examination will not be a prerequisite for enrolment.

This decision is expected to benefit students from diverse academic backgrounds, particularly those seeking alternative pathways into skilled employment or further technical education.

Students enrolling in this stream will begin Grade 12 under the A/L Vocational curriculum and advance to complete a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 04 programme in Grade 13. The programme spans 28 vocational disciplines designed to align with current job market demands.

These include, but are not limited to, Health & Social Care, Fashion Designing, Graphic Designing, Computer Hardware & Networking, Construction Studies, and Automobile Studies.

The initiative aims to bridge the gap between secondary education and employable skills, helping students transition directly into the workforce or continue higher-level vocational or technical education.

It also serves to counter the high dropout rates often linked to the academic pressures of the conventional A/L route.

A list of eligible schools and application forms in both Sinhala and Tamil languages are now available on the Ministry of Education’s official website: https://moe.gov.lk/2025/05/37984/

Applicants seeking additional information are encouraged to contact the Ministry between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays via the following numbers: 011 278 7136 or 011 278 6746.

May 20, Colombo (LNW): More than 100,000 Sri Lankans have officially departed for overseas employment during the first five months of 2025, according to the latest figures released by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).

The surge in outbound labour migration highlights both the continued demand for Sri Lankan workers abroad and the ongoing domestic push for foreign remittances.

As of mid-May, 100,413 individuals registered with the SLBFE have taken up employment opportunities overseas. Of these, 64,150 workers secured their placements through self-registration processes, whilst 36,263 departed via recognised foreign employment agencies.

The group comprises 39,496 women and 60,917 men, reflecting a relatively broad gender representation in overseas job markets.

Kuwait emerged as the top destination, with 25,672 registered workers having travelled there since January. The United Arab Emirates followed with 18,474 placements, whilst Qatar and Saudi Arabia attracted 14,162 and 12,625 workers respectively.

These Gulf countries continue to serve as the principal employment hubs for Sri Lankan migrants, offering roles in sectors such as domestic work, construction, logistics, and hospitality.

The SLBFE further reported that registered workers have also left for a variety of other countries. The bureau reiterated its target of facilitating employment opportunities for a total of 340,000 Sri Lankans abroad by the end of the year.

May 20, Colombo (LNW): In recognition of the 16th National War Heroes Commemoration Day, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces has approved promotions for a total of 12,434 members of Sri Lanka’s tri-forces.

This large-scale elevation of ranks comes as a symbolic gesture of gratitude for the dedication and service of military personnel across the country.

According to a statement from the President’s Media Division (PMD), the Sri Lanka Army has received the lion’s share of these promotions, with 186 officers and 10,093 other ranks ascending to higher positions.

The Sri Lanka Navy has seen 22 officers and 1,256 other ranks promoted, while the Sri Lanka Air Force has advanced nine officers and 868 other ranks.

The promotions reflect the government’s continued effort to honour those serving in the defence forces, especially in the lead-up to the annual commemoration dedicated to fallen and living war heroes.

This year’s occasion marks sixteen years since the conclusion of Sri Lanka’s decades-long internal conflict in May 2009.

By: Isuru Parakrama

May 20, Colombo (LNW): The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has formally released a set of directives aimed at reducing deaths occurring in police custody and during police confrontations, citing growing concern over the persistent incidence of such fatalities.

Labelled as General Guidelines and Recommendations No. 1 of 2025, the document has been issued to the Sri Lanka Police as a preventive framework.

The Commission’s initiative follows its analysis of a series of disturbing cases, in which a total of 79 deaths were recorded between January 2020 and the end of March 2025—49 of which occurred in custody, and 30 during police encounters.

Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya, Chair of the HRCSL, stated that the recommendations were drafted following a thorough examination of complaints submitted by the public, and reflect a pressing need for reform in police conduct and accountability.

He stressed that the effective enforcement of these measures requires a proactive commitment from law enforcement agencies.

The recommendations are said to advocate for improved training for officers on human rights standards and the lawful use of force.

The HRCSL has urged the police to treat these guidelines not as optional protocols but as essential standards for lawful conduct.

Read General Guidelines and Recommendations: https://www.hrcsl.lk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/General-Guidelines-and-Recommendations-No-01-of-2025-_-English.pdf

May 20, Colombo (LNW): Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was brought before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (20), as legal proceedings continue over three separate cases filed against him by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

Rambukwella, who remains in remand custody, was escorted to court under the supervision of prison authorities. The hearing is being conducted before Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali.

May 20, Colombo (LNW): Parliament convened this morning at 9:30 a.m. in line with Standing Orders, with time allocated to various matters of legislative procedure and public accountability throughout the day.

The session, detailed in a statement from the Parliamentary Communications Department, reflects a structured approach to legislative business amid ongoing fiscal and policy discussions in the country.

From 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., the chamber focused on general parliamentary affairs under Standing Orders 22(1) to 22(6), followed by a dedicated hour for Questions for Oral Answers until 11:00 a.m.

This segment offered MPs the opportunity to hold government ministers accountable on a range of pressing national issues. Thereafter, from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., MPs were permitted to raise issues under Standing Order 27(2), a provision used to address matters of urgent public importance.

The main legislative focus of the day, however, was the scheduled debate from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on a new Order proposed under the Excise (Special Provisions) Act.

This order is expected to address tax adjustments or regulatory changes concerning the production and distribution of excisable goods such as alcohol and tobacco—sectors frequently linked to public health concerns and revenue generation.

While the details of the proposed excise amendments are yet to be disclosed in full, early indications suggest the debate could involve contentious discussions around balancing public health priorities with fiscal needs.

The opposition has already signalled its intention to question the rationale and potential socio-economic impact of the government’s excise policies, particularly in light of rising living costs and pressures on small businesses.

The day’s session is scheduled to conclude with a 30-minute debate on a Motion at the Adjournment Time, submitted by the Opposition.