March 29, Colombo (LNW): The Department of Examinations has issued a formal clarification regarding misinformation circulating about the release of the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination results.

In an official statement, the department strongly refuted recent media reports, asserting that no official announcement has yet been made concerning the publication of results.

Authorities urged students, parents, and the general public to disregard unverified information being spread across various media platforms.

They emphasised that official updates regarding the results will only be communicated through the department’s official channels, warning against reliance on speculative reports.

The statement also highlighted the importance of verifying information before sharing it, as misleading claims can cause unnecessary anxiety among students awaiting their results.

Officials reassured the public that an announcement would be made in due course and encouraged students to remain patient while the necessary administrative processes are completed.

March 29, Colombo (LNW): A police constable attached to the Special Protection Division, along with a civilian from Thalawathugoda, has been taken into custody for allegedly assisting suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon in evading arrest for nearly three weeks.

The arrest was confirmed by the police spokesperson, who stated that the two individuals had helped Tennakoon remain in hiding from February 27 to March 19.

Tennakoon, who had been the subject of an active arrest warrant, was wanted in connection with a shooting that took place near a hotel in Weligama’s Pelena area on December 31, 2023.

Despite repeated attempts by law enforcement to apprehend him, he managed to evade capture until eventually surrendering to the court on March 19.

Following his appearance, he was remanded in custody and is currently being held at Dumbara Prison in Kandy until his next court hearing on April 03.

Prior to his suspension, Tennakoon held the highest-ranking position in Sri Lanka’s police force, making his evasion of arrest and subsequent surrender a topic of national debate.

Earlier, the Matara Magistrate’s Court had issued arrest warrants for eight police officers, including former members of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), alongside Tennakoon.

All were named as suspects in the shooting incident outside the W15 Hotel in Weligama.

Authorities are continuing investigations into the circumstances surrounding Tennakoon’s disappearance, including the possible involvement of additional individuals in aiding his escape.

March 29, Colombo (LNW): A parliamentary inquiry has revealed that a private firm, ‘Savorite’, was granted Waiver of Registration (WoR) certificates to import 38 types of medicines in 2022 without undergoing mandatory evaluation by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA).

The revelation has raised serious concerns about regulatory oversight in the country’s healthcare sector.

During a meeting of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) held on Wednesday (26) in Parliament, it was disclosed that the former Minister of Health had directly instructed that ‘Savorite’ be selected to import medicines under this arrangement.

The former Secretary to the Ministry of Health confirmed to the committee that the decision was made under ministerial directives.

The committee, chaired by MP Dr Nishantha Samaraweera, convened to review the Auditor General’s reports for 2022, 2023, and 2024, as well as to assess the ongoing performance of the NMRA.

The chairperson criticised the NMRA’s failure to evaluate the imported medicines, stating that the authority’s core function is to ensure drug quality, safety, and efficacy—responsibilities that should not be delegated to the Medical Supplies Sector.

Former NMRA board members clarified that, although there were emergency provisions for expedited medicine imports, such approvals required a proper evaluation.

They stressed that the board had not authorised the process and, therefore, could not accept accountability for the decision.

The discussions further revealed that the former Minister of Health had directed ‘Savorite’ to supply medicines for three months to address shortages.

COPE also examined a Cabinet Memorandum submitted by the former minister on 26 September 2022, which stated that a critical shortage of medicines was imminent within three weeks.

When questioned, Ministry of Health officials explained that the Cabinet Memorandum was based on data from the existing medicine supply database.

However, the committee chairperson expressed scepticism, deeming it highly unlikely that such a vast range of essential medicines could reach zero stock levels simultaneously.

He accused the responsible officials of negligence for allowing the situation to escalate to such an extent.

The Auditor General also raised concerns, noting that medicines had been imported even when existing stocks were already on order and due to arrive, further questioning the legitimacy of the crisis.

As a result, the COPE chair directed officials to compile a comprehensive report identifying those involved in preparing the Cabinet Memorandum.

The committee also resolved to submit a full investigative report on these irregularities to Parliament and ensure swift action is taken against those responsible.

Several Members of Parliament, including Mano Ganeshan, Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, S. M. Marikkar, Chaminda Wijesiri, Attorney-at-Law Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Chandima Hettiarachchi, Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana, Kosala Nuwan Jayaweera, Sudath Balagalla, Dr S. Sri Bavanandarajah, Lieutenant Commander (Retd.) Prageeth Madhuranga, and Samanmali Gunasinghe, attended the committee meeting.

March 29, Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Central and Uva provinces and in Kurunegala district after 2.00 p.m., the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (29).

Fairly heavy showers above 50 mm can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Galle, Matara and Kurunegala districts 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:

March 28, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake convened a high-level discussion with officials from the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, as well as the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, at the Presidential Secretariat today (28).

The meeting focused on advancing major infrastructure projects and addressing critical issues in transportation and urban planning.

A primary agenda item was the long-anticipated construction of the Mirigama-Kadawatha section of the Kandy-Colombo Expressway. The President instructed officials to expedite the project, recognising its significance in enhancing connectivity between Colombo and the central regions of the country.

Discussions also centred on the economic benefits of the Colombo Port Access Expressway, with officials presenting both short-term and long-term strategies to resolve challenges associated with the project.

The expressway is expected to ease congestion and boost commercial activity by improving access to the country’s main port.

Further attention was given to the modernisation of the railway system and a pilot initiative aimed at standardising bus and road transport services within the Colombo District.

The proposal seeks to introduce a more efficient public transport network to reduce urban traffic congestion, which remains a pressing issue for commuters.

The meeting also explored plans to transform Colombo, Kandy, Kurunegala, and Moratuwa into multimodal transport hubs. This initiative is expected to integrate various modes of transport, improving mobility and accessibility in key urban centres.

Additionally, officials discussed the optimal use of Railway Department lands that are currently underutilised. The President emphasised the need for a strategic approach to managing these properties, ensuring they contribute to national economic growth.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Ratnayake, Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing Anura Karunathilaka, Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, and a delegation of senior ministry officials.