News

The Supreme Court has ruled that six officers of the Kottawa Police violated the fundamental rights of a private bus operator by unlawfully arresting, assaulting, and falsely accusing him of possessing heroin.

The ruling, delivered on Monday (13) by Justice Menaka Wijesundara with the concurrence of Justices Yasantha Kodagoda and Janak de Silva, ordered the officers to personally pay Rs. 1 million in compensation to the petitioner.

The petitioner, Vithanage Sunil, told the court that he is a private bus owner operating two buses on the Kottawa–Pettah route. He stated that on the night of July 9, 2016, while returning home after meeting a friend, he was confronted by police officers who pointed a gun at his head, forced him to kneel, and assaulted him before falsely accusing him of possessing heroin.

He was later produced before the Homagama Magistrate’s Court and remanded, but a medical report submitted to the court confirmed that he had sustained injuries to his face, chest, forehead, and wrist while in police custody. A subsequent report also stated that he had no history of drug use.

Justice Wijesundara, in delivering the judgment, observed that the petitioner had been subjected to cruel and inhuman treatment in violation of Article 11 of the Constitution. The Court found that the officers had failed to produce credible evidence to justify the arrest or the drug charge, and that the explanation they provided created suspicion

The officers named in the ruling include then-OIC L.P.B. Samarasinghe, Inspector Cyril Perera, Sub-Inspector Premasiri, and Police Constables Nandana Piyal, Sampath, and Chandra Niroshan.

The Urban Development Authority’s (UDA) approval of an ultra luxury high-rise twin tower residential complex in Thummulla, Colombo, has raised serious concerns amid strong opposition from local residents.

A closer inspection has revealed several alleged violations of zoning regulations and planning guidelines.

Key issues highlighted in the investigation include:

Zoning violations – The land in question falls under both a Special Residential Zone and a Medium-Density Development Zone as per UDA's own planning regulations. However, approval was reportedly granted by treating it as part of a Mixed Development Zone, which carries more lenient guidelines.

Frontage manipulation – The required minimum frontage for such developments is 30 metres, but the plot allegedly falls short of this requirement. Despite this, it was treated as having 40 metres, allowing the project to move forward.

Height irregularities – In areas zoned for special residential development, the maximum permissible height is 50 metres. In this case, however, approval was reportedly granted for a building rising to 130 metres, more than double the legal limit.

Regulatory breaches – The project’s approval appears to be in clear violation of UDA’s planning and design regulations, raising red flags about potential abuse of regulatory discretion.

Adding to the controversy, it has been revealed that UDA officials and even the subject minister were present at the foundation-laying ceremony of the project just one day after the planning approval was issued in response to a request from the private company behind the development.

Local residents are calling on the authorities to urgently investigate these irregularities, stating that the project not only disregards existing regulations but also sets a dangerous precedent for future developments in the city.

Meanwhile, sources from the Presidential Secretariat say that a special investigation has been launched into allegations that a senior UDA official may have been personally involved in facilitating the approval on behalf of a private business, raising serious concerns over possible corruption and misconduct.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) this morning (October 13) to provide a statement concerning an alleged financial irregularity dating back nearly 15 years.

According to reports, the incident is said to have occurred at an institution affiliated with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

The former President spent nearly five hours at the Commission premises and departed around 2:00 p.m., following the conclusion of his statement, Ada Derana reported.

Mount Lavinia Chief Inspector H.T.M. Tushara has been immediately transferred from his current post, police sources confirmed.

According to reports, the officer has been reassigned to general duties within the Medical Services Division.

The transfer comes in connection with an ongoing special inquiry into a recent incident near the Mount Lavinia Court Complex, where a confrontation reportedly occurred between a police officer and an attorney-at-law.

Police stated that the move was made as part of preliminary investigations into the matter, emphasizing that the transfer is procedural and intended to ensure an impartial inquiry.

PATHFINDER NATIONAL SECURITY BRIEF -03

Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean, along the vital East-West shipping lanes connecting the Straits of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, and Malacca, grants the country considerable geopolitical and economic significance. With a vast maritime territory that includes a territorial sea of 21,500 km², an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) spanning nearly eight times its landmass of 65,610 km², and a coastline extending 1,340 km, Sri Lanka stands as a key maritime hub in the region. This strategic advantage also exposes the country to an increasingly complex and evolving maritime security environment. The Nation’s economy and security are closely linked to the protection of this maritime domain, which encompasses vital sectors such as fisheries, trade and tourism. Maritime Domain Challenges (MDR) range from traditional threats to more complex and evolving issues, including Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, human trafficking, drug trafficking, arms trafficking, maritime terrorism, and cyber threats to critical infrastructure. In today’s rapidly evolving security landscape, leveraging advanced technology is crucial to safeguard the country’s strategic and economic interests, foster greater regional cooperation, and contribute to long-term maritime stability and shared economic resilience

Source: National Hydrographic Office, NARA, Colombo/ Admiralty Charts & Sri Lanka Survey Department.

Evolving Maritime Security Landscape

For an island nation like Sri Lanka, positioned at a strategically vital sea lane in the Indian Ocean, the evolving maritime security landscape holds heightened significance. Historically, the country’s maritime security concerns were rooted in traditional threats that disrupted trade routes, endangered seafarers, and undermined coastal stability. However, the contemporary maritime environment has grown increasingly complex in recent years. It now encompasses a broad range of non-traditional, transnational challenges such as IUU fishing, human and drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, cyber threats, and environmental hazards. These threats are often asymmetric in nature, defying conventional military responses and requiring more adaptive, technologically driven cooperative security strategies.

IUU Fishing: IUU fishing poses a serious threat to Sri Lanka’s marine biodiversity, the livelihood of coastal communities and food security. The country’s rich fisheries resources are increasingly being exploited by unauthorised foreign vessels, resulting in overfishing, degradation of vital marine ecosystems and negative economic impacts. Sri Lanka must assert effective control over its EEZ to prevent resource exploitation by unlicensed foreign vessels and to develop sustainable economic ventures within this maritime expanse through advanced digitised programs. Effectively addressing these complex and evolving maritime security challengers is vital for the country’s security, economic and regional stability.

Transnational Criminal Activities: Increased, transnational criminal activities in the maritime domain continue to pose a significant challenge to public safety and national security. Approximately 700kg of drugs, including 280kg of Heroin and 420kg of ICE, valued at over 9 billion Sri Lankan rupees, along with five pistols and a T-56 weapon, were recovered from three lorries in Tangalle, a southern town, on 22 September 2025 by the police. The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) seized approximately 250kg of heroin and methamphetamine valued at over 3 billion Sri Lankan rupees and approximately 45kg of heroin from fishing trawlers on the high seas in January and November 2024, respectively. Moreover, in the same year, the SLN rescued 115 foreign nationals from a fishing trawler off the Eastern coast, suspected to be part of an international human trafficking network. These incidents clearly highlight the persistent threat posed by drugs and human trafficking syndicates operating in the extended waters of Sri Lanka. While maritime terrorism has not prominently manifested in Sri Lankan waters, rising global and regional trends in maritime extremism highlight it as a potential threat to national security

Cyber Threats: As a vital maritime hub in the Indian Ocean, the country’s shipping, port operations and maritime logistics sectors increasingly rely on digital technologies. While the digitalisation of the maritime sector enhances operational efficiency, it also exposes the industry to a growing range of cyber threats, such as ransomware attacks, data breaches, and system disruptions. Such attacks have the potential to disrupt port operations and compromise sensitive information, causing substantial economic losses and heightened national security risks. In 2023, “DP World”, operator of key ports across Australia, was hit by a cyberattack, causing significant disruption for its cargo operations, resulting in substantial economic losses. Although Sri Lanka has not yet experienced a major cyber-attack on its port infrastructures as of today, these incidents highlight the growing vulnerabilities in the maritime domain and provide a clear warning to the country’s maritime infrastructure.

EEZ Governance Gaps: Sri Lanka’s EEZ represents a critical extension of its sovereign rights and maritime jurisdiction. The EEZ holds economic, ecological, and strategic importance, encompassing vital resources including fisheries, hydrocarbons, and marine biodiversity. However, this zone remains under-monitored and under-exploited. The December 2023 moratorium on foreign research vessels demonstrates growing concerns over research activities in Sri Lankan waters, posing an ongoing challenge to the government to enforce stronger maritime governance and ensure sustainable management of ocean resources. Strategic surveillance, cooperative regional frameworks, and investment in maritime scientific research are essential to transforming Sri Lanka’s EEZ into a pillar of national economic and environmental security.

Environmental Hazards: Environmental security has also become an increasingly critical aspect of Sri Lanka's maritime security landscape, given the country’s high vulnerability to natural disasters such as cyclones, floods, droughts, and landslides, as well as man-made disasters, which affect coastal communities and their livelihoods. The MV X-Press Peral disaster in 2021 highlighted the devastating consequences of marine pollution on the country’s coastal ecosystems, fisheries, and public health. Moreover, the long-term impact of climate change, including rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and extreme weather events, poses significant risks to maritime infrastructure and the resilience of island communities.

Strategic Competition: Strategic competition in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has intensified as major powers increasingly seek to assert their influence over this crucial maritime space. The presence of various naval forces representing major maritime powers, as well as mini-lateral initiatives and growing military infrastructure in the IOR, has intensified the complexity of the strategic landscape. Additionally, major powers have also sought control of critical chokepoints leading to the Indian Ocean and built strategic partnerships with littoral nations to secure their support with the primary aim of securing the Indian Ocean's Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs). Concerning Sri Lanka, the intensifying geopolitical competition among major powers places the country in a delicate balancing act, compelling it to take measures to safeguard its national interests.

Integration of Emerging Technologies

As regional waters become increasingly contested and maritime crimes become more sophisticated, rapid detection and response capabilities are vital. Addressing these multifaceted threats requires not only traditional naval capabilities but also the integration of advanced technologies, such as surveillance systems, automated radar, and data analytics, to enhance maritime domain awareness (MDA). Enhanced MDA enables Sri Lanka to monitor its surrounding seas in real-time with greater accuracy.

The enhanced coordination through Data Fusion Centres (DFC) is vital, where information from multiple sources is collected and analysed into a comprehensive operational picture, enabling coordinated responses across agencies and national boundaries. Moreover, such coordination will be critical, particularly when dealing with maritime incidents, where timely unified action determines whether the situation is contained or escalates.

Through integration of digital communication platforms and shared data collaboration, the SLN, Coast Guard, Port authorities, and Fishers Department can operate more cohesively and efficiently. Technologies such as satellite surveillance, automated radar systems, and automated monitoring platforms provide vital data to centralised command centres, not only enhancing the detection of suspicious activities but also enabling effective coordination among maritime agencies to address evolving threats.

While traditional naval patrols remain essential, they alone cannot effectively monitor the country’s vast EEZ. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with long-range surveillance capabilities will be able to fill these vacuums, allowing authorities to keep an eye on large areas vulnerable to illegal fishing, human trafficking, and narcotic trafficking and respond in the shortest possible time.

Expanding the use of AI-based analytics in maritime surveillance is becoming increasingly vital. With the growing volume of data generated from ship movements to environmental changers, AI tools can not only enhance real-time threat detection capabilities and strategic decision making but also improve overall MDA.

Moreover, environmental monitoring capabilities linked to satellite technology play a vital role in preventing and mitigating marine pollution and also support conservation efforts essential for protecting Marine biodiversity and sustainable coastal livelihood.

Looking Ahead Pathfinder Recommendations

For Sri Lanka, the future of maritime security depends on smart integration, strategic partnerships and a coherent long-term vision. While strengthening institutional capacity and operational capabilities, particularly the Coast Guard, through advanced technology integration, entails significant costs, it will constitute a strategic investment essential for safeguarding the country’s economic and security interests. Yet, long-term resilience will stem from investing in skilled human capital, fostering inter-agency and intra-agency coordination, strengthening Public-Private Partnerships, and promoting innovation across institutions. By aligning technological advancement with national security priorities, Sri Lanka can not only safeguard its maritime interests but also position itself as a resilient and proactive maritime nation capable of addressing emerging regional challengers.

(This is the ‘PATHFINDER NATIONAL SECURITY BRIEF -03, issued by the Pathfinder Foundation. NATIONAL SECURITY BRIEF articles can be read https://pathfinderfoundation.org, and Readers’ comments via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. are welcome.)

India and Sri Lanka today reaffirmed their shared commitment to uplift the Indian-origin Tamil community, as the two countries launched Stage II of Phase IV of the Indian Housing Project in Bandarawela, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in attendance.

Speaking at the event, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha to Sri Lanka said the project stands as a symbol of the “deep, abiding and special friendship” between the two nations and their peoples.

“This is not just about building houses, but about building futures,” he said, noting that India’s housing assistance now covers 65,000 houses across all 25 districts of Sri Lanka — a grant commitment exceeding Rs. 64 billion.

Under Phase IV of the project, India has pledged 10,000 houses, of which 1,100 are currently under construction, while 4,000 homes under Phase III have already been completed.

He also praised the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure for supporting the latest stage of construction, which aims to improve living conditions for thousands of estate families.

Highlighting India’s broader development assistance, the High Commissioner cited projects in education, healthcare, skill development and social infrastructure — including the multi-specialty hospital in Dickoya, the Mahatma Gandhi International Centre in Matale, and the ongoing installation of smart classrooms in plantation schools.

He recalled that, in 2023, India had announced a Rs. 2.5 billion special development package to mark 200 years of the arrival of the Indian-origin Tamil community in Sri Lanka, with several initiatives already underway such as a STEM teacher-training program benefiting more than 2,000 teachers.

The envoy further referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent state visit, during which he announced support for developing the Seetha Amman Temple, expected to boost tourism and economic activity in the plantation regions.

“India’s development assistance to Sri Lanka is extended with a sense of family responsibility,” he said. “Our support for the Indian-origin Tamil community is part of our overall commitment to Sri Lanka’s progress.”

Quoting the Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar, the High Commissioner concluded that “a relative’s unchanging love is a source of unlimited growth,” adding that the Indian Housing Project embodies this enduring bond between the two nations.

A large number of distinguished figures from the political and media spheres, including President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, paid their final respects to Manoja Madhuwanthi, the beloved wife of journalist Shanuka Karunaratne, on October 12 and 13.

Mrs. Madhuwanthi, a mother of two and a dedicated employee of the People’s Bank Head Office, had been battling illness for some time before passing away on October 11.

According to family sources, final rites will be held today (Monday, 13) at 5:30 p.m. at the Borella General Cemetery.

Her passing has been deeply mourned by colleagues, friends, and admirers across both the media and public service sectors, who remember her for her kindness, grace, and unwavering strength.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) reports that 15 women in Sri Lanka are diagnosed with breast cancer every day, while three die from the disease.

Health officials stress that early detection can lead to a complete cure.

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among Sri Lankan women, and October is observed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Women over 20 are advised to perform monthly self-examinations, those aged 20–40 to undergo a clinical exam every three years, and women over 40 to have annual checkups.

The Ministry urges anyone noticing lumps, pain, or skin changes to seek medical advice at Suwanari, Suwadivi, or early cancer detection clinics

(themorning.lk)

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya attended the Opening Ceremony of the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women 2025, held at the China National Convention Center (CNCC) in Beijing on 13 October, at the invitation of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

Upon her arrival, Prime Minister Amarasuriya was warmly welcomed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Madam Peng Liyuan, marking a gesture of respect and friendship between the two nations.

During the event, the Prime Minister delivered remarks highlighting women’s leadership, empowerment, and equality as essential pillars of sustainable global progress. She commended China’s efforts in promoting gender inclusion and international cooperation to advance women’s development.

“Nearly thirty years after the 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing and the Beijing Platform for Action, we still draw on that comprehensive framework for gender equality. We have made real progress: female literacy has risen, maternal mortality has nearly halved, and global life expectancy has increased from 69 years in 1995 to 76 years in 2023. Yet serious gaps remain: women’s labour-force participation stands at just 48.7% compared with 73% for men; women account for only about 35% of graduates in science and technology; 47.8 million more women than men face moderate or severe food insecurity; and movement toward political parity is far too slow. All-round development of women is, therefore, a holistic process across education, health, the economy, politics, society, and culture and it demands our continued commitment.”

I was appalled to read a recent piece by Rohana Wasala (The Island, 3/9/2025), that begins by misrepresenting the context of a video about a single “Israeli” prisoner in Gaza, runs through a drum-roll of euphoria for all the ways the “Israelis” have brought Nazis to justice, celebrates the devastating losses suffered by Arabs, and concludes by quoting the Butcher of Israel himself, Netanyahu, saying on August 25th, 2025 that he vows to “finish Hamas,” a pledge that Wasala is praying will be kept.

The most important statement that the prisoner makes is this: “they give me what they can get.” His video is an account of the lack of food for anybody, including himself. That he can eat at all is a miracle inside Gaza, where the United Nations has declared a famine. Far from being an indictment, it is a testament to those who are responsible for keeping his body and soul together. Somebody cares for him. On the other hand, remember the three “Isreali” prisoners who walked toward “Israeli” soldiers with their hands in the air asking for help on December 15th 2023? They were gunned down by their own. Remember the April 2025 BBC report on the torture of Palestinians swept up into “Israeli” prisons? Wasala must be too ignorant to be qualified to comment.

By the end of December 2024, the Zionists were holding 9,619 Palestinians in detention or in prison on what it defined “security” grounds, including 2,216 from the Gaza Strip. A report from B’tselem gives us the testimony of just 55 of those who were tortured and kept in inhuman conditions. Out of the mouths of Zionists like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, have come statements defending the right to Israelis (soldiers, reservists, who cares who they are), to rape Palestinian men.

As of today, the 707th day of the genocide, the death toll in Gaza is 680,000 people. Of those, 380,000 are infants under five years of age, 99,000 children are above five. These numbers take into account not only those killed by bombs and drones and snipers but those who have succumbed due to lack of medication, injuries, and deprivation of food and water.

By now the mythologies that have been spun by Zionists have been taken apart under the tsunami of information about what is really happening inside Palestine, and who the real thugs are. Note to the Wasalas of the world: they are not the Palestinians. But given the recent events in Sri Lanka, particularly on its formerly salubrious costs, it seems a large number of Sri Lankans aren’t quite aware of what it means to allow this kind of narrative to stand, and how it is exactly this kind of story that accumulates in the general consciousness of the body politic such that ethnic cleansing seems like a fine solution until you become the victims of that extermination.

Nor, it seems, do Sri Lankans like Wasala (about whom nothing is known except that he has some background in academia) appear to understand that the influx of Zionists into Sri Lanka, who are acting with impunity on our coasts, beating women, running businesses while on tourist visas, violating their stay by hiding out on islands, and terrorizing our Sri Lankan population, are quite possibly, given their history, here for a reconnaissance. In other words, they don’t plan to leave. And you only need to take a look at Palestine, specifically Gaza, to see where Sri Lanka is heading. One only needs to remember that Sri Lanka has had no Jewish population, has no ties to Judaism in any of its multi-faith cultures, but that overnight wikipedia is now claiming a vibrant jewish presence on the island. Like I said, remember Palestine. Remember that misinformation is the first line of attack.

So I find myself compelled to provide some basic illumination on so-called Israeli stories, and how the road to genocide is paved with good people who have chosen to stay silent or deliberately ignorant instead of confronting the excrement being offered to them as though it were manna from heaven.

Here’s some history that Sri Lankans should have. Because, before the Zionists started to occupy our land, they occupied Palestine. This is the basic story of what came before October 7th, 2023.

The people of Palestine have lived under 77 years of a brutal occupation, and at no time were they asked if they wanted to trade the kindness they had shown to the white rejects, those fleeing Nazi Europe, for whole sale relinquishing of all their land.

Nobody asked for permission when Theodor Hertzl advocated for a Jewish State with his publication, The Jewish State, and nobody asked them to weigh in when the World Zionist Organization was set up in Switzerland in 1897 or the Jewish National Fund was set up in 1901 to finance the creation of Israel upon Palestinian soil.

They were not in the room when the Sykes-Picot agreement was signed in 1916, dividing the Arab countries between Britain and France. The Balfour Declaration was made without in-put from the Palestinians.When Lord Peel released his report in 1937, the silenced Palestinians were expected to go along with his recommendation that 33 percent of the best land available should go toward the Jewish State and the rest for Palestinian Arabs and that the latter should also be "forcibly transferred" from what were euphemistically termed "the Jewish sections."

In that same year when the Arab Higher Committee rejected these recommendation and called for an independent Palestine with protection for the rights of all, Britain dismantled the Committee and all Palestinian political organizations thereby rendering them mute. In 1942, the Biltmore Conference for Zionist leaders convened in New York calling for making Palestine a Jewish Homeland but Palestinians were not part of the discussion. Indeed, as far back as 1947, the UN only calls for 43 percent of their own land for Palestine and 56.5 percent of Palestine for a Jewish (i.e. religious) state. Today, Palestinians do not occupy even a quarter of their own country. And even that small area is mutilated by checkpoints and violent incursions not to mention outright bombardment.

People like Wasala would like to bring up terrorism. In fact, by the time that the Palestinian political movement got under way in 1935, Haganah, billed as a Jewish neighborhood watch but in actuality a group of militants who supported illegal immigration and the building of settlements on more Palestinian lands, had already been operating for fourteen years! And Britain’s White Paper on terrorism in 1946 made no mention of any Palestinian terrorist organizations yet names the two extremist Jewish organizations, Haganah and Irgun. In July 22, of 1946, it is Irgun that blew up the King David Hotel, killing 91 people including British, Palestinian and Jewish employees. How easy it has been to forget the origins of terrorism in that part of the world.

By 1948, America had joined forces with the Zionists, with Truman’s pledging to Chaim Weizman that he would support the declaration of the Jewish State. By April the U.S. had begun its unceasing and unconditional shipments of arms to Jewish organizations. By May there were almost 200,000 Palestinian refugees, the battles that will involve Jordanians, Lebanese, Syrians and Egyptians commenced, and over the next several years we were treated to the Israeli massacres in Gaza, Qalqilya, Kafr Qaasim, Khan Yunis, As-Sammu', arson attacks on the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the diversion of the Jordan river. In 1967 the work of the Zionists was beribboned with the complete occupation of the rest of Palestine.

In more recent history, the Oslo accords of 1993 were supposed to promise some form of self-governance. In fact, what the Zionist leadership did was to “withdraw” from certain parts of Palestine and then encircle it with walls and checkpoints, militarized outposts and absolute control of every border. Restrictions in Gaza intensified such that there was no entrance or exit from Gaza by land, sea, or air. The Zionists bombed Gaza’s airport in 2001. Gaza’s port is controlled by the Zionists. Gaza’s fishermen were only allowed to fish between 3-6 nautical miles beyond shore, it depended on what the Zionists decided was permitted, and now not at all. Here is an abbreviated list of things that were either severely restricted or not allowed at all into Gaza for 16 years before October 7th, 2023: medical supplies and equipment, electricity and fuel, building materials, technology, educational supplies including books, tools for livelihoods including agricultural and fishing equipment, telecommunications and internet access, basic household items and food. By 2018, nearly 30% of Gaza’s population had no access to running water.

And I have not yet mentioned the rest of Palestine. In the West Bank including East Jerusalem, for instance, Palestinians have to stand by while water is pumped out from beneath their own feet, then sold back to them by the Zionists, delivered at their whim and fancy, where people have to collect these deliveries in large black barrels set on top of their previously beautiful homes, and which barrels are routinely shot at and perforated by the Zionist army. Where the Zionist government holds that rain water is owned by them, and is not available to the bedouin communities, unleashes violence upon the native population, tears down their homes, and brutalizes families, and terrorizes children. Where Palestinian women are forced to give birth at checkpoints because they are not allowed to reach a hospital and where many of those result in stillbirths. Where Palestinian men have to stand around looking as harmless as they can be, as armed settlers, all White, a large number of them from America, stalk the streets armed like robot cops with machine guns that could take out an entire street full of people. If that’s hard to imagine, try harder. It’s coming to a town near you.

The Zionist modus operandi in the West Bank has been to set up a small innocuous looking shack, maybe a trailer, could be a Chabad house. Then they say this outpost is threatened by the Palestinians already living there. So they surround it with military. Then it sets up another similar shack some distance away. Then they say there must be a road between these two. They build that road. It is prohibited for Palestinians to use that road. In fact, they say they road it threatened by Palestinians. They then surround the road with battlements.Voila. Another day, another Zionist land-grab.

It has been 50 years since the UN adopted General Assembly Resolution 3379 condemning Zionism as a form of racism. This September we remember the nearly 3,500 Palestinians murdered by the zionists in the refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila outside Beirut 43 years ago. But we are, also, today, on the 101st week of a genocide being telecast live to us all.

And yet, in Sri Lanka, we have the likes of Wasala bellying up to the podium to spout his alt-facts and his hate, to incite sympathy for murderers and dehumanize those who, in our country, actually have a history: our Muslim brothers and sisters. Palestinians have a right and a responsibility to fight for their lives and for their land. As we have a right and responsibility to fight for ours. Our land, and our people.

A pattern is now being played out in coastal cities from Portugal to Sri Lanka. The fact, for instance, that, in a country that has no recorded history, ever, of any jewish presence, a group of the most virulent Zionists, set up a Chabad House in Arugambay is a case in point. Thanks are due to the Pottuvil Divisional Development Committee (DDC) which has recently ordered its closure. Let others follow.

We should draw hope from the regular protests organized by, mostly, former Aragalaya activists, who have defied this government’s complicity with the Zionists and have taken to the streets. It is a terrifying truth that this is a government that those very activists fought to bring into office. If this government is under the impression that the fire that burns in the hearts and minds of those young people has been suitably put out, they are gravely mistaken. That fire is burning strong in their hands. And I have no doubt that they will be able and willing to take down a government that continues to sell them out. #Nepal.

Yes, I’ll say it: the foreign exchange this government earns from the Sri Lankans so willingly shipped to occupied Palestine is blood money. The government that has turned a blind eye to the violation of visa regulations, and the establishment of places of worship by tourists on our sovereign soil have been bought by blood money. The government that sets up the police to crackdown on pro-Palestinian protesters, and sells intelligence to the American embassies to terrify the Sri Lankan citizenry into submission is not simply handling blood money, they are bathed in blood.

But, they do not act alone. The ordinary people who have allowed their edifices and storefronts to be plastered with Zionist propaganda for cash, you are complicit in genocide. The ones who stand by and say nothing while they stare at signs in a language not associated with our country and which express exclusive use of cafés and hotels for zionists, your hands stained in the blood of Palestinians. Stop. While there is still time. Unless you, too, wish to see your beloveds torn to pieces, your men turned into impotent shells, your women humiliated, your children dead, your businesses shuttered, and your homes reduced to rubble. Stop. Protest. Prevent. While there is still time. Stop. Reflect. Then protest and prevent. While there is still time.

Gothami Peiris

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya recently had the opportunity to visit two of China’s most celebrated UNESCO World Heritage Sites — the Forbidden City (Palace Museum) and the Great Wall of China, both renowned for their profound historical and artistic significance.

During the visit, the Prime Minister was accompanied by the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Qi Zhenhong, and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to China, Mr. Majintha Jayesinghe.

The tour served as a moment of cultural appreciation and diplomatic goodwill, underscoring the enduring friendship between Sri Lanka and China. Prime Minister Amarasuriya commended China’s efforts in preserving its rich cultural heritage and expressed her appreciation for the warm hospitality extended during the visit.

Seven individuals, including the assistant principal of Nugegoda Kibul Pre-School, have been taken into custody by Mirihana Police following the tragic death of a 5-year-old child at the swimming pool of the ‘Sanhinda’ Hotel in Nugegoda.

The incident occurred on the morning of October 8, when a group of children, under the supervision of teachers and a swimming instructor, was attending a swimming session at the hotel pool. During the activity, the young child drowned and was subsequently taken to Kalubowila Hospital, where authorities confirmed that the child had passed away.

A post-mortem examination, conducted yesterday (9) by the Judicial Medical Officer at Kalubowila Hospital, issued an open verdict regarding the cause of death.

In connection with the incident, seven individuals have been detained for questioning, including the assistant principal of the pre-school, the school’s sports coordinator, two teachers responsible for the children, a pre-school staff member, and two swimming instructors.