News

Senior management at the Prisons Department made flawed operational decisions that directly contributed to the deaths of ten officers during a deadly riot at Negombo Prison, a Rights Commission inquiry has revealed.

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) released its investigation report into the July outbreak of violence, which resulted in thirty-two deaths and left over one hundred people injured.

Inquiry findings showed that senior officials sent unarmed Emergency Response Tactical Force personnel and assessment staff into volatile ward sectors on 6 July without conducting risk evaluations or providing tactical protection.

The Commission concluded that long-standing structural failings, lax administrative control, and severe overcrowding made the tragedy inevitable.

Records indicated that the Negombo facility housed 2,418 inmates at the time of the incident despite having a maximum design capacity of 900.

Staffing shortages worsened the vulnerability, with only 178 officers available against an authorized strength of 435, forcing guards to work continuous ten-day shifts.

Prison guards lacked basic non-lethal riot control equipment, such as body armour and tear gas, when factional clashes erupted across Wards Two and Four on 5 July.

Authorities failed to isolate the initial disputes or take prompt disciplinary action against ringleaders, allowing tensions to escalate into a full-scale mutiny overnight.

Unrest originally broke out over resentment towards informal inmate networks, specifically prisoners accused of informing officials about illicit drug trading within the facility.

Inmates killed two fellow prisoners during the initial clashes before raiding the medical store, leading to widespread drug intoxication across the prison population.

Guards subsequently fired Type-56 assault rifles to prevent prisoners from breaching the main perimeter gate, with final ballistic verifications still pending post-mortem reports.

Following the suppression of the riot, authorities transferred hundreds of prisoners across eleven facilities, where arriving inmates were allegedly subjected to beatings with heavy cables and wooden truncheons.

Rights investigators documented visible contusions on transferred prisoners and opened formal inquiries into two deaths that occurred in custody at the Boossa and Angunukolapellessa facilities.

The rights body recommended criminal prosecutions under the Penal Code for all officers and inmates responsible for murder, torture, or unlawful force.

State officials were urged to fully implement national prison reform plans, expand non-custodial sentencing, and provide full compensation to affected families.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has declared 27 companies, applications and organisations to be prohibited schemes following investigations conducted under Section 83(C) of the Banking Act, No. 30 of 1988, as amended.

According to the CSBL, investigations found that Max App Media Ltd., together with its affiliated companies Max LK (Pvt) Ltd. and Max Media Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., had engaged in, conducted and promoted a prohibited scheme.

The following companies, applications and organisations have also been identified and declared prohibited schemes under the relevant provisions of the Banking Act.

1. Tiens Lanka Health Care (Pvt) Ltd

2. Best Life International (Pvt) Ltd

3. Mark-Wo International (Pvt) Ltd

4. VML International (Pvt) Ltd

5. Global Lifestyle Lanka (Pvt) Ltd

6. Fast3Cycle International (Pvt) Ltd

7. Sport Chain App and Sport Chain ZS Society Sri Lanka

8. OnmaxDT

9. MTFE App, MTFE SL Group, MTFE Success Lanka and MTFE DSCC Group

10. Fastwin (Pvt) Ltd

11. Fruugo Online App / Fruugo Online (Pvt) Ltd

12. Ride to Three Freedom (Pvt) Ltd

13. QNet / Questnet

14. Era Miracle (Pvt) Ltd and Genesis Business School

15. Ledger Block

16. Isimaga International (Pvt) Ltd

17. Beecoin App and Sunbird Foundation

18. Windex Trading

19. The Enrich Life (Pvt) Ltd

20. Smart Win Entrepreneur (Pvt) Ltd

21. Net Fore International (Pvt) Ltd / Netrrix

22. Pro Care (Pvt) Ltd and Shade of Procare (Pvt) Ltd

23. SGO / sgomine.com

24. I.C.A.N. Advertising (Pvt) Ltd and its affiliated websites: icanonlineadvertising.com, bannercuts.com, bannercuts.lk, bannercusts.net and bannercuts.org

25. Infinity Rover (Pvt) Ltd

26. TM App

27. Max App Media Ltd and its affiliated companies, Max LK (Pvt) Ltd and Max Media Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.

Sri Lanka risks weakening its global leverage with international creditors and donors if public project implementation and capital fund disbursement remain inefficient, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said.

Speaking at a lecture organized by the Belt and Road Initiative of Sri Lanka, UNDP Country Economist Dr. Vagisha Gunasekara warned that low execution rates undermine external funding requests.

Figures from the World Bank and the national government revealed that public investment has stalled despite healthier revenue collection and Treasury reserves.

Official data showed that authorities had spent just under seventeen percent of the allocated capital budget by the middle of the year.

Dr. Gunasekara noted that external lenders will question requests for additional financing when allocated funds remain unused in state accounts.

The economist highlighted that the national economic recovery remains exposed to ongoing Middle Eastern tensions, rising global fuel prices, and a returning current account deficit.

Recent economic statistics indicated that domestic inflation climbed to eight percent in August.

Financing needs are further strained by lingering recovery costs from Cyclone Ditwah, which struck late last year and generated estimated damages of three billion four hundred million US dollars.

Impending climate disruptions, including predicted El Nino rainstorms and extended droughts, threaten agricultural output, energy supplies, and overall food security.

Debt statistics reflect a gradual easing of domestic obligations, with interest costs falling from eighty rupees per hundred collected in tax during previous years to forty-six rupees by last year.

The government aims to reduce interest expenses further to thirty-five percent of total revenue by the end of the decade through domestic bank borrowing and extended repayment maturities.

Reallocating debt servicing savings into national priorities grants the state greater fiscal flexibility to improve living standards across the country.

The decision on the bail application filed by SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa, who is currently in remand custody over the controversial Krish transaction, will be delivered on 03 November, the Colombo Magistrate’s Court announced today (28).

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama issued the order after considering submissions made by the Bribery Commission and the lawyers appearing on behalf of Rajapaksa.

Rajapaksa has been remanded over allegations of accepting a bribe of Rs. 100 million in connection with the transfer of land at Transworks Square in Colombo Fort to the Krrish company for a mix development project.

State prosecutors allege that the money was accepted in exchange for facilitating the transfer of the public land to the private firm.

Sri Lanka's main opposition party has accused the government of undermining democratic principles by refusing to debate a no-confidence motion against the parliamentary Speaker.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), along with forty-four opposition lawmakers led by Sajith Premadasa, submitted a fifty-point motion against Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne earlier this month.

The Parliament Secretariat subsequently scheduled a debate on a revised version of the motion for November 3.

Lawmakers from the opposition say that the Speaker must step down or allow the debate to proceed to address the half-century of charges against him.

They rejected government attempts to alter or drop any of the severe allegations detailed in the document.

The government argued during a party leaders meeting that the matter is sub judice and that the motion could only move forward if the opposition modified its claims.

Legal experts consulted by the opposition disputed that legal barrier, noting the charges stem directly from an internal parliamentary inquiry into a confidential information leak.

Although ministers previously agreed to consult the Attorney General on potential conflicts with ongoing court cases, they later dismissed that step as unnecessary.

Opposition members warned that the Speaker faces an active investigation by the bribery commission, rendering his continued presence in office unethical.

They said that the government's unilateral refusal to allow the debate sets a dangerous precedent for the nation's democratic institutions.

Sri Lanka and Türkiye have signed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Cooperation to advance modern farming technologies and strengthen national food security.

The accord was formally signed in Ankara on 27 October during a bilateral summit between Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra and Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Ahmet Bağcı.

Under the framework of the new agreement, both nations will establish joint mechanisms for knowledge sharing, institutional capacity building, and collaborative agricultural research.

The bilateral talks prioritized practical measures to improve crop productivity, support smallholder farmers, and promote sustainable cultivation practices.

Institutional ties between Sri Lankan and Turkish agricultural bodies will be deepened to operationalise technical exchanges and modernize local farming infrastructure.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Deputy Minister Hemachandra commended the Turkish government for its commitment to broadening bilateral relations and facilitating technical knowledge transfers to Sri Lanka.

African Swine Fever (ASF) has been detected at pig farms in six districts across Sri Lanka, with nearly 200 pigs testing positive for the virus, according to the Department of Animal Production and Health.

The department’s Chief Epidemiologist, Dr. Pradeep Lakpriya Kumarawadu, said the cases were identified during inspections conducted at 48 pig farms in Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Anuradhapura, Kandy and Puttalam.

Nearly 1,200 pigs were examined during the inspections, with a significant number found to be infected. Dr. Kumarawadu said the findings indicated a resurgence of the disease in certain areas, despite progress made in controlling its spread last year.

Authorities are raising awareness among farmers and advising them to follow recommended technical guidelines and preventive measures to limit further transmission.

Dr. Kumarawadu stressed that African Swine Fever is not a zoonotic disease and cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans. He also said the virus does not infect humans, meaning pork is not considered a human health risk from ASF itself.

However, he warned that the improper disposal of animal waste could accelerate the spread of the disease.

Some small-scale pig farmers reportedly slaughter animals at their homes and dispose of the resulting waste in or near water bodies, potentially creating conditions that allow the virus to spread.

Farmers and members of the public have therefore been urged to dispose of animal waste responsibly and follow recommended procedures.

Authorities have also called on pig farmers to remain alert, seek veterinary advice and maintain proper hygiene and biosecurity measures to help contain the outbreak.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has questioned whether the death of a young man in Homagama police custody signals a dangerous shift towards a police state in Sri Lanka.

Reflecting on the recent arrest of Ishara Harshana by the Homagama Police, the Opposition Leader noted that relatives visiting the suspect on 25 October observed clear physical injuries indicating mistreatment.

The Opposition Leader recalled that Article 13(4) of the Constitution mandates state authorities to guarantee the life, health, and physical protection of every individual held in custody.

He emphasised that the failure of law enforcement to protect the suspect represented a direct violation of the supreme law of the land alongside a grave loss of fundamental rights.

The Opposition Leader called for an immediate, independent, and fully transparent investigation to establish accountability for the custodial death.

The Welfare Benefits Board has taken steps to remove 1,391,830 beneficiaries from the Aswesuma welfare benefits programme following a revised selection process.

According to Government Gazette No. 2497/03, issued on December 15, 2025, financial assistance under the programme will now be limited to individuals classified under the “Extremely Poor” and “Poor” categories.

Following an update of beneficiary information, a total of 991,800 individuals have qualified under the first list. Of these, 363,142 beneficiaries have been classified as “Extremely Poor” and are eligible to receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 17,500 each.

Another 628,658 beneficiaries have qualified under the “Poor” category and will receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 10,000 each.

Meanwhile, the Welfare Benefits Board expects approximately 740,127 families to be selected for the second list of beneficiaries, which is scheduled to be published in December.

The current list of eligible beneficiaries has been displayed on notice boards at all Divisional Secretariat offices and Grama Niladhari offices.

Members of the public who wish to appeal or raise objections regarding the published list can do so from October 29 to November 11.

The Board is expected to release the second list of newly eligible beneficiaries in December, following the completion of the information-updating process.

75 per cent of Sri Lankan households are currently earning insufficient income to meet basic living costs as national inflation rises past 8 per cent, a study has found.

A newly released World Bank study details a widespread economic squeeze across the island, revealing that real earnings fell by over 40 per cent between 2019 and 2023 without recovering fully.

The findings confirm that 40 per cent of the population remains trapped in poverty or stands at immediate risk of falling below the poverty line in 2026.

According to the report, the ongoing financial pressure has forced families to reduce meal intake and prompted workers to abandon the labor market entirely.

Female labor force participation has dropped from 34.4 per cent in 2019 to 32.4 per cent in 2024, keeping Sri Lanka among the lowest performers in the region.

Disparities remain severe across regions, with poverty rates outside the Western Province measuring two to three times higher than inside it, while poverty in the estate sector stands at triple the national average.

The shortfall between available household resources and basic daily needs doubled nationally between 2019 and 2024, with the gap in the Northern Province expanding to four times that of the Western Province.

High consumption taxes accounting for 12 per cent of gross domestic product further inflate consumer prices, threatening to fuel stagflation and diminish export competitiveness if maintained over an extended period.

Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha has met Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary Tilvin Silva to discuss bilateral relations and current developments.

Announcing the meeting in a post on X, Jha said the discussions covered India-Sri Lanka relations and contemporary developments.

The meeting comes as the two countries continue to engage on matters of mutual interest, including bilateral cooperation and regional developments.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has expressed grave concern following the death of a 29-year-old father of two while in police custody in Homagama.

The legal body called for an immediate and transparent investigation after Ishara Harshakumara died shortly after his arrest on 25 October.

Police officials claimed that the suspect suffered a sudden illness during an operation and died after being admitted to hospital.

However, family members who visited the police station reported seeing physical injuries on his body, alleging that he had suffered a severe assault.

The Bar Association emphasised that the state maintains a strict legal duty to protect the life and bodily integrity of every person held in custody.

It noted that the Sri Lankan constitution prohibits the deprivation of life without an order from a competent court.

Local magistrate proceedings have commenced, with an assistant superintendent of police directing a preliminary inquiry and ordering a full post-mortem examination.

The legal organisation urged the Inspector General of Police to preserve all relevant evidence and ensure that the investigation proceeds without any official interference.