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The Court of Appeal ordered on Monday (05) that the unserved portion of the prison term imposed on Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero for contempt of court be enforced, directing the Commissioner General of Prisons to carry out the order.

Four United Nations Special Rapporteurs have formally raised serious concerns over Sri Lanka's draft Non-Governmental Organisations (Registration and Supervision) Bill 2026, cautioning state authorities that the proposed statutory framework threatens fundamental civic freedoms.

In a joint communication addressed to the government, human rights experts Ben Saul, Leopoldo Maldonado Gutiérrez, Gina Romero, and Andrea Bolaños Vargas warned that the draft legislation published in June 2026 could severely curtail freedom of association and public expression across the island.

The United Nations experts pointed to the government's own risk assessment published in January 2026, which classified the inherent terrorist-financing risk within the domestic non-governmental sector as low to medium, with minimal documented evidence of illegal money laundering.

Emphasising that international counter-terrorism standards mandate targeted, risk-based regulation rather than sweeping administrative controls, the rapporteurs asked the government to clarify how the legislation complies with global standards, whether substantial amendments will be introduced, and if the final text will undergo transparent public consultation.

Under the contested statutory framework, non-governmental organisations and civil society bodies would be forced to register with a designated Competent Authority to secure three-year operational permits. Operating without valid registration would become a punishable criminal offence carrying fines up to Rs 1 million.

The draft law grants state officials wide regulatory powers to inspect premises upon notification, review employee records, and examine external financing channels.

The rapporteurs expressed particular alarm over legal clauses compelling civil society groups to align their operational mandates with official state policies.

They warned that vague deregistration grounds, such as activities deemed detrimental to national security, sovereignty, or territorial integrity, could suppress political advocacy and human rights campaigning through broad state oversight.

Furthermore, restrictions imposed on crowdfunding platforms and access to international grants risk creating a severe chilling effect on democratic dissent and civil society advocacy throughout the country.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa has been released on bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court in connection with money laundering allegations linked to the Airbus case.

Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena ordered Rajapaksa’s release on a cash bail of Rs. 500,000, along with two sureties valued at Rs. 30 million each.

The court also imposed a travel restriction on the MP and directed that the order be communicated to the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration.

As part of the bail conditions, Rajapaksa was further ordered not to interfere with or attempt to influence witnesses connected to the case.

The bail order was issued after the SLPP National Organiser had been held in remand custody in connection with the money laundering allegations.

The Attorney General has concluded that fresh investigations should be conducted into the killings allegedly linked to the Batalanda torture chamber.

The Attorney General's Department stated that observations containing that conclusion have been forwarded to the Secretary to the President.

The Attorney General's view is that indictments cannot be filed against suspects solely on the basis of evidence contained in the Batalanda Commission Report.

What is the Batalanda Report?

In 1994, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was elected President, ending 17 years of United National Party rule.

A key pledge of her election campaign was to deliver justice for killings and disappearances that occurred during the 1988-1990 period.

After assuming office in 1994, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga appointed a Presidential Commission of Inquiry through an order issued on September 21, 1995.

That commission became known as the Batalanda Commission of Inquiry.

The Commission was tasked with investigating allegations that young people had been unlawfully detained, tortured, killed, or disappeared in houses located within the Batalanda Housing Scheme in Biyagama, which was owned by the State Fertilizer Manufacturing Corporation, and identifying those responsible.

After receiving 12 extensions, the Commission handed over its report to then-President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on March 26, 1998.

A number of significant revelations emerged during the Commission proceedings, including statements relating to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

House A2/2 within the housing complex had reportedly been used by Ranil Wickremesinghe from 1983 until April 1989 as a holiday bungalow belonging to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Employment.

From April 1989 to 1994, the same house was reportedly used as the official residence of Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as Minister of Industries.

House A2/1 had reportedly been allocated for the security personnel of Ranil Wickremesinghe, while House A2/3 had been assigned to a ministry operating under his purview.

A man named Vincent Fernando, who served as caretaker of Ranil Wickremesinghe's bungalow, was residing at the premises and died under mysterious circumstances shortly before Ranil Wickremesinghe was due to give evidence before the Commission.

House A1/7 was also reportedly used by security personnel attached to Ranil Wickremesinghe, while House B2 had allegedly been used by him as an office.

A notable development during the Commission proceedings was the identification of that house by a person who claimed to have been tortured there and later escaped.

House B1 had also reportedly been used by security personnel attached to Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The Batalanda Commission Report states that then Police Inspector Sudath Chandrasekara, who served as a personal security officer to Ranil Wickremesinghe, had used House B7.

House B8 was located nearby and was reportedly used by security personnel attached to Superintendent of Police Douglas Peiris.

A witness named Earl Sugi Perera testified before the Batalanda Commission that he had been detained and tortured at that location.

"Douglas Peiris used to come there, and they would say, 'Ranil has arrived, the boss has arrived.' People from Ranil's escort would come and kick us. Bring all those people from Ranil's escort and I can identify them. Bring the entire escort, more than thirty of them, and I will point them out. I was detained and beaten for 23 days. So, why won't I recognize them."

In recent months, the Batalanda Commission Report has once again become the subject of public discussion amid expectations that it could shed further light on a number of large-scale crimes for which evidence is still believed to exist.

Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake tabled the report in Parliament on March 14, 2025.

However, the Attorney General's advice is that the evidence contained in the Commission report alone is insufficient to bring alleged perpetrators before the law.

Nevertheless, the Attorney General has recommended that fresh investigations be carried out into the murder allegations.

(Newsfirst)

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, who is currently in remand custody, was produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today (30).

Rajapaksa was brought before the court as proceedings in an ongoing legal matter involving him continued.

The MP appeared before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court in connection with the ongoing proceedings.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has raised serious concerns with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over current government energy policies that he claims are crippling Sri Lanka's renewable power industry.

The high-level meeting took place in Colombo with IMF Resident Representative Dr. Martha Tesfaye Woldemichael, where the opposition leader detailed critical disruptions to green energy projects across the island nation.

Highlighting the economic fallout of current policy shifts, Premadasa stated that rooftop solar installations alone could contribute 2,500 MW to the national grid and save the country approximately Rs 25 billion every month.

He urged the IMF to advise state authorities on the immediate deployment of battery energy storage systems alongside rooftop solar networks.

Such measures, he said, would safeguard a decentralised sector that provides affordable electricity to consumers while generating essential commercial opportunities for young skilled entrepreneurs and small business operators.

The Opposition Leader accused an entrenched fuel lobby of actively sabotaging sustainable energy initiatives to prolong national dependency on expensive fossil fuels.

He directed specific criticism toward government initiatives to operate combined cycle power plants under the Yugadanavi, Sobadhanavi, and Sahasdanavi schemes using a mix of liquefied natural gas and diesel without establishing floating storage regasification infrastructure.

Describing these plans as concessions to private fuel cartels at the public expense, he pledged that the parliamentary opposition would launch a sustained democratic movement to advance the national clean energy goal past the current 70 per cent target toward complete grid decarbonisation.

The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has officially floated a tender for the procurement of 1,000 new, automatic-transmission, four-wheel-drive diesel double-cabs, marking the state's largest vehicle purchasing attempt following last year's aborted procurement drive.

According to the notice published on 29 September, interested bidders have been given until 22 October 2026 to submit their proposals.

Alongside the fleet of double-cabs, the ministry has concurrently issued separate tenders to acquire 175 tractors, 160 tippers, 100 backhoe loaders, and 100 gully emptiers for state operations.

This updated tender reflects a significant easing of technical and eligibility criteria, designed to broaden market participation and prevent a repeat of the controversies that stalled the previous attempt.

In October 2025, an earlier tender seeking 1,775 double-cabs was abruptly abandoned following widespread allegations that its strict criteria were tailored to favour a single local supplier, particularly given a restrictive submission window of just seven working days.

To address these concerns, the ministry has lowered the minimum engine capacity requirement from 2,500 cc to 2,400 cc, reduced required engine power by 7 per cent, and cut minimum torque standards by 12.5 per cent.

Ground clearance requirements have also been lowered from over 300 mm to more than 220 mm, allowing a wider variety of vehicle models to qualify.

In addition to physical vehicle specifications, commercial and operational eligibility parameters have been adjusted to create a more competitive bidding environment.

Suppliers are now required to demonstrate local sales experience of 500 units of the proposed make, down from the previous threshold of 1,000 units, while the mandatory average annual turnover has been reduced from Rs 10 billion to Rs 8 billion.

Bidders must maintain 10 service centres across the island, though only five must be directly owned, with franchised dealerships now permitted to fulfil the remaining quota.

However, financial backing conditions have been strengthened, with required bid security rising fivefold to Rs 250 million, alongside a requirement for bidders to prove access to Rs 5 billion in liquid assets or credit facilities.

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has confiscated 801 reusable plastic bottles during a special inspection carried out at businesses selling such products in the Pettah area.

The Authority said investigations into the seized bottles are currently underway. Once the inquiries are completed, legal proceedings will be initiated against the owners of businesses found to have violated the relevant requirements, with cases to be filed before the Magistrate’s Courts.

The CAA highlighted that SLS 1616 is the applicable standard for reusable plastic bottles intended for carrying drinking liquids.

Under the requirements, reusable plastic bottles manufactured locally must carry the SLS product certification mark issued by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI). Imported bottles are required to undergo the SLSI’s import inspection process and obtain approval before being placed on the market.

The CAA has urged consumers to check whether reusable plastic bottles comply with the applicable standards and legal requirements before making a purchase.

Members of the public who wish to report suspected market irregularities can contact the Consumer Affairs Authority through its hotline 1977.

Sri Lanka’s pharmaceutical market is entering a new regulatory phase as the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) moves to impose maximum retail prices on almost 90 percent of imported medicines.

The Court of Appeal today (30) dismissed, without taking up for hearing, a writ petition filed by Sarvajana Balaya leader and Parliamentarian Dilith Jayaweera challenging a finding made by the Colombo Fort Magistrate in relation to an alleged contempt of court matter.

However, the three-member bench clarified that the dismissal does not affect Jayaweera’s position that he did not commit contempt of court in the main proceedings.

The ruling was delivered by a bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya and Justices Chamath Morais and Aditya Patabendige.

In delivering the order, Justice Abeysooriya explained that the finding forwarded by the Magistrate to the Court of Appeal does not amount to a final determination. He said the Court of Appeal would first consider the Magistrate’s finding and issue summons to the respondents only if the court determines that there is a prima facie basis to proceed.

The bench also determined that the Magistrate had the authority to make such a finding under the Contempt of Courts Act, No. 8 of 2024.

Accordingly, the petition was dismissed on the basis that it did not, on the face of the petition, establish sufficient grounds to proceed with a case.

Complaint Against Former Ministers Taken Up

The Court of Appeal also considered today a contempt of court complaint submitted by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court against former ministers Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila and several others.

Senior Presidential Counsels Ali Sabry, Manohara de Silva and V.K. Choksy, appearing on behalf of Weerawansa, Gammanpila, Asanga Nawaratne, Mahinda Pathirana, Sugeeshwara Bandara and Dilith Jayaweera, submitted that the Magistrate’s complaint seeking the issuance of summons did not establish a prima facie case against their clients.

The counsel further requested that the respondents be allowed to make their submissions before the Court of Appeal reaches a decision on the Magistrate’s finding.

Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, representing the Attorney General, told the court that he would assist in the proceedings.

Following consideration of the submissions, the bench directed the Registrar of the Court of Appeal to obtain and place before the court all unedited video footage relevant to the matter ahead of the next hearing.

The complaint was subsequently scheduled to be heard again on October 7.