News

Police have commenced an investigation following the discovery of the body of a 51-year-old man on an abandoned piece of land near Ilimba Junction in Horana.

According to police, the man was a resident of Pokunuwita. His body was found on land located across the canal, prompting authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.

A magistrate’s inquiry is due to be held today (17) as part of the investigation into the incident.

The Horana Police are continuing investigations to establish the circumstances that led to the man’s death.

Sri Lanka is expected to experience widespread rainfall over the next 10 days, with the Department of Meteorology cautioning that heavy rain could trigger flooding and landslides in vulnerable areas.

Meteorology Department Director General Ajith Wijemanna issued the warning at a special media briefing today (16), urging both the public and authorities to prepare for potentially worsening weather conditions.

Wijemanna said preparations are already being made to deal with the effects of prevailing El Niño conditions, but additional steps will be necessary as forecasts indicate an increased risk of heavy rainfall and related hazards.

He said October and November are expected to bring particularly heavy rainfall, during which flooding and landslides could occur in several areas.

According to Wijemanna, atmospheric disturbances commonly form over the Bay of Bengal during these months, and their impact could become stronger under El Niño conditions.

He also warned that rainfall is expected to increase in the northeastern parts of the island in December, while calling on the public and relevant agencies to remain vigilant.

Rainfall in the Northern and Eastern provinces is expected to remain around average levels. However, Wijemanna noted that certain Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions could contribute to flooding in those regions.

Looking further ahead, February, March and April next year are expected to bring higher temperatures accompanied by comparatively lower rainfall.

Wijemanna stressed that effective management of rainfall over the coming months will be important as the country prepares for changing weather patterns and potential weather-related hazards.

Prof. Pradeep Weerasinghe of the University of Colombo has been appointed main organiser for the Badulla electorate by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).

Party leader Sajith Premadasa presented the appointment letter to Prof. Weerasinghe, entrusting him with political and policy operations in Badulla after his previous tenure as the SJB's main organiser for Hali Ela.

Educated at Badulla Central College and Uva Provincial School, Prof. Weerasinghe maintained active involvement in regional welfare initiatives from his youth.

He led local community projects during his school days through leadership roles in the All Ceylon Buddhist Students Federation and the Badulla Hospital Health Care Unit, before pioneering community radio initiatives across the Uva Province.

As a senior professor in the Department of Mass Media Studies at the University of Colombo, Prof. Weerasinghe has established a distinguished research record within the national university system.

He received the Vice Chancellor's Award for Research Excellence at the University of Colombo in 2025 and has secured Senate Awards for Research Excellence consecutively since 2023, while regularly hosting broadcast discussions on social issues.

Prof. Weerasinghe brings extensive public sector experience, having served as a National Communications Consultant for the Asian Development Bank Health System Enhancement Project and as a director at the Regional Development Bank.

His career includes chairing the National Media Reforms Secretariat, managing programmes at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, and serving as an international expert at the Beijing International Radio and Television Institute in China.

Having managed policy training and strategic planning as an SJB Working Committee member and Hali Ela organiser since 2023, Prof. Weerasinghe represents a broader shift toward deploying academics in frontline politics.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa met a delegation from the South Asian Parliamentary Group of the German Bundestag at his office yesterday (15) to discuss strengthening parliamentary relations and building long-term bilateral partnerships between Sri Lanka and Germany.

The visiting delegation was headed by German Parliamentarian Nicklas Kappe and included fellow Member of Parliament Gerold Otten alongside senior parliamentary officials.

The discussion focused heavily on expanding cooperation across investment, technology, innovation, and skills development.

Premadasa urged a strategic shift towards productivity-driven economic growth for the island.

He underlined the necessity of advancing technical and vocational training while expanding renewable energy and climate resilience projects.

The Opposition Leader also called for better exploitation of Sri Lanka's strategic geographic location within the Indian Ocean trade routes.

Both parties explored mutual opportunities in the blue economy, maritime development, and green energy transition.

Premadasa stressed that future international partnerships must focus on building local manufacturing capacity, generating sustainable employment, and transferring advanced technology.

He added that such economic progress must be achieved while protecting natural resources and boosting national economic resilience.

The meeting concluded with both delegations reaffirming their commitment to maintaining continuous parliamentary dialogue and bilateral cooperation.

SJB MPs Kabir Hashim, Kavinda Jayawardena, and Chamindrani Kiriella also attended.

Six train services scheduled to operate tonight (16) are reportedly set to be cancelled ahead of the railway strike planned for tomorrow (17).

Among the services reportedly affected are the train scheduled to leave Colombo Fort for Batticaloa at 7.00 p.m. and the 8.00 p.m. service bound for Kankesanthurai.

The Night Mail train scheduled to depart Colombo Fort for Batticaloa at 9.30 p.m. is also reportedly among the services facing cancellation.

However, the reported cancellations have not yet been officially confirmed by the Department of Railways or other relevant transport authorities.

Passengers have therefore been advised to await an official announcement regarding the status of tonight’s train services.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today (16) fixed October 28 to recall the case against former Minister Johnston Fernando over the alleged illegal possession of a luxury vehicle.

The case was taken up before Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena, with Fernando appearing in court as a suspect currently released on bail.

During the proceedings, President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, who represented Fernando, submitted that the matter falls within the provisions of the Motor Traffic Act.

Following the submissions, the Magistrate ordered that the case be called again on October 28.

Fernando is facing the case in relation to allegations concerning the possession of the luxury vehicle.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa will share a stage tomorrow (17) at an academic conference in Colombo examining the governance philosophy and foreign policy of former President J.R. Jayewardene.

The event, organised by the Alumni Association of the D.S. Senanayake Political Academy, is scheduled to begin at 2.00 p.m. at the National Library and Documentation Services Board Auditorium near Independence Square, Colombo 07, under the theme "J.R., Governance, and the Middle Path."

The joint appearance of United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Samagi Jana Balawegaya chief Sajith Premadasa on a single platform has sparked widespread interest across the political spectrum.

The conference will focus on the economic and social reforms introduced by J.R. Jayewardene, who brought open market policies to Sri Lanka in 1977, the first such move in South  Asia at the time.

Discussions are expected to assess the long term legacy of large scale state led development projects carried out during his tenure, along with the concentration of executive authority established under the 1978 Constitution and its effect on the country's socio-economic trajectory.

Organisers have also indicated that a key focus of the event will be the concept of 'middle path governance' and its relevance to developing nations navigating current global financial instability and regional geopolitical tensions, with the aim of drawing out expert perspectives on how such an approach might help stabilise a state under external pressure.

The event, spearheaded by D.S. Senanayake Political Academy Chairman Buddhika Pathirana, is expected to draw a wide cross section of academics, diplomats, policy researchers and political figures.

(Lankaleader.lk)

The Polgolla Reservoir in Kandy is set to be temporarily emptied for approximately two and a half days to facilitate essential repair work on its gates.

Director of the Water Management Secretariat, Engineer Nilantha Dhanapala, announced the plan during a special media briefing held today (16) on the possible effects of El Niño on Sri Lanka.

According to Dhanapala, the reservoir will be emptied from midnight on September 25 until 6 p.m. on September 27.

The temporary release of water is necessary to create the conditions required for repair work to be carried out on the reservoir gates.

Dhanapala also urged residents who depend on water supplied from the Polgolla and Balagolla areas to minimise their use of water provided through the National Water Supply system while the reservoir remains emptied.

Authorities have advised consumers to use available water supplies carefully throughout the repair period.

Turkish Airlines has agreed to compensate Sri Lankan javelin throw champion Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage after his sports equipment was reportedly damaged during his return to Sri Lanka.

Pathirage, who secured the gold medal in the javelin throw at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Hungary, discovered that his equipment had been damaged after arriving at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on the morning of September 15.

The issue was discussed at a meeting held yesterday (15) at the Civil Aviation Authority, chaired by Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janith Ruwan Kodithuwakku.

Ministry Secretary W.W.W.S. Mangala, Civil Aviation Authority Director General Captain Daminda Rambukwella, Chairman Colonel (Retired) Ranjith Rajasinghe and representatives of Turkish Airlines were also present.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation, Turkish Airlines representatives expressed regret over the damage caused to the athlete’s equipment.

Following discussions, the airline agreed to conduct an internal investigation into the incident and evaluate the extent of the damage.

Turkish Airlines has also agreed to take immediate action to compensate Pathirage for the damaged sports equipment, the ministry said.

A member of the Rajapaksa family has rejected reports that Shiranthi Rajapaksa, wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, left Sri Lanka despite being previously summoned by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) to provide a statement.

According to the family member, Shiranthi Rajapaksa had not been informed beforehand of any requirement to appear before the FCID.

The family member said she had been receiving treatment at a private hospital before travelling directly to the airport ahead of her scheduled flight, which was due to depart at 12:50 a.m. today (16).

It was claimed that an FCID letter was handed to her by an airport official near the departure gate shortly before the flight was scheduled to leave.

The family member further alleged that the notification was issued and delivered only after Shiranthi Rajapaksa had already arrived at the airport and was preparing for departure.

Based on this account, the family member disputed reports suggesting that she knowingly travelled out of the country while subject to an earlier FCID summons.

The family member maintained that Shiranthi Rajapaksa had received no prior notification from the FCID before reaching the airport.

Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa has been remanded until September 23 after being produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today (16) in connection with an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of approximately USD 2 million during the acquisition of Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines.

Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena issued the remand order after hearing submissions from both sides.

Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara appeared for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is conducting the investigation, while President’s Counsel Anil Silva and other attorneys represented Namal Rajapaksa.

The court also ordered that the decision on Rajapaksa’s bail application be delivered on September 23.

Rajapaksa, who is currently in custody, was produced before the court today as a suspect in the investigation into the alleged financial irregularities surrounding the acquisition of Airbus aircraft by SriLankan Airlines.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has issued a detailed clarification rejecting claims of a political deal with the government, as the 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill prepares to come before Parliament on 24 September.

The clarification addresses opposition involvement in the campaign against the bill and various political allegations circulating on social media.

Speaking at a press briefing held at the SJB headquarters, the party's Gampaha District chief organiser, Waruna Deepthi Rajapaksa, said claims suggesting the Opposition Leader's efforts against the 22nd Amendment were inadequate, or that some political agreement existed between the SJB and the government, had no basis in fact.

The politics behind the social media campaign

Responding to questions from journalists on the allegations, Rajapaksa said the narrative was being pushed by certain parties who had lost their representation in the current Parliament and had already been rejected by the public.

He said a section of people were running an organised social media campaign claiming the SJB's opposition to the 22nd Amendment was insufficient, and argued that the public was well aware of who these individuals were and what public mandate, if any, they held. He added that groups the public had thoroughly rejected were the ones spreading such baseless claims.

Action taken inside and outside Parliament

At the briefing, the party also released a 78-page report with dated timelines detailing the steps taken by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and the SJB since the debate on the 22nd Amendment first began.

Rajapaksa said these steps included calling for a parliamentary debate on the amendment, issuing a joint statement bringing together all opposition political parties, and taking steps to formally inform the Bar Association of Sri Lanka.

He added that it was the SJB that proposed the appointment of a parliamentary select committee to design a proper mechanism to reduce delays in the judicial system.

Public petitions, court action and international outreach

Rajapaksa recalled that a Parliament adjournment debate had already highlighted what practical steps ought to be taken if the government's stated need to expedite court cases was genuine.

He said the SJB had also led public petition campaigns held across the country to raise awareness, fundamental rights petitions filed before the courts, and protest campaigns held in several areas including Pettah.

He further revealed that the party had taken steps to formally notify a number of international observer organisations about the potential impact of these developments on the country's democratic structure.

The September 24 protest at the parliament roundabout

Rajapaksa stressed that his party had no intention of using the 22nd Amendment for political advantage, and said the opposition had made full preparations for a large scale public protest near the parliament entrance roundabout on 24 September, the day the amendment is due to be debated.

He said the decisions to be taken on the bill in the coming days would mark a decisive turning point in the country's constitutional history.