News

Sri Lanka has declared three days of national mourning following the death of veteran singer Visharad Dr. Nanda Malini, who passed away at the age of 82.

According to the Government Information Department, August 21, 22 and 23 have been designated as days of national mourning in honour of the celebrated artiste.

The remains of Nanda Malini will be placed at the Nanda Malani Sangeetha Ashramaya (Music Academy) at No. 30, Vijayaba Mawatha, Nawala Road, Nugegoda, from 10.00 a.m. today (21) until 3.30 p.m. tomorrow (22), allowing members of the public to pay their final respects.

Her final rites are scheduled to take place at 5.00 p.m. tomorrow at the General Cemetery in Borella.

Nanda Malini died at her residence in Nawala on Wednesday (20), marking the loss of one of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated voices.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed his condolences following her death, describing her as “a true musical legend of our time” in a message posted on X.

The President said her music had inspired generations of Sri Lankans across age groups, while her enduring musical legacy would continue to live on in the hearts of millions.

The declaration of national mourning reflects the significance of Nanda Malini’s contribution to Sri Lankan music and the lasting impact of her work on the country’s cultural landscape.

Sri Lanka has emerged as the only country in a new Pew Research Center survey to receive more favourable than unfavourable views from respondents in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The survey, conducted between February 8 and May 7, 2026, questioned 3,566 people in India, 1,039 in Pakistan, 1,044 in Bangladesh and 2,513 in Sri Lanka.

Pakistanis gave Sri Lanka the strongest rating, with 57% viewing the country favourably, followed by Bangladesh at 54%. India's favourable view also increased by six percentage points from 2024.

The findings show sharp differences in attitudes towards India. While 79% of Sri Lankans viewed India positively and 70% expressed confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, only 42% of Bangladeshis and 7% of Pakistanis held favourable views of India.

Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh also appear to be improving. Favourable views of Pakistan among Bangladeshis rose from 40% in 2024 to 54%, while 66% of Pakistanis viewed Bangladesh positively.

Sri Lankans' views of both countries have also improved, with favourable opinions of Pakistan rising to 57% and Bangladesh to 56%.

Age and religion influenced some responses. Younger adults generally expressed warmer views of neighbouring countries, while Indian Muslims were more likely than Hindus to view Pakistan and Bangladesh favourably.

Sri Lanka's broadly positive image across the region stands out amid South Asia's political rivalries, giving the country a rare level of goodwill among neighbouring populations.

Indumini Thilakarathna has made history by becoming the first woman to be appointed as the Surveyor General of Sri Lanka.

Taking office as the 59th head of the Survey Department, her elevation marks a major milestone in the institution's long-standing history.

Thilakarathna began her career with the department as a government surveyor in 1989 and brings 37 years of technical and administrative experience to the top role.

Her early education was completed in Ratnapura at Nivithigala Sumana Maha Vidyalaya, Ferguson High School, and Seevali Central College.

She subsequently earned a BSc Honours degree in Surveying Sciences from the Institute of Surveying and Mapping in Diyatalawa, followed by an MSc in Photogrammetry and Geodesy from the University of Stuttgart in Germany.

Throughout her career, she held key executive positions, serving as Surveyor Superintendent, Senior Surveyor Superintendent, Provincial Surveyor General of Uva, Director of the Institute of Surveying and Mapping, and Additional Surveyor General.

In her administrative and academic capacities, she played a vital role in training future professionals and driving curriculum development within the country's surveying sector.

The Government has taken a new step towards reshaping early childhood education with the introduction of a national set of resources designed to help preschool teachers move away from traditional teaching methods and adopt more child-focused approaches.

The new resource package, titled the Early Childhood Support Resource Guide, was launched at the Ministry of Education in Isurupaya under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

Developed in accordance with the Early Childhood Education Curriculum Framework, the initiative places greater emphasis on learning through play, activities and inquiry. It is intended to help young children develop their abilities by engaging directly with learning experiences rather than relying mainly on the delivery of information.

The package has been developed under the theme “Starting Right” and contains four resources: a Teacher Guide, Suggested Activity Guide, Teaching and Learning Material Manual and Master Material Training Manual.

These materials are expected to support preschool educators and trainers in planning age-appropriate activities and using practical learning tools to encourage children's participation and curiosity.

The Government plans to introduce the programme across preschools throughout the country. Training will also be provided to trainers and preschool teachers to support the implementation of the new approach.

The initiative is being carried out jointly by the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, with the involvement of the National Institute of Education and UNICEF.

Speaking at the launch, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said the Government intended to begin implementing its wider education reforms by focusing first on early childhood education.

She said the new guidelines marked an important shift in how children learn, with greater attention being given to child-centred, inquiry-based and activity-based education.

According to the Prime Minister, the objective is to develop an education system that focuses not only on what children know, but also on how effectively they can apply that knowledge.

She also highlighted the need to increase parents' awareness of early childhood development and build a wider social environment that prioritises children's wellbeing and safety.

Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savitri Paulraj said the new guidelines would provide an important foundation for the development of future generations.

She also announced the Government's expectation of creating a nationwide preschool system operating under one national policy by 2027. The aim is to give parents greater confidence in the quality and standards of preschool education available to their children.

Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs Dr. Namal Sudarshana, Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa, National Institute of Education Director General Senior Professor O. G. Dayaratne Banda, senior ministry officials, provincial education authorities and UNICEF representatives attended the launch.

The government must immediately clarify serious allegations circulating on social media regarding the Chief Justice, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Member of Parliament Rohini Kaviratne said.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday (20), she said that a YouTube channel has made several disclosures regarding personal information and confidential documentation belonging to the head of the judiciary.

She noted that the channel raised critical questions over data discrepancies in records linked to General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, as well as the Chief Justice's marriage certificate, date of birth, and his children's birth certificates.

Kaviratne said that public suspicion has arisen over whether the President is using an issue surrounding the Chief Justice's birth certificate to exert pressure on him.

She expressed concern that the top judge might be intimidated with the threat of a 20 year prison sentence for document forgery to influence judicial rulings in favour of the government.

Kaviratne stressed that if these allegations are unfounded, the government must issue an immediate correction to protect judicial independence.

She warned that failure to address the matter would inevitably shatter public confidence in the judicial system.

Parliament was informed yesterday (19) of a new fraudulent scheme within Sri Lanka Customs involving undeclared vehicle spare parts separate from the controversy over 323 containers.

Speaking in the parliament, opposition Member of Parliament D.V. Chanaka alleged that an investigation report detailing the incident was deliberately suppressed to protect an official allied with the President.

He stated that a 40 foot container containing engine parts and vehicle seats was initially cleared by two Customs inspection teams, including one led by Deputy Director of Customs N.S. Kumanayake, which claimed only seven undeclared seats were present.

Following a subsequent complaint, the matter was referred to the Central Investigation Bureau of Customs.

Chanak noted that this inquiry uncovered widespread discrepancies, including 355 units of 45 items not listed in the Customs entry, 254 additional units within declared items, 122 vehicle seats imported without licences, and 18 tyres with rims.

Furthermore, 474 units across 23 items that attract lower taxes were missing from the shipment entirely.

Chanaka pointed out that the final investigation report was submitted to the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance on 19 January 2026.

He questioned why the President had failed to act on the findings and called for an immediate public statement explaining why the official report was concealed.

An intense parliamentary debate erupted in parliament yesterday (20) over allegations of government intimidation after the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) cancelled a scheduled meeting with lawmakers regarding proposed constitutional changes.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa raised the issue in Parliament following remarks made by Chief Government Whip Minister Nalinda Jayatissa.

The Opposition leader said that intimidating language from government members forced the BASL to withdraw from the planned discussions on the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution and the ongoing vacancies in the Supreme Court.

He said that the right to free expression is guaranteed by the Constitution and insisted that equal treatment must be afforded to all citizens, including representatives of legal bodies.

The Opposition Leader clarified that his involvement in arranging the meeting was purely in the capacity of a facilitator rather than a personal initiative, noting that official records in the Hansard confirm the formal invitations extended to legal representatives.

He urged the Speaker of Parliament to intervene actively and facilitate a rescheduled dialogue with the legal fraternity, while calling for an end to misleading reports regarding the cancellation.

Four additional petitions challenging the constitutionality of the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution have been filed before the Supreme Court, Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne announced in Parliament today.

The announcement brings the total number of challenges lodged against the legislation to at least seven.

Speaker Wickramaratne had previously informed the House yesterday that three petitions against the 22nd Amendment and a separate challenge regarding the Judicature Amendment Bill had been received.

Presented to Parliament on 18 August by Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, the 22nd Amendment proposes structural alterations to the judiciary.

Key provisions seek to change the retirement ages of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges, alongside restructuring the composition of the Court of Appeal.

The petitions have been submitted under Article 121(1) of the Constitution, which grants citizens and organisations the legal right to challenge a bill's constitutionality prior to its passage.

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka is bound to communicate its determination to the Speaker within the constitutionally mandated timeframe.

Growing legal opposition

The draft legislation has generated intense legal and political friction.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has officially challenged the draft law before the apex court, urging that its constitutionality be evaluated by a full bench.

The government maintains that it will abide by the Supreme Court’s eventual ruling, expressing readiness to secure a special parliamentary majority or hold a national referendum if deemed necessary by the judiciary.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka (CBCSL) has raised serious concerns regarding a recent Cabinet decision to raise the statutory retirement age for judges, stating that any such move must strictly protect judicial independence and the separation of powers.

Issuing a statement, the CBCSL referred to the Cabinet decision published on July 27, 2026, which cited the need to retain experienced judges amid an increase in the number of courts and the planned regional operation of Courts of Appeal.

While acknowledging that experienced judges can help reduce severe case backlogs and address staff shortages, the Bishops’ Conference maintained that constitutional changes must serve the public interest rather than political expediency.

The CBCSL emphasised that an impartial judiciary remains fundamental to safeguarding basic human rights, preserving citizen dignity, and upholding the rule of law across the nation.

To ensure transparency, the CBCSL urged the government to conduct broad public and stakeholder consultations before pushing the proposed constitutional amendment through Parliament.

The Right to Information Commission says that it has not been consulted on any proposed amendment to the RTI Act, despite mounting concern among media bodies and civil society groups over reports of an impending change to the law.

RTI Commission Director General K.D.S. Ruwanchandra told The Daily Morning that the Commission had neither participated in discussions nor been informed of any such move by the authorities.

Ruwanchandra stated that the Commission had not been involved in anything connected to amending the Act and had received no information about such a process being underway.

He explained that responsibility for initiating any amendment to the RTI Act, No. 12 of 2016, would rest with the Mass Media Ministry, but noted that the Commission had not yet been asked for its views on the matter.

He added that the Commission would provide its feedback if requested to do so, though no such request had been made so far.

Concerns among media organisations and civil society groups have been building following a recent meeting between media bodies and Deputy Mass Media Minister Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne.

The meeting reportedly touched on wider media policy issues as well as the possibility of amendments to the RTI Act, prompting unease among those present over the potential direction of the proposed changes.

In the aftermath of that meeting, the Working Journalists Association cautioned that any move to curtail public access to information would trigger strong resistance, warning of a large scale protest campaign involving both media organisations and civil society groups.

Authorities have recovered a parcel containing several prohibited items after it was allegedly thrown over the boundary wall of the Magazine Prison.

The recovered package reportedly contained 30 mobile phone batteries, 250 grams of slaked lime, 50 grams of tobacco and a quantity of ‘Mawa’.

Police from the Sahaspura Police Division have launched further investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify those responsible.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dayasiri Jayasekara has urged the government to take immediate action to recover the remaining Rs. 330 billion in compensation owed to Sri Lanka following the MV X-Press Pearl maritime disaster.

Speaking during a parliamentary debate on regulations under the Import and Export Control Act, the opposition lawmaker highlighted that the country had received only a fraction of the total sum awarded following the final verdict.

Jayasekara explained that a motion taken up in January 2026 has led to the termination of proceedings.

He noted that this premature closure resulted in Sri Lanka effectively losing access to the outstanding Rs. 330 billion.

Meanwhile, Attorney-at-Law Nagananda Kodituwakku has also submitted a complaint to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption regarding the handling of the matter.