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The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has declined a request seeking daily access for legal counsel to former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Chief Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, who is currently receiving treatment at the National Hospital in Colombo.

Sallay was admitted to hospital after commencing a hunger strike while being held in CID custody under a detention order.

The decision was formally conveyed by CID Director Shani Abeysekara in a written response addressed to Sallay’s wife, Manori Sallay.

According to reports, Manori Sallay had requested permission for her husband’s lawyer, Asitha Siriwardena, to meet him five days each week. In response, the CID stated that Sallay is presently undergoing treatment and is not actively participating in investigative proceedings, making daily legal consultations unnecessary at this stage.

The communication further explained that repeated meetings with legal counsel could reduce the mental rest considered necessary for recovery and may negatively affect his current health condition.

The CID also noted that an existing court order already permits legal access once each week, specifically on Wednesdays.

As a result, authorities confirmed that lawyer visits will continue under the existing arrangement, while daily visitation remains available to close family members, including his wife, daughter and son.

The request for additional legal meetings has therefore been rejected.

US President Donald Trump has said a "swift and lethal kinetic" US military strike has killed "the infamous leader" of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang.

Tren de Aragua has been labelled by the US as a terrorist organisation. 

In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump wrote: "Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else and, under my leadership, we will find these vicious murderers and drug lords anytime, anyplace, and send them to the depths of hell where they belong."

The gang's leader, Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, was charged in a New York federal court in December with racketeering conspiracy and other crimes, including lending support to terrorists in crimes that stretched more than a decade.

US attorney Jay Clayton said at the time that the gang is responsible for countless acts of violence, extortion and drug trafficking in North America, South America and Europe.

The US State Department had offered rewards of up to $5m for information leading to Guerrero Flores' arrest.

Venezuelan authorities have not yet commented on the operation.

Source: Sky News

A 45-year-old man lost his life after being swept away by strong sea currents while bathing at Moragalla in Aluthgama, according to police.

The victim was identified as a resident of Eheliyagoda.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had entered the sea with a group of friends when strong currents pulled him away from shore. Despite the circumstances, the incident ended in tragedy.

Police said the body was later recovered from the sea.

Authorities have launched further investigations into the incident to determine all surrounding circumstances.

Sri Lanka Police are continuing inquiries into the drowning.

The Ministry of Education has announced that schools will remain open until August 7, 2026, for students preparing to sit for the 2026 General Certificate of Education (G.C.E.) Advanced Level Examination.

According to the 2026 academic calendar, the first phase of the third school term for Sinhala and Tamil medium schools will run from July 27 to August 7, providing students with nine school days for revision and final preparation before the examination begins.

Education authorities have encouraged all examination candidates to attend classes regularly and make full use of the remaining classroom sessions to strengthen their preparation.

The 2026 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination is scheduled to take place from August 10 to September 5, 2026.

Meanwhile, officials stated that arrangements for conducting the national examination have already been finalized, with thousands of students expected to sit for the examination across the country.

The bodies of a married couple have been discovered inside a clothing store in Bulathsinhala, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Police said officers from the Bulathsinhala Police Station reached the location after receiving information and recovered the bodies during initial inspections.

The deceased have been identified as a 55-year-old woman and her 61-year-old husband.

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of death.

Police have launched a comprehensive investigation to establish whether the incident was the result of a homicide or due to other possible circumstances.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-Western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts, the Department of Meteorology stated. 

Fairly heavy rainfalls of about 75 mm are likely at some places in these areas, the Met. Department noted. 

Several spells of showers may occur in Mannar and Anuradhapura districts. 

Meanwhile, strong winds of about 40-50 kmph can be expected at times over the Western slopes of the central hills, Northern and North-Central provinces and in Hambantota and Trincomalee districts. 

Fairly strong winds of about 30-40 kmph can be expected at times over other areas of the island, it added. 

The general public has been requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

(Adaderana.lk)

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has warned that Sri Lanka is heading toward mounting economic and political pressure, claiming the country could face a severe economic setback in the period ahead.

Addressing the UNP working committee, Wickremesinghe said the government is facing challenges on multiple fronts, citing what he described as an economic downturn alongside concerns over human rights issues.

He alleged that ex-servicemen are facing suppression and claimed that Buddhist monks are experiencing similar difficulties. He further stated that Buddhist associations could eventually come under government control.

Wickremesinghe also raised concerns regarding matters surrounding the arrest of former State Intelligence Services (SIS) Chief Suresh Sallay and questioned the manner in which the situation has been handled.

Speaking on the political landscape, the former President stressed the importance of building stronger cooperation among opposition groups.

He noted that several opposition parties have already come together under a joint opposition arrangement but said broader collaboration is needed. According to Wickremesinghe, discussions are currently underway with additional political parties to further expand the alliance.

His remarks come as political attention continues to focus on economic conditions and evolving opposition dynamics.

The body of a six-year-old boy who had been reported missing from the Puloly South area in the Point Pedro Police Division was discovered in a well near his residence, police said.

Police launched an investigation after receiving a complaint last night (12) regarding the child’s disappearance.

During the course of the inquiry, officers located the child’s body inside a nearby well.

The deceased has been identified as a six-year-old resident of the area.

Point Pedro Police are continuing investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The prices of pharmaceuticals supplied to the Health Ministry by local manufacturers under buy back agreements are expected to rise by 12.5 percent from next month following discussions between authorities and producers.

Local pharmaceutical manufacturers, including the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation, currently fulfill nearly 30 percent of the ministry’s overall medicine requirement.

According to an official, manufacturers had initially requested a 15 percent price increase, pointing to higher production costs linked to imported ingredients. The increase in costs was attributed to market pressures associated with the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

However, authorities indicated that the requested adjustment would not be fully accepted.

“We cannot agree for a 15 percent increase. We can settle for 12.5 percent,” the official said.

The revised pricing arrangement is expected to take effect from next month under the existing supply agreements.

A 65-year-old businessman has been taken into police custody in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of a five-year-old preschool student in the Madampe area.

According to police, the arrest was made following a complaint submitted by the child’s mother.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the incident allegedly took place when the child visited a retail shop operated by the suspect to buy biscuits. Police stated that the suspect is accused of taking the child into an interior section of the premises, where the alleged abuse occurred.

The child was admitted to Chilaw General Hospital and has been referred to the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) for further medical examination.

The suspect, who is a resident of Karukuwatawa in Madampe, is expected to be produced before the Chilaw Magistrate’s Court.

Madampe Police are continuing investigations into the incident.

The government is considering maintaining current domestic fuel prices even after the conclusion of the existing subsidy programme, provided international oil prices continue their downward trend.

Officials said authorities are closely observing developments in global energy markets before making a final decision on the future of fuel subsidies and local pricing.

The fuel relief programme, introduced earlier this year, currently provides a subsidy of Rs. 100 per litre on Auto Diesel and Rs. 20 per litre on Petrol. Funded through a Rs. 57 billion allocation for an initial three-month period, the programme was widely expected to end in June. However, officials clarified that the duration of the subsidy will depend on how long the allocated funds remain available.

Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Managing Director Mayura Neththikumara stated that the relief measures would continue until the full allocation is utilized and would not automatically end with the calendar deadline.

He added that any decision on extending the subsidy would ultimately require direction from the government.

According to Neththikumara, falling international oil prices have opened the possibility of sustaining existing local fuel rates without placing additional pressure on state finances. He noted that the price of a barrel of diesel had dropped to USD 125 by last Friday.

He cautioned, however, that policy decisions cannot be based on short-term market movements and that lower prices would need to remain stable over time before any lasting pricing strategy could be adopted.

At present, Lanka Petrol 92 Octane remains priced at Rs. 434 per litre, while Lanka Auto Diesel stands at Rs. 407 per litre. Premium fuel prices continue at Rs. 495 per litre for Lanka Petrol 95 Octane and Rs. 478 per litre for Lanka Super Diesel.

Authorities indicated that any future decision regarding the continuation, adjustment, or withdrawal of subsidies will depend on sustained market conditions and government direction.

The Kennedy Center was running out of options Friday evening to keep President Trump's name on the facade of the iconic performing arts venue.

A judge earlier in the afternoon rejected a request to pause a court-ordered deadline of Friday to remove references to Trump from the building and other aspects of the Kennedy Center's operations. The institution appealed that ruling, an effort that was also rebuffed Friday evening.

Scaffolding was erected earlier in the day around a section of the building that includes Trump's name. After a round of storms passed Friday evening, multiple workers were back at the scene further building out the scaffolding in an apparent effort to prepare for removing the letters referencing the president.

Dozens of people gathered in the plaza in front of the Kennedy Center taking pictures and cheering occasionally as workers built the scaffolding.

After ignoring the Kennedy Center for much of his first term, Trump has wielded tremendous influence over the venue during his return to office. Just a month into his second term, he ousted the center's previous leadership and replaced it with a board of trustees that named him chairman. Trump's name was quickly added to the building.

In his ruling that only Congress could make changes to the Kennedy Center's name, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper also blocked the administration from closing the cultural and arts venue for major renovations that had been planned to start in July and last for two years.

The Kennedy Center's leadership argued in its appeal Friday that the renovation was badly needed and accused the lower court, in terms that seemed similar to Trump's speech patterns, of interfering in the effort.

"The District Court is not allowing us to close in order to properly fix up and repair the Building, including potentially life threatening structural damage like beams and parking garage ceilings that are rusted, and in serious danger of falling onto people below," according to the appeal. "Indeed, total collapse!"

Even as the Kennedy Center has fought efforts to remove Trump's name from the building, it has taken steps to comply with Cooper's initial ruling.

A June 4 memo to staff from the Kennedy Center's Office of General Counsel said email signatures, letterhead and other documents must reflect the name as "The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts" or "Kennedy Center."

The Kennedy Center's website has dropped Trump's name. And an earlier email sent to members offering ticket packages for the June 28 Mark Twain Award for American Humor ceremony came from the Kennedy Center without including Trump's name.

Source: AP