News

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued a landslide early warning for several Divisional Secretariat Divisions in Gampaha, Ratnapura, and Kalutara districts as adverse weather conditions continue to impact parts of the country.

According to the NBRO, the warning will remain in effect until 3:00 a.m. tomorrow (23), with residents in affected areas urged to remain vigilant.

Under Warning Level 2 (Amber Alert), the Gampaha District’s Attanagalla Divisional Secretariat Division has been identified as being at higher risk.

In the Ratnapura District, Kuruwita and Ratnapura Divisional Secretariat Divisions have also been placed under the same Amber-level warning.

Meanwhile, Warning Level 1 (Yellow Watch) has been issued for Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara District and Eheliyagoda in the Ratnapura District.

Authorities have advised residents in all listed areas to stay alert as weather conditions remain unstable and further risks may develop.

Sri Lanka has recorded the deaths of 128 wild elephants so far this year, highlighting the continuing toll of human-elephant conflict and other hazards facing the country’s wildlife.

According to the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the deaths were reported between January 1 and May 15 across several wildlife regions.

Among the incidents, 20 elephants were killed in shootings, while 15 died from electrocution. Another 10 elephants lost their lives after consuming “hakka patas” explosives, and five died after falling into agricultural wells.

The Department said additional elephant deaths were caused by poisoning, train collisions, drowning and other accidents.

The highest number of deaths was reported from the Eastern Region, with further incidents also recorded in the Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura wildlife zones.

Meanwhile, the Department also revealed that 35 human deaths caused by elephant attacks were reported during the same period, underscoring the ongoing dangers faced by both people and wildlife in areas affected by human-elephant encounters.

A total of 42 antique paintings from Sri Lanka’s National Art Gallery have been reported missing, according to a statement made in Parliament today by Minister Hiniduma Sunil Senevi.

Responding to oral questions in Parliament, the Minister revealed that the missing artworks were identified following an inspection carried out by a stock verification board in 2015.

The inspection focused on paintings and sculptures held at the National Art Gallery, during which discrepancies in the institution’s stock records came to light.

According to the Minister, the official stock register listed a total of 281 paintings. However, only 239 paintings are currently accounted for at the National Art Gallery, leaving 42 antique artworks unaccounted for.

The disclosure has raised concerns over the whereabouts of the missing pieces and the management of valuable cultural assets housed at the gallery.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, Professor Kapila Perera, violated the fundamental human rights of Additional Secretary W.S. Sathyananda by declaring that his services were no longer required and subjecting him to humiliation and mental distress.

The judgment was delivered by Supreme Court Justice Arjuna Obeyesekere, with the concurrence of Justices Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Janak de Silva, following the hearing of a Fundamental Rights petition filed by the aggrieved Additional Secretary.

The petitioner stated that he is a senior officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service with nearly 30 years of experience in various positions within the public administration sector.

He further noted that he was appointed as Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation through a letter issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on December 18, 2024.

He claimed that he reported for duty on the same day, but around 12.30 p.m., the Ministry Secretary entered his office and informed him that his services were not required, instructing him to leave the premises.

The petitioner alleged that the Secretary to the Ministry acted in an improper manner unbecoming of a senior public official, causing him humiliation and severe mental distress. He argued that this conduct amounted to a violation of his fundamental human rights and sought a declaration from the Supreme Court in this regard.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Obeyesekere noted that, according to Extraordinary Gazette No. 2310/29 issued on December 14, 2022, and Rule 107 of the Public Service Commission (PSC) Procedural Rules, the authority to appoint an Additional Secretary falls within the mandate of the Public Service Commission.

The Court further observed that, under Section 61 of the relevant rules, any person who directly or indirectly interferes with or attempts to influence or obstruct a decision of the Public Service Commission or its authorized officials commits an offence punishable by a fine not exceeding Rs. 100,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years, or both.

Accordingly, the Court held that since the petitioner had been appointed by the Public Service Commission, the Ministry Secretary’s intervention constituted an encroachment upon the Commission’s authority and an undermining of the rule of law.

The judgment further stated that such actions breached the public trust placed in a government official. Justice Obeyesekere emphasized that public officials are custodians of the trust of the people and are expected to exercise their powers responsibly and lawfully. While ministry secretaries may have supervisory authority, interference in appointments and transfers under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission constitutes a serious violation of its constitutional powers.
 
The Supreme Court concluded that the respondent had violated the petitioner’s fundamental right to equality before the law, as guaranteed under Article 12(1) of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court further noted that the humiliation and indignity suffered by the petitioner as a result of the arbitrary actions of the Ministry Secretary could not be remedied in any meaningful way. However, it decided not to make an order for compensation or costs.

(Adaderana.lk)

Sri Lanka has reiterated its commitment to strengthening lifelong care for childhood cancer survivors, emphasizing that survival must be measured not only by numbers but also by quality of life.

Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa made the remarks while addressing a special session on childhood cancer care on the sidelines of the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva.

He said that “the true measure of success in childhood cancer is not only how many children survive, but how they live,” highlighting the importance of ensuring survivors lead healthy, dignified and productive lives.

Global health leaders at the meeting pledged to raise the survival rate of children with cancer to at least 60 percent by 2030 under the World Health Organization’s Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer.

Speaking at a session titled “Measuring survival, driving change – Advancing equity through the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer,” the Minister stressed that many survivors continue to face long-term physical, mental and social challenges. These include heart-related complications, endocrine disorders, learning difficulties, mental health issues, reproductive health concerns, as well as social and economic risks.

He noted Sri Lanka’s continued collaboration with the World Health Organization, international partners, health professionals and survivor communities to strengthen long-term care for children who survive cancer.

Sri Lanka’s free public health system, he said, provides a strong foundation for equitable access to diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, follow-up care and psychosocial support.

The Minister further emphasized that care must extend beyond hospitals into primary healthcare services, schools, families and communities. Sri Lanka is also strengthening organized follow-up services through paediatric cancer treatment centres and hospitals to ensure continuous care from childhood into adulthood.

He added that Medical Officer of Health services, public health nursing, maternal and child health programmes and newly introduced Arogya Suwatha centres will play a key role in community-based follow-up care.

The WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, launched in 2018, is currently active in 87 countries, with 50 countries already integrating childhood cancer control into their national health strategies.

The Milk Powder Importers’ Association has announced a revision in the prices of imported milk powder, attributing the change to prevailing market conditions and fluctuations in exchange rates.

According to the announcement, the price of a 400g milk powder packet will increase by Rs. 50, while a 1kg packet will see an upward revision of Rs. 125.

The revised pricing structure will come into effect from today (20), the association confirmed.

However, the association clarified that imported milk powder currently available in the market will not be affected by the price increase. It further stated that new stocks reaching the market will be sold at the revised rates within the next week.