News

The Ministry of Transport announced that, with effect from today (08), traffic regulations will be strictly enforced.

According to Deputy Minister of Transport Prasanna Gunasekara, vehicles found to be unfit for road use, as well as those with unauthorized color alterations, will be subject to inspection. Police officers across the island have been assigned to carry out these checks.

He further stated that strict action will also be taken against vehicles fitted with unauthorized accessories such as additional multi-colored lights, illegal stickers, advertisements, graphic displays on the front, rear, or body of vehicles, as well as vehicles equipped with loud exhaust systems, modified silencers, or noise-generating pipes.

A total of four individuals, including a 22-year-old have died in four separate road accidents reported yesterday (06) across various areas in the country.

Accidents were reported in Kadawatha, Maradankadawala, Vellaveli, and Puthukkudiyiruppu, police stated.

adaderana.lk

The United Nations Human Rights Council will hold its sixtieth regular session from 8 September to 8 October 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

The session will open under the presidency of Ambassador Jürg Lauber of Switzerland.

The opening will be addressed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.

During the session, the Council will hold 37 interactive dialogues with the High Commissioner, Special Procedures mandate holders, expert mechanisms, investigative mechanisms, and representatives of other bodies.

It will hold an interactive dialogue on the report of the Office of the High Commissioner on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vijitha Herath, is set to deliver a statement at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in Geneva, representing the Government of Sri Lanka.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the address is scheduled for 3:45 PM Sri Lanka time, and will focus on the country’s recent progress and future plans regarding the protection and promotion of human rights.

This high-level session follows the recent visit of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, to Sri Lanka, and comes in the wake of the newly elected government led by the National People's Power (NPP). The Ministry stated that the government will present its latest initiatives, achievements, and strategic roadmap for advancing human rights in the country.

During the visit, Minister Herath is also expected to hold bilateral discussions with High Commissioner Türk and several senior diplomatic officials in Geneva.

Joining the Minister is Dayani Mendis, Director General of the Human Rights Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The delegation departed for Switzerland on Sunday (7) and will remain in Geneva until September 11.

(News First)

Any changes to the Colombo port city have no constitutional blockades, said former minister and lawyer Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.

With 149 votes received in favour of Colombo Port City Economic Commission act no. 11 of 2021, it cannot be considered as having received a two-third parliamentary majority as per clause 157 of the constitution, he said in a letter to president Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Incidentally, Rajapakshe did not vote in favour of the act.

He said president Dissanayake now has the opportunity to correct the historic wrong done, while explaining the ulterior motive behind the move by the rulers at the time to introduce an act in parliament, although the project could easily have been carried out through an agreement with the investor.

lankaleader.lk

Police Media Spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police F. U. Wootler, stated that out of 20 samples taken from two containers buried in a house in the Thalawa, Middeniya, five tested positive for crystal methamphetamine or ICE.

He emphasized that the police had successfully foiled a major attempt to manufacture ICE in Sri Lanka.

He further revealed that One suspect has already been arrested on the property and is in custody with the Western Province North Division for further investigation.

While crystal methamphetamine is typically imported, the police have successfully foiled an attempt to manufacture the drug domestically.

The spokesperson added that, using modern technology, an expert analysis will soon be presented to provide detailed information on the seized substances.

He also thanked the public for their support in these operations and urged continued cooperation with the police in preventing large-scale illegal and anti-social activities.

SLPP suspends membership of former local councillor Sampath Manamperi amid drug allegations

The General Secretary of SLPP Sagara Kariyawasam confirmed that, the party membership of Former Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Pradeshiya Sabha member Sampath Manamperi has been suspended.

In a statement, Kariyawasam said that Manamperi is facing allegations of possessing raw materials used in drug production.

He added that the party will not show leniency towards members accused of such activities, and Manamperi’s party membership has been revoked with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, the brother of former Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Pradeshiya Sabha member Sampath Manamperi has also been arrested over his alleged involvement with chemicals used to manufacture crystal methamphetamine or ICE in Middeniya.

Police confirmed that accordingly, 38-year-old Wijewickrama Manamperige Piyal Senadheera, is currently in custody.

According to information obtained from the interrogation of organized crime suspect Backhoe Saman, held at the Colombo North Crime Division, chemicals used to manufacture ICE were recovered yesterday from land belonging to Sampath Manamperi in Middeniya.

Sampath Manamperi is known to have had close ties with Backhoe Saman and reportedly left the area after the criminal group, including Saman, was brought under investigation.

lankaleader.lk

For the first time in the history of the Sri Lanka Police, four female officers have been promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) at the same time.

The promotions were approved by the National Police Commission (NPC) and subsequently confirmed by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasuriya, and are effective from January 01 this year.

Accordingly, Darshika Kumari, Padmini Weerasuriya, Renuka Jayasundara, and Nishani Seneviratne are scheduled to assume duties as DIGs.

Darshika Kumari currently serves as the Commanding Officer of the Police Field Force Headquarters and is recognized as the first female officer to hold that position.

• Padmini Weerasuriya is presently the Acting DIG in charge of the Kalutara District, becoming the first female officer in Sri Lanka Police history to oversee a district.

• SSP Renuka Jayasundara, serves as the Acting DIG of the Bureau for the Investigation of Abuse of Children and Women.

• Nishani Seneviratne, the senior-most officer among the four, functions as the Acting DIG of the Research and Information Technology Range, having also served extensively with the State Intelligence Service.

Supreme Court Judge S. Thurairajah has been appointed as a member of the Judicial Service Commission by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

He fills the vacant position left by the retirement of former Chief Justice Murdu Fernando.

Thurairajah, who was sworn in as a lawyer in 1988, has been serving as a Supreme Court Judge since 2019.

President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, stressed that it is the responsibility of state officials in each district to ensure that development projects implemented at district level are not delayed and that their benefits reach the people within the stipulated timeframe. He further stated that once a development project is initiated, officials must maintain a target plan up to its completion date.

The President pointed out that failing to complete previously launched development projects on time and unnecessarily extending their duration, has increased estimated costs, depriving the country of both the intended benefits and the return on investment. He emphasised that from this year onwards, all development projects must be completed by their scheduled dates.

The President made these remarks this afternoon (06), addressing the Monaragala District Special Coordinating Committee meeting held at the Monaragala District Secretariat.

The meeting reviewed the progress of various development projects being implemented in the Monaragala District in 2025 by ministries, departments and institutions, while also assessing future development requirements.

The President stated that funds would be allocated at any time for development projects essential to the people. He added that if there are projects costing less than Rs. 100 million but vital to the public, money could be provided even this year. He also stressed that in order to ensure treasury funds reach villages, rural development projects must be expedited.

Special attention was also given to the problem faced by farmers who lost cultivation lands due to boundary demarcations of the Kotiyagala-Kebilitta reserve. The President instructed officials to establish a structured mechanism to resolve such land-related issues of farmers.

Attention was also drawn to vacancies in various state institutions within the district. The President noted that approval has already been granted to recruit 62,000 new employees into the public service this year and this number may increase to 100,000 depending on requirements. He instructed officials to ensure these vacancies are filled accordingly.

The President added that the government is committed to modernising the public service and that special attention has been given in this year’s budget to strengthening local government institutions and modernising state administration. He stressed that the problem today is not the size of the public service, but the high costs incurred to sustain it.

The President further stated that the upcoming budget will also give priority to equipping Pradeshiya Sabhas with necessary equipment and strengthening local government institutions.

Highlighting that some irrigation projects have remained incomplete for years despite heavy expenditure, the President stressed the need to review large-scale irrigation projects.

He further stated that renewed attention should be given to major constructions undertaken by state institutions and that their actual necessity must be reviewed. The President instructed officials to identify long-delayed state construction projects, evaluate their need and propose alternatives where necessary.

The President stated that approval has been granted to increase the limit on contracts that can be awarded to community-based organisations during the implementation of development projects, with the objective of expediting rural development.

The discussions also covered the absence of an Urban Council for Monaragala, the establishment of a Pradeshiya Sabha for the Sevanagala Divisional Secretariat Division and the provision of 5 acres of land each to 72 farmers who lost their lands due to the Siyambalanduwa solar power project.

The progress of granting lease deeds for the Buttala Industrial Zone was also reviewed, along with discussions on road and bridge development in the district and the construction of a residential treatment unit for Thalassemia patients.

The event was attended by Uva Province Governor, Attorney-at-Law Kapila Jayasekara; Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security, R.M. Jayawardena; Members of Parliament Ajith Agalakada, H.M. Dharmasena, Ruwan Wijeweera and Sarath Kumara; as well as Monaragala District Secretary M.M. Wijenayake and other state officials of the district.

The Road Development Authority (RDA) has identified nearly 10 dangerous locations along the Ella-Wellawaya road, between Ella and Ravana Ella Falls.

According to executive Engineer S. S. Hennayake a special study has been launched to assess these locations, while groundwork have already begun at sites that require urgent repairs.

The RDA says, a 26-kilometre stretch of road will be upgraded under this programme.

The Rs. 700 million allocation for accident prevention in the Badulla district is being utilized for this purpose.

Former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa, who is currently in remand custody, has been admitted to the Prison Hospital.

Prisons Spokesman Jagath Weerasinghe stated that Rajapaksa was transferred to the hospital yesterday (5) evening on medical advice. He further noted that the admission was due to health complications.

The case against him was last taken up on August 29, when the Colombo Chief Magistrate ordered that he be further remanded until September 12. Rajapaksa was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption on charges of committing an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The allegations stem from the unlawful acquisition of Rs. 8.85 million as compensation, following the destruction of his political office—built on Mahaweli land—by protesters during the Aragalaya movement.

Following a recent accident involving a school van and a tipper-truck transporting sand, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau has imposed restrictions on transporting mineral sand during school hours.

Deepani Weerakoon, Director General of the Bureau, said mineral transportation will now be restricted during morning hours and after school hours.

She added that vehicles transporting mineral must be parked in designated areas with sufficient space on the road during these restricted periods.

The Department of Meteorology reports that scattered showers are likely today (06) in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Northern Provinces, as well as in the Galle, Matara, Kandy, and Nuwara Eliya districts.

In addition, thundershowers or occasional rainfall may occur in a few places in the Uva, Eastern, and North-Central Provinces after around 2.00 p.m.

Meanwhile, fair and dry weather is expected to prevail across most other parts of the island.