News

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.

An Indian man was caught attempting to smuggle a large consignment of “Kush” cannabis worth Rs. 105 million through the “Green Channel” at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning (05) by airport customs officials.

The suspect is said to be a 43-year-old salesman from New Delhi and had purchased the cannabis from Bangkok, Thailand.

This marks the first arrest made using the new scanning machine installed at the Customs Arrival Terminal’s Green Channel in Katunayake.

The seized cannabis and the suspect are set to be handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) at BIA for further investigation.

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.

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has announced that the nine-hour water cut, originally scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. tomorrow (06), affecting several areas including Colombo, has been cancelled.

Earlier, the NWSDB had stated that the water cut would affect all areas from Colombo 01 to Colombo 15.

In addition, the water cut was expected to impact the following areas: Battaramulla, Pelawatta, Hokandara, Koswatte, Thalawathugoda, Kotte, Rajagiriya, Mirihana, Madiwela, Nugegoda, Nawala, Kolonnawa, IDH, Kotikawatte, Angoda, Wellampitiya, Orugodawatte, Mulleriyawa, Maharagama, Boralesgamuwa, Dehiwala, Ratmalana, and Moratuwa.

adaderana.lk

A total lunar eclipse will be visible tomorrow (07) from 8:30 p.m. until 2:30 a.m.

Astronomer Anura C. Perera stated that this will be the first opportunity in six years for the people of Sri Lanka to witness such an eclipse.

The Cabinet of Ministers has given approval for the launch of a special project aimed at expediting investigations into complaints concerning missing persons.

The Office on Missing Persons (OMP), established under the Office on Missing Persons (Establishment, Administration and Discharge of Functions) Act, No. 14 of 2016, is mandated to investigate cases of individuals reported missing or unaccounted for and to provide reports to their families.

Government data reveals that the OMP has received a total of 16,966 complaints to date, with 10,517 cases still pending further inquiry.

To ensure justice for affected families and to conclude all pending investigations and related responsibilities by the end of 2027, the Cabinet has approved a proposal presented by the Minister of Justice and National Integration.

As part of this initiative, 25 panels will be established, comprising 75 professionals—including retired judges, senior administrative officers, and legal experts—to accelerate the inquiry process and bring long-awaited closure to families of the missing.

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has raised alarm over serious procedural and institutional shortcomings in the ongoing investigation into the Chemmani mass grave in Jaffna, where over 200 human remains have so far been uncovered.

Following a fact-finding mission on 3–4 August 2025, the HRCSL released a detailed report on 3 September, outlining troubling findings — including allegations of intimidation by police, inadequate forensic capacity, and significant funding gaps — that may be impeding justice in what appears to be one of the country's most sensitive post-war investigations.

Indications of extrajudicial killings

The report reveals that the positioning and condition of the skeletal remains — many buried in shallow ground, some in close proximity to each other, and 90% lacking any clothing — suggest unlawful burials likely linked to extrajudicial executions.

The site has been under investigation by the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court, supported by the Judicial Medical Officer, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and archaeological experts. However, HRCSL says key constraints — including lack of bomb-pulse 14C carbon dating, DNA analysis facilities, and forensic anthropology expertise — risk undermining the integrity of the investigation.

CID intimidation

The Commission flagged intimidation by CID officers toward officials and workers at the site, which it warned could "prejudice the outcome" of the investigation. HRCSL further cited the summoning of journalist Kumanan Kanapathippillai by the Counter Terrorism and Investigation Division (CTID), which it said could have a chilling effect on press freedom, as the journalist was actively reporting on the case at the time.

The HRCSL recommends the creation of a permanent, independent body to investigate and prosecute serious crimes committed by state officials, including enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Urgent reforms

The HRCSL has called on several ministries, including Justice, Defence, Finance, and Higher Education, to take urgent steps — from securing international forensic expertise, to exempting VAT on imported lab equipment, and developing local capacity in forensic anthropology and archaeology.

Among its 16 recommendations, the Commission stressed the need for a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for future mass grave investigations, regular public updates, and the establishment of a DNA bank to help identify the victims.

The Chemmani mass grave was first brought to public attention in the late 1990s following revelations by Sri Lankan soldiers. The current investigation marks the most significant exhumation at the site since then.

As the investigation continues, the HRCSL's report underscores the urgent need for institutional accountability, professional independence, and international collaboration to ensure justice for the disappeared and their families — a long-standing demand in Sri Lanka’s post-war reconciliation process.

lankaleader.lk

Police confirmed that at least 15 people were killed in a tragic accident on the Ella–Wellawaya road on the night of September 4, when a passenger bus carrying a group on an excursion plunged nearly 1,000 feet into a ravine within the Ella Police Division.

                                                                                   Police Press Release on the Accident

According to the Police Media Division, the bus, which was transporting around 30 passengers including the driver, met with the accident near Mount Seven Hotel, close to Ravana Falls, at approximately 9:00 p.m. on September 4. The bus is reported to have first collided with an oncoming jeep and a roadside iron barrier before plunging into the precipice.

Investigations have revealed that the victims were part of a group returning from an excursion to Tangalle at the time of the incident.

Rescue operations were jointly carried out by the police, the army, the air force, the fire department, and local residents. So far, the bodies of 15 victims have been recovered, while 18 injured passengers, including five children, have been admitted to hospital for treatment.

Police further stated that the driver of the jeep involved in the collision has been taken into custody. The bodies of the deceased have been placed at the mortuaries of the Diyatalawa, Badulla, and Bandarawela hospitals.

The research work “Global Photography Communication Through the Lens of Sri Lankan Experiences” (“ගෝලීය ඡායාරූප සන්නිවේදනය, ශ්‍රී ලාංකික අත්දැකීම් ඇසුරෙන්”), authored by veteran photographer Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi, will be presented on September 9 at 3:00 PM at the Mahaweli Centre Auditorium, located on Anand Kumaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 07.

Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi is an internationally recognized Sri Lankan photojournalist and author with over 40 years of experience in photography and media. His professional career spans coverage of war, social struggles, and cultural life, including work for Reuters and other global media organizations. After spending more than 16 years abroad, Lokuhapuarachchi returned to Sri Lanka to continue his contributions to media, arts, and education.

He currently serves as the Director of International Media and Strategic Communications to the President of Sri Lanka.

The research work traces the evolution of photographic communication from historical contexts to the digital era, blending Sri Lankan experiences with global perspectives. It explores how photography shapes visual truth, memory, and human connection. Drawing on four decades of Sri Lankan and international experience, the study presents a rare journey through historical and traditional forms of photography to the digital transformations of today, highlighting the interplay of human reality, memory, and relational bonds.

According to the author, Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi, this book is not just about photography—it explores how visual communication becomes part of our collective memory. It reflects the close relationship between storytelling, history, the camera, and society.

The book “Global Photography Communication” ( (“ගෝලීය ඡායාරූප සන්නිවේදනය") integrates personal narratives, historical research, and visual perspectives through Sri Lankan experiences. It examines the role of photography in the evolution of global news media and the shaping of public opinion. Written in a reflective and artistic style, this work is designed for readers interested in photography, photojournalism, history, mass communication, and visual storytelling.

At the book launch, insights will be shared by Professor Tudor Weerasinghe (University of Colombo, Sri Pali Faculty), Dr. Udit Gayashan Gunasekara (Chairperson, Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation), Faisal Samath (former Reuters bureau chief and advisor), critics from the Sunday Times, and photographer and film director Bupathi Nalin Wickramage.

The Sinhala edition of the book will be available for purchase on the day, while pre-orders for the English edition can also be placed. Although the standard price is LKR 3,400, copies will be available for LKR 2,400 for purchases and pre-orders on the launch day.

The author warmly invites all to participate in this special occasion.

(Note – Jayasiri Alawatta)

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (4) rejected the bail application submitted on behalf of Thusitha Halloluwa, who is currently in remand custody.

Accordingly, the Additional Magistrate ordered that the suspect be further remanded until September 18.

Halloluwa, a former Director of the National Lottery Board, was arrested and placed in remand custody in connection with a recent incident in Narahenpita, where shots were allegedly fired at the vehicle he was traveling in.

The Cabinet has decided to postpone the imposition of VAT on digital services until April 1 next year.

This decision responds to requests from non-resident digital service providers for additional time to comply with VAT requirements on value-added digital services. Under the amended Value Added Tax Act No. 4 of 2025, which takes effect from October 1, 2025, VAT is applicable to digital services supplied by non-residents.

Although VAT collection was initially planned to start on October 1 this year, the start date has now been revised to April 1, 2026. The necessary procedural amendments are being drafted to align with this revised timeline, following proposals presented by the Minister of Finance, Procurement, and Economic Development, Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The VAT will apply to a wide range of digital services, including cybersecurity, software services, digital marketing, IT services, e-commerce, social media platforms, online marketplaces, and on-demand services.

The Court of Appeal today (4) issued an interim order temporarily suspending proceedings in a case before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court against Retired Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Ravi Seneviratne, who currently serves as the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security.

The case, filed in 2023, pertains to allegations of driving under the influence and failing to prevent a traffic accident.

The order was delivered after considering a petition filed by Mr. Seneviratne, requesting that the case pending before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court be transferred to another jurisdiction.

The decision was handed down by a bench of the Court of Appeal comprising Justices Mayadunne Corea and Mahen Gopallawa, following their examination of the petition.