Two young men, aged between 25 and 30, were found shot dead with a pistol-type firearm in Thorakolayaya, Middeniya, this morning (25), police reported. Three special investigation teams have been deployed, while the motive and suspects remain unknown.

Two youth shot dead in Middeniya

<ul><li> 60 suspended while legal action taken against ‘many’ others including arrest and remand&nbsp;</li></ul> Around 2,000 to 3,000 investigations have been launched into Police officers since the National People’s Power Government came to power, over alleged misconduct including links to the drug trade and organised crime, according to the Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala.Speaking to The Daily Morning, he said that the Government has taken all necessary steps to act against officers involved in various forms of misconduct. “We take action against any Police officer who engages in drug- or organised crime-related activities. So far, 2,000 to 3,000 investigations have been initiated against such officers. The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) takes prompt action whenever an allegation is made,” the minister said.As a result of these investigations, Wijepala said that 50-60 Police officers have been suspended from duty, and that cases have been filed against many others. “We don’t protect anyone like previous governments did. If an officer is involved in misconduct, they’re being dealt with through the proper channels. Some have already been arrested and remanded.”In recent months, there have been several reported incidents of police misconduct — including having links to drug dealers and organised crime groups, assaults on suspects, deaths in custody, and illegal detentions.Admitting that discipline within the Police force has deteriorated, Wijepala previously said that the Government is working to address the issue. “We receive a large number of complaints against officers, including those under investigation by the SIU, Fundamental Rights petitions, Human Rights Commission inquiries, and performance-related concerns. We are addressing these issues and doing our best to improve discipline of the Police,” he said.The Police Department is the country’s main law enforcement agency, responsible for maintaining public order, preventing and investigating crime, and ensuring the safety and security of the public. It functions under the Public Security Ministry and includes specialised units covering areas such as traffic, narcotics, cybercrime, and terrorism.

Police integrity: Thousands of cops scrutinised for crime links

<ul><li> Says both parties violated ceasefire&nbsp;</li></ul> United States (US) President Donald Trump accused both Israel and Iran of violating a ceasefire yesterday (24), hours after he announced it, expressing particular frustration with Israel which had announced plans for major new strikes on Tehran, Iran.“Israel. Don’t drop those bombs. If you do it, it’s a major violation. Bring your pilots home, now!,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, shortly after he left the White House for a trip to a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit in The Hague, The Netherlands. Before boarding, he told reporters that he was “not happy” with either side for violating the truce, particularly with Israel, which he said had “unloaded” straight after agreeing to it.Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had said that he had ordered the military to mount new strikes on targets in Tehran in response to what he said were Iranian missiles fired in a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire.Iran denied launching any missiles and said that Israel’s attacks had continued for an hour and a half beyond the time that the ceasefire was meant to start.In both countries, the wider Middle East and around the world, there was a palpable sense of relief that a path out of war had been charted, 12 days after Israel launched it with a surprise attack, and two days after the US joined in.Trump had announced the ceasefire with a post on Truth Social: “The ceasefire is now in effect. Please don’t violate it.”	(Reuters)

Israel-Iran conflict: Trump warns Israel  ‘not (to) drop those bombs’

<ul><li> To take measures to minimise impact on businesses/econ.&nbsp;</li></ul> Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, Samantha Vidyarathna claimed that the Government will take all possible measures to minimise the impact that the Israel-Iran conflict will have on local businesses, the country’s economy and the daily lives of all Sri Lankans.Speaking on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, Vidyarathna stated that they will take care of the people since it is their responsibility. He confirmed that the Cabinet of Ministers which met on Monday (23) also discussed in detail the crisis in the Middle East (ME) and the measures needed to be taken to lessen the adverse impact on Sri Lanka.Vidyarathna stated that when the country is faced with challenges, they will address them by making timely interventions. According to him, steps must be taken to deescalate the war situation and establish peace for the sake of all humans.Meanwhile, the People’s Struggle Alliance observed that the National People’s Power Government, which holds the post of the Co-Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestine, has yet to take a definitive position on Palestine.&nbsp;The statement sent by the Alliance to the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry read: “The Government seems to be attempting a balancing act; to both stand in solidarity with Palestine whilst simultaneously placating Israel and the United States. This is by no means a political position that the Sri Lankan State should hold in the face of an ongoing genocide. Stop sending Sri Lankan workers to Israel, particularly as there are no measures in place to ensure that our citizens are not placed to work in illegally occupied territories or where they might be in direct danger of being injured or killed. Take immediate measures to remove all unlawfully set up Israeli-owned businesses and chabad houses, spread across our Southern and Eastern coastal regions and other tourist spots. Stop providing public funded Police security to chabad houses across the country. If they require protection, they are free to hire personnel from private security services. Specifically instruct all tour operators and small scale guest house owners to stop offering retreat packages targeting Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers to vacation in Sri Lanka, and to not provide employment opportunities to IDF soldiers during their stay here. Strictly impose and regulate visas given to Israeli tourists, as many have overstayed for years, and unlawfully set up businesses and chabad houses here. Take strict action against Israeli soldiers and tourists who have displayed aggressive and racist behaviour towards local and other foreign communities, especially within the surf community. Put an immediate stop to the distribution of Zionist propaganda such as flags, posters, flyers, clothing, etc. (including depictions of IDF soldiers on duty) by Israeli business owners and tourists, in public spaces.”

Cabinet discusses ME crisis 

<ul><li> Outright victories in 151, 49 with others votes; SJB controls 27, ITAK 17, SLPP/CWC/SLMC 3 each, PA 1, UNP none, other parties/ind. groups 12&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul> The National People’s Power (NPP) has so far succeeded in securing power in 200 Local Government (LG) bodies across the country. The NPP secured outright victories in 151 LG bodies based on the results of the 2025 LG Elections.Meanwhile, yesterday (24), the NPP secured power in the Balangoda Urban Council (UC) and the Thanamalwila Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) which has increased the number of LG bodies secured through votes to 49.Furthermore, with the addition of the Gampola UC and the Bentota PS, the main Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) now controls a total of 27 LG institutions.The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) has secured control of 17 LG bodies.The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC), and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) each hold power in three LG bodies.The People’s Alliance (PA) holds control in one LG body, while the United National Party (UNP) has not succeeded in securing control of any LG institution following the 2025 LG Elections.Additionally, several other political parties and independent groups have taken control of 12 LG institutions.The establishment of power in several LG institutions where no party had a clear majority following the 2025 LG Elections took place yesterday.Accordingly, the SJB secured power in the Bentota PS, after a vote was taken during the inaugural sitting held under the leadership of the Commissioner of LG in the Southern Province. In the open vote to elect the Chairperson, Premakumara Wijewardena from the SJB secured 12 votes, while Mervin Pradeepa Kodithuwakku, representing the NPP, received 11 votes.Meanwhile, the SJB also gained control of the Gampola UC, where an open vote was held to elect the Chairperson. The NPP candidate received 10 votes, while Iruka Weeraratne of the SJB received 19 votes and was elected the Chairperson.In the Kuchchaveli PS, I. Mubarak of the SLMC was elected the Chairperson with the support of the ITAK, defeating Abdul Rizan of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress in an open vote.Meanwhile, the inaugural sitting of the Bandaragama PS was held yesterday at 9.30 a.m. under the leadership of Western Province Commissioner Sarangika Kalhari Jayasundara. A tense situation arose due to a disagreement between Jayasundara and Opposition members led by the SJB over whether the Chairperson should be selected through a secret ballot or an open ballot. Jayasundara adjourned the meeting for 10 minutes. However, when the PS reconvened, continued disagreements led to it being adjourned indefinitely.

Local Government: NPP secures power in 200

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tourism and Foreign Employment, Vijitha Herath has reaffirmed the Government of Sri Lanka’s commitment to maintaining a constructive and cooperative dialogue with the United Nations (UN) on human rights (HR) issues.Herath made this assertion during a meeting with the visiting UN High Commissioner (HC) for HR, Volker Türk, yesterday (24). The two officials addressed matters of mutual interest concerning HR, according to a post on the social media platform ‘X’. Herath stated, “We discussed matters of mutual interest related to HR, where I reiterated the Government’s commitment to continued constructive engagement.”&nbsp;He also briefed Türk on the progress made in national reconciliation efforts and the advancement of HR since the current administration assumed office.Earlier, Türk, who arrived in the island on Monday (23) on an official visit, held discussions with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, at the Premier’s Office. Dr. Amarasuriya reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to working constructively with the Office of the UNHCHR. She has noted that the recent political transition marks a significant shift in Sri Lanka’s political culture, rooted in a historic mandate received from all communities. She outlined the Government’s focus on three key pillars: alleviating rural poverty, advancing digitalisation, and pursuing legal and political reforms alongside the necessary social transformation and institutional changes. She reiterated the Government’s commitment to protecting and promoting the full spectrum of HR, including social, educational, health, and economic rights, and emphasised that reconciliation remains a priority, supported by strengthening domestic mechanisms such as the Office on Missing Persons, the Office for Reparations, and the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Türk has expressed appreciation for Sri Lanka’s continued engagement and reaffirmed the importance of collaboration in advancing HR, democratic governance, and national reconciliation.Türk will remain in the country until tomorrow (26), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tourism and Foreign Employment said. This marks the first visit by a UNHCHR to Sri Lanka since February 2016.&nbsp;

UNHCHR’s SL visit: Govt. reaffirms ‘constructive, cooperative’ commitment 

<ul><li>17 Lankans in Israel, 1 in Iran return on spl. Indian flights; No BIA flight cancellations – just delays</li><li> BIA and Mattala on stand-by for emergency landing</li><li> SriLankan flights diverted to Oman, Saudi, UAE&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul> Sri Lankan citizens in Qatar have been advised to stay indoors, remain vigilant and closely follow the advice issued by the Government of Qatar, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Qatar stated. Accordingly, the Embassy requested Sri Lankans to monitor and act on security updates and advisories issued by the Qatari authorities in relation to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.Meanwhile, a Sri Lankan national has left Iran and reached New Delhi, India, on Monday evening (23), on a special flight operated by the Government of India. Under the ‘Operation Sindhu’, a total of 290 Indian nationals and one Sri Lankan who were evacuated from Mashhad, Iran, arrived in New Delhi, the External Affairs Ministry of India stated.&nbsp;The first batch of 161 passengers from Amman, Jordan, arrived in New Delhi yesterday (24). These 161 individuals were evacuated from Israel and moved to Amman by road, according to the ministry.Given the recent developments between Israel and Iran, the Government of India is evacuating Indian nationals from Israel who wish to leave. Their travel from Israel to India will be facilitated through the land borders and thereafter by air to India.Sri Lankans seeking to leave Iran or Israel have also been requested to contact the respective missions to register their interests.&nbsp;A total of 17 Sri Lankans in Israel have registered to travel on a special flight operated by the Indian Government, amidst escalating violence in the Middle East, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Israel Nimal Bandara stated.&nbsp;Accordingly, the said group of Sri Lankans is scheduled to depart from the Amman International Airport in Jordan to New Delhi, today (25).Elsewhere, no flights have been cancelled at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake, despite the decision by several countries in the Middle East to close their respective airspace following airstrikes by Iran on a United States (US) military base in Qatar on Monday (23). However, according to a BIA spokesperson, a number of flights due to leave for airports in the Middle East have been delayed. Moreover, five SriLankan Airlines flights have been diverted to the Muscat International Airport in Oman, the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), due to the current situation in the Middle East. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that all precautionary measures will be taken to ensure the safety of Sri Lankans and other passengers using the SriLankan Airlines.&nbsp;Also, the BIA and the Mattala International Airport have been kept on standby for any requests by civil airlines for emergency landings, the CAA said.&nbsp;The CAA added that the decision has been taken due to the current volatile situation in Qatar.&nbsp;Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Kuwait closed their respective airspaces on Monday following airstrikes by Iran targeting the Al Udeid US military base in Doha, Qatar. Airlines are continuing to decide to reroute flights significantly due to wider regional tensions. Iran’s military said on Monday that it had carried out a “devastating and powerful” missile attack on the Al Udeid airbase, after explosions were heard across the Qatari Capital following Tehran’s (Iran) threat to retaliate for US airstrikes. Iran had issued threats to retaliate against the US after US bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-busters on Iranian underground nuclear sites during the weekend, joining Israel’s air war against Tehran, and US President Donald Trump mooted the possibility of the Iranian Government being toppled. Qatar’s Defence Minister, quoted by Al Jazeera Television, said that its air defences had intercepted missiles directed at the Al Udeid air base, the largest US military installation in the Middle East, situated across the Gulf from Iran. Qatari authorities said that there were no casualties in the attack, which it condemned and said it reserved the right to respond.Earlier yesterday, Trump announced a complete ceasefire between Israel and Iran, potentially ending the 12-day war that saw millions flee Tehran and which prompted fears of further escalation in the war-torn region. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi however said that there is no ceasefire agreement in place but that they may continue to stop firing if Israel does.

Middle East crisis: Lankans in Qatar told to stay indoors 

<ul><li> Public Security Min. claims investigators have no info. that she fled SL</li></ul>There is no information yet confirming the whereabouts of the fugitive female suspect wanted in connection with the murder of organised crime suspect Sanjeewa Kumara Samararatne, alias ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa’, Ishara Sewwandi, the Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala has stated.Wijepala further said that the Criminal Investigation Department is conducting a formal investigation into the murder. Wijepala made these remarks while participating in a television programme. He said that it has not been revealed that she has fled the country, according to the information that the investigative officers have received.The Police Headquarters previously announced a cash reward of Rs. 1.2 million for any individual providing accurate information leading to the arrest of Sewwandi, who remains at large after her involvement in the murder. Samararatne was shot dead on 19 February, at the Number Five Magistrate’s Court within the Hulftsdorp Courts Complex. The primary female suspect, suspected of aiding and abetting the shooter, is Pingpura Devage Ishara Sewwandi, a 25-year-old woman.

Ganemulla Sanjeewa’s murder: No info. on Ishara Sewwandi’s whereabouts?

The main Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) questioned the Government’s fund management in the public health sector, adding that the current state of the sector does not reflect the effective management of funds.Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council’s Opposition Leader Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa expressed these remarks while speaking to the media yesterday (24).Noting that despite the Government’s promises to allocate approximately Rs. 160 billion to provide medicines and to ensure that there will not be a medicines shortage, he added that the public health sector is facing numerous issues. He claimed that while a number of hospitals are facing a medicines and equipment shortage, this has disrupted the stable provision of services. He further said that the prices of antibiotics have drastically gone up.“It seems as if the Government is not taking measures to protect free public healthcare in the country,” Dr. Sanjeewa opined, claiming that the Government has expressed doubts about maintaining healthcare completely free of charge and that it is unprecedented. He said that although the&nbsp;national health policy states that facilities should be available for a citizen to obtain healthcare irrespective of financial disparities, the Health Ministry has failed to fulfill this policy which may have adverse impacts on the sector.

Two youth shot dead in Middeniya

Police integrity: Thousands of cops scrutinised for crime links

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Cabinet discusses ME crisis

Cabinet discusses ME crisis

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UNHCHR’s SL visit: Govt. reaff ...

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Middle East crisis: Lankans in ...

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Ganemulla Sanjeewa’s murder: N ...

SJB queries health sector fund mgt.

SJB queries health sector fund ...

Police integrity: Thousands of cops scrutinised for crime links

Police integrity: Thousands of ...

Israel-Iran conflict: Trump warns Israel ‘not (to) drop those bombs’

Israel-Iran conflict: Trump wa ...

Cabinet discusses ME crisis

Cabinet discusses ME crisis

Local Government: NPP secures power in 200

Local Government: NPP secures ...

UNHCHR’s SL visit: Govt. reaffirms ‘constructive, cooperative’ commitm ...

UNHCHR’s SL visit: Govt. reaff ...

Middle East crisis: Lankans in Qatar told to stay indoors

Middle East crisis: Lankans in ...

Ganemulla Sanjeewa’s murder: No info. on Ishara Sewwandi’s whereabouts ...

Ganemulla Sanjeewa’s murder: N ...

SJB queries health sector fund mgt.

SJB queries health sector fund ...

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Cabinet discusses ME crisis

Cabinet discusses ME crisis

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