<ul><li>SriLankan suspends Riyadh and Dammam flights until 1 Nov.</li><li>Foreign Ministry reports no Sri Lankans affected by attacks</li><li>Tour operators urged to ensure safe return of pilgrims&nbsp;</li></ul> As Saudi Arabia faces attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure from the Houthis, concerns are growing over the safety of foreign nationals, including Sri Lankan migrant workers and Umrah pilgrims.&nbsp;Indian authorities are working to facilitate the return of around 3,000 Indian Umrah pilgrims reportedly stranded in Saudi Arabia. Over the past week, Sri Lankan Umrah pilgrims have also been leaving the country, while India is making arrangements to assist its nationals travelling back from Riyadh and Jeddah.Due to the regional security situation, SriLankan Airlines has temporarily suspended all direct flights between Colombo and Riyadh and Dammam until and including 1 November.&nbsp;The Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs issued a notice on 16 October. The Sri Lanka Hajj Mission has instructed all registered Umrah travel operators to take necessary precautions to safeguard pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia amid regional tensions and the possibility of flight disruptions.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, the latest developments, including attacks on key civilian and energy infrastructure, have raised fresh concerns about the safety of expatriate workers and pilgrims.&nbsp;Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry told The Sunday Morning that no Sri Lankans had been reported affected by the latest developments, particularly in Riyadh and Dammam. The Sri Lankan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia had not responded to a request for clarification on whether arrangements would be made to repatriate Umrah pilgrims in view of the deteriorating security situation in Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;India has strongly condemned the continued attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including the reported attacks on the King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oil field in the Eastern Province on 21 October. The attacks reportedly resulted in civilian deaths and injuries.&nbsp;Meanwhile, no publicly available, real-time official count exists for the number of Sri Lankan Umrah pilgrims currently in Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;Unlike the formal Hajj pilgrimage, which is subject to a Government-negotiated national quota, Umrah is a voluntary pilgrimage that can be performed throughout the year. Sri Lanka has been allocated a quota of 3,500 pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj season. Umrah travel, by contrast, is arranged through private tour operators, with pilgrims travelling on individual visas processed through Saudi Arabia’s systems, including the Nusuk platform.&nbsp;Hajj and Umrah Committee Chairman Reyaz Mihular told The Sunday Morning that Umrah was smaller in scale than Hajj and involved different travel arrangements, adding that there was no set number of Umrah pilgrims who had travelled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;Given the current regional situation, he said that pilgrims and tour operators needed to exercise caution, particularly as flights operating through Jeddah could face disruptions. He added that pilgrims could return as the Jeddah–Sri Lanka flights were operating and because there were other flights operating in Jeddah.&nbsp;He explained that Hajj pilgrims generally travelled under specific arrangements and were restricted to designated locations under Saudi regulations, whereas Umrah pilgrims may visit other destinations in Saudi Arabia in addition to performing their religious rites in Mecca.&nbsp;Mihular urged tour operators to take preventive measures and ensure the safety of pilgrims, including making arrangements for their safe return if they became stranded. He said that a licence fee of Rs. 2 million was applicable to operators handling pilgrim travel and could be used to facilitate repatriation if required.&nbsp;He added that the relevant consular authorities had a role in assisting tour operators to ensure pilgrims were brought home safely. Sri Lanka has around 93 licensed Hajj tour operators, some of whom also arrange Umrah travel.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Jeddah issued a notice on 16 October drawing the attention of Sri Lankan nationals planning to undertake Umrah to the possibility of disruptions to flights to and from Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;

Attacks on Saudi Arabia: Safety concerns mount for Lankan Umrah pilgrims  

<ul><li>New forest reserve declarations put on hold</li></ul> Tracts of land have been identified for release from forest reserve status under the first phase of a two-stage plan aimed at resolving forest boundary disputes in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, according to Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi.Meanwhile, the declaration of newly identified forest reserves in the Northern Province had been put on hold pending the resolution of outstanding land ownership issues, the Minister said, speaking to The Sunday Morning.He said that the disputes stemmed from forest reserves demarcated using GPS coordinates under previous administrations.&nbsp;“During previous government tenures, forest reserves were designated using GPS coordinates – particularly by the Department of Forest Conservation,” he said. “Because of this, private property, even State institutions and hospitals, ended up trapped inside designated reserve boundaries.”A committee has been appointed to identify the affected State property and outline a framework for de-reserving it.&nbsp;“We appointed a committee around August last year,” Patabendi said. “Although it was given a six-month mandate, over a year has now passed without the final report being presented, mainly due to a lack of necessary cooperation from certain District Coordinating Committees.” He did not reveal the names of the committees.The ministry is nevertheless proceeding with the release. “We have already identified tracts of land to be released from reserve status in Phase 1, and any remaining unresolved issues will be addressed under Phase 2,” he said.On the suspension of new declarations, the Minister said: “Because of these ongoing complications, we decided not to formally declare newly identified forest reserves in the Northern Province until these land boundaries and ownership issues are fully cleared and settled.”Decades after the conclusion of the civil conflict, land disputes tied to State-declared forest and wildlife reserves remain a critical socio-political challenge in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.&nbsp;According to periodic monitoring reports and analyses published by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), the contested demarcation of State conservation areas frequently overlaps with ancestral lands, traditional agricultural plots, and residential properties belonging to war-displaced minority communities.&nbsp;Human rights organisations and civil society groups have repeatedly cautioned that unilateral land appropriation under the guise of environmental conservation exacerbates ethnic tensions and severely hampers post-conflict reconciliation efforts.Compounding these social grievances, regional administrative bodies, such as provincial land commissioners, Divisional Secretariats (DS), Grama Niladhari (GN) divisions, and provincial irrigation and road departments, have highlighted how rigid forestry regulations stall critical infrastructure development and rural livelihoods.&nbsp;Local authorities have faced extensive bureaucratic hurdles when attempting to rehabilitate ancient irrigation tanks, clear waterways, and construct essential access roads, due to overlapping jurisdictions with Central Government authorities such as the Forest Conservation Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), and Mahaweli Authority.In response to sustained public pressure, community advocacy, and political representations, Central Government authorities, including the Cabinet of Ministers and the Presidential Secretariat, have initiated administrative reviews. These include proposals to evaluate and release approximately 200,000 acres of State-controlled land in the north and east to accommodate displaced residents, secure livestock grazing tracts, and streamline regional development.Meanwhile, the ministry is also advancing a legislative package to update decades-old environmental statutes, according to the Minister. Patabendi said that the National Environmental Act had been revised and passed after a gap of 26 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;Three other statutes are undergoing revision. The Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (FFPO) No.2 of 1937, which the DWC administers, had not been amended for 44 years, the Minister said.&nbsp;“The legislation under the DWC had not been amended for 44 years. There was a subsequent amendment to the FFPO in 2009. We have now prepared the necessary draft bills for updated legislation and are prepared to obtain Cabinet approval for these amendments,” he said.On the Water Resources Board Act No.29 of 1964, he said: “We obtained Cabinet approval to amend the Water Resources Board Act.” Draft amendments to the Marine Pollution Prevention Act were currently being prepared, he added.The ministry has also completed a draft policy on captive elephants; its absence had stalled the process for a long period.&nbsp;“Because no policy regarding captive elephants had been implemented in our country for a long period, that entire process was completely stalled,” the Minister explained. “We appointed a committee to draft a policy on captive elephants and a final draft has now been completed.”The ministry plans to consult the Mahanayaka Theras and other religious leaders on the draft. The aim is to establish a legal framework for registering and using elephants in traditional and religious festivals while adhering to animal welfare standards.&nbsp;

North and east land disputes: Forest lands identified for release under two-stage plan

<ul><li>CID ordered to begin investigations</li><li>Inquest reports confirm 19 died of firearm injuries, the rest of blunt-weapon injuries</li></ul> Negombo Magistrate Shilani Perera formally declared on Friday (23) that a crime occurred in the killing of 10 Police Emergency Tactical Force officers and several inmates inside the Negombo Prison.&nbsp;She ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to conduct all necessary investigations, take action against those responsible, and report to court on Thursday (29).The order was issued after the Magistrate concluded the inquest proceedings, having considered the post-mortem reports and heard evidence.The inquest reports, presented to the court on Friday (23), covered two lists: one relating to the officers and the other to the detainees. The reports confirmed that 19 individuals had died of firearm injuries, while the remaining victims had died of injuries caused by blunt weapons.The Magistrate noted that all the deaths had resulted from firearms, rifle-type firearms, and blunt weapons. The court found that gunshots to the head and chest, together with blows to the abdomen and hip area, had caused haemorrhaging of internal organs, which had been the main cause of death.“The court has observed that the cause of these deaths was gunshot injuries to the head and chest, and blows to the abdomen and hip area. Death also occurred due to internal haemorrhaging of organs. I direct that this be investigated and a report submitted to court on 29 October,” the Magistrate said.The official declaration of the incident as a crime was the most significant outcome of the day, as such a finding must be made legally through inquest reports and formal findings. The Magistrate also directed that death certificates be issued to the families of the deceased.The CID subsequently submitted a further report to court. Investigating officers said that 106 suspects – 81 men and 25 women – had been named so far and produced for identification parades. Several parades were held in the morning and several suspects were reported to have been identified.The CID also informed the court that it had yet to receive any Government Analyst’s report on the firearms, blood samples, or DNA testing.Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) Chairman, Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera requested the court to note the continuing delay in receiving the Government Analyst’s reports, which was causing severe prejudice, and to expedite the process. When the Magistrate questioned the CID, officers said the productions had been sent and that efforts were under way to obtain the reports quickly.It was then suggested that a formal reminder be sent to the Government Analyst. The Magistrate ordered that a reminder be issued and that the letter be hand-delivered so that the reports could be obtained as quickly as possible.Having considered the submissions, the Magistrate ordered that all 106 suspects be further remanded until Thursday (29). Suspects who did not need to be produced for identification parades were permitted to appear before court via WhatsApp technology on the next hearing date.Perera appeared for the deceased inmates when the case was called. The CID’s further report was submitted by a team led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Chandana Kaluarachchi of the Commercial Crimes Division. &nbsp;The clash at the Negombo Prison on 5 and 6 July claimed the lives of 10 prison officers and more than 20 inmates, while over 100 others were injured. The CID is conducting the investigations and the case has been filed under the Penal Code for murder, the Public Property Act, and the Firearms Ordinance.Similar court findings were made following earlier clashes at the Welikada and Mahara Prisons. After inquests there concluded that crimes had been committed, cases were referred to the CID so that legal action could be taken against the officers who led the shootings and assaults.The case is scheduled to be called again on Thursday.

Negombo Prison clash: Magistrate declares prison deaths a crime 

A complaint has been lodged by retired aeronautical engineer Dinesh de Alwis with the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) concerning the Airbus A320 type rating obtained by Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) Director General Daminda Rambukwella, who was then a Junior First Officer (JFO) at SriLankan Airlines.The complaint concerns Rambukwella’s simulator training and assessments in 2022.&nbsp;According to the allegations, he failed several simulator assessments, identified as FFS 4, FFS 7, FFS 8, and FFS 9, raising questions about whether he met the requirements for the relevant licence endorsement.Rambukwella, who had been recruited to the national airline as a JFO, was reportedly given a Grade 1 (unsatisfactory/fail) for a simulator training exercise by the Type Rating Instructor.Despite the failed assessments, Rambukwella was allegedly permitted to continue his training at SriLankan Airlines. Several instructors reportedly declined to continue training him and resigned over concerns about the process.In 2024, seven senior training captains, including the Chief Pilot Training and Standards, resigned from their supervisory positions on SriLankan Airlines’ Pilot Training and Standards Committee over what they described as “unlawful interference”.They alleged that then Director General of Civil Aviation P.A. Jayakantha had disregarded the trainee’s failures and intervened to allow him to continue simulator training on the Airbus A320, in contravention of training and standards approvals issued by the CAASL.The instructors who had raised concerns about the training are understood to have subsequently provided statements to the CCIB following the complaint.&nbsp;

Complaint filed over Airbus type rating for test-failed officer

<ul><li>New mechanism to encourage daytime electricity consumption</li><li>Consumers urged to reduce electricity use during evening peak hours</li><li>Competitive bidding proposed for new solar projects</li><li>Govt. plans to limit annual rooftop solar capacity additions to 200–250 MW</li></ul> The Government has decided to discontinue the existing net-accounting system for rooftop solar electricity consumers and introduce a new mechanism based on instantaneous offsetting to reduce electricity system costs and manage growing solar generation, The Sunday Morning learns.The proposed mechanism would offset electricity generated by rooftop solar installations against electricity consumed at the same time, replacing the existing arrangement under which consumers can effectively use surplus electricity exported to the national grid during daytime hours to offset electricity consumed at night.Under the current net-accounting system, some rooftop solar consumers can effectively reduce their electricity bills to zero by exporting surplus generation to the grid. However, The Sunday Morning learns that this does not necessarily mean such consumers impose no costs on the national electricity system.According to a senior Government official close to the subject, during daytime hours, when solar generation is already abundant, additional electricity exported by rooftop installations may have limited economic value.&nbsp;In certain circumstances, excess generation must either be curtailed or stored in batteries, both of which have financial implications for the electricity system. Consumers exporting electricity during the day and drawing electricity from the grid at night are effectively using the national grid as a storage facility, although electricity supplied during these two periods carries significantly different economic values.According to the official, the existing system does not adequately account for this difference, creating a situation where consumers who generate sufficient solar electricity to offset their bills have little financial incentive to reduce consumption during expensive evening peak periods.It is understood that the new approach would better reflect the actual value of electricity at different times of the day, with similar arrangements already being implemented in countries such as Australia.Meanwhile, the Government is also planning to moderate the pace of solar power expansion over the next three years, with proposed capacity additions substantially below the installation levels recorded during the previous year.The Sunday Morning learns that approximately 900–1,000 MW of solar generation capacity was added last year, while the proposed expansion plan envisages approximately 1,500 MW of additional solar capacity over the next three years. Of this, around half could be allocated to rooftop solar installations, resulting in an estimated annual addition of approximately 200–250 MW.Nevertheless, the fact that only around 150,000 of the country’s approximately seven million households have installed rooftop solar systems is understood to have raised concerns among electricity system planners. The Government’s position is that the number of households without solar installations cannot determine the volume of additional generation the national grid can accommodate, as electricity demand and the timing of generation remain critical considerations.The Sunday Morning also learns that the Government is considering introducing competitive bidding for new solar generation projects, replacing the existing first-come, first-served system of granting approvals. Under the proposed mechanism, developers would compete for available grid capacity by submitting the prices at which they are prepared to supply electricity.For instance, where the electricity system can accommodate only 250 MW of additional solar capacity despite developers expressing interest in installing 1,000 MW, projects offering electricity at the lowest prices could be prioritised.&nbsp;The proposed auction-based system is expected to reduce electricity procurement costs while ensuring that the financial benefits of renewable energy development are passed on to consumers. While attractive tariffs were previously necessary to encourage renewable energy investments, the increased availability of developers is expected to allow electricity procurement through more competitive pricing arrangements.&nbsp;The proposed reforms are also intended to improve transparency in allocating limited grid connection capacity and reduce reliance on approval mechanisms based primarily on application order.However, when contacted by The Sunday Morning, National System Operator (NSO) Chairman Dr. Pradeep Perera said that the Government was considering several billing and metering arrangements under the Net Plus scheme to provide appropriate incentives for prosumers to invest in small-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).He explained that these arrangements would encourage consumers to store surplus solar energy generated during the daytime for use at night, while shifting discretionary electricity consumption, such as Electric Vehicle (EV) charging, to daytime hours to reduce nighttime demand.Dr. Perera further stated that zero-export connections would be promoted in areas where the grid’s capacity to absorb additional solar generation was constrained by overloaded transformers.He noted that the proposed changes would encourage solar investors to optimise the use of solar-plus-BESS systems in a manner that benefited the national power system while ensuring adequate returns on their investments.&nbsp;

Renewable energy : Govt. to scrap rooftop solar net-accounting system

<ul><li>Separate Bay of Bengal weather system could develop into cyclone</li></ul> The Department of Meteorology has ruled out any direct threat to Sri Lanka from Typhoon Champi, but warns that a separate low-pressure system developing over the Bay of Bengal could intensify into a cyclonic storm by Monday (26), bringing increased rainfall to parts of the island.&nbsp;Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Department of Meteorology Director General A.L.K. Wijemannage said that the typhoon, which had formed near the Philippines, was not expected to affect Sri Lanka significantly.&nbsp;“There will be no impact on Sri Lanka from Typhoon Champi. There might be a slight change in the wind, but we will not have a direct, major impact,” he said.&nbsp;Wijemannage dismissed the possibility of the typhoon moving towards Sri Lanka, explaining that it was generally travelling in a north to north-westerly direction and would weaken upon making landfall.&nbsp;However, he cautioned that a separate low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal could develop into a depression, followed by a deep depression, with the possibility of intensifying into a cyclone.&nbsp;The Department of Meteorology forecast that a low-pressure area which had formed near the North Andaman Island could intensify into a depression by Saturday (24), a deep depression by Sunday (25), and a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by Monday (26) morning.&nbsp;The department also noted that another low-pressure area previously located near Sri Lanka was moving westwards away from the island.&nbsp;Although the developing system over the Bay of Bengal was not expected to directly affect Sri Lanka, its associated wind flow could bring increased rainfall to the south-western parts of the country over the coming days.&nbsp;Showers or thundershowers were forecast in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Northern, and North Western Provinces, as well as the Galle and Matara Districts, with fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 75 mm possible in some areas.&nbsp;The public has been advised to take precautions against temporary strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Department of Irrigation Director of Water Management Eng. P.S.D. Herath confirmed that all flood warnings previously issued across the country, including those for Deduru Oya and Kala Oya, had been withdrawn.&nbsp;“There is no threat now,” Herath said, adding that no immediate flood or flash flood threats were being reported at the time of inquiry.&nbsp;However, Department of Irrigation Hydrology and Disaster Management Division Chief Engineer Chamara Yapa Arachchi cautioned that water levels remained elevated in several rivers despite a reduction in rainfall.&nbsp;“Since rainfall continues to persist, the water levels remain high in almost all rivers,” he said.&nbsp;Yapa Arachchi said that no further increases in river water levels were being reported at the time, but warned that the situation could change depending on rainfall over the coming days.&nbsp;“Given the current situation, there is no flood risk right now. However, the Department of Meteorology forecasts rain for the next few days. Therefore, there might be changes in the river water levels then,” he told The Sunday Morning.&nbsp;He urged residents in low-lying areas and communities living along riverbanks to remain alert, particularly in the wet zone and areas surrounding Deduru Oya and Kala Oya.&nbsp;Yapa Arachchi also highlighted elevated water levels around the Rajanganaya Reservoir and confirmed that the spill gates of the Deduru Oya Reservoir remained open. “People in those areas need to be especially careful,” he said.He further advised the public to follow updates issued by the Department of Irrigation, Department of Meteorology, and Disaster Management Centre (DMC), while avoiding risky activities in and around rivers.Meanwhile, the National Building Research Institute (NBRI) has issued amber-level landslide warnings for selected areas in the Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya, and Ratnapura Districts.&nbsp;Yellow-level warnings have also been issued for areas in the Badulla, Colombo, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Monaragala, Nuwara Eliya, and Ratnapura Districts.&nbsp;NBRI Landslides Research and Risk Management Division Senior Scientist Dr. Wasantha Senadeera confirmed that no evacuation orders had been issued at the time of inquiry.&nbsp;According to the DMC’s latest situation report, 9,351 people belonging to 2,572 families across 20 districts have been affected by weather-related disasters.&nbsp;The report recorded 12 deaths, 25 injuries, and one missing person, while 1,754 houses had sustained damage, including 27 completely destroyed and 1,727 partially damaged.&nbsp;Despite the lifting of flood warnings, authorities have urged the public to remain cautious as further rainfall could trigger renewed rises in river water levels and increase landslide risks in vulnerable areas.

No direct threat to SL from Typhoon Champi 

<ul><li>Ministry secures Cabinet approval to buy heavy machinery for stone groynes to counter shoreline erosion&nbsp;</li></ul> Illegal structures on coastal land have been identified, cases have been filed, and notices to remove them have been issued, while the removal of fisher families from occupied beach lands requires a humane approach, including alternative housing, according to Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi.&nbsp;Speaking to The Sunday Morning, the Minister said that action against illegal structures on the coast was already under way. “The illegal structures have been identified, cases have been filed, appeals are being considered, and we have informed them to remove the structures,” he said. “Those processes are going on.”&nbsp;He emphasised, however, that recovering occupied beach lands from fisher families required humane relocation rather than forced displacement. “There is no way to just remove the fisherfolk, because we can only accomplish this by providing them with alternative housing in other locations,” Patabendi said. “However, we have identified those areas.”&nbsp;According to the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management, over 2,500 unauthorised constructions have been identified along the island’s coastal zone, and the authorities are demolishing illegal structures to enforce coastal regulations and redevelop beaches for tourism. Under Sri Lankan coastal law, permanent or unauthorised construction is strictly prohibited within 10–25 metres of the shoreline.&nbsp;The Ministry of Environment is also accelerating shoreline protection initiatives. To counter severe shoreline erosion, the Coast Conservation Department is carrying out major engineering interventions, including the flagship Kalutara Calido Beach Protection Project, which uses stone groynes to stabilise the beach strip.&nbsp;However, coastal engineering projects face severe machinery shortages caused by marine conditions, with private contractors routinely refusing to lease their machinery for coastal works.&nbsp;To overcome this bottleneck, the ministry has secured Cabinet authorisation to purchase dedicated heavy machinery for constructing stone groynes.&nbsp;“The main issue here is having to work directly with seawater,” the Minister explained. “Heavy machinery deteriorates rapidly. The private sector does not provide their equipment for this work due to saltwater damage risks. However, we obtained the necessary approvals recently to purchase the required machinery.”&nbsp;The Minister said that the ministry was also leading what it described as the largest marine debris cleanup campaign in the nation’s history, launched after maritime incidents involving vessels off the Kerala coast. Massive volumes of debris and plastic drifted across ocean currents onto Sri Lankan shorelines, from the northern islands down to the western coast.&nbsp;The Kerala coast experienced a major maritime emergency involving the MV Wan Hai 503, a Singapore-flagged container vessel that caught fire and suffered explosions off the coast of Kannur/Kozhikode on 9 June 2025. The MSC Elsa 3, also off Kerala, likewise sparked environmental concerns and local fishing bans.&nbsp;Sri Lanka denied entry to the burning MV Wan Hai 503 following an underdeck explosion off the Indian coast, citing severe environmental risks. Fearing a repeat of the catastrophic 2021 X-Press Pearl disaster, Sri Lankan authorities rejected requests to tow the listing ship into the Hambantota International Port.&nbsp;Debris and chemical pollution from the nearby sinking of the MSC Elsa 3 later began washing onto Sri Lanka’s northern shores, threatening vital marine ecosystems and local fisheries.&nbsp;In response, the ministry organised an extensive removal operation that collected approximately 686–700 MT of marine waste, including 23 MT of PET bottles alone.&nbsp;The cleanup had been carried out without the use of public funds, the Minister said. The ministry negotiated with the shipping companies to secure nearly Rs. 400–500 million in initial compensation. These funds were used to pay local workers daily wages of between Rs. 3,000 and 4,000 to clean the affected shorelines.&nbsp;The Minister said that the cleanup programme was still ongoing and that its second phase would begin next year. He added that the companies had agreed to pay further compensation.&nbsp;

Beach lands to be reclaimed through legal action

<ul><li>Warns of threat to rights</li></ul> The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has called on the Government to withdraw the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill (PSTB) and the Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill (POCB), warning that the proposed laws could grant sweeping powers of arrest and detention to the Executive while undermining judicial oversight and fundamental rights.&nbsp;In a statement issued on Wednesday (21), BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya said that both bills, gazetted and placed on Parliament’s Order Paper, raised serious concerns over personal liberty, freedom of expression, association, and movement, and the rule of law.&nbsp;The BASL acknowledged the State’s responsibility to combat terrorism and organised crime but stressed that these objectives could not justify weakening constitutional safeguards or depriving individuals of liberty without effective judicial oversight.&nbsp;The association said that Sri Lanka’s experience with the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA) No.48 of 1979 demonstrated the risks of granting extensive powers without adequate safeguards. Although introduced as a temporary measure, the PTA has remained in force for more than four decades and, according to the BASL, has been used under successive governments to detain people for prolonged periods without trial and to suppress dissent.&nbsp;The BASL said that the PSTB, intended to replace the PTA, departed significantly from the draft approved by the committee appointed to review the existing law.&nbsp;The association had nominated President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris and President’s Counsel Chanaka de Silva to the committee. However, its nominees had informed the BASL that the changes in the gazetted bill had not been referred back to the committee before publication.&nbsp;The principal concerns include mandatory remand, restrictions on bail, and provisions allowing detention extensions without the judicial approval envisaged in the committee-approved draft. Bail would be available only through the High Court, with exceptional circumstances required for offences punishable by life imprisonment.&nbsp;The BASL warned that these provisions could result in prolonged detention even where evidence against a suspect was weak. It also raised concerns over restriction orders limiting movement and association for up to three months at a time, expanded powers to proscribe organisations, and provisions allowing criminal liability to be created through subordinate legislation and Executive directives.&nbsp;The BASL has raised serious constitutional concerns over the proposed POCB, warning that its broad definitions and detention powers could threaten fundamental rights and suppress legitimate activities, including peaceful protests.&nbsp;The BASL has filed a Special Determination Application before the Supreme Court, challenging provisions allowing detention for up to one year under Executive orders, restricting bail, and admitting confessions made to Police officers.&nbsp;Criticising the absence of public consultation, the BASL has called for the withdrawal of the POCB, withdrawal of the PSTA in its present form, and repeal of the PTA.&nbsp;

BASL seeks withdrawal of terrorism, crime bills

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa has stated that he is willing to remain in prison for up to 500 days if it brings economic relief to the public and helps protect the country’s cultural heritage. In a statement issued ahead of the 50th day of his imprisonment, Rajapaksa criticised the Government over the cost of living, stating that the public had not received relief despite claims about the country’s financial position. He listed potential benefits, including lower electricity bills and fuel prices, salary increases, interest-free loans and reduced prices of essential goods. Rajapaksa also referred to the death of tusker Kawanthissa and called for the protection of Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage. He expressed confidence that the courts would eventually acquit him.

Attacks on Saudi Arabia: Safety concerns mount for Lankan Um ...

North and east land disputes: Forest lands identified for release unde ...

North and east land disputes: ...

Negombo Prison clash: Magistrate declares prison deaths a crime

Negombo Prison clash: Magistra ...

Complaint filed over Airbus type rating for test-failed officer

Complaint filed over Airbus ty ...

Renewable energy : Govt. to scrap rooftop solar net-accounting system

Renewable energy : Govt. to sc ...

No direct threat to SL from Typhoon Champi

No direct threat to SL from Ty ...

Beach lands to be reclaimed through legal action

Beach lands to be reclaimed th ...

BASL seeks withdrawal of terrorism, crime bills

BASL seeks withdrawal of terro ...

Namal willing to remain in prison for 500 days if country benefits

Namal willing to remain in pri ...

North and east land disputes: Forest lands identified for release unde ...

North and east land disputes: ...

Negombo Prison clash: Magistrate declares prison deaths a crime

Negombo Prison clash: Magistra ...

Complaint filed over Airbus type rating for test-failed officer

Complaint filed over Airbus ty ...

Renewable energy : Govt. to scrap rooftop solar net-accounting system

Renewable energy : Govt. to sc ...

No direct threat to SL from Typhoon Champi

No direct threat to SL from Ty ...

Beach lands to be reclaimed through legal action

Beach lands to be reclaimed th ...

BASL seeks withdrawal of terrorism, crime bills

BASL seeks withdrawal of terro ...

Namal willing to remain in prison for 500 days if country benefits

Namal willing to remain in pri ...

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No direct threat to SL from Typhoon Champi

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