<ul><li>Free Lawyers Association and Dinana Dakuna collective slam action against Opposition leaders, activists </li></ul> The Free Lawyers Association has claimed that the Criminal Investigation Department's (CID) move to investigate several Opposition political leaders and activists over alleged contempt of court amounts to an attempt to restrict and suppress the freedom of expression and intimidate Government critics. Issuing a statement, the organisation criticised and condemned the CID's decision to act against former Ministers Wimal Weerawansa and attorney Udaya Gammanpila, Parliamentarian and Sarvajana Balaya Leader and attorney Dilith Jayaweera, and political activists Mahinda Pathirana, Asanka Nawarathne and Sugeeshwara Bandara. In the statement, which was shared with The Daily Morning by the Association's Chief Executive Officer and former Governor Rajith Keethi Tennakoon, they stated that it is extremely rare and unusual in Sri Lanka's history for a Magistrate's Court to be called upon to consider matters involving the expression of views by political leaders and activists in a single case, deeming the development as a clear attempt at political repression and suppression. Referring to the Contempt of Court, Tribunal or Institution Act, No. 8 of 2024, the Association claimed that the Legislation does not provide legal authority for the Police to institute or pursue and maintain independent contempt of court proceedings on behalf of the Judiciary. It charged that misusing Police powers to silence political figures and dissent under the guise of contempt of court would be inconsistent with democratic principles. The Association further maintained that freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed under Article 14(1)(a) of the Constitution and that political leaders and activists have the right to express their political views without fear of criminal investigation. It also referred to the freedom of thought and conscience protected under Article 10, stating that these rights cannot be undermined by partisan actions within the Police service. The statement follows the CID informing the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court via a submission on Monday (15) that it had launched an investigation into statements allegedly made through the electronic media which, the investigators claimed, could affect, obstruct and interfere with ongoing investigations and processes involving former State Intelligence Service Director, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, who is currently in remand custody, and could amount to contempt of court. The CID also sought notices requiring these six individuals to appear before Court on 1 July. However, the Magistrate observed that such summons were not necessary at this stage and further noted that, as the matter falls under the said Act, any future legal action should follow the appropriate legal process and, if necessary, be initiated before the Court of Appeal.The statement further referred to the appointment of the current CID Director, alleging political considerations in the process and claiming that law enforcement agencies are being used to target Government critics.Meanwhile, the ‘Dinana Dakuna’ collective has condemned what it describes as politically motivated interference by the Police and the CID in matters related to contempt of court allegations, claiming that such actions are being used to restrict the freedom of expression. In a statement issued by the collective’s Leadership Board and Executive Committee, spokesperson, attorney Shiral Lakthilaka said that the organisation expresses opposition to what it terms the targeting of citizens’ speech and conscience rights under the guise of contempt of court proceedings. The statement refers to ongoing Police and CID action involving several individuals, including Weerawansa, Gammanpila, Jayaweera, Pathirana, Nawaratne and Bandara, and alleges that the process amounts to an attempt to suppress public criticism. The collective argued that the said Act does not provide legal authority for the Police to initiate or pursue contempt proceedings and claimed that the law is being misused to curtail dissent. It further alleged that recent CID actions are aimed at preventing the criticism of senior law enforcement officials and represent an improper use of legal provisions intended to safeguard judicial authority. According to the statement, such developments raise concerns over the politicisation of law enforcement and the use of Police powers to intimidate citizens, activists, and journalists. The Group also emphasised that freedom of expression and freedom of thought are protected under Articles 14(1)(a) and 10, and warned that restricting these rights undermines democratic governance. The collective called for an immediate halt to what it described as politically driven suppression and urged the authorities to ensure the protection of fundamental rights and the equal application of the law.

CID’s contempt action deemed contemptuous 

Specialist Dr M K Sampath Indika Kumar assumed duties as the new Deputy Director General (DDG) of the Colombo National Hospital on Monday (15). He, along with eight other officials appointed to DDG positions, received their letters of appointment on 11 June from Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.&nbsp;

 Colombo National Hospital gets DDG

The Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (Guarantee) Limited (CPRP) has made a submission to the visiting United Nations (UN) Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT) on alleged systematic torture, institutionalised neglect, and the military control of detention. They noted that the Prisons Ordinance, No. 16 of 1877 is outdated in that it emphasises punitive measures rather than rehabilitative principles. “The system exhibits clear disparities, prisoners with privileged backgrounds, especially those with political connections, are frequently granted separate cells, superior meals, and enhanced care not provided to other inmates”. They also noted overcrowding and degrading conditions. “Inmates survive on an average of 1.2 square metres of floor space. In certain facilities, inmates are forced to stand all night or sleep in shifts, sometimes lying on paper placed over the scouting pan toilet. Extreme heat and a lack of good ventilation are common issues in all detainment centres and prisons. At night, when cells are locked, prisoners are forced to use plastic buckets and polythene bags to relieve themselves in the presence of others. At Welikada, more than 60 prisoners share a single flushless toilet, often resulting in overflows and foul odours. Many buildings are sinking or in a state of collapse”. They further alleged torture and ill-treatment. “Violence is an entrenched and systemic element of administration. Ragging and initiation rituals in certain detention facilities have become normalised, involving the severe beating of new entrants using guava sticks, sand-filled Polyvinyl Chloride pipes, cricket stumps, and electrified wires commonly referred to as 33,000 volts. Prisoners held in military detention centres are subjected to severe torture, including waterboarding (using petrol or water bags placed over the face to block inhalation and exhalation), being hung upside down, sensory deprivation through the use of coloured light bulbs, and various forms of sexual harassment and abuse. Both female and male detainees have reported undergoing medically harmful body cavity searches conducted by non-medical personnel. Even lawyers visiting detention centres such as Welisara and Boossa have been subjected to degrading and humiliating searches, including the forced removal of clothing”. Additionally, the Committee pointed out violations in disciplinary proceedings. “In the event of any conflict or incident within a prison, inmates are frequently denied a fair opportunity to present their side in disciplinary hearings. When such incidents occur between prison officers and prisoners, the officers themselves draft the charge sheet. The absence of an independent third party in this process results in significant injustice to the prisoners”. Health and medical conditions highlighted by the Committee include infectious diseases such as various skin diseases, the prevalence of tuberculosis, and psychiatric disorders which are also highly prevalent. “There is a severe shortage of medical personnel, with 35 nursing vacancies and only 57 medical officers available to serve nearly 30,000 inmates. Female inmates do not receive sanitary napkins from the prison authorities, forcing them to barter labour or other items for basic hygiene products. There are insufficient mental health programs in prisons. On food, water, and sanitation, the reality often falls short. Challenges include inadequate budgets, limited dietary diversity, poor storage facilities, and unhygienic kitchen conditions, resulting in substandard meals. Prisons face a severe hygiene crisis. The Mahara Prison is found to lack 48 toilets for a population of roughly 2,000 inmates. Due to extreme overcrowding, some prisoners are forced to sleep inside or next to toilets”. On corporal punishments, there are, according to the Committee, ongoing concerns regarding the risk of abuse, excessive punishment, and a lack of transparency. “Inmates face a lack of privacy during visits, often having to shout through wire mesh or glass in noisy environments while guards remain within earshot. Many prisoners are held far from their home districts, making visits economically impossible for poor families”. A critical concern for the Committee is the operation of prisons within military camps, specifically the Welisara Navy Camp and the Boossa Prison and the Mullaitivu Immigration Detention Camp (inside the Air Force). “These detention centres are controlled under the supervision of the Special Task Force (STF), the Air Force and the Navy. Detainees have alleged that they were intentionally hidden from visiting observing parties to conceal signs of torture. STF officers have been accused of the sexual harassment, questioning, following and frightening of female family members and visitors visiting detainees. There are also allegations that killings were planned from within Boossa with security personnel involvement. Attorneys and HR defenders have faced harassment when entering the Boossa and Welisara Prisons by military officers. Prisoners routinely face severe violations of their right to privacy and human dignity. Body cavity searches are conducted by non-medical staff, including military officers in certain facilities, without proper medical supervision or justification. These invasive procedures, along with frequent unwarranted searches of cells and personal belongings, constant surveillance, 24-hour closed-circuit television camera monitoring, and toilets without doors, leave prisoners with no personal privacy”. The Committee recommended that the SPT take action to: Conduct unannounced visits to detention centres; and Advocate for the Government - to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA), amend the Ordinance in line with the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, use the Minnesota Protocol for all custodial deaths, increase HRCSL visits and appoint provincial committees, introduce body cameras to prison and other relevant officers, allow independent parties including local HR organisations to observe the situations of detention centres, impose bail conditions that are realistic to fulfill, and have alternatives to minor offences instead of prison, including for those unable to pay fines.Earlier, the Citizens of the People's Struggle organization, in a letter submitted to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (HR), requested the SPT to: Conduct an urgent and independent assessment of the detention conditions of the former State Intelligence Service Director, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay; Investigate allegations of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; Visit and inspect relevant places of detention and custodial facilities; Receive testimony and information from detainees and other relevant persons; and Assess compliance with obligations under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (CAT), the CAT, and other applicable international HR instruments,” the letter read.Further, Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath informed the SPT that the Government is following a zero tolerance policy on torture, adding that to implement the same, constitutional, administrative and institutional steps have been taken and are being continuously progressed.

Sallay’s mistreatment complaint: Visiting UN SPT intervention urged by civil society 

<ul><li>ISLF calls for project proposals </li></ul>&nbsp;Based on the request by the Sri Lankan Government’s Defence Ministry, the Indian Government’s Defence Ministry approved military stores worth US $ 5.5 million to the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on a gratis basis from the Indian Army’s operational stocks. The SLA faced a shortage of these military stores, thereby affecting its operational preparedness. The Indian Government had agreed to meet this urgent requirement within a month and it had also agreed to transship these stores onboard the Indian Naval Ship Sharda, which was specially detailed to transport these stores to Colombo on a gratis basis. The handing over was held.In the past two years, the Indian Defence Ministry has approved projects worth Rs five billion for Sri Lanka to upgrade infrastructure as well as supply military and training aids for the Armed Forces. The India-Sri Lanka Foundation (ISLF) has called for project proposals in the fields of art and culture, education, agriculture, science and technology, health, social work, developmental studies, tourism and other educational activities at recognised institutions of learning. Proposals are also invited for visits and exchanges involving students, scholars, academics, artists, professionals and performing artistes. These may include participation in conferences/seminars, symposia, art exhibitions, film festivals, cultural events, training workshops, and the publication of research work on Indo-Lanka relations in the specified fields. Furthermore, proposals for translating literary works in Indian languages to Sri Lankan languages and publishing them, and vice-versa, are encouraged. Individuals, institutions and groups are invited to submit proposals which will be considered during the upcoming meeting of the ISLF’s Board of Directors in August. Applicants may download the application form from the ISLF website (<a href="http://www.islfcolombo.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.islfcolombo.com</a>). The completed application form, together with the proposal, can be electronically mailed (<a href="mailto:islfcolombo2@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">islfcolombo2@gmail.com</a>) or sent to the following address (the ISLF, care of the Indian High Commission,36-38, Galle Road, Colombo 3) before 17 July.

Indo-SL ties: India provides military stores on gratis

Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne has endorsed the certificate for the Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency (Corporate and Personal) Bill, bringing it into force as Act No. 12 of 2026. The new law introduces procedures for personal insolvency, including debt protection, moratoria and debt restructuring, while strengthening the framework for corporate rehabilitation and cross-border insolvency. The Act also repeals the Insolvency Ordinance and amends several existing laws to improve confidence in Sri Lanka's credit market.

Speaker endorses Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act

Yum! Brands is selling its struggling Pizza Hut chain in a deal worth $2.7bn (£2bn), the company has announced. Private equity firm LongRange Capital will acquire the brand outside of mainland China for $1.5bn, while Yum China Holdings will buy the mainland China operations for $1.2bn. "Under LongRange and Yum China, Pizza Hut will be well positioned for future growth with ownership that brings deep expertise in the restaurant industry," said Yum! Brands chief executive Chris Turner. The decision comes after a prolonged period of difficulty for Pizza Hut - a name synonymous with casual dining in America. Yum! Brands first revealed it was exploring a potential sale in November 2025, following several quarters of declining US same-stores. The American market is highly critical for the chain, as it makes up 40% of its total international sales. The drop in performance has been driven by intensifying competition from revival chains like Domino's, Papa John's, and Little Caesars. At a time when inflation remains sticky, these rivals have aggressively discounted their offerings to win over price-sensitive consumers. Moreover, mid-sized regional chains have also chipped away at the market. These smaller, more nimble fast-food competitors have adapted faster to changing consumer habits in the so-called "pizza wars". At the same time, the rapid rise of third-party delivery apps has flooded the market with alternative options, diluting Pizza Hut's historic dominance. Pizza Hut was founded in 1958, the brainchild of two brothers in Wichita, Kansas. It was bought by PepsiCo in 1977 and then spun off into what became Yum! Brands in 1997. "Pizza Hut is one of the most iconic restaurant brands in the world, and we are proud of the important role it has played in Yum!'s history," said Turner. Yum! bought Pizza Hut's UK operations in October last year after DC London Pie, the firm running the dine-in restaurants, fell into administration. While the financial collapse originally shut 68 restaurants and put more than 1,200 jobs at risk, about 64 restaurants were saved as part of a rescue deal. By divesting the rest of the struggling division, Yum! Brands intends to streamline its corporate focus and resources on its remaining core brands, which include KFC and Taco Bell. The transactions with LongRange Capital and Yum China are both expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Source: BBC

Struggling Pizza Hut chain to be sold for $2.7bn

French Ambassador to Sri Lanka Rémi Lambert met Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd.) today (17) to discuss strengthening defence cooperation and bilateral relations. The discussions also focused on capacity building and the Regional Center for Maritime Studies at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. Senior French defence officials, including representatives attached to the Regional Center for Maritime Studies, also attended the meeting.

French Ambassador meets Defence Secretary to discuss bilateral cooperation

When President Donald Trump announced the US deal with Iran on Sunday and declared the "opening" of the Strait of Hormuz, his Truth Social post ended with the words "Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!" BBC Verify analysis of MarineTraffic ship-tracking data, however, shows that just seven vessels appear to have passed through the critical waterway since the deal was announced and as many as 580 ships appear to be waiting in the Gulf. Tehran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies are usually transported, following US and Israeli strikes on 28 February. Experts say there are significant obstacles preventing traffic from returning to the levels seen before the conflict began - security, mines and tolls. Ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic on Tuesday shows there are more than 250 tankers and more than 330 cargo ships inside the Gulf. About 75% of the tankers are stationary, the data suggests. Satellite imagery shows that many are gathered near major oil export terminals in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the UAE. The total number of vessels in the area is likely to be higher as many ships are not broadcasting their location and do not appear in MarineTraffic's data. "The first thing we would probably see when traffic picks up through the strait is an exodus of the vessels that are trapped inside the Gulf," said Naveen Das, senior oil analyst at trade analytics firm Kpler. But so far, that does not appear to be happening. 1. Security and safety"It would take an extremely brave captain to transit through the Strait of Hormuz, given the current state," Martin Kelly of crisis management firm EOS Risk Group told BBC Verify. Since Iran began effectively blocking the Strait of Hormuz in late February, it has fired on ships attempting to make the crossing without its permission. The US imposed its own naval blockade of Iranian ports on 13 April and has since disabled nine "non-compliant vessels", including launching Hellfire missiles into the engine rooms of some ships, according to US Central Command. Despite Trump announcing on Sunday the "immediate removal" of the US naval blockade, the president later said it would remain in place until the deal with Iran is signed. Satellite images from 15 June show four US warships close to the American blockade line at the entrance to the Gulf of Oman. After the deal's announcement, experts say ship captains, owners and insurers are preparing and positioning their vessels in the Gulf to make the journey out into the Arabian Sea - but few of them want to make the first move. "What we've been seeing is still very much a wait-and-see mentality. No-one really wants to be the first to take that risk," said Das. "Some of the owners and captains that are more happy with risk, like certain Greek companies, we may see them coming in and exiting successfully and that might build up confidence in others," he said. Many captains will remember events from early April when Iran's foreign minister declared the strait was fully open, said Michelle Wiese Bockman, senior analyst at Windward Maritime Intelligence. Just one day later, Iranian authorities said the strait was closed and more than 33 vessels were forced to reverse course mid-transit while several reported being fired on, Bockman said. "We need to wait a couple of days, maybe until Friday, to see what this looks like," said Martin Kelly. 2. Mine threatIran threatened early in the conflict that if its coastline or islands were attacked, it would place "various types of sea mines, including floating mines that can be released from the coast" in the Gulf, according to Iran's semi-official Fars news agency. Both the multinational Joint Maritime Information Center and Oman's Maritime Security Centre have since issued warnings about "floating" objects suspected to be mines and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a Senate committee that Iran had "mined large segments of Hormuz". The removal of these mines is an essential first step to returning maritime traffic to pre-war levels, Arsenio Dominguez, secretary general of the International Maritime Organization, told the BBC. Clearing the strait of mines will be a slow process which could take anywhere from 30 days to as long as six months, experts estimate. "We simply do not know and this lack of clarity is very concerning," said Phillip Belcher from the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners. Experts say the southern route, close to Oman, appears to be largely clear of mines and the main route through the strait will be the focus of mine-hunting efforts. "They have to go at really slow speeds, probably two or three knots, so they can conduct a survey of the underwater environments," said Kelly. The minesweepers will then need to clear a wide enough channel for maritime traffic to move in and out of the strait at the same time, experts say. The UK and France have despatched naval vessels to the region in anticipation of a potential mine-clearing operation in the Strait of Hormuz Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged on Tuesday that the UK will play its "full part" in getting the Strait of Hormuz reopened "as soon as possible". The British naval support ship RFA Lyme Bay - which has been equipped with mine-hunting kit - was seen on ship-tracking yesterday off RAF Akrotiri air base in Cyprus. 3. Tolls or feesAs a natural waterway through the territorial waters of Iran and Oman, vessels have historically been free to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without payment. While neither the US nor Iran are party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which commits countries to allow safe passage through their waters, experts say the US position is that free passage through the Strait of Hormuz is part of customary international law. Some man-made canals such as Panama and Suez do charge tolls and fees for specific services. During this conflict Iran has sought to assert its sovereignty over the strait, including by establishing the "Persian Gulf Strait Authority" which it said would manage "safe passage permits". The US and its Gulf allies have repeatedly rejected Iranian attempts to assert control over the strait. When he announced the deal with Iran on Sunday, Trump said the strait would be opening "toll free". Iran's Fars news agency has reported that under the new deal with the US the strait would ultimately be managed by Iran in co-ordination with Oman, including possible "service fees" for ships to transit the waterway. It is unclear what services such a fee would pay for. Any new payment system for using the strait would "add another spanner into the works" which may add a "logistical limit or a chokehold" on how many ships can pass through each day, said Das. "Who is enforcing it? How will it be enforced? How will fees get collected? What do other Gulf countries feel about that?" Das added. Many of these questions may be answered during the negotiation period between Iran and the US after Friday's deal is signed, but experts say it is unlikely that Tehran will allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as freely as it did before the conflict began. "The key point is that the strait may reopen quickly from a political or security perspective, but the commercial shipping system is likely to normalise gradually," said Dimitris Ampatzidis from Kpler. Source: BBC

Three reasons ships are not going through the Strait of Hormuz yet

The Cabinet has approved a Rs. 1.008 billion project to renovate 126 dilapidated school hostels across the island between 2026 and 2028. The project aims to upgrade essential facilities and improve the education and living conditions of students residing in school hostels. The proposal was submitted by Prime Minister and Education Minister Harini Amarasuriya.

CID’s contempt action deemed contemptuous

Colombo National Hospital gets DDG

Colombo National Hospital get ...

Sallay’s mistreatment complaint: Visiting UN SPT intervention urged by ...

Sallay’s mistreatment complain ...

Indo-SL ties: India provides military stores on gratis

Indo-SL ties: India provides m ...

Speaker endorses Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act

Speaker endorses Rescue, Rehab ...

Struggling Pizza Hut chain to be sold for $2.7bn

Struggling Pizza Hut chain to ...

French Ambassador meets Defence Secretary to discuss bilateral coopera ...

French Ambassador meets Defenc ...

Three reasons ships are not going through the Strait of Hormuz yet

Three reasons ships are not go ...

Cabinet approves Rs. 1 bn project to renovate school hostels

Cabinet approves Rs. 1 bn proj ...

Colombo National Hospital gets DDG

Colombo National Hospital get ...

Sallay’s mistreatment complaint: Visiting UN SPT intervention urged by ...

Sallay’s mistreatment complain ...

Indo-SL ties: India provides military stores on gratis

Indo-SL ties: India provides m ...

Speaker endorses Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act

Speaker endorses Rescue, Rehab ...

Struggling Pizza Hut chain to be sold for $2.7bn

Struggling Pizza Hut chain to ...

French Ambassador meets Defence Secretary to discuss bilateral coopera ...

French Ambassador meets Defenc ...

Three reasons ships are not going through the Strait of Hormuz yet

Three reasons ships are not go ...

Cabinet approves Rs. 1 bn project to renovate school hostels

Cabinet approves Rs. 1 bn proj ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Colombo National Hospital gets DDG

Colombo National Hospital get ...

Sallay’s mistreatment complaint: Visiting UN SPT intervention urged by ...

Sallay’s mistreatment complain ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Indo-SL ties: India provides military stores on gratis

Indo-SL ties: India provides m ...

Speaker endorses Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act

Speaker endorses Rescue, Rehab ...

Struggling Pizza Hut chain to be sold for $2.7bn

Struggling Pizza Hut chain to ...

French Ambassador meets Defence Secretary to discuss bilateral coopera ...

French Ambassador meets Defenc ...