<ul><li>Interdicted Treasury official found dead</li><li>Had ignored CID summons twice</li><li>Treasury Secy faces COPF scrutiny&nbsp;</li><li>Email spoofing suspected&nbsp;</li></ul>An Assistant Director of the Finance Ministry’s External Resources Department, who had been indicted over the alleged theft of US$ 2.5 million by hackers, was reportedly found dead yesterday (30) under suspicious circumstances at his residence in Kuliyapitiya.He was discovered by relatives, who informed the Police. Officers have since visited the scene and commenced preliminary investigations.The cause of death has not yet been ascertained, with inquiries ongoing to determine whether it was a suicide, accident, or homicide.The Ministry had recently taken steps to suspend the deceased and three other officials in connection with the incident involving the misplacement of a payment of US$ 2.5 million from Treasury funds, allegedly due to a breach of a Ministry computer system by hackers.It is reported that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had notified the official on two occasions to appear before it to record a statement in relation to the incident. However, he had failed to appear on either occasion.The CID is currently investigating the missing payment, which had been made as part of a debt settlement linked to a US$ 22.9 million loan from the Australian Government. The funds had not reached their intended recipient and had instead been diverted to hackers.The Ministry has lodged complaints with the relevant law enforcement agencies regarding the cyber breach. Treasury Secretary Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma has stated that investigations revealed the hackers had gained access to the system through electronic mail, adding that efforts are underway to recover the funds.Meanwhile, Dr Suriyapperuma arrived at the Parliamentary Complex yesterday (30) to appear before the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF).COPF convened yesterday under the chairmanship of Opposition MP Dr Harsha de Silva to inquire into the alleged misplacement of the US$ 2.5 million payment from Treasury funds, reportedly due to a cyber breach of the Ministry’s computer system.It was earlier reported that Dr Suriyapperuma had been scheduled to appear before COPF at 1 p.m. yesterday, following summons issued to him and other Ministry officials. However, Dr de Silva stated that Dr Suriyapperuma had, in a letter dated Wednesday (29), informed the Committee that he would not be appearing. The letter was received by COPF on the same day.COPF had convened on Wednesday to discuss the incident involving the US$ 2.5 million allegedly obtained by cybercriminals after breaching a Ministry system. At that meeting, it was decided to summon a group of senior officials, including Dr Suriyapperuma, to appear before the Committee.Cabinet Spokesperson Dr Nalinda Jayatissa has also stated the payment, made as part of a debt settlement linked to a US$ 22.9 million loan, had not reached its intended recipient and had instead been diverted. Investigations are ongoing.Earlier, the Free Lawyers Association, which first revealed the alleged fraud, stated that Dr de Silva has the authority to take action through Parliamentary mechanisms if Dr Suriyapperuma fails to appear. Issuing a statement on behalf of the organisation, former Governor Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon noted that COPF was established under Parliamentary Standing Order 121, passed in 2022.He further stated that provisions exist under the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act to penalise any individual who violates Parliamentary Standing Orders. The COPF Chair has the authority to summon any individual and, where such a summons is ignored, to initiate action under the Act. Tennakoon noted that such offences may be punishable either by Parliament or by the Supreme Court, with penalties including imprisonment of up to two years, a fine, or both.He stressed that any individual summoned by COPF who fails to appear may be subject to legal action, and added that if a summons is ignored, the Committee Chair must either enforce penalties or resign in order to uphold the dignity and integrity of Parliament.The statement also noted that no previous Government has challenged Parliamentary financial accountability or undermined the authority of Parliamentary committees in this manner.Meanwhile, Dr de Silva stated on Wednesday that he had been informed that Dr Suriyapperuma would not be appearing before COPF. The Treasury Secretary had been summoned to provide explanations regarding an incident in which US$ 2.5 million held for foreign debt repayment was allegedly transferred to an external party.Additionally, Free Lawyers Association member President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne expressed a lack of confidence in the ongoing investigations conducted by the CID.Separately, speaking on a television programme aired on Wednesday, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne stated that no definitive conclusion has yet been reached regarding the involvement of a hacker. He noted that further investigations are required and suggested the incident may have resulted from an email sent from a domain closely resembling that of a foreign institution, indicating possible negligence.Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe also stated that if there are corrupt individuals within the Government, legal action will be taken against them regardless of status.

Cyber Heist Probe Turns Deadly 

<ul><li>Special security, traffic plan in place&nbsp;</li></ul>In line with the International Workers’ Day, which falls today (1), numerous rallies, processions, meetings, and celebrations have been organised across many parts of the island.&nbsp;Accordingly, the Police have implemented special security measures and a traffic management plan for Colombo in view of these events. The main rallies, parades, and celebrations organised by political parties and trade unions (TUs) will be centred in Colombo, while various institutions and organisations have also arranged commemorative events in several other parts of the country. All Police stations have been instructed to ensure a peaceful environment for these events, while also maintaining security, traffic control, road safety, and the smooth flow of regular vehicular movement. Senior Deputy Inspectors General of Police in charge of the Provinces have also been directed by the Inspector General of Police to take necessary measures regarding rallies and meetings held outside Colombo.The parties and the locations of their rallies are as follows: the National People's Power (NPP) rallies at the common vehicle park in front of the National Youth Services Council in Maharagama, and also in Anuradhapura, Kalutara, Kurunegala, Galle, Matara, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Matale, Kegalle and Ratnapura; the main Opposition Party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) rally at the P.D. Sirisena Ground in Maligawatta; the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) rally at the Campbell Park in Borella; the Front-Line Socialist Party (FSP/FLSP) rally at the Hyde Park in Kompannavidiya; the Sri Lanka Communist Party (SLCP) and the Socialist People's Front (SPF) rally in Cotta Road/N.M. Perera Mawatha in Borella; the Sarvajana Balaya (SB) rally at Park Avenue in Borella and the Edward Henry Pedris Ground in Colombo 5; the Podujana Peramuna (PP) rally at the Rotunda Roundabout; and the United Socialist Party (USP) rally at the Kosgas Junction.

International Workers Day today 

Although the Presidential Secretariat has directed that ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ programme coordinators be facilitated at the Provincial, District, and Divisional levels, Divisional Secretaries (DSs) have not acted on these instructions, maintaining that such arrangements could harm the independence of the State administrative structure. This has come to light in a letter sent by the Sri Lanka Association of DSs and Assistant DSs to the Presidential Secretariat, in response to an earlier directive dated 20 March (PS/CSL/01/02), which had instructed District Secretaries and DSs to appoint coordinators and provide necessary support through Divisional Secretariats. In their response, the Association pointed out that Sri Lanka already has a long-established administrative mechanism within the public service, spanning Ministries, Departments, Provincial Councils, District Secretariats, and Divisional Secretariats, down to the grassroots level.&nbsp;They added that this system includes internal audit units, national audit mechanisms, Provincial and District coordination committees, and other institutional structures that are already tasked with the monitoring, coordination, and implementation of Government programmes. The Association further stated that the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, which has been identified as a key Government initiative, can be implemented effectively through these existing structures without creating parallel coordination mechanisms. However, the Presidential Secretariat’s earlier communication had indicated that coordinators had already been appointed at the District and Divisional levels and instructed that they be provided office space and administrative support, including a Management Service Officer or a Development Officer within Divisional Secretariats. Rejecting this, the Association has stated that Divisional Secretariats are institutions that serve the public without political, ethnic, or religious bias, and have historically functioned as neutral administrative bodies. They further claimed that introducing externally appointed coordinators, particularly those with political links, into Divisional Secretariats, risks undermining the independence of the public service and disrupting established administrative processes. The letter also noted that similar attempts had been made in the past but were resisted in order to safeguard the integrity and neutrality of State institutions, which have earned public trust over time. Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (30), the Association's President R. Senthil said that the Association had formally conveyed its objections to the Presidential Secretariat and would not implement the directive in its current form. He explained that assigning Government officers to individuals who are not part of the public service, and allocating State resources for their use, raises legal and administrative concerns.&nbsp;"We urge the Presidential Secretariat to reconsider the decision and instead utilise the existing administrative framework to carry out the programme. Until such reconsideration takes place, we will refrain from facilitating the proposed arrangements. If they still need to do it, they can place 'Clean Sri Lanka' coordinators in the relevant Local Government institutions."Efforts to contact the section of the Presidential Secretariat responsible for the 'Clean Sri Lanka' initiative were unsuccessful.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Clean SL implementation: Presidential Secretariat-DSs at administrative loggerheads 

Indictments were served yesterday (30 April) before the Colombo High Court against the Bodu Bala Sena organisation’s General Secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, regarding an allegedly derogatory statement made by him on Islam.&nbsp;&nbsp;Following this, the Court had ordered the monk be released on bail.

Gnanasara indicted 

The Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry has raised concerns about the growing difficulty of regulating books and other publications available on digital platforms, noting that existing controls mainly apply to printed material entering the country through ports and airports. Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (30), Deputy subject Minister Muneer Mulaffer said that Sri Lanka has, from time to time, introduced mechanisms to review publications, particularly in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attacks. “For example, after the attacks, a nine-member review committee was appointed to examine Islamic publications before they are brought into the country. Only those that receive the committee’s approval are allowed to be imported,” he said. However, he pointed out that such systems only work when books arrive in physical form through regulated entry points. “The problem is that we can only assess and take decisions on content when these books come through the proper channels. But now, the same material is easily available online as soft copies. A large number of people read through the internet today, so the question is how this can be regulated.” Mulaffer added that there is currently no powerful-enough mechanism to regulate digital publications of this nature, and that even introducing such controls would not be practical. “At the moment, there is no proper system to deal with these digital versions. Even trying to regulate them raises practical challenges,” he said. The issue has drawn increasing attention in recent years in the wake of debates over publications that certain parties say could affect religious harmony. A recent controversy involving a book by a Jaffna-based author has again brought the matter into focus, leading to calls for clearer guidelines on how such content should be handled.

Govt struggles to regulate online books

<ul><li>Post-2010 tobacco-free generation adoption mooted</li></ul> The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) has proposed amendments to every section of the NATA Act, No. 27 of 2006 (as amended), and the proposals have been handed over to the Health Ministry, the NATA said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (30), NATA Chairperson Ananda Ratnayaka said the amendments include structural changes, definition changes, changes in the fine amounts, and suggestions to add entirely new provisions also.&nbsp;“The composition of the Board members in the NATA is suggested to be changed, and there are also suggestions to appoint officers for some specific new official positions. Furthermore, a few changes to the definitions of terms such as ‘tobacco’ and ‘drugs’ are also suggested,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp; According to him, if the amendments are passed, Board members and members of the NATA will be required to give an affidavit stating they hold no relationships with any parties from the tobacco industry, in order to avoid any conflict of interest.&nbsp;&nbsp; He further added that with the hope of making the country a "tobacco-free generation",&nbsp;a legal provision banning the selling to and buying of tobacco products by those born after 2010, has also been suggested. “There are already many countries that have decided a year after which tobacco will not be sold, bought, or consumed within the country. The latest country to pass such a law is the United Kingdom. We are also planning to become a tobacco-free generation through this step,” he added.&nbsp;Sri Lanka’s tobacco-free generation policy is part of a global tobacco endgame strategy. The formal commitment of the country to the said concept was first featured at the 17th World Conference on Tobacco or Health, which concluded with a major declaration also.&nbsp;The Alcohol and Drug Information Centre, the Medical Association and the Directorate of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are also working, both in collaboration and independently, towards the same goal of making Sri Lanka a tobacco-free country.The concept paper proposing the creation of a “tobacco-free generation” comprising all children born after 2010 has been formally submitted to the Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. The proposal, developed by the NATA, outlines a scientifically grounded programme aimed at eliminating future generations’ exposure to tobacco products.&nbsp; Alongside the concept paper, a set of recommendations to amend and update the NATA Act was also presented.Health sector stakeholders, including the NATA, the Medical Association, professional medical bodies, as well as non-governmental organisations, have indicated two key interventions to mitigate the social and health burden caused by tobacco and alcohol use.&nbsp;These include legislative reforms to strengthen existing regulations of the NATA Act and the introduction of measures to prohibit access to tobacco products for individuals born after a specified year, in line with the “tobacco-free generation” concept already adopted by several countries.Dr. Jayatissa noted that tobacco and alcohol pose significant obstacles to children progressing towards a healthier future.Highlighting the urgency of the initiative, Dr. Ratnayaka noted that nearly 80 per cent of deaths in Sri Lanka are attributed to NCDs, with tobacco and alcohol identified as major contributing factors.&nbsp;He further pointed out that Sri Lanka continues to face significant health, economic, and social challenges linked to tobacco and alcohol consumption, with an estimated 22,000 deaths reported annually due to these substances.&nbsp;He also described tobacco and alcohol as gateway substances that contribute to the use of other drugs.Meanwhile, Professor in Psychiatry at the Rajarata University’s Medical Faculty, Amila Isuru emphasised that tobacco and cigarette use remain a critical public health concern, particularly among younger populations.&nbsp;He noted that smoking has been identified as a major barrier to children progressing towards a healthier future, adding that cigarette use among schoolchildren has shown a concerning increase. He further pointed out that a significant portion of the country’s healthcare expenditure is directed towards treating smoking-related illnesses, while globally, only around 1% of smokers seek medical treatment. In this context, he emphasised that the most effective approach to mitigating the harmful societal impact of smoking is to curb the spread of cigarettes and reduce the number of smokers. He added that a scientifically proven strategy adopted worldwide is to restrict access to tobacco products for future generations, thereby preventing children from initiating smoking.Globally, tobacco use accounts for approximately 80 million deaths annually, of which nearly 70 million die due to the direct consumption of tobacco products and about 10% die due to passive smoking.

NATA Act to be overhauled

<ul><li>Authorities urge Pap smear cytology and HPV DNA testing&nbsp;</li></ul> Consultant Community Physician at the Family Health Bureau, Dr. Nadeeja Herath said yesterday (30) that around 1,400 new cases of cervical cancer are reported annually, with about 800 deaths recorded each year.&nbsp;Speaking at an event aimed at eliminating cervical cancer in Sri Lanka by 2030, Dr. Herath said that nearly eight million women over the age of 15 are at risk of developing cancer of the cervix in the country.&nbsp;She noted that the main cause is persistent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted through sexual activity.She pointed out that cervical cancer affects women in the working population, impacting productivity due to the absence from work, and placing both a financial and emotional burden on families.Dr. Herath said that the ‘Well Woman Programme’, introduced in 1996, began cervical cancer screening in 1998. It targets women aged 15 to 49 years, with priority given to those aged 35 and 45. Screening is carried out through Well Woman Clinics run by Medical Officers of Health, and includes Pap smear cytology and HPV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing. Referring to global targets, Dr. Herath said that the strategy to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030 focuses on vaccinating 90 per cent of girls against HPV by the age of 15. She added that to meet the 2030 goal, 70 per cent of women must be screened using a high-precision test at the ages of 35 and 45.Emphasising the importance of tackling cervical cancer, she said that it remains a leading cause of cancer deaths, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. “It is a highly preventable and detectable disease, and early detection is possible through screening,” she said.&nbsp;Dr. Herath said that the way forward is to expand HPV DNA testing nationwide, while improving the quality and logistics of screening services. She also stressed the need to increase access through outreach clinics, and to explore insurance support similar to the Agrahara scheme. She noted that with strengthened screening, vaccination, and treatment efforts, Sri Lanka can move towards eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem.

1,400 new cervical cancer cases, 800 deaths 

In the wake of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) launching an investigation into overtime (OT) payments in the Posts Department following allegations of irregular claims, Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara said that fingerprint machines have now been installed in all post offices to regulate attendance and OT payments. Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (30), he said that the system has been implemented across the network, with the exception of sub post offices. “We have installed fingerprint machines in all main post offices, except for sub post offices,” he said, adding that while there had been some initial issues with entering data into the system, the machines are now operational. The move comes against the backdrop of an ongoing investigation by the CIABOC into claims that a group of Postal employees had wrongfully obtained more than Rs. 10 million in OT payments. The CIABOC decided to proceed with an investigation after reviewing a complaint lodged last year (in 2025) by a civil society organisation. The allegations first came to light after Sathkumara himself revealed in late 2025 that several audit inquiries had found that OT payments exceeding Rs. 10 million had been claimed without proper fingerprint verification. He alleged at the time that some employees inflated working hours and included unnecessary staff when claiming OT payments for tasks such as vehicle servicing. Following these findings, the Government sought to introduce fingerprint machines to record attendance. The move however, was met with resistance from Postal employees, who staged protests and launched strike action.

To prevent OT irregularities: Fingerprint machines installed at Posts Dept

`The Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Ministry has moved to expand the cold storage facilities of selected areas while also raising awareness among farmers, with the anticipation of bringing the amount of the average wastage of vegetables and fruits to a value lesser than 15 per cent. Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (30), Deputy subject Minister, R.M. Jayawardhana said that while some of the halted constructions of storage facilities have been restarted, more plans are there to start creating more. "A cold storage facility at Dambulla with 5,000 metric tonnes storage capacity was on hold due to a dispute between the Indian company which was funding and the Sri Lankan company that was supervising it. Yet now, the Government has mediated and taken measures to start construction again," he said. "Further, we have plans to establish another three cold storage facilities in Keppetipola, Thambuththegama and another area under the funds of the Korean Government," he said. He further added that a suggestion has been passed on to the Food Security Committee to expand the storage facilities even further, and that discussions are ongoing about in which areas the facilities are to be established and in which capacity. He also added that it is hard to establish these facilities in dry zones, and that the priority is given to the upcountry areas. Noting that a large amount of vegetables and fruits are wasted daily in the country, he attributed part of those wastages to improper transport methods and handling issues also. "A large amount of vegetables and fruits are wasted due to the lack of quality in harvesting also. For instance, fruits like banana, papaw and mango are made to ripen with chemicals on harvesting, and within a few days they get rotten. Earlier, till the fruit came to the consumer’s hand it gradually ripened,” he said. He added that discussions are ongoing within the Ministry to prevent these events and to bring in standards into harvesting also. Further, awareness programmes are held by the Ministry to enlighten farmers and transporters on how to and why to transport the fruits and vegetables with care. “Even fruits like tomatoes are being transported in sacks, and now they no longer use boxes or baskets. Some even sit on these bags while transporting. We are making the farmers aware not to do these,” he said. According to a research conducted, around 19% of vegetables and 21% of fruits go to waste annually in Sri Lanka due to a lack of transport and storage facilities and the mistakes done in harvesting. Further, including the farmers in the Dambulla Economic Centre, farmers across the country have for years been raising concerns about the lack of cold storage facilities and the Government failing to provide opportunities for producing alternative products with these wasted fruits and vegetables.

Cyber Heist Probe Turns Deadly

International Workers Day today

International Workers Day toda ...

Clean SL implementation: Presidential Secretariat-DSs at administrativ ...

Clean SL implementation: Presi ...

Gnanasara indicted

Gnanasara indicted

Govt struggles to regulate online books

Govt struggles to regulate onl ...

NATA Act to be overhauled

NATA Act to be overhauled

1,400 new cervical cancer cases, 800 deaths

1,400 new cervical cancer case ...

To prevent OT irregularities: Fingerprint machines installed at Posts ...

To prevent OT irregularities: ...

To address produce wastage: Cold storage facilities to be expanded

To address produce wastage: Co ...

International Workers Day today

International Workers Day toda ...

Clean SL implementation: Presidential Secretariat-DSs at administrativ ...

Clean SL implementation: Presi ...

Gnanasara indicted

Gnanasara indicted

Govt struggles to regulate online books

Govt struggles to regulate onl ...

NATA Act to be overhauled

NATA Act to be overhauled

1,400 new cervical cancer cases, 800 deaths

1,400 new cervical cancer case ...

To prevent OT irregularities: Fingerprint machines installed at Posts ...

To prevent OT irregularities: ...

To address produce wastage: Cold storage facilities to be expanded

To address produce wastage: Co ...

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International Workers Day today

International Workers Day toda ...

Clean SL implementation: Presidential Secretariat-DSs at administrativ ...

Clean SL implementation: Presi ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Gnanasara indicted

Gnanasara indicted

Govt struggles to regulate online books

Govt struggles to regulate onl ...

NATA Act to be overhauled

NATA Act to be overhauled

1,400 new cervical cancer cases, 800 deaths

1,400 new cervical cancer case ...