Author: TELO Admin

In accordance with the Prisoners Exchange Agreement No. 05 of 1995, 56 Pakistani nationals serving sentences in Sri Lanka for drug-related offenses were transferred to Pakistan on October 6, 2024.

The transfer was facilitated by a Pakistan International Airlines flight, numbered A320, which departed from Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo.

The flight carried 51 male and 5 female prisoners, under the supervision of 64 Pakistani diplomatic officials. These prisoners will continue to serve their sentences in Pakistani prisons.

A team of 47 officers from the Prisons Department and the Emergency Response Tactical Force ensured the secure transfer of the prisoners from Welikada Prison to the airport.

The operation was coordinated with the involvement of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Defense, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, and the Pakistani High Commission.

This marks the largest transfer of prisoners in the history of the Sri Lankan Prisons Department.

Sri Lanka’s Department of Census and Statistics said on Sunday that it will commence the collection of personal and housing information for the 15th census of population and housing in the country on Monday.

Director General of the department Anoja Senevirathne told journalists in Colombo that census officials will be visiting households across the country to collect vital data.

She said around 50,000 officials will be engaged as enumerators in the process, according to Xinhua news agency.

She said Sri Lanka usually holds a population census once every 10 years, but the process was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis.

The South Asian country’s last population census was conducted in 2012.

The former Senior DIG and head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Nilantha Jayawardana, is currently appearing before the Supreme Court to present his case in relation to the Fundamental Rights petitions filed against him for failing to take action to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks, despite receiving sufficient intelligence, said Ada Derana reporter.

As a result, he and others were ordered to pay compensation to the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks.

The Supreme Court ordered former President Sirisena to pay Rs. 100 million in compensation to the petitioners, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara and the former SIS Director Nilantha Jayawardena were each ordered to pay Rs. 75 million, former Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando was ordered to pay Rs. 50 million and former National Intelligence Director Sisira Mendis was ordered to pay Rs. 10 million from their personal money.

On September 27, the Attorney General informed the Supreme Court that contempt of court charges would be filed against Nilantha Jayawardana, for failing to pay the Rs. 75 million in compensation for the Easter Sunday bomb victims as ordered by the court.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court has ordered him to appear before the court on today.

The 12 petitions were filed by a group of individuals including Nandana Sirimanna, whose two children were killed in the Easter Sunday attacks, tourism entrepreneur Janath Vidanage, three Catholic Fathers including Rev. Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda and Attorney-at-Law Moditha Ekanayake, who was injured in the bombings at the Shangri-La Hotel.

The deadline to complete the relevant compensation payments was initially set for July 12, 2023.

On September 09, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara had completed the payment of Rs. 75 million in compensation to the victims of the Easter Sunday terror attacks, as ordered by the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, former President Maithripala Sirisena on August 16 had also completed the payments of compensation of Rs. 100 million to the victims of the Easter Sunday terror attacks as ordered by the Supreme Court.

The launch of the newly renovated railway line from Mahawa to Anuradhapura has been further delayed.

The signaling system for the railway line has not yet been installed, resulting in this delay.

The Department of Railways said that both locomotive drivers and regulators have been informed that it is impossible to operate trains without a signaling system.

The Ministry of Transport has been made aware of the existing issues.

The ministry has advised the Department of Railways to make a suitable decision after discussing the matter with relevant parties.

The railway line from Mahawa to Anuradhapura has been closed since January 2024.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that the investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks will be expedited, and steps will be taken to ensure that such a tragedy never occurs again in the country. He assured that justice will be delivered to the victims.

The President made these remarks during a discussion held today (06) at St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, Negambo, with the families of those killed and injured in the Easter Sunday attack, the President’s Media Division (PMD) reported.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited the church during the morning and laid floral tributes at the memorial established in honor of the victims. To mark the occasion, a commemorative gift was also presented to the president.

During the discussion the President met with the families of the victims, who shared their concerns and difficulties with him directly. He highlighted that the Easter Sunday Attack which happened on 21st April 2019 was the most tragic disaster in the recent past and that it will not be allowed to be buried with time.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed his belief that one of the key factors influencing the people’s decision in the last presidential election was their hope for justice concerning the Easter Sunday attacks.

He emphasized that the aspirations of the citizens align with his own, stating that his goal is to deliver the justice and fairness the people seek in relation to the Easter Sunday attack. He assured that efforts have already begun to achieve this, the PMD added.

The President also stressed the importance of conducting the investigation without any preconceived conclusions or biases. He instructed the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security to ensure a transparent and impartial investigation, guided by openness and objectivity.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake acknowledged that there is a widespread belief in society that the Easter Sunday attacks may have been carried out to gain political mileage. He stated that if hundreds of innocent lives were sacrificed for political purposes, it would be a profound tragedy. He emphasized that if politics in the country has reached such an extreme, the first priority must be to eliminate this dangerous situation.

The President also highlighted growing suspicions that the government apparatus at the time may have been involved in the attacks. If such allegations are true, he warned, the country would remain in a dangerously unstable and insecure state. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to uncover the truth behind these events, he emphasized.

Additionally, President Dissanayake stressed that justice must be delivered to the victims of the tragedy, which claimed the lives of nearly 274 people and left many others injured, to honor the love and devotion of their families.

He also expressed his deep appreciation for the role played by the priests, who helped prevent an even greater social catastrophe in the aftermath of the attacks. The President extended his gratitude to them once again for their efforts, it said.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake further stated that if the bonds, trust, and harmony within society are weakened, and people begin to view others with anger and suspicion, it would pose a serious threat to the well-being of the community. In light of this, he emphasized the need for a fair and transparent investigation into the Easter Sunday attacks.

The President also noted that for the past five years, those who gathered on the streets on April 21 were driven by a hope for justice, which sustained them year after year.

His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, speaking at the event, shared that despite appealing to the Human Rights Commission in Geneva for justice for the Easter Sunday victims, no resolution has been achieved. He also pointed out that while the government has been working to provide necessary support to the victims, the public continues to question the true cause of the attack.

His Eminence Cardinal Ranjith expressed his belief in President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, acknowledging the trust the people of Sri Lanka have in him and appreciating his integrity. He added that he believes the President will deliver on the promise of justice. He further expressed his belief that the President will take action to hold those responsible for the Easter Sunday attack accountable and ensure justice is served.

Rev.Fr. Manjula Niroshan, the mission in charge of Katuwapitiya Church, along with a large number of Easter attack victims and devotees, attended the event, according to the PMD.