Author: TELO Admin

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says that the investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks are being carried out speedily, and that several of those responsible will be exposed before Easter Sunday this year.

He made these comments while addressing the gathering at a public meeting in Deiyandara today (30).

Further commenting on this matter, the President added, “Investigations into the Easter attacks are being carried out systematically. April 21 once again marks the anniversary of the Easter attacks.”

The President also noted, “The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is working to expose a significant group responsible for the attacks before April 21.”

Two Supreme Court judges have recused themselves from hearing an appeal filed relating to former Navy Commander Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda.

When the matter came before a Supreme Court three-judge bench, Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz and Justice Priyantha Fernando announced that they would refrain from hearing this matter. Justice Nawaz informed that he would refrain from hearing this matter since he was a member of the bench relating to the original writ application, while he was serving as a judge in the Court of Appeal.

This matter was called before the Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justices A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Janak de Silva and Priyantha Fernando. The appeal was fixed for hearing on September 15.

The parents of the youths who went missing in 2008 filed this appeal challenging the decision of the Attorney General to withdraw the indictment filed against Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda.

On November 10, 2021, the Court of Appeal decided to dismiss the writ petition filed by several parents who sought an order quashing the decision of the Attorney General to withdraw the indictment filed against Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda.

The petitioners state that five persons including Rajiv Naganathan, Vishwanathan Pradeep, Mohammed Dilan and Mohammed Sajith went missing on or around 17th September 2008.

They state that the Court of Appeal has failed to give sufficient weightage to the arbitrary violations of right to life of the petitioners’ sons who were subjected to an extrajudicial execution, and the State’s duty to duly and adequately investigate into the disappearance and execution of their sons in a thorough and effective manner, to bring to justice those responsible for the disappearances.

Counsel Pulasthi Hewamanne with Achala Seneviratne appeared for the appellants.

Religious and civil society leaders have called upon Ven. Galagodatte Gnanasara Thera to share whatever information he claims to possess with regard to the Easter Sunday terror attacks and their masterminds.

Addressing the media at the Centre for Society and Religion in Colombo, Lawyer Manoj Nanayakkara said Ven. Gnanasara Thera claimed to have information related to the terror attacks and the masterminds behind them.

“The question is why he does not go to the law enforcement agencies and share the information he claims to possess. There is no purpose in making such statements at press conferences. As a citizen, his duty is to share this information with the investigating authorities. Therefore, we believe that Gnanasara Thera is engaging in a political ploy at the behest of someone else. He should be aware that intentionally withholding information about a brutal massacre and failing to share it with the investigating authorities is an offense punishable under the Penal Code,” Nanayakkara said.

Nanayakkara mentioned that 71 months had passed since the Easter Sunday attacks, yet justice has not been served for the victims.

He called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to begin implementing the recommendations outlined in the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry that investigated the Easter Sunday terror attacks, without further delay.

“We are approaching the sixth anniversary of this heinous crime, which claimed nearly 275 lives and injured twice as many others. President Dissanayake promised to conduct a fresh investigation into this crime. In the meantime, he could implement the recommendations of the Special Presidential Commission that probed the Easter Sunday terror attacks. This would demonstrate that the current government is keeping its word to deliver justice to the victims,” Nanayakkara said.

Rev. Fr. Julian Patric Perera, Rector of St. Joseph Vaz Deva Dharma Niketanaya, also addressed the press conference.

By Norman Palihawadane

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming Sri Lanka visit, key focus will be on infrastructure development, with railway projects expected to be inaugurated in Anuradhapura, including track upgradation, signalling and launch of NTPC Sampur Solar Project.

The solar power project in Sampur, located in the Trincomalee district of eastern Sri Lanka is a joint venture between India’s National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).

This initiative complements other renewable energy efforts in Sri Lanka, including India supporting a project to install rooftop solar systems across 5,000 religious institutions in Sri Lanka, spanning all nine provinces and 25 districts worth $17 million.

The handover of solar panels and equipment to sites like a Buddhist temple in Hokandara, Sri Aanjaneyar Temple, St. Anthony’s Church, and Mutwal Jumma Mosque occurred in October 2024, involving representatives from the Indian High Commission, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), and Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority.

PM Modi is expected to be in Sri Lanka from 4th to 6th April, his 4th visit to the country since 2014. The Indian leader has been to Sri Lanka in 2015, 2017 and 2019. He is the first foreign head of the government to be hosted by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

During the conversation, a key focus will be India’s support to Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring. In early 2023, India became the first country to officially back Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring plan, conveying its support to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as Sri Lanka sought a $2.9 billion bailout.

Between January and July 2022, New Delhi provided approximately $4 billion in rapid assistance, including credit lines, currency swaps, and deferred import payments, to help Sri Lanka cope with severe foreign exchange shortages and import essential goods. In June 2024, India, alongside France and Japan as part of the Official Creditors Committee (OCC), agreed to a broader debt restructuring deal covering $5.8 billion of Sri Lanka’s bilateral debt.

Another key focus during the visit will be on connectivity, with expected conversation on India, Sri Lanka power grid connectivity. The plan involves establishing a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission link between Madurai in southern India (Tamil Nadu) and Anuradhapura in central Sri Lanka.

The project is being developed by the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and can help Sri Lanka save a lot of money, reduce reliance on expensive thermal power.

Also on the anvil, plans to take forward the India Sri Lanka oil pipeline, in which UAE is playing an important role. The project is intended to transport various energy products, such as oil and possibly gas, to meet Sri Lanka’s energy needs, with special focus on connectivity.

PM Modi travels to Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, on 6th April, in what is seen as a symbolic message on the closeness between the 2 countries.

On 6th April, which is Ram Navmi, PM Modi will pray at the Sri Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple, which is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples. During Sri Lanka, the PM could travel to the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) Memorial in the country.

The memorial is a war monument dedicated to the Indian soldiers who lost their lives during the peacekeeping mission in Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1990. Another key announcement also expected on capacity building of Sri Lankan civil servants.

Source: WION

Responding to queries regarding the plight of Indian fishermen detained in Sri Lanka during the question hour in the Rajya Sabha, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said the government has inherited this problem due to events that can be traced back to 1974 and 1976.

“Sri Lanka has two laws — the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act of 1996 and the Fisheries Regulation of Foreign Fishing Boats of 1979. Both these acts were amended in 2018 and 2023, providing for much stiffer sentences, bigger fines, and greater detention,” he told the House.

He explained that many of those serving sentences are boat owners, skippers, or repeat offenders, complicating resolution efforts.

He stated that the “root cause” of the ongoing issue related to the detention of Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka began in 1974 when the international maritime boundary line was drawn, followed by an exchange of letters in 1976 with Sri Lanka delineating fishing jurisdiction.

“The House is aware that, in a way, our government has inherited the problem. This problem began in 1974 when the international maritime boundary line was drawn, followed by an exchange of letters in 1976 delineating fishing jurisdiction. These decisions are the root cause of the situation,” Mr Jaishankar said responding to the issue raised by DMK member Tiruchi Siva.

He further noted that most of the fishermen detained in Sri Lanka are from Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry due to geographical proximity. “Because it is Sri Lanka, it is natural that most of the fishermen will be from Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry,” he said.

Providing an update on the number of fishermen detained in the island nation, he said, “Till yesterday, there were 86 Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody. Today, one more trawler has been apprehended, adding 11 more fishermen. So, in total, 97 are in custody–83 are serving sentences, three are awaiting trial, and 11 have been apprehended today.”

(The Statesman)

A discussion has been held between US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung and senior members of the United National Party (UNP) at the party headquarters in Sirikotha today.

Accordingly, Ambassador Julie Chung had engaged in discussions with UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardana and General Secretary Thalatha Athukorala.

It is reported that the discussion, which had taken place for over an hour, had focused on the current political state and the UNP’s political activities.

US Ambassador Julie Chung has previously held discussions at the headquarters of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) as well.

Commenting on the discussions, US Ambassador Julie Chung said the meeting had taken place as part of a cross-party engagement.

“Grateful for the perspectives shared today at my meeting with UNP Secretary General Thalatha Athukorala and UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena as part of our cross-party engagement. We spoke about our nations’ shared commitment to democracy and how our U.S.-Sri Lanka cooperation — on maritime security and economic growth — makes both nations safer, stronger and more prosperous,” she said in a statement on ‘X’.