A group of monkeys who entered the Panadura Power Station had ended up in a spat, interfering with the power grids, causing an islandwide power outage, sources from the Power and Energy Ministry said.
However, further investigations are ongoing.
The Ministry said it apologized for the inconvenience caused to the public and said steps were being taken to restore power immediately.
The Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha met the Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) at the Defence Ministry yesterday.
The discussions focused on strengthening the longstanding defence cooperation between India and Sri Lanka, underscoring the deep-rooted bilateral ties between the two nations.
They exchanged views on regional security and maritime cooperation aimed at enhancing defence collaboration.
The Indian High Commissioner emphasized India’s unwavering support for Sri Lanka in defence and security matters, particularly in counter-terrorism, maritime security and disaster response.
Defence Secretary expressed appreciation for India’s continued assistance and acknowledged the significant role of defence partnerships in ensuring stability and security in the region.
India’s largest low-cost carrier (LCC), IndiGo Airlines (6E), has unveiled plans to launch new Jaffna flights. The airline plans to strengthen its presence in Sri Lanka with non-stop flights from Bengaluru (BLR).
Unlike its usual focus on Colombo, this move marks a strategic shift towards expanding operations at Sri Lanka’s secondary airport. This expansion will enhance air connectivity between South India and Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. The non-stop flights will offer passengers a more convenient and time-saving travel option.
IndiGo representativesrecently held discussions with Northern Province Governor – Nandalalingam Vethanayagam. The discussions were held focusing on the increasing passenger demand for direct flights between Bengaluru and Jaffna.
Currently, there are flights to Jaffna only from Chennai. A large number of people travel between the two cities.Thisincludes over 25,000 annual pilgrims and others travelling for business, and leisure purposes. All of these frequently fly between these two regions.
However, due to the lack of direct connectivity, many travelers have to transit through Chennai or Colombo, leading to longer travel times and additional costs. IndiGo’s direct Bengaluru-Jaffna service will resolve these challenges. Non-stop flights provide a seamless, time-efficient travel experience.
Additionally, the proposed route would cater to both the Tamil diaspora living in South India and Sri Lankan travelers. This will further boost regional connectivity.
IndiGo has significant presence in Sri Lanka. The airline is the largest foreign carrier operating in the country. IndiGo currently operates 54 weekly flights between India and Sri Lanka. The airline connects Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai to Colombo. Chennai is the only city to have connections to two Srilankan cities as IndiGo flies to even Jaffna.
IndiGo’s entry into the Chennai-Jaffna sector in September 2024 made it only the second Indian carrier to operate on this route. The airline seems to have succeeded in this service. This success would have encouraged the airline to expand further by launching non-stop flights from Bengaluru.
With Bengaluru serving as IndiGo’s largest hub in South India, the new flight will not only serve direct passengers but also provide one-stop connections from other major cities such as Hyderabad, Pune, and Delhi, making travel to Jaffna even more accessible.
The government has decided to establish a new Immigration and Emigration Office in the Jaffna District, says Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala.
Participating in an event held today (08), he said that the new Immigration and Emigration Office to be established in the Jaffna District will also be open 24 hours a day.
Meanwhile, the Minister said that the Cabinet has also approved the recruitment of employees for the new Immigration and Emigration Office to be established in the Jaffna District.
“Last week, the Cabinet took a decision based on the report submitted by the expert committee. It has been decided to increase the number of passports, as well as to increase the number of passports issued daily, and to increase the numbers provided by the regional offices,” the minister said.
“It has also been decided to open a new Immigration and Emigration Office in Jaffna. So, the Cabinet has taken a decision to recruit the necessary staff to implement that decision,” Wijepala said, adding that the relevant Cabinet decision has already been sent to the Public Service Commission for approval.
“The Public Service Commission will take that decision within two to three days. After taking that decision, it has been decided to make this office a 24-hour office,” he said.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has told Parinda Ranasinghe to fulfil his responsibilities as the attorney general with responsibility, according to media reports.
Ranasinghe was summoned to the Presidential Secretariat around 1.45 pm yesterday (07) to get an explanation about his decision not to pursue legal proceedings against three suspects in the murder of prominent journalist Lasantha Wickramatunga.
Justice minister Harshana Nanayakkara too, was present and the three had talks for nearly two hours.
Certain media quoted the president as telling the AG that it was meaningless to hold the position if he cannot act responsibly.
The AG has written to the CID that three suspects accused of concealing evidence and intimidating witnesses in the Wickramatunga murder case could be acquitted.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to seeking justice for the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickremetunge.
Speaking in Parliament, Dr. Amarasuriya addressed concerns raised by Ahimsa Wickremetunge, the daughter of the slain journalist, assuring her that the government will do everything in its power to ensure justice is served.
Dr. Amarasuriya stated that she has received a letter from Ahimsa Wickremetunge and plans to respond personally. She emphasized that the government’s position on this case has always been clear and remains unchanged: justice must be delivered.
“I well understand Ahimsa’s concerns, and the agony she must be feeling right now. But, I want to assure her, and I will assure her, that we will do everything in our power to make sure that justice is delivered on this matter,” said the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister highlighted the government’s efforts to follow due process and maintain the independence of the Attorney General’s office.
“We are doing our very best to follow due process, and to give the Attorney General’s office that independence .. but justice has to be served,” said the Prime Minister.
She assured that extensive discussions have taken place, including meetings with the President and those involved in the case, to explore all possible avenues for justice.
“If necessary, we will refile inquiries, initiate new investigations, and take every step possible to gather new evidence,” Dr. Amarasuriya said. “This case has plenty of evidence, and many have worked hard on it. We will do everything we can to ensure justice is served and Ahimsa’s concerns are addressed.”
Ahimsa Wickrematunge, the daughter of slain journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge has called for the impeachment of Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, citing gross abuse of power and neglect of duty in the criminal proceedings related to the assassination of her father.
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Ahimsa Wickrematunge expressed grave concern over the Attorney General’s recent decision to discharge three suspects in the case.
Wickrematunge highlighted the meticulous investigation conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) from 2015 to 2019, which amassed substantial evidence.
She accused Ranasinghe of fostering a culture of nonchalance and disregard for duty within the Attorney General’s Department, leading to the dismissal of critical evidence and witnesses.
Lasantha Wickrematunge was ambushed and assassinated on January 8, 2009, in a high-security zone near the Ratmalana Air Force Base. Despite the attack occurring in broad daylight, the assailants were never identified, and the case remained unresolved until the CID took over the investigation in 2015.
The CID’s investigation revealed significant evidence, including the discovery of Wickrematunge’s field notebook, which contained crucial leads. However, the initial inquiry officer, Inspector Tissa Sugathapala, was allegedly ordered by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Prasanna Nanayakkara to destroy the evidence.
Ahimsa Wickrematunge argued that if Ranasinghe was unaware of the facts, he was guilty of gross neglect of duty, and if he was aware, he was guilty of gross abuse of his office.
Ahimsa Wickrematunge says that Attorney General, Parinda Ranasinghe is no longer fit to serve as Attorney General.
She urged the government to impeach Ranasinghe to restore integrity to the justice system, emphasizing that the Attorney General is responsible to Parliament and must be held accountable for his actions.
Chief Government Whip and Minister of Health and Mass Media, Nalinda Jayatissa, revealed in Parliament today (6 February) that 43 MPs received compensation from the government for property damage they claimed to have suffered during the 2022 anti-government protests.
Jayatissa presented the names of these MPs along with the amounts they received:
Kapila Nuwan Athukorala – Rs. 504,000
Wimalaweera Dissanayake – Rs. 550,000
Geetha Kumarasinghe – Rs. 972,000
Janaka Tissa Kuttiarachchi – Rs. 1.143 million
Gunapala Ratnasekara – Rs. 1.413 million
Premnath C. Dolawatta – Rs. 2.3 million
Priyankara Jayaratne – Rs. 2.348 million
Sampath Athukorala – Rs. 2.541 million
Jayantha Ketagoda – Rs. 2.815 million
Wimal Weerawansa – Rs. 2.954 million
Channa Jayasumana – Rs. 3.334 million
Akila Ellawala – Rs. 3.554 million
Chamal Rajapaksa – Rs. 6.539 million
Chandima Weerakkody – Rs. 6.949 million
Ashoka Priyantha – Rs. 7.295 million
Samanpriya Herath – Rs. 10.52 million
Janaka Bandara Tennakoon – Rs. 10.55 million
Rohitha Abeygunawardena – Rs. 11.64 million
Seetha Arambepola – Rs. 13.78 million
Sahan Pradeep – Rs. 17.13 million
Shehan Semasinghe – Rs. 18.51 million
Indika Anuruddha – Rs. 19.55 million
Milan Jayathilaka – Rs. 22.3 million
Dr. Ramesh Pathirana – Rs. 28.1 million
Duminda Dissanayake – Rs. 28.8 million
Kanaka Herath – Rs. 29.2 million
D.B. Herath – Rs. 32.1 million
Prasanna Ranaweera – Rs. 32.7 million
W.D. Weerasinghe – Rs. 37.2 million
Shantha Bandara – Rs. 39.1 million
S.M. Chandrasena – Rs. 43.8 million
Sanath Nishantha – Rs. 42.7 million
Siripala Gamlath – Rs. 50.9 million
Arundika Fernando – Rs. 55.2 million
Sumith Udukumbura – Rs. 55.9 million
Prasanna Ranatunga – Rs. 56.1 million
Kokila Gunawardena – Rs. 58.7 million
Mohan P. de Silva – Rs. 60.1 million
Nimal Lanza – Rs. 69.2 million
Ali Sabri Raheem – Rs. 70.9 million
Gamini Lokuge – Rs. 74.9 million
Johnston Fernando – Rs. 93.4 million
Keheliya Rambukwella – Rs. 95.9 million
The total compensation received by these 43 MPs amounts to Rs. 1.224 billion (1,224.1 million rupees or 122.41 crore rupees).
The decision by the United States to withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) will be advantageous for Sri Lanka, according to legal expert Dr. Prathibha Mahanamahewa.
He emphasized that this shift presents an opportunity for Sri Lanka to challenge the previous resolution brought against the island nation at the 58th session of the UNHRC, set to commence on February 24.
Dr. Mahanamahewa highlighted that the US has consistently played a leading role in accusing Sri Lanka of war crimes and advocating for mechanisms such as hybrid courts, often backed by Western nations. However, he noted that the US withdrawal from the council could alter the geopolitical landscape in Sri Lanka’s favor.
“With this development, we have a significant opportunity to present our own human rights plan. A locally developed framework would allow us to take charge of our narrative and future policies. If we secure the support of key nations like India, South Africa, and Japan, we can effectively counter the earlier resolution against Sri Lanka,” he stated.
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism confirmed that 59 Sri Lankans who were serving in the Russian Army have been killed in the Ukraine warfront.
The Minister revealed this, quoting reports from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Russia, in response to a question raised by MP Sivagnanam Shritharan during today’s (07) Parliamentary session.
Furthermore, the Foreign Affairs Minister stated that, according to reports from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment, 554 Sri Lankans were recruited by the Russian military service for their war in Ukraine, with no evidence suggesting they were recruited forcefully.
The Minister confirmed that, as of January 20, 2025, a total of 59 of these individuals have been killed on the battlefield. Herath added that he possesses information regarding these citizens, which will be added to the records in the parliamentary Hansard.
