The High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha met with Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) on Thursday (13) evening.
The Indian High Commission said that they met to discuss and exchange views on strengthening India-Sri Lanka relations.
The meeting focused on enhancing bilateral ties and cooperation between the two nations.
In a letter to President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka Anura B. Meddegoda, daughter of late Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge critiques what appears to be a double standard in the way the Bar Association has handled two separate high-profile cases involving the alleged failure of the Attorney General’s office to properly pursue justice.
The writer, who has long advocated for justice for her father Lasantha Wickrematunge, who was murdered in 2009, has accused the Attorney General of sabotaging critical investigations, including that of her father’s killing.
She said that while the Bar Association publicly protested the Attorney General’s decision to not charge a Special Task Force officer involved in the 2022 killing of Mahesh Indika Prabath, the same vigor was not applied to the case of her father’s murder, despite what she describes as overwhelming evidence of state-sponsored involvement.
The letter pointed out a recent interview to a local media outlet in which Meddegoda claimed that the Bar Association was “at the forefront” of standing up for human rights. The writer, however, questioned Meddegoda’s commitment to justice, citing his failure to publicly address the long-delayed prosecution of those responsible for her father’s murder.
The letter also raises serious concerns about the Attorney General’s handling of multiple investigations, including the infamous Mahara prison killings, and the destruction of police records related to her father’s case. The writer accuses Ranasinghe of neglecting vital evidence, including doctored police records, and of making decisions without fully investigating or considering all the facts.
She calls for the impeachment of the Attorney General, accusing him of undermining the rule of law.
She urges the BASL to take a firm stance for justice, not just for her father, but for all victims whose cases have been mishandled or abandoned under Ranasinghe’s watch.
The Supreme Court has ruled that clauses 2 and 3 of the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) bill, in particular, are inconsistent with Article 12(1) of Sri Lanka’s Constitution, the Speaker of Parliament said.
“The majority of the [3 judge] bench had held that the Bill read as a whole and in particularly Clauses 2 and 3 is inconsistent with Article 12(1) of the Constitution and can be only passed with the special majority required under paragraph (2) of Article 84,” Jagath Wickramaratne told parliament.
Wickramaratne announced on Friday that he had received the determination of the Supreme Court on the Bill titled “Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions)” challenged in the Supreme Court under Article 121 (1) of the Constitution, which had been heard before a bench of three Judges.
The remaining Judge of the bench had held that The Bill as a whole or any provision thereof is not inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution and may be enacted with a simple majority of Parliament.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has terminated several projects it deemed wasteful, including a climate adaptation initiative in Sri Lanka.
In a post on ‘X’, the Department announced the cancellation of 199 projects, highlighting two specific terminations.
“Great coordination across 35 agencies over the last two days to terminate 199 wasteful contracts saving USD250 million, including:
Contract for ‘Asia Pacific – Sri Lanka climate change mitigation adaptation and resilience coordinator services for forest service’
Workshop for ‘Intercultural communication diversity dialogue circle communicating across differences,’” the post stated.
Adani Green Energy, part of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani’s Adani Group, has decided to withdraw from its wind energy project in Mannar, Sri Lanka.
Despite obtaining most approvals, the company cited delays, including unresolved environmental clearance and an ongoing Supreme Court case as reasons for the withdrawal.
The company has informed Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment (BOI) of its decision to “respectfully withdraw” while remaining open to future projects.
A new committee is set to renegotiate terms, but official statements from both Adani Group and Sri Lankan authorities are still pending.
Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) has officially withdrawn from its proposed $1 billion renewable wind farm and transmission project in Sri Lanka, citing prolonged discussions and new government renegotiation efforts, Indian media reported today.
In a letter to the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, Adani Green confirmed that after two years of negotiations with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and government departments, and after 14 rounds of discussions, the company had secured most approvals. However, with a new Cabinet-appointed negotiations committee (CANC) and Project Committee (PC) being constituted to renegotiate the proposal, AGEL has decided to step away from the project.
The project aimed to establish 484 MW wind farms in Mannar and Pooneryn, alongside a 220 KV and 400 KV transmission network expansion to support Sri Lanka’s energy infrastructure. The company had already spent $5 million on pre-development activities and had made progress on clearances and land acquisitions. However, unresolved environmental approvals in Mannar and an ongoing Supreme Court case further delayed the project.
While withdrawing from this investment, Adani Green reaffirmed its willingness to consider future opportunities in Sri Lanka should the government invite the group for any new projects.
This marks a significant shift in Sri Lanka’s renewable energy landscape, as the country continues its search for sustainable energy solutions amid increasing power demands.
The Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs is set to convene a discussion with the relevant ministries, including the military forces, regarding the controversial Tissa Viharaya in Kankesanthurai (KKS).
Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (12), the Ministry Secretary A.M.P.M.B. Atapattu stated that the ministry is working to clarify certain confusions related to the temple, given its sensitivity to national unity. He explained that while the said temple is currently administered by the Army, the Government however intends to have the temple registered under the Commissioner General (CG) of Buddhist Affairs.
“The temple is administered by the Army, and there is a construction taking place along with a monk present. During a meeting at the Defence Ministry, it was expressed that it cannot continue to be administered by them and should instead be registered under the Buddhist Affairs CG. As I have been informed, a temple is already registered under that name, but there is only land there. Additionally, it has been mentioned that there are two temples operated by the Army and the Navy. This has caused confusion. We need to find a solution to this matter. If the Army cannot maintain it, we should take steps to resolve the issue,” he said.
Consequently, he mentioned that the ministry has proposed a meeting between the relevant ministers and officials to reach a decision regarding the temple.
Meanwhile, the Leader of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchi, Opposition Parliamentarian S. Sritharan has warned the Government of their intention to forcibly remove the Tissa Viharaya. Addressing the media at the Jaffna Press Club on 9 February, Sritharan stated that the owners of the land occupied by the Tissa Viharaya and others would soon take action against what he referred to as an illegal construction. He also charged that structures built by ordinary people on State land had been forcibly removed, with the Government taking action on the grounds that such constructions were illegal.
Attempts to contact the Deputy Minister for Defence regarding the controversy, failed.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, currently attending the 2025 World Government Summit in the United Arab Emirates, held a key meeting with the Prime Minister of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, on 11 February.
The two leaders discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties, with a focus on trade, investment, and economic cooperation.
During the meeting, President Dissanayake highlighted Sri Lanka’s improved political and financial stability, presenting new opportunities in the investment and tourism sectors. Both leaders explored strategies to diversify markets and expand trade relations between Sri Lanka and Kuwait.
President Dissanayake also expressed his gratitude to Sheikh Ahmed and Kuwait for their role in supporting Sri Lanka’s successful securing of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan facility, recognizing its significance in the country’s ongoing economic recovery.
Additionally, the President acknowledged the contributions of approximately 155,000 Sri Lankan workers in Kuwait, whose remittances amount to USD 700 million annually, significantly boosting Sri Lanka’s economy.
The President was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, as discussions centered on fostering deeper economic cooperation between the two nations.
Sri Lanka’s Attorney-General, the country’s chief prosecutor, has reversed his earlier decision to discharge three key suspects in the Lasantha Wickrematunge assassination case amid calls for his impeachment.
In a dramatic U-turn, Attorney-General (AG) Parinda Ranasinghe instructed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) through Senior Assistant Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya that they should not proceed with his instructions dated 27 January 2025.
In the letter sent last month, AG Ranasinghe (Jnr) had ordered the discharge of Premanand Udalagama, a former military intelligence officer, and Prasanna Nanayakkara, the then-DIG of the area, both of whom had been remanded and later bailed after evidence linked them to the murder and to obstructing the investigation. The third was police inspector Sugathapala.
In the now-withdrawn letter, Ranasinghe had instructed investigators to inform the Mount Lavinia Magistrate of his decision not to proceed against the three key suspects in case number B92/2009 and to report back within two weeks—a demand the CID ignored.
It is reliably understood that the CID responded with a lengthy submission outlining why the suspects should not be discharged before the investigation was completed.
They also pointed out that the AG had no authority to discharge any suspects without first obtaining a report from investigators on the status of the case, a procedure not followed by Ranasinghe.
Public OutrageDestroying Evidence
Military intelligence officer Udalagama had been in remand custody over allegations of abducting Wickrematunge’s driver and threatening him with death unless he stopped implicating the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) in the killing.
Wickrematunge’s driver had alleged that his employer was murdered by a DMI unit, as previously reported to the courts by the CID.
Nanayakkara was arrested in 2018 and remanded in custody for suppressing vital evidence in the murder case before being released on bail.
Shortly before he was killed, Wickrematunge had noted down the registration numbers of motorcycles that were following him on the morning of 8 January 2009. The assassins arrived on motorcycles.
Police scene-of-crime officers recorded their observations but were subsequently ordered to remove their notes from official police records.
Wickrematunge’s notebook was handed over to DIG Nanayakkara, who then passed it on to the then-Inspector General of Police, Jayantha Wickramarathne, also a suspect in the cover-up.
Eventually, the notebook disappeared after the case was transferred to the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID).
Despite concerted efforts by senior police officials to conceal evidence, junior officers had secretly made photocopies of Wickrematunge’s notebook, as well as their own observations recorded in the Grave Crime Information Book (GCIB).
These photocopies of the original police entries in the GCIB, along with a copy of Wickrematunge’s notebook, resurfaced at the CID almost nine years after the crime.
Third Case
This was the third case in which key suspects were released by Ranasinghe.
Shortly after the new cabinet was appointed, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told reporters that the government was unhappy with an earlier decision by the AG to discharge those accused of massacring 11 inmates at Mahara Prison.
Another 117 inmates were wounded in the November 2020 massacre. An STF officer suspected of murdering an alleged drug dealer was also released by Ranasinghe, a move that has been challenged by a senior lawyer representing the victim’s widow. Ironically, this very lawyer had supported the AG’s decision to release suspects in the Lasantha case.
Impeachment
Lasantha Wickrematunge’s daughter, Ahimsa, urged the government to impeach Ranasinghe over what she described as the illegal discharge of suspects in her father’s murder. Top government sources said the matter was seriously discussed at the highest levels of the administration.
Fearing imminent impeachment, Ranasinghe sought the support of the Legal Officers’ Association, which issued a strongly worded statement backing him. However, within minutes, Ranasinghe backtracked, effectively abandoning his supporters.
“The Legal Officers’ Association emphatically wishes to state that they would not hesitate to stand up and defeat any attempt to remove the Hon. Attorney General from his office,” the Association stated in a press release defending Ranasinghe’s actions.
However, at the time the Association’s statement was released, the AG had already instructed the CID not to act on his previous orders.
The Government insisted there is no change in its policy to abolish the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that the Government has no intention of continuing with the PTA.
However, he said the PTA will remain until a new law is introduced to replace the PTA.
The Minister also said that the Online Safety Act will be amended.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet Spokesman said that the Government has no intention of protecting those accused of killing journalist Lasantha Wickremetunge.
He said the investigation into Wickremetunge’s murder and other major crimes will be carried out and justice will be served.
CCTV camera footage has surfaced showing Jaffna District MP Ramanathan Archchuna assaulting an individual at a hotel in Jaffna.
The incident had occurred following a heated argument at the hotel last night (11).
According to the Medical Director of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, the injured individual, who was attacked with a plate by the parliamentarian, has been referred for surgery.
Reports indicate that the altercation between the MP and the victim was recorded on a mobile phone by MP Archchuna himself. During the dispute, he allegedly struck the individual with a plate, causing injuries.
However, when contacted, the police stated that MP Archchuna has also been hospitalized, claiming that he too was assaulted during the incident.
