Category: News

Acting IGP Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasooriya says that an investigation has been launched by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding how MP Namal Rajapaksa obtained his law degree.

The Acting IGP adds that he has received several complaints about Namal Rajapaksa’s successful completion of the law examination, alleging that it was problematic.

He says that an inquiry would be conducted with the recommendation of the Principal of the Sri Lanka Law College.

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.