The Balapitiya High Court has sentenced four police officers to rigorous imprisonment and fines for the brutal torture of a 15-year-old boy taken into custody over a theft allegation in 2008.

Delivering the verdict, High Court Judge Priyantha Liyanage ruled that the prosecution had proven the case beyond reasonable doubt, finding all four accused guilty of subjecting the minor to cruel and degrading treatment while in custody.

Sentences:

Retired Chief Inspector (1st accused): 8 years’ rigorous imprisonment, Rs. 100,000 fine (6 months’ extra jail if unpaid) and Rs. 100,000 compensation to the victim (1-year extra jail if unpaid).

Inspector (2nd accused – serving in Elpitiya): 9 years’ rigorous imprisonment, Rs. 100,000 fine (1-year extra jail if unpaid) and Rs. 100,000 compensation (additional 1-year jail if unpaid).

Sergeant (3rd accused – serving in Kalutara): 8 years’ rigorous imprisonment, Rs. 100,000 fine (1-year extra jail if unpaid) and Rs. 50,000 compensation (further 1-year jail if unpaid).

Police Assistant (4th accused): 8 years’ rigorous imprisonment, Rs. 100,000 fine (1-year extra jail if unpaid) and Rs. 50,000 compensation (further 1-year jail if unpaid).

The case relates to an incident on 7 March 2008, when the teenage boy was tortured while in police custody.

The Chinese government has agreed to provide the entire quantity of school uniform materials required for 2026 as a grant to Sri Lanka, covering all students in government and government-aided schools, the Ministry of Education said yesterday.

An official ceremony was held at the Ministry of Education to exchange the certificates of agreement. The grant will benefit 4,418,404 students across the country.

The event was held under the patronage of Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Madura Seneviratne and Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong. During the ceremony, the agreement was formally exchanged between Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa and Ambassador Qi.

Speaking at the occasion, Minister Seneviratne highlighted China’s ongoing support to Sri Lanka’s education sector.

“China donated 11.82 million meters of cloth for school uniforms in 2025, covering the entire national need and directly benefiting more than 4.6 million students across the country. This contribution, worth over Rs. 5.17 billion, enabled every child from the youngest students to those preparing for national examinations to pursue education with dignity and equality. A similar contribution for 2026 deserves appreciation,” he said.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said he was “pleased” to receive a courtesy call from Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, prior to leaving his official residence at Wijerama Mawatha in Colombo.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Rajapaksa expressed his appreciation for the visit and reflected on the “enduring friendship between our nations, both diplomatic and personal.”

Rajapaksa vacated the official residence following the passage of the President’s Entitlements (Repeal) Bill earlier today, which requires former presidents to return state-provided residences to the government.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has vacated his official residence located at Wijerama Road in Colombo 07.

The former President and his wife Shiranthi Rajapaksa, left the Wijerama Road residence at around 1:15 p.m.

A large crowd was seen flocked at the Wijerama Road, as the former President prepared to vacate his official residence.

Meanwhile, a group of politicians and diplomats visited the official residence of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wijerama Road in Colombo this morning (11).

The development came in the wake of reports that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa decided to vacate the official residence today.

According to the provisions of the new law titled ‘Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Act’, former presidents are now required to return their state-provided official residences back to the government.

Former President Rajapaksa had been residing in an official residence up to now, but under the Act passed yesterday (10) in Parliament, he no longer receives the entitlement.

Accordingly, he is expected to move to his private residence, Carlton House in Hambantota, according to a spokesperson of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

Additionally, political sources say that other former presidents, Maithripala Sirisena and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, will also be required to return their official residences to the government.

The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government stated that if the official residences are not handed over as required, written notice will be issued demanding compliance.

The Ministry further noted that it expects to act in accordance with the provisions of the new Act moving forward.

A spokesperson said the legislation is currently being studied in detail, and appropriate actions will be taken accordingly.

Speaker of House Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne endorsed the certification on the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill which was passed in Parliament yesterday.
The Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill was passed in Parliament by a majority of 150 votes.

During the vote on the second reading of the Bill, 151 Members of Parliament voted in favour while 1 MP voted against it.

This Bill, which was presented to Parliament on 7 August 2025 by the Minister of Justice and National Integration, was a Bill to repeal the Presidents’ Entitlements Act, No. 4 of 1986.

Accordingly, following the enactment of the legislation, any residence provided to, or monthly allowance paid to, a former President or the widow of a former President in terms of the provisions of section 2 of the repealed Act; monthly secretarial allowance paid to, and official transport and such other facilities provided to, a former President or the widow of a former President in terms of the provisions of section 3 of the repealed Act; and monthly pension paid to the widow of a former President in terms of the provisions of section 4 of the repealed Act, have been abolished.

India has extended a grant of LKR 600 million to Sri Lanka for the construction of a new Accident and Emergency (A&E) unit at the District General Hospital in Mannar.

The initiative is aimed at significantly improving emergency healthcare in the Northern Province.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 9 September by Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media.

Sri Lanka’s Health Minister, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, was also present at the signing ceremony.

The project will see the construction of a two-storey emergency unit and the procurement of advanced medical equipment.

Officials say the facility will be crucial in addressing emergency cases during the “golden hour,” a critical period that can determine patient survival.

This initiative is part of India’s broader development partnership with Sri Lanka in the health sector.

Previous Indian-funded projects include the island-wide Suwa Seriya ‘1990’ ambulance service, medical aid during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the construction of a multi-specialty hospital in Dickoya.

India is also considering additional healthcare investments, including expansion of the Suwa Seriya service and a new medical ward complex at Mullaitivu.

The United Kingdom thanks the High Commissioner for his report on Sri Lanka and recent visit.

We welcome the government’s commitments on human rights and accountability whilst also stressing the importance of tangible and sustained progress.

Action by the Sri Lankan authorities to exhume and investigate mass grave sites is vital. This should be carried out in line with international standards.

We share the High Commissioner’s continuing concerns around arbitrary detention, custodial deaths, intimidation of human rights defenders, and targeting of minority communities.

We remain deeply concerned about the continued use of legislation such as the Prevention of Terrorism Act to restrict fundamental freedoms despite public commitments to abolish it.

We also encourage the government to re-invigorate the work of domestic institutions focused on reparations and missing persons.

It is crucial that any reconciliation and accountability process is inclusive and comprehensive, has the support of affected communities, builds on past recommendations and meets international standards.

High Commissioner,

We encourage you to take forward your Office’s important work on conflict-related sexual violence and stress the need for this issue to be addressed as a matter of priority in Sri Lanka.

We reaffirm our willingness to work constructively with the government on these issues.

Thank you.

Published 8 September 2025