Tuesday, March 10, 2026
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Easter Attack Case Postponed; Key Witness Flees

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The Colombo High Court has postponed the trial of millionaire businessman Mohamed Ibrahim and two others, accused of concealing the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, until July 2nd.

The Attorney General’s Department informed the court that a key witness, a woman who worked at Ibrahim’s house, had left the country. Another witness is also at risk of leaving. The Criminal Investigation Department has been ordered to reissue the summons and provide the court with information about her departure.

Ibrahim’s nomination for a national list seat by the JVP in 2015 caused controversy. However, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stated that no Easter Commission report links Ibrahim and the JVP to the attacks.

UK Imposes Sanctions on Four Sri Lankans for War Crimes

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The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on four individuals for their involvement in serious human rights violations during Sri Lanka’s civil war.

The sanctioned individuals include former Army Commanders General Shavendra Silva and Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, and former Navy Commander Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda. Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, also known as Karuna Amman, who led the Eastern Armed Wing of the LTTE, is also on the list.

The sanctions prohibit these individuals from entering the UK and freeze any assets they may hold within the country.

Two SJB Parliamentarians Attend Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Birthday Celebration

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Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s birthday was marked by a religious ceremony at the Sedawatta Weheragoda Purana Viharaya. During the event, Dodampahala Rahula Thero, the Chief Prelate of the Bambaranda Kurunduwe Purwarama Rajamaha Viharaya, commended Wickremesinghe’s leadership during the economic crisis. The Thero stated that Wickremesinghe’s tough decisions were necessary and have ultimately made life easier for the people. He emphasized that the former President never made decisions that were detrimental to the country.

The religious ceremony was presided over by the Chief Prelate of the Ittapana Dhammalankara Kotte Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha and organized by the Chief Incumbent of the Sedawatta Weheragoda Rajamaha Viharaya.

Parliamentarian Kavinda Jayawardhana of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and former SJB Parliamentarian Ajith Mannapperuma also attended the event. Wickremesinghe hosted a dana for the Maha Sangha.

A separate birthday celebration was held at Wickremesinghe’s political office in Colombo, attended by numerous political leaders.

SJB MP Prasad Sets an Example for Politicians

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An unusual incident occurred during the recent foundation stone laying ceremony for a swimming pool at Veyangoda Bandaranaike Central College. Parliamentarian Prasad Siriwardana declined the invitation to attend the event as a special guest and chose to participate as an ordinary alumnus.

This decision has been lauded on social media, particularly in light of the refusal by several members of the current government, including the former Speaker, to heed a request made by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. Siriwardhana’s action stands in stark contrast to this behavior and has garnered widespread praise.

Journo Tips! Launches Fact-Checking & OSINT Training Series for Sri Lankan Journalists

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A new initiative by Journo Tips! aims to empower Sri Lankan journalists with fact-checking and OSINT skills to combat misinformation. The “Fact-Checking & OSINT Training Series” will equip media professionals with essential tools for information verification and ethical journalism in the digital age.

The online training will be held on April 2, 9, and 12 from 8 PM to 9 PM (IST). Dheeshma Puzhakkal, an experienced fact-checker and media literacy trainer from India, will lead the program.

Journo Tips!, founded by Sandun Arosha Fernando, is a platform for collaboration and training among journalists, offering workshops and networking opportunities to navigate industry challenges.

No Legal Issues in Storing Foreign Liquor

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The Sri Lanka Licensed Liquor Association has revealed that there are no legal obstacles to possessing any quantity of foreign liquor under the Excise Ordinance.

Association Chairman Ajith Udugama stated that this permission is granted under Section 17 of the Excise Ordinance.

Accordingly, the legal right to possess any quantity of foreign liquor is granted solely for personal consumption, and selling it is prohibited, the Chairman said.

Furthermore, transporting foreign liquor for personal consumption is permitted only up to 80 liters at a time.

Legal action will be taken against those who transport quantities exceeding this limit, he added.

Gammanpila Acquitted; Jayasuriya Appointed Permanent Representative to the UN

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Former Minister Udaya Gammanpila was acquitted of charges related to financial fraud by the Colombo High Court today. The court stated that the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Gammanpila had been accused of misappropriating funds through the fraudulent sale of shares belonging to an Australian businessman.

In other news, the High Post Committee has approved the appointment of several new diplomats by the Mallima government. These include the appointments of R.M. Mahinda Das Rathnayake as the Ambassador to Cuba and Professor Piwituru Janak Kumarasinghe as the Ambassador to Japan. S.D. Nimal Upali Senadheera has been appointed as the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.

Additionally, Jayantha Jayasuriya, former Attorney General, and CJ during the Yahapalana government, has been appointed as Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. Jayasuriya’s appointment as Attorney General had been controversial at the time, with allegations that he was appointed over more senior officials.

President Anura Kumara Disanayaka to Waive Parliamentary Pension

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President Anura Kumara Disanayaka’s parliamentary pension will be suspended from next month, according to parliamentary sources.

The President, who believes it is unnecessary to receive two pensions, had informed the Speaker of Parliament in writing of his decision to waive his parliamentary pension.

The Speaker has since forwarded this request to the Director of Finance of Parliament.

Presidents who have served as Members of Parliament for five years are entitled to a parliamentary pension in addition to their presidential pension upon retirement.

Sri Lanka Halts Starlink Launch Over Data Access Concerns

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Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite broadband service, faces a launch delay in Sri Lanka due to government concerns over data access for national security. The current administration demands that Starlink guarantee legal access to communication data for law enforcement purposes before services can begin.

While the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) had previously approved Starlink under the former government, the new administration, led by Deputy Minister of Information Technology Eranga Weeraratne, insists on revising the terms to include data interception provisions.

The delay highlights the tension between technological advancement and national security, as Sri Lanka seeks to modernize its telecommunications infrastructure while safeguarding its interests. Meanwhile, Starlink is expanding its reach in other Asian markets, with partnerships in Bangladesh and India underway.

Cabinet Approves Restructuring of State Institutions

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The Cabinet of Ministers has given the green light to implement the recommendations of a committee appointed to restructure non-commercial state institutions. These recommendations, aimed at strengthening public service delivery and addressing inefficiencies, include the closure, merger, and cessation of government involvement in certain state institutions.

Among the state institutions slated for closure are twelve entities falling under six ministries, including the Galle Heritage Foundation, the National Maritime Affairs Committee Secretariat, and the Information and Communication Technology Agency. Additionally, the Mahaweli Authority and the Cashew Corporation are also reportedly set to be dissolved.

The committee has also proposed several mergers, such as bringing the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, Television Corporation, and Independent Television Network under a single management, and merging the Sri Lanka Tea Board with the Small Tea Estate Development Authority, as well as the Coconut Cultivation Board, the Coconut Development Authority, and the Palmyrah Development Board.

The committee also noted that some state institutions are operating efficiently and should be maintained as they are, while others, including the Sri Lanka Film Corporation, should be operated under private partnerships.