The detention and subsequent death of an individual for a phone ringing in court has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with Member of Parliament and President's Counsel Faizer Musthapha labeling it a "serious situation." Speaking in Parliament, he asserted that the misuse of the Contempt of Court Act in this manner poses a grave threat to citizens' rights and demanded immediate action.
Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi, Director of Communications for Sri Lanka’s Presidential Media Division, has ignited controversy by publicly questioning the long-accepted narrative that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were solely responsible for the 2006 Welikanda and Kebithigollewa massacres of Sinhala civilians.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has warned that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could withdraw from Sri Lanka because, as reported in the Sathi Aga Aruna newspaper, the government failed to implement the proposed electricity tariff revisions by the March 31 deadline.
Reports indicate that legal action is being prepared against six former ministers concerning allegations of bribery, corruption, and other criminal charges. According to reliable sources, investigations into these senior politicians, who held ministerial portfolios in past governments, have been concluded.
The detention and subsequent death of an individual for a phone ringing in court has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with Member of Parliament and President's Counsel Faizer Musthapha labeling it a "serious situation." Speaking in Parliament, he asserted that the misuse of the Contempt of Court Act in this manner poses a grave threat to citizens' rights and demanded immediate action.
Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi, Director of Communications for Sri Lanka’s Presidential Media Division, has ignited controversy by publicly questioning the long-accepted narrative that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were solely responsible for the 2006 Welikanda and Kebithigollewa massacres of Sinhala civilians.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has warned that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could withdraw from Sri Lanka because, as reported in the Sathi Aga Aruna newspaper, the government failed to implement the proposed electricity tariff revisions by the March 31 deadline.
Reports indicate that legal action is being prepared against six former ministers concerning allegations of bribery, corruption, and other criminal charges. According to reliable sources, investigations into these senior politicians, who held ministerial portfolios in past governments, have been concluded.
The detention and subsequent death of an individual for a phone ringing in court has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with Member of Parliament and President's Counsel Faizer Musthapha labeling it a "serious situation." Speaking in Parliament, he asserted that the misuse of the Contempt of Court Act in this manner poses a grave threat to citizens' rights and demanded immediate action.
Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi, Director of Communications for Sri Lanka’s Presidential Media Division, has ignited controversy by publicly questioning the long-accepted narrative that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were solely responsible for the 2006 Welikanda and Kebithigollewa massacres of Sinhala civilians.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has warned that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could withdraw from Sri Lanka because, as reported in the Sathi Aga Aruna newspaper, the government failed to implement the proposed electricity tariff revisions by the March 31 deadline.
Reports indicate that legal action is being prepared against six former ministers concerning allegations of bribery, corruption, and other criminal charges. According to reliable sources, investigations into these senior politicians, who held ministerial portfolios in past governments, have been concluded.
The detention and subsequent death of an individual for a phone ringing in court has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with Member of Parliament and President's Counsel Faizer Musthapha labeling it a "serious situation." Speaking in Parliament, he asserted that the misuse of the Contempt of Court Act in this manner poses a grave threat to citizens' rights and demanded immediate action.
Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi, Director of Communications for Sri Lanka’s Presidential Media Division, has ignited controversy by publicly questioning the long-accepted narrative that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were solely responsible for the 2006 Welikanda and Kebithigollewa massacres of Sinhala civilians.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has warned that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could withdraw from Sri Lanka because, as reported in the Sathi Aga Aruna newspaper, the government failed to implement the proposed electricity tariff revisions by the March 31 deadline.
Reports indicate that legal action is being prepared against six former ministers concerning allegations of bribery, corruption, and other criminal charges. According to reliable sources, investigations into these senior politicians, who held ministerial portfolios in past governments, have been concluded.
The detention and subsequent death of an individual for a phone ringing in court has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with Member of Parliament and President's Counsel Faizer Musthapha labeling it a "serious situation." Speaking in Parliament, he asserted that the misuse of the Contempt of Court Act in this manner poses a grave threat to citizens' rights and demanded immediate action.
Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi, Director of Communications for Sri Lanka’s Presidential Media Division, has ignited controversy by publicly questioning the long-accepted narrative that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were solely responsible for the 2006 Welikanda and Kebithigollewa massacres of Sinhala civilians.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has warned that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could withdraw from Sri Lanka because, as reported in the Sathi Aga Aruna newspaper, the government failed to implement the proposed electricity tariff revisions by the March 31 deadline.
Reports indicate that legal action is being prepared against six former ministers concerning allegations of bribery, corruption, and other criminal charges. According to reliable sources, investigations into these senior politicians, who held ministerial portfolios in past governments, have been concluded.
The detention and subsequent death of an individual for a phone ringing in court has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with Member of Parliament and President's Counsel Faizer Musthapha labeling it a "serious situation." Speaking in Parliament, he asserted that the misuse of the Contempt of Court Act in this manner poses a grave threat to citizens' rights and demanded immediate action.
Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi, Director of Communications for Sri Lanka’s Presidential Media Division, has ignited controversy by publicly questioning the long-accepted narrative that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were solely responsible for the 2006 Welikanda and Kebithigollewa massacres of Sinhala civilians.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has warned that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could withdraw from Sri Lanka because, as reported in the Sathi Aga Aruna newspaper, the government failed to implement the proposed electricity tariff revisions by the March 31 deadline.
Reports indicate that legal action is being prepared against six former ministers concerning allegations of bribery, corruption, and other criminal charges. According to reliable sources, investigations into these senior politicians, who held ministerial portfolios in past governments, have been concluded.
The detention and subsequent death of an individual for a phone ringing in court has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with Member of Parliament and President's Counsel Faizer Musthapha labeling it a "serious situation." Speaking in Parliament, he asserted that the misuse of the Contempt of Court Act in this manner poses a grave threat to citizens' rights and demanded immediate action.
Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi, Director of Communications for Sri Lanka’s Presidential Media Division, has ignited controversy by publicly questioning the long-accepted narrative that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were solely responsible for the 2006 Welikanda and Kebithigollewa massacres of Sinhala civilians.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has warned that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could withdraw from Sri Lanka because, as reported in the Sathi Aga Aruna newspaper, the government failed to implement the proposed electricity tariff revisions by the March 31 deadline.
Reports indicate that legal action is being prepared against six former ministers concerning allegations of bribery, corruption, and other criminal charges. According to reliable sources, investigations into these senior politicians, who held ministerial portfolios in past governments, have been concluded.
The detention and subsequent death of an individual for a phone ringing in court has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with Member of Parliament and President's Counsel Faizer Musthapha labeling it a "serious situation." Speaking in Parliament, he asserted that the misuse of the Contempt of Court Act in this manner poses a grave threat to citizens' rights and demanded immediate action.
Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi, Director of Communications for Sri Lanka’s Presidential Media Division, has ignited controversy by publicly questioning the long-accepted narrative that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were solely responsible for the 2006 Welikanda and Kebithigollewa massacres of Sinhala civilians.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has warned that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could withdraw from Sri Lanka because, as reported in the Sathi Aga Aruna newspaper, the government failed to implement the proposed electricity tariff revisions by the March 31 deadline.
Reports indicate that legal action is being prepared against six former ministers concerning allegations of bribery, corruption, and other criminal charges. According to reliable sources, investigations into these senior politicians, who held ministerial portfolios in past governments, have been concluded.
The detention and subsequent death of an individual for a phone ringing in court has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with Member of Parliament and President's Counsel Faizer Musthapha labeling it a "serious situation." Speaking in Parliament, he asserted that the misuse of the Contempt of Court Act in this manner poses a grave threat to citizens' rights and demanded immediate action.
Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi, Director of Communications for Sri Lanka’s Presidential Media Division, has ignited controversy by publicly questioning the long-accepted narrative that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were solely responsible for the 2006 Welikanda and Kebithigollewa massacres of Sinhala civilians.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has warned that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could withdraw from Sri Lanka because, as reported in the Sathi Aga Aruna newspaper, the government failed to implement the proposed electricity tariff revisions by the March 31 deadline.
Reports indicate that legal action is being prepared against six former ministers concerning allegations of bribery, corruption, and other criminal charges. According to reliable sources, investigations into these senior politicians, who held ministerial portfolios in past governments, have been concluded.
President Anura Disanayaka has pledged to expose those accountable for the Easter Sunday bombings as the sixth anniversary of the attacks approaches on April 21st. The Criminal Investigation Department is reportedly working to identify and apprehend suspects before this date.
The Catholic Church has responded with cautious optimism, expressing its trust in the new government’s commitment to justice.
Meanwhile, the FBI has confirmed that Zaharan Hashim was the mastermind behind the attacks, and former minister Pillayan has revealed information about women trained by Hashim. Fifteen women participated in one such training program in December 2018. Five of these women were killed in a subsequent bomb attack, three have been arrested, and the remaining seven are being questioned by the Terrorism Investigation Division.
In a separate development, the Criminal Investigation Department has launched an investigation into former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s request to speak by phone with former minister Pillayan, who is currently in detention. The request was denied by a prison official.
A high-level group within the National People’s Power (NPP) has raised concerns that the prevailing public perception of government leaders and ministers being “liars” could negatively impact their electoral prospects.
The group has identified the urgent need to address this issue and is contemplating strategies to counter these claims.
One proposed approach involves highlighting false statements made by opposition politicians in the past.
Additionally, the group plans to sternly caution election candidates and ministers to exercise greater caution in their public and media statements.
Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), has stated that the taxes imposed by the United States globally will not have a significant impact on Sri Lanka.
Silva pointed out that Sri Lanka’s exports to the US are minimal, with the majority being garments. He assured that if any garment industry jobs are lost due to these taxes, affected individuals will receive temporary allowances until they find alternative employment.
During an online discussion, Silva expressed his belief that the US’s current strategy is unsustainable and will negatively impact the world and the US itself. He also asserted that the US cannot win a trade war with China and will ultimately be defeated.
Silva concluded that the US President will soon be forced to reverse his “wrong decision” due to the prevailing circumstances.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has raised concerns about the emergence of a dangerous extremist ideology within the Muslim community in Sri Lanka.
Speaking at a public rally in Batticaloa, the President stated that this ideology, which promotes the concept of a ‘Super Muslim,’ does not represent the views of the majority of Sri Lankan Muslims and is a deviation towards violent extremism. He emphasized the need for security forces to take action against such extremist elements.
The President’s remarks come in the wake of investigations by intelligence and security agencies into extremist groups that have been critical of his stance on the issue.
Sri Lanka received the second-highest amount of remittances ever in March 2025, with a value of US$693.3 million. This pushed the total remittances for the first quarter of 2025 to US$1,814.4 million, an 18.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
The only time Sri Lanka received a higher remittance amount was in December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many Sri Lankan workers abroad returned home and sent large terminal benefits.
Remittances play a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s economy, providing a vital source of foreign exchange.
Former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, also known as Pillaiyan, was arrested on April 8th by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the investigation into the abduction and disappearance of Professor Sivasupermaniam Ravindranath.
Police say they have obtained permission to detain and question him for 90 days under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
The arrest has sparked controversy, with many people suspecting that it is an attempt to make the PTA more acceptable to society. Legal experts argue that special laws like the PTA are not necessary to take legal action against individuals like Pillaiyan, who are accused of committing crimes with the patronage of the government.
Professor Ravindranath, who served as the Vice-Chancellor of Eastern University from 2004 to 2006, disappeared in 2006. The CID launched an investigation into his disappearance that year and found that he had been abducted. Pillaiyan’s arrest comes nearly 19 years after the incident.
The Minister of Public Security also stated in Parliament that Pillaiyan is being investigated for his alleged involvement in the Easter Sunday attacks.
In a recent political interview, Minister Lal Kantha declared that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was the only leader capable of rescuing Sri Lanka from its worst economic crisis. He emphasized that no other leader at the time could have accomplished this feat.
Minister Lal Kantha praised Wickremesinghe’s deep understanding of the economic system and his unwavering commitment to his principles, positioning him as the most prominent figure to emerge within that system since J.R. Jayawardene. He asserted that even Chandrika Kumaratunga did not reach that level of expertise.
Upon assuming the presidency, Wickremesinghe took decisive steps to manage the crisis, and the current government continues to implement the program he initiated with the International Monetary Fund without any alterations, according to the minister.
Minister Lal Kantha acknowledged their existence when asked about Wickremesinghe’s past mistakes during the interview, but did not elaborate further.
Mohammad Nawufer, a key figure in the Sri Lankan cell of the Islamic State (ISIS), has confessed to his involvement in the deadly 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. In a series of interviews with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Nawufer disclosed his role in the planning, training, and ideological groundwork that led to the attacks, which killed over 250 people.
Radicalization and Rise to Leadership
Nawufer’s path to radicalization was gradual, beginning with exposure to extremist ideologies in Qatar in 2009. However, it wasn’t until 2017 that he fully embraced ISIS ideology, influenced by the preaching, lectures, and online content of Zaharan Hashim, the leader of the National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ). Under Hashim’s guidance, Nawufer pledged allegiance to ISIS and committed himself to Jihad.
Nawufer revealed that Hashim sent a video to ISIS leaders in Syria, showcasing the allegiance of Sri Lankan ISIS members. Subsequently, Hashim declared that their group in Sri Lanka had been recognized as an official ISIS cell.
Hashim appointed Nawufer as his second-in-command, tasking him with recruitment, propaganda, and ideological indoctrination. Nawufer organized eight multi-day training camps, providing instruction in bomb-making, firearms, and religious principles.
The Rift and Aftermath
Weeks before the Easter attacks, a dispute arose between Nawufer and Hashim. Nawufer questioned Hashim’s leadership and security measures and attempted to resign, but Hashim refused.
Nawufer claims he last saw Hashim on March 9, 2019, and went into hiding after their disagreement. On the morning of the attacks, he was informed by another group member that Hashim had “executed a series of attacks.” Upon seeing news of the bombings on Facebook, Nawufer fled.
Nawufer’s Confession and Corroborating Evidence
Nawufer’s deep involvement was further evidenced by independent witness testimony and digital forensics. Nine individuals detained by Sri Lankan authorities identified Nawufer as a leader, and 13 witnesses confirmed a leadership breakdown within the group prior to the attacks. Social media and email records further substantiated Nawufer’s activities and allegiance to ISIS.
Significance of the Revelations
Nawufer’s confession confirms that the Easter Sunday attacks were not the actions of lone wolves, but rather the result of a structured, trained, and ideologically driven jihadist cell operating as a local arm of the Islamic State.
During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Sri Lanka, a proposal for a land bridge project between India and Sri Lanka was once again put forward. However, the Sri Lankan government has not yet made any statement regarding the matter.
This is not the first time such a project has been discussed, with talks initially taking place in 2002 regarding a land bridge between Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, India, and Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka, potentially based on the Ram Sethu (Adam’s Bridge). The idea of establishing a railway link between the two countries also emerged at that time. Discussions regarding the land bridge continued under previous Sri Lankan governments, but no concrete action has been taken.
Despite the renewed proposal during Prime Minister Modi’s visit, Sri Lanka has remained silent and has not offered any immediate response. Meanwhile, political commentator Dayan Jayathilaka has raised concerns about a reported defense agreement between Sri Lanka and India, suggesting that Indian media has portrayed the agreement as more substantial than Sri Lanka claims. He emphasizes the need for Sri Lanka to remain an independent state and not become aligned with any particular power.
An FBI affidavit dated 11th December 2020 has definitively identified Zahran Hashim as the mastermind behind the devastating 2019 Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka. The attacks, targeting churches and hotels, claimed the lives of 268 people, including five Americans.
The comprehensive FBI report, based on forensic analysis, social media records, and witness testimony, details how Hashim led a local ISIS cell in Sri Lanka and orchestrated the complex suicide bombing operation. Despite the gravity of this evidence, the affidavit has been largely overlooked in Sri Lankan public discourse, with attention often diverted towards speculative theories and political maneuvering.
The FBI’s findings highlight the need for Sri Lanka to confront the reality of the attacks and prioritize justice based on factual evidence, rather than succumbing to political distractions and conspiracy theories.
