The evidentiary hearing against three LTTE cadres, who aided and abetted an LTTE female cadre in carrying out a suicide attack on former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, took place before High Court Judge Navaratne Marasinghe yesterday (28).
The Attorney General filed indictments against Selvarasa Kirubakaran alias Moris Sanmugalingam, Suriyakumar and Thambaiyah Prakash alias Dhanush with 230 counts.
Senior Deputy Solicitor General Lakmali Karunanayake led the evidence and the Court fixed further hearing for today (29). The Court ordered the Terrorist Investigation Division that the next witness, who is reported to be in an unhealthy condition, be produced in Court today even providing her with transport.
An Army Sergeant and two Corporals died in the suicide attack by LTTE carder Durgha on 25 January 2006, that targeted the then Army Commander Fonseka in front of the Army Headquarters, in which the Commander suffered severe injuries.
Attorneys-at-Law Suranga Bandara, Asthika Devendra and several others appeared for the Defence. ⍐
Indian fishermen injured due to accidental firearm discharge: SLN chief
January 29, 2025 01:47 pm
The Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy says that according to initial investigations, the two Indian fishermen who were injured when the Sri Lanka Navy apprehended an India fishing boat poaching off Kankesanthurai (KKS) have been wounded due to the accidental discharge of a firearm of a Navy personnel.
Speaking during a press conference at the Defence Ministry today (29), Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda stated that naval personnel had boarded an Indian fishing trawler that was in Sri Lankan waters due to a suspicion after it did not respond to instructions to leave the area.
However, as a navy officer and a sailor were heading towards the pilothouse of the trawler, the Indian nationals onboard had surrounded them and assaulted the navy personnel while attempting to disarm them, the navy chief said.
He added that when they had attempted to grab the firearm it had accidentally discharged causing minor injuries to two Indian nationals who were immediately rushed to receive medical attention.
“There had been a discharge of weapon. However, the weapon discharge is at a lower angle. Initial investigations have confirmed that it was an accidental discharge when considering the angle of the bullet’s trajectory,” Vice Admiral Banagoda clarified.
India on Tuesday lodged a strong protest with Sri Lanka over an incident of firing by the Sri Lankan Navy during the apprehension of 13 Indian fishermen in the proximity of Delft Island in the early hours of last morning (28).
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said Sri Lanka’s acting High Commissioner was called into the foreign office to lodge the protest. “Our High Commission in Colombo has also raised the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sri Lankan government,” the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said.
In the incident, out of the 13 fishermen who were on board the fishing vessel, two sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. Three other fishermen received minor injuries and have been treated for the same. Indian Consulate Officials in Jaffna have visited the injured fishermen at the hospital to seek their welfare and are extending all possible assistance to the fishermen and their families.
“The Government of India has always emphasised the need to treat issues pertaining to fishermen in a humane and humanitarian manner, keeping in mind livelihood concerns. The use of force is not acceptable under any circumstances whatsoever. Existing understandings between the two Governments in this regard must be strictly observed,” the Indian MEA said.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Navy has issued a statement regarding the incident in question stating that the Northern Naval Command observed a cluster of Indian fishing boats poaching in the Sri Lankan waters off Valvettithurai, Jaffna in the dark hours of Monday (27 Jan).
Subsequently, the Northern Naval Command mounted a special operation to send away those fishing boats from the island waters, deploying naval craft, it said.
During this operation, the Navy seized an Indian fishing boat that continued to remain in Sri Lankan waters, while marshalling illegal fishing activities and collecting the fishing harvest. The operation also led to the apprehension of 13 Indian fishermen aboard the fishing boat.
The Sri Lanka Navy said its boarding team was compelled to conduct noncompliance boarding as the Indian fishing boat continued to maneuver aggressively, without complying with the Navy’s lawful orders and its duty, during the process of taking the boat into custody.
“On this occasion, the Indian fishermen have acted aggressively, maneuvering their fishing boat in a hostile manner and behaving confrontationally with the Navy. However, while boarding the fishing boat, in accordance with the authority vested in the Navy, the Indian fishermen, as an organized group, have attempted to assault naval personnel and made an attempt to snatch a firearm from a naval officer, endangering the lives of the naval personnel.”
In the process, an accidental fire has taken place, causing slight injuries to two Indian fishermen, the SLN said.
Following the incident, the Navy provided initial first aid to the two injured fishermen and promptly transferred them to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital for further treatment. The hospital has confirmed that their condition is stable.
Meanwhile, the Navy lodged a complaint with the Kankesanthurai Police regarding the incident.
The seized Indian fishing boat and remaining fishermen were brought to the Kankasanthurai harbour last morning and they were handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for onward legal action, the statement said.
The thirteen Indian fishermen, who were arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy yesterday (28) for illegally entering Sri Lankan waters off Kankesanthurai, were remanded until February 10 by the Mallakam Magistrate today.
Two fishermen from the group, who were reportedly injured, are currently hospitalized.
துப்பாக்கிச் சூட்டுக்கு இலக்கான இந்திய மீனவர்கள் குறித்து கடற்படை விளக்கம்
January 29, 2025
காங்கேசன்துறை கடற்பரப்பில் சட்டவிரோத மீன்பிடி நடவடிக்கைகளில் ஈடுபட்டிருந்த போது கடற்படையினரால் கைது செய்யப்பட்ட இரண்டு இந்திய மீனவர்கள் துப்பாக்கிச் சூட்டுக்கு இலக்கானமை, எதிர்பாராத விதமாக துப்பாக்கி இயங்கியதால் என கடற்படை இன்று (29) உறுதிப்படுத்தியது.
இந்த சம்பவம் தொடர்பான முதற்கட்ட விசாரணையைத் தொடர்ந்து இந்த விடயம் தெரியவந்ததாக கடற்படைத் தளபதி வைஸ் அட்மிரல் காஞ்சன பானகொட தெரிவித்தார்.
இதற்கிடையில், கடற்படையினரால் கைது செய்யப்பட்ட 13 இந்திய மீனவர்களும் மல்லாகம் நீதவானிடம் ஆஜர்படுத்தப்பட்ட பின்னர் பெப்ரவரி மாதம் 10 ஆம் திகதி வரை விளக்கமறியலில் வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.
காங்கேசன்துறை கடற்பரப்பில் இந்திய மீனவர்கள் குழுவொன்று சட்டவிரோத மீன்பிடி நடவடிக்கைகளில் ஈடுபடுவதாக கிடைத்த தகவலின் அடிப்படையில், கடற்படை குழுவினர் கடந்த 27 ஆம் திகதி இரவு அவர்களை கைது செய்தனர்.
The recent warnings from small and medium-scale rice mill owners about the potential rise in rice prices—possibly exceeding Rs 300 per kg – highlight the deepening agricultural crisis in Sri Lanka. The price of paddy has recently surged to between Rs 140 and Rs 170 per kg, pushing up production costs for mill owners and farmers alike. The Government has offered Odapana loans to small and medium-scale paddy mill owners to purchase wet paddy at Rs 95 per kg and dry paddy at Rs 115. However, these measures have not been enough to alleviate the crisis. Many farmers, frustrated by delays in the government’s announcement of a guaranteed paddy price, have opted to sell their harvest to private buyers who offer up to Rs 170 per kg.
This shift in the market has led to alarming increases in rice prices. In many shops, rice shortages have become a growing issue, with the only varieties available being local Basmati rice, priced between Rs 250 and Rs 270 per kg. This steep rise in rice prices is a threat to food security, especially for the poorer households who rely on rice as a staple food. A decline in production since 2022, disruptions in the distribution chain, rising inflation, and market manipulation by large producers are thought to be factors for the shortage. And with that, as prices soar, rice has become unaffordable for many, prompting calls for stronger government intervention to regulate prices and ensure proper distribution of rice which is the nation’s staple food.
What we’re witnessing is more than just a temporary shortage. It’s a sign of how fragile Sri Lanka’s agricultural system has become. Once known as the ‘Granary of the East’, the country now finds itself dependent on imports to meet rice demand. In December last year, Sri Lanka imported 70,000 tons of rice from India to address what officials called an ‘artificial shortage’. This shift represents a stark departure from the country’s previous self-sufficiency in rice. Although the government has taken some steps, like importing rice and pledging to take action against traders accused of hoarding, these actions have been largely reactive. The agricultural sector has faced years of neglect, leaving it vulnerable to both internal policy failures and external pressures.
This crisis calls for the urgent need for structural changes in the agricultural industry. In many developed countries, farmers are valued and financially secure, but in Sri Lanka, they remain among the poorest. The disparity becomes even more glaring when considering the vast tracts of unused paddy land across the country. The lack of youth involvement in farming is a critical issue. Many young Sri Lankans are encouraged to pursue Degrees in fields unrelated to Agriculture, leaving most of them either unemployed or working in low-paying jobs such as driving tuk-tuk or leaving abroad for menial work.
In contrast, farming in many developed nations is not only respected but also profitable, with solid support systems in place to ensure the sector’s growth. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, does not promote agriculture as a career, and as a result, the agricultural workforce is ageing, and production is on the decline. To address this, the government must shift the narrative and actively encourage youth to pursue careers in agriculture. Offering incentives, training, and subsidies could make farming a viable and attractive profession. Agricultural education should be a priority, and young people should be equipped with the tools they need to succeed in the sector.
Beyond that, the Government must prioritise sustainable farming practices and modern agricultural technology to boost production, reduce the country’s reliance on imports, and help Sri Lanka return to its previous self-sufficiency in rice. Encouraging youth involvement in farming is a key step in revitalising the agricultural sector, which could address both food security and economic challenges in the long run.
As Sri Lanka faces the ongoing rice crisis, it’s clear that superficial solutions won’t be enough. The root causes need to be tackled head-on. Only by building a thriving agricultural sector can Sri Lanka hope for a future where rice and other basic foods are both affordable and readily available for all its citizens. But can we afford to wait for change, or will we find ourselves eternally dependent on imports for the foreseeable future?
US President Donald Trump is back in the White House and is creating a monstrous cacophony of noise. He is so-to-say, upsetting the ‘apple cart of the ordinary man and woman on the street in lands as far away from the US as in little Sri Lanka.
In addition to the noise the present US President is threatening all nations, small and large to fall in line with US diktat or else…? One of the first acts in his second term as president, was to call a temporary halt to all US aid programmes worldwide. These programmes cover a wide range from relief measures to development assistance, support for civil rights protection, education and technology to health and medical assistance.
Under agreements signed in 2022, Lanka also receives military assistance in terms of military training, military technology, intelligence, special training in counter-terrorism, and direct monetary assistance for military development.
The US is also our country’s biggest export destination -valued at approximately $3.52 billion. The next biggest being India at $ 1.12 billion, the UK at $ 1.04 billion, Germany at $ 881 million and Italy at $662 million. The US is therefore a very important market for our country. But can we afford to offend the new president?
It is understandable therefore, why President Dissanayake before he was elected to power, visited the US and was seen on stage bedecked with US and Lankan flags. The reason - we cannot afford to annoy the US- especially when despite claims to the contrary, regarding state of bankruptcy, our external debt stands at a whopping US $ 56.6 billion.
Even worse, the Hamilton Reserve Bank -which holds a big chunk of one of Lanka’s now-defaulted bonds- has been suing for immediate repayment. The demand hangs like ‘the swords of Damocles’ over our collective heads. It is only a US court order which has paused Hamilton’s demand for immediate repayment.
We all know how fast this situation can change in the event administration decides to back the claims of Hamilton Bank in the event of government ruffling the US President’s feathers.
Just days ago, President Trump imposed economic sanctions on Columbia after the Columbian president refused to accept two flights carrying deported migrants to land in Columbia. Hours later the Columbian president was forced to agree to accept the migrants including those arriving on US military aircraft - “without limitation or delay” to avoid ‘a looming trade war with the US’.
On another front, on Saturday, Trump called for the clearing of Gaza of its Palestinian residents -the victims of Israel’s genocidal attacks.
Over forty-six thousand Palestinians including approximately 17 thousand children have been killed in Israeli attacks on the civilian population. According to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), more than 85 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced by Israeli ground and air offensive. Al Jazeera reported that at least 346 schools have been destroyed or damaged.
Yet Trump is calling on Egypt and Jordan to take in these displaced people. Not demanding Israel pay reparations or be charged before the International Criminal Courts (ICC) for Crimes against Humanity.
Lanka has always backed justice for Palestine and condemned Israel’s genocidal policies against Palestinians. Our present government, before it came to power were strong defenders of Palestinian rights.
Will our present government -which organised rallies world-wide- protesting Israeli atrocities in Palestine prior to coming into power- now stand against an even greater injustice the present US President is attempting to foist on the people of Palestine? Or will they cave in, casting principles aside?
The new US President (Trump) is also threatening to forcibly take over the Panama Canal. He is demanding Canada give up its independence and become the 51st US state. Additionally he demands that Greenland should become part of the US.
It will take a huge balancing act to negotiate the acquiescence demanded by the new US regime of all countries big and small. A number of countries have entered the BRICS-led initiative. Does our NPP-led government have the backbone to stand up to unjust US demands? Or, will we, like the Columbian regime, fold up like a pack of cards? ⍐
