Two Supreme Court judges have recused themselves from hearing an appeal filed relating to former Navy Commander Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda.

When the matter came before a Supreme Court three-judge bench, Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz and Justice Priyantha Fernando announced that they would refrain from hearing this matter. Justice Nawaz informed that he would refrain from hearing this matter since he was a member of the bench relating to the original writ application, while he was serving as a judge in the Court of Appeal.

This matter was called before the Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justices A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Janak de Silva and Priyantha Fernando. The appeal was fixed for hearing on September 15.

The parents of the youths who went missing in 2008 filed this appeal challenging the decision of the Attorney General to withdraw the indictment filed against Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda.

On November 10, 2021, the Court of Appeal decided to dismiss the writ petition filed by several parents who sought an order quashing the decision of the Attorney General to withdraw the indictment filed against Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda.

The petitioners state that five persons including Rajiv Naganathan, Vishwanathan Pradeep, Mohammed Dilan and Mohammed Sajith went missing on or around 17th September 2008.

They state that the Court of Appeal has failed to give sufficient weightage to the arbitrary violations of right to life of the petitioners' sons who were subjected to an extrajudicial execution, and the State’s duty to duly and adequately investigate into the disappearance and execution of their sons in a thorough and effective manner, to bring to justice those responsible for the disappearances.

Counsel Pulasthi Hewamanne with Achala Seneviratne appeared for the appellants.

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said there is no legal barrier in bringing a motion to remove suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon from the office of IGP as claimed by former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.

The Court of Appeal today directed the relevant Returning Officers to suspend the election activities until tomorrow (02), in relation to Local Government institutions where political parties and independent groups have filed petitions challenging the rejection of nomination papers.

The Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) has been made compulsory for obtaining all services from the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT). In an official notice, DMT Commissioner General Nishantha Anurudda Weerasinghe announced that the requirement to provide a TIN will be enforced from April 15.

Former State Minister Sathasivam Viyalendran, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has been further remanded until April 8.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today ordered that former Uva Provincial Councillor and former Minister Chamara Sampath Dasanayake be further remanded till April 8 over the alleged withdrawal of six fixed deposits maintained by the Uva Provincial Council in a State bank at Badulla in 2016.

Referring to the recent sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom on top Sri Lankan military officials, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, who played a significant role in the country’s civil war, stated that the sanction against former Army Commander Shavendra Silva was unreasonable.

Sri Lanka has experienced a significant surge in HIV/AIDS cases in 2024 recording over 800 cases. According to the National STD/AIDS Control Programme, Sri Lanka has logged 824 cases reflecting a 18 per cent increase compared to the year 2023, which saw 694 cases.

A direct flight service between Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu and Jaffna in Sri Lanka commenced today after 47 years. Due to the war situation, flight services at the Palaly International Airport, Jaffna were suspended, but in 2019, the airport resumed its services. Passenger flights between Chennai and Jaffna started after the reopening of the airport.

In a swift response to an urgent appeal, the Court of Appeal today issued an interim order suspending the decision made by the Puttalam High Court Judge to remand a lady lawyer over an alleged contemptuous conduct.

Former Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles has arrived at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to record a statement. According to reports, the former minister arrived at the CID to record a statement regarding the shooting incident in front of a prominent hotel in Weligama in 2023.