The Homagama Magistrate yesterday observed that the Army Commander could be arrested and charge sheet filed if he does not cooperate with investigations into the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda. Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake made this observation consequent to a complaint by Senior State Counsel (SSC) Dileepa Peiris who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General.

SSC Peiris submitted to Court that the Army has not fully cooperated with the investigations into the incident and thereby the prosecutors were yet to receive vital administrative material pertaining to the investigations. The SSC said the prosecutors were trying to get at this material since September 2015 and further informed Court that the documents sought had nothing to do with national security or national intelligence issues but army administrative ones. He informed Court that the investigations have got stagnated due to the failure of the Army to submit these documents in Courts.

However, the legal officer who represented the Army told Court that they were cooperating with the investigations and informed Court that the Army submitted vital material last Saturday. The Magistrate observed that if the Army does not cooperate with the investigation in contravention to the Court order, the Army Commander could be arrested and charge sheeted under Section 185 of the Penal Code for disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant.

However, the SSC moved Court that an order be re-issued on the Army Commander in person to submit a report in court in this regard on the next hearing date. Meanwhile, Counsel for the fourth suspect requested permission of the Court to file an affidavit that the CID have pressurised the wife of his client to make a statement before the Magistrate. However, the prosecutors objected to the move and informed Court that the detectives involved in the investigation were facing risks and their relatives have been warned that they be withdrawn from the ongoing investigations.

They want to tarnish the detectives

While refuting claims by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe that his government had allocated funds required to increase public sector salaries, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that no such funds had been allocated.

A Fundamental Rights petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking an order preventing Ranjan Ramanayake from contesting the parliamentary election scheduled for November 14.

Claiming that Sri Lanka has come a long way in terms of undertaking reforms which have led to some hard won gains, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)said they could move fast towards the third review which will come up soon.

The Election Commission has decided to mark the voters' index fingers for this year's general elections, Commissioner General Saman Ratnayake announced. He said the elections are scheduled for November 14, 2024.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is set to hold a series of meetings with the High Commissioners of South Africa and New Zealand, along with the Ambassadors of Iran and Myanmar, as well as a delegation from the European Union today (25) at the Presidential Secretariat.

Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the security threats to Israeli nationals in the Arugam Bay area, Public Security Minister Vijitha Herath said.

Sri Lanka should get its foreign policy right in the wake of the escalating Middle East crisis, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mujibur Rahman said today.

The Canadian government has issued a travel advisory urging travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in Sri Lanka due to demonstrations, the threat of terrorist attacks and crime, particularly in the Arugam Bay area.

Sri Lankan security forces have been alerted to a potential attack on Israelis in the Arugam Bay area by Indian intelligence agencies. According to intelligence information, the threat is believed to be targeted at foreign nationals.

Former Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara asked why the government did not take action to beef up security for foreign tourists in advance if it had received information on a possible threat on October 7, according to the statement made by Acting Chief of Police.