The debate over the alleged concealment of the reports on the series of deadly blasts that rocked Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, 2019 took a new turn yesterday with Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila seeking an appointment in writing with Public Security Minister Vijitha Herath to hand over what he said ‘all defence sensitive materials’ to him.

Earlier, Mr. Gammanpila challenged the government to publish these reports, sparking a debate why people are kept in the dark. Later, the government gave Mr. Gammanpila a three–day ultimatum to hand over the reports that he claims to possess.

These reports, commissioned by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, deal with the role of the intelligence services during the time of the attack and allegations raised in the Channel 4 documentary. They were prepared by committees led by I.M. Imam and A.N.J. de Alwis.

As many as eight blasts occurred in and around Colombo on April 19, 2019, when people gathered at churches for Easter. Three churches, St. Anthony's Shrine, St. Sebastian's Church and Zion Church and three luxury hotels in Colombo, were targeted in a series of coordinated terrorist suicide bombings. In the attack, a number of foreign nationals from countries such as China, the United States and the United Kingdom died. Key foreign intelligence organisations such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States assisted in investigations in nabbing the local network of terrorists.

Mr. Gammanpila told Daily Mirror that he was not in a position to publish security-sensitive details and therefore rang up Minister Herath to discuss the next step. Afterwards, he said he sent a text message to the minister but received no response on both occasions.

“Therefore, I sent a letter by registered post asking for an appointment to meet him and hand over the materials I have in a responsible manner,” he said.

For the first time in Sri Lanka, the government is to establish a mechanism to supervise and advice ministries in the implementation of policies, a source said.

A tense situation was reported at the UNP party headquarters in Sirikotha when a group of UNP supporters arrived to hand over a document on reviving the party.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harsha de Silva said today that an NPP MP has told him that the Parliament canteen will not be closed but the government will see that no one will abuse the facility.

Two fishermen were seriously injured and hospitalised after a parcel floating on the sea exploded while they were checking it off the coast of Mannar.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and the Examinations Department have initiated a joint programme to mitigate potential disasters during the 2024 Advanced Level examinations.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressed the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka today. Following are 11 key points from the President’s Government Policy Statement;

Speaker Dr. Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala informed Parliament that nomination of Sajith Premadasa, leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has been accepted as the Opposition Leader of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Jaffna District Independent MP Archuuna Ramanathan refused to move away after he sat on the Opposition Leader's seat inside the chambers despite requests by Parliament staff to move.

National People's Power (NPP) Gampaha MP Dr. Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala was elected as the Speaker of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka a short while ago. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya proposed his name, and the nomination was confirmed by Vijitha Herath.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake adjourned the Sri Lankan Parliament until 9:30 a.m. on December 3. The adjournment followed the President’s delivery of the government’s policy statement during the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament earlier today.