<ul><li>President agrees to fund transmission network upgrade</li><li>Four new transmission lines planned to absorb more renewable energy</li><li>Minister says grid, not generation capacity, is the main bottleneck</li></ul> President and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake has agreed to allocate Treasury funds to expand the country's electricity transmission network to enable renewable energy generated in Mannar, Hambantota and other areas to be absorbed into the national grid, while also planning to construct four additional transmission lines, Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka told Parliament. Responding to a question raised by Opposition Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake yesterday (21), he said the lack of transmission infrastructure, rather than renewable generation capacity, remained the main obstacle to integrating more renewable energy into the national electricity system.&nbsp;"We have built renewable energy power plants, but, during the past period, the transmission lines required to absorb that electricity into the national grid were not constructed," he said. He said that work is now progressing on the transmission system linked to the Sampur power project.&nbsp;"Initially, we planned the project with a capacity of 300 megawatts (MW). However, we’ve now decided to increase its capacity to 600 MW and work is continuing accordingly. We don’t expect any significant delays," he said. He further said that inadequate transmission infrastructure continues to prevent renewable energy generated in Mannar in the Northern Province and Hambantota from being fully connected to the national grid.&nbsp;"We discussed this with the President, who promised to allocate Treasury funds for this purpose because expanding the transmission network is extremely important for absorbing renewable energy. We also expect to construct four more transmission lines," he added.

Renewable energy: Treasury boost for power grid expansion  

<ul><li>Ages of deceased range from 20-59&nbsp;</li><li>Almost all males, with majority being suspects</li></ul> A total of 91 suicides and suspected suicides have been confirmed from all prison institutions in Sri Lanka during the period from 2020 to 28 February of this year.&nbsp;The Prisons Department, in response to an information request made under the Right to Information Act, further confirmed that the method of suicide in the 91 instances was hanging.&nbsp;The ages of the deceased ranged from 20 to 59 years (two 20-year-olds, two 23-year-olds, one 25-year-old, one 26-year-old, six 27-year-olds, five 28-year-olds, three-29-year-olds, two 30-year-olds, one 31-year-old, four 32-year-olds, three 33-year-olds, one 34-year-old, two 35-year-olds, five 36-year-olds, two 37-year-olds, seven 38-year-olds, seven 39-year-olds, one 40-year-old, six 41-year-olds, three 42-year-olds, three 44-year-olds, three 45-year-olds, two 46-year-olds, one 48-year-old, one 49-year-old, two 50-year-olds, one 52-year-old, two 53-year-olds, one 55-year-old, one 57-year-old, one 58-year-old, and three 59-year-olds).&nbsp;Three of the deceased were male death row prisoners, 19 were male prisoners, 68 were male suspects, and one was a female suspect. The prison institutions in question are Welikada (12 suicides), Kalutara (eight suicides), Kuruwita (four suicides), Pallansena Dalupotha (four suicides), Monaragala (three suicides), Colombo (one suicide), Boossa (two suicides), Polonnaruwa (two suicides), Negombo (six suicides), Bogambara (11 suicides), Angunakolapelessa (three suicides), Badulla (one suicide), Anuradhapura (five suicides), Galle (one suicide), Mahara (eight suicides), Colombo Remand (10 suicides), Watareka (one suicide), Magazine (two suicides), Pallekale Open Camp (one suicide), Wariyapola (three suicides), Vavuniya (one suicide), Thaldena (one suicide), and Batticaloa (one suicide).&nbsp;&nbsp;In response to a query on mental health-related and suicide prevention measures and steps taken within all institutions coming under the purview of the Department, the latter noted the following: the rehabilitation units at every prison look into the personal, family and legal issues of detainees, and identifies the mental stress faced by them and provides basic counselling services; regularly organise religious activities, meditation programmes and sermons on behalf of all religious persuasions; at the point of imprisonment, the detainee is presented to the prison hospital doctor and subjected to a basic physical and mental health examination and if it is found that the detainee is suffering from a serious mental breakdown or a past mental ill health condition, special attention is given; detainees showing a serious risk of or tendency towards suicide are separated and detained in wards where prison medical officers and trained prison officers can observe; long-term prisoners are employed in various industries, crafts and arts and agricultural activities; organise indoor sports, music and dance-based aesthetic programmes; and detainees are, on permitted days, facilitated to meet visitors (their spouse, children, and close persons), and also sent on holidays to home, released on order, and legally permitted phone call facilities to continuously communicate with their family members.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

 From 2020 to Feb 2026: 91 suicides within prisons island-wide 

<ul><li>Probe launched into safety compliance&nbsp;</li></ul>Five people were killed and one woman was injured after a massive fire tore through a helmet manufacturing factory at the Katuwana Industrial Zone in Homagama yesterday (21), with authorities launching investigations into the cause of the blaze and the factory's compliance with occupational safety regulations.Police said the five victims sustained severe burn injuries, with three of the bodies burned beyond recognition due to the intensity of the fire.According to the Kotte Fire Department, the fire broke out at around 9.45 a.m. and rapidly spread through the three-storey factory building, hampering rescue efforts.The Incident Officer of the Kotte Fire Department, who was the first firefighter to arrive at the scene, said the fast-moving flames prevented firefighters from reaching the areas where the victims were trapped.Although initial reports suggested that three people had been trapped inside the building, search operations later uncovered two additional victims, bringing the death toll to five.Six fire engines were deployed to battle the blaze, which was eventually brought under control and completely extinguished. Firefighters subsequently carried out search operations to determine whether anyone else remained trapped inside the factory.At the time of the incident, more than 80 employees were reportedly inside the factory. A woman who sustained injuries in the fire was admitted to hospital for treatment.Residents in the area said thick black smoke billowed from the factory as the fire spread, while firefighting teams from the Kotte Municipal Council assisted in bringing the blaze under control.Homagama Police said investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire.Deputy Labour Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident and instructed Ministry officials to submit a detailed report without delay.He directed investigators to examine the cause and origin of the fire, the factory's compliance with occupational safety and fire protection standards, the adequacy of safety facilities provided to employees, and the availability and effectiveness of emergency evacuation procedures.Jayasinghe also instructed Labour Commissioner General Nadika Wataliyadda to determine whether the factory had complied with the provisions of the Factories Ordinance and other relevant occupational safety regulations, and whether any negligence or failures in responsibility contributed to the tragedy.In addition, the Deputy Labour Minister directed the Labour Department to intensify inspections of workplaces involving hazardous and high-risk occupations, with particular emphasis on strengthening occupational safety measures and preventing similar incidents in the future.

Five killed in Homagama factory blaze  

Opposition Parliamentarians yesterday (21) handed over a no-confidence motion (NCM) against Justice and National Integration Minister, Harshana Nanayakkara to the Speaker of Parliament Dr Jagath Wickramaratne, Samagi Jana Balawegaya Parliamentarian Gayantha Karunatilleka said..MP Ajith P Perera alleged that Nanayakkara has neglected all his responsibilities.The Opposition has decided to submit the NCM against Nanayakkara due to his failure to fulfill his responsibility and accountability regarding the safety of the Prison officers and inmates who were killed due to the unrest that occurred in the Negombo Prison.&nbsp;Accordingly, Opposition MPs, including the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, signed the NCM against Nanayakkara in Parliament on 10 July.

Anti-Harshana NCM handed over 

<ul><li>Govt spending Rs 150,000 a month on wife and daughter&nbsp;</li></ul> Successive Governments have spent an estimated sum of Rs 26,278,052.39 (Rs 26 million) on the maintenance and protection of the family of the slain Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) founder Rohana Wijeweera from 1992 to date, with the current Government continuing to spend Rs 153,220.25 per month on the two remaining family members under State care, it is learnt. Deputy Defence Minister, Major General (Retired) Aruna Jayasekara said in Parliament yesterday (21) that Wijeweera's widow Srimathi Chithrangani Fernando and their six children initially remained under State protection at the Trincomalee Naval Dockyard from 11 June 1992 until 22 August 1999. Since 23 August 1999, he said that they had been accommodated within the Welisara Naval Complex. He said that no external individual, organisation or foreign country had contributed towards their maintenance. "The maintenance costs of the family have not been borne by any individual or group of individuals. According to information provided by the Foreign Relations Office of the Naval Headquarters, no assistance has been received from foreign countries either," he said. According to the documents tabled in Parliament by Jayasekara, which were seen by The Daily Morning, the family originally consisted of Wijeweera's widow, four daughters and two sons. At present, only Fernando and one daughter with special needs remain under State protection. The Government currently spends Rs 153,220.25 per month on their maintenance and security. Wijeweera founded the JVP in the 1960s and led two armed insurrections against the State, in 1971 and again between 1987 and 1989. Following the suppression of the second insurgency, Wijeweera was killed in November 1989, after which his family was taken into State protection and has remained under Government care for more than three decades. The JVP is the main constituent Party of the National People’s Power Government.&nbsp;

Since ’92: Rs 26 m spent on Wijeweera’s family 

Matara Chief Magistrate Chathura Dissanayake yesterday (21) issued an arrest warrant for former Minister Basil Rajapaksa after he failed to appear before Court for the second time in connection with a case relating to the purchase of a 1.5-acre coconut estate on Eliyakanda Road in the Brown's Hill area of Matara for Rs 60 million.&nbsp;The Chief Magistrate also issued a stern warning to the four sureties of Rajapaksa, directing them to produce the suspect before Court or show cause as to why the bail bonds furnished on his behalf should not be forfeited. The orders were issued when the case was taken up before the Matara Chief Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Arrest warrant issued for Basil 

Despite the Government having spent Rs 151.36 billion on the Aswesuma social welfare programme during the course of last year (in 2025) alone, Deputy Finance and Planning Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando told Parliament that the country's overall poverty problem could not be eliminated through Aswesuma alone. Responding to a question raised by Opposition Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake, he said that Aswesuma covered a total of 1,282,036 families under three categories as of this month (July). According to the figures that he presented, 415,411 families were classified as extremely poor, 848,392 as poor, and 18,233 as vulnerable, bringing the total number of beneficiary families for July to 1,282,036. He said that the programme's monthly expenditure amounted to Rs 12.613 billion, whereas the annual expenditure for 2025 stood at Rs 151.364 billion. "When the total expenditure is divided by the number of beneficiaries, the average monthly benefit works out to around Rs 7,500 per family," he said. Dr. Fernando also said that a sum of Rs 1.5 billion had been estimated for Aswesuma-related administrative expenditure this year (in 2026), of which, Rs 153.6 million had been spent by last month (June). He added that payments to survey officers involved in the programme had been increased. Sri Lanka has a total of 6,111,315 families, and by July of this year, over 1.2 million families had received Aswesuma payments, he said. Explaining the selection process, he said that beneficiaries are identified using 22 criteria covering areas such as education, health, the economic status, assets and housing conditions. He said that the re-certification process is currently underway and had achieved 67 per cent progress. Speaking further, he said: "The overall issue facing the country, namely poverty alleviation, can’t be solved through Aswesuma alone. This programme is essentially a temporary mechanism to empower people and help them move towards self-sufficiency." Introduced in 2023, the Aswesuma programme initially covered nearly 1.6 million beneficiaries across four categories, with payments to the transitional and vulnerable categories having already been phased out.

Aswesuma isn’t a poverty eradication panacea 

Parliament yesterday (21) approved motions to refer reports submitted to Parliament by the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) and the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), containing findings from investigations into various institutions, to the Attorney General (AG), and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), respectively.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Accordingly, Parliament approved the referral to the AG, under Standing Order 119(4), of the report containing the findings of the COPA on its inquiry conducted on 24 October of last year (2025) into the scheme implemented from 1 May 2022 to 15 September 2023 for issuing permits to Sri Lankans employed overseas to import fully electric vehicles using foreign remittances. The referral is for the AG's observations and any necessary action.&nbsp;Parliament also approved the decision to refer to the CIABOC, under Standing Order 120(4), matters identified in reports presented to Parliament following investigations conducted by the COPE during its Committee meetings, for appropriate action. Accordingly, reports presented to Parliament containing findings from COPE investigations into the National Gem and Jewellery Authority, the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital Board, the Land Reform Commission, the Sabaragamuwa University, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Lanka Sathosa Limited, the Bureau of Foreign Employment, and the National Savings Bank will be referred to the CIABOC. This approval was granted in accordance with the amendments to Standing Orders 119(4) and 120(4), which were adopted by Parliament on 7 April.

COPA, COPE reports to AG, CIABOC

The Health Ministry is taking steps to strengthen the regulation of private hospitals and laboratories through amendments to the existing Law – the Private Medical Institutions (Registration) Act, No. 21 of 2006, Cabinet Spokesperson and Health Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday (21).Responding to concerns raised over the use of expired laboratory reagents in some private healthcare institutions and regarding recent Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) raids that allegedly found expired chemical reagents being used in blood testing machines at several private hospitals and laboratories, during the weekly Cabinet of Ministers media briefing, Dr Jayatissa said that the Ministry already had the legal authority to regulate private hospitals and private medical institutions, although the existing Legislation is outdated.&nbsp;"There is a Law, but, it is an old Act and there are shortcomings in its provisions. We expect to complete the work relating to the proposed amendments within a short period. The preliminary work on amending the Legislation has already commenced," he said. He also revealed that there is an ongoing court case relating to the implementation of the existing Law, adding that the Ministry is taking steps to properly exercise its regulatory powers over private hospitals and medical institutions.&nbsp;Responding to further questions from journalists regarding the CAA raids carried out last week on private hospitals and laboratory facilities across the country, and the alleged use of expired chemical reagents in blood testing equipment at several private institutions, including a well-known hospital in Colombo, Dr Jayatissa acknowledged that the issue is a matter of concern and said that the Government would strengthen regulatory oversight while expanding laboratory services in State hospitals.&nbsp;"Certainly, it is a concern. What we have to do at present is strengthen the inspection and regulation of these institutions. At the same time, we must increase the laboratory testing capacity of Government hospitals," he said. He said that the Government is providing new equipment to State hospitals with the aim of enabling more laboratory investigations to be carried out within the public health sector, thereby reducing the need for patients to seek such services from private institutions.&nbsp;"By providing Government hospitals with the new equipment that they require, patients should not have to rely on the private sector. We will be able to carry out many of these investigations within our own hospitals," he noted.

Renewable energy: Treasury boost for power grid expansion

From 2020 to Feb 2026: 91 suicides within prisons island-wide

From 2020 to Feb 2026: 91 sui ...

Five killed in Homagama factory blaze

Five killed in Homagama factor ...

Anti-Harshana NCM handed over

Anti-Harshana NCM handed over

Since ’92: Rs 26 m spent on Wijeweera’s family

Since ’92: Rs 26 m spent on Wi ...

Arrest warrant issued for Basil

Arrest warrant issued for Basi ...

Aswesuma isn’t a poverty eradication panacea

Aswesuma isn’t a poverty eradi ...

COPA, COPE reports to AG, CIABOC

COPA, COPE reports to AG, CIAB ...

Private health regulation Law to be amended

Private health regulation Law ...

From 2020 to Feb 2026: 91 suicides within prisons island-wide

From 2020 to Feb 2026: 91 sui ...

Five killed in Homagama factory blaze

Five killed in Homagama factor ...

Anti-Harshana NCM handed over

Anti-Harshana NCM handed over

Since ’92: Rs 26 m spent on Wijeweera’s family

Since ’92: Rs 26 m spent on Wi ...

Arrest warrant issued for Basil

Arrest warrant issued for Basi ...

Aswesuma isn’t a poverty eradication panacea

Aswesuma isn’t a poverty eradi ...

COPA, COPE reports to AG, CIABOC

COPA, COPE reports to AG, CIAB ...

Private health regulation Law to be amended

Private health regulation Law ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

From 2020 to Feb 2026: 91 suicides within prisons island-wide

From 2020 to Feb 2026: 91 sui ...

Five killed in Homagama factory blaze

Five killed in Homagama factor ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Anti-Harshana NCM handed over

Anti-Harshana NCM handed over

Since ’92: Rs 26 m spent on Wijeweera’s family

Since ’92: Rs 26 m spent on Wi ...

Arrest warrant issued for Basil

Arrest warrant issued for Basi ...

Aswesuma isn’t a poverty eradication panacea

Aswesuma isn’t a poverty eradi ...