The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) will suspend water supply in several areas of Colombo for 24 hours from 8.00 p.m. today (3) to 8.00 p.m. tomorrow (4). The interruption is due to essential maintenance work at the Ambatale Water Treatment Plant. Affected areas include Nugegoda, Kohuwala, Dehiwala, Mount Lavinia, Ratmalana, Moratuwa, Rawathawatta, Soysapura, Angulana, Katubedda, Mutwal, Koralawella, Egoda Uyana and Katukurunda. The NWSDB has urged consumers in the affected areas to use water sparingly during the interruption.

24-hour water cut in several areas of Colombo from 8pm

The August 2026 elderly allowance is scheduled to be credited to the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries today (3) under the Aswesuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme. A total of Rs. 3.091 billion will be paid to 618,352 senior citizens aged over 70 covered under the first phase of the programme. Meanwhile, Rs. 391.3 million will be credited to 78,260 senior citizens aged over 70 covered under the second phase. Eligible beneficiaries can withdraw the allowance from their Aswesuma bank accounts from today.

Elderly allowance for August to be credited today

Written submissions on petitions challenging the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution are due before the Supreme Court by 3.00 p.m. today (3). A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena directed the parties to file their written submissions. The Supreme Court concluded the hearing of 67 petitions challenging the 22nd Amendment Bill yesterday (2). The proposed amendment seeks to increase the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 years and Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65 years.

Written submissions on 22nd Amendment petitions due today

Afternoon thundershowers are expected in the Northern, North Central, Eastern and Uva provinces over the next few days, according to the Department of Meteorology. Several spells of showers are expected in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and Galle and Matara districts today (3). Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in the Uva, Central and Eastern provinces and Polonnaruwa and Mullaitivu districts after 2 p.m. The public has been urged to take precautions against temporary strong winds and lightning during thunderstorms.

Thundershowers expected in several provinces today

<ul><li>Disciplinary action promised against officers who violate rules</li><li>Body scanners to be installed in all prisons by 2027</li><li>Inmates hiding contrabands inside their bodies to be medically checked</li></ul> Prison officers are not permitted to carry out invasive body searches of inmates, and disciplinary action will be taken against any officer found violating the rules, the Prisons Department said, as authorities move towards expanding the use of body scanners across the country’s prison system.The move follows a recommendation by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) to introduce body-scanning technology to reduce invasive body-search practices and protect the dignity and bodily integrity of prison inmates.When contacted by The Daily Morning, Prisons Commissioner and Spokesperson Senaka Pallethenna said that while prison officers are permitted to conduct ordinary body searches, as has been the practice in the past, they cannot carry out invasive searches of inmates.“Prison officers can conduct body searches. In the past, there was no issue with that. However, if an officer suspects that a prisoner is concealing something inside their body, they can’t conduct an invasive body search. The prisoner has to be referred to a medical officer. If someone conducts invasive body searches, we will take disciplinary action against them,” he said.He further said the need for technological screening methods has become increasingly pressing as inmates have become more sophisticated in concealing drugs and mobile phones inside their bodies.“Now, prisoners take drugs and mobile phones inside their bodies. Prisoners have become more tactical,” he said, adding that the Department is moving towards replacing physical searches with body-scanning technology.“Body scanners are currently available at three prisons, with four more expected to be received by October. By 2027, we will install body scanners in all prisons. Tenders have already been called for it.”Pallethenna’s remarks come after the HRCSL recently emphasised the need to introduce body scanners to reduce invasive body-search practices and safeguard the dignity and bodily integrity of prison inmates.The issue was discussed at a recent meeting convened by the HRCSL following violent incidents at the Negombo Prison on 5 and 6 July and several other prisons.The meeting brought together the Secretaries to the Ministries of Defence, Justice and Public Security, senior Police officers, the Acting Prisons Commissioner General (CG) and several Prisons Commissioners.The HRCSL called for body scanners to reduce invasive body searches and safeguard the dignity and bodily integrity of detainees. The Acting Prisons CG subsequently assured the HRCSL that measures are being taken to procure additional equipment.

Following HRCSL recommendation: Scanners to replace invasive searches

<ul><li>Activist seeks probe into MEPA, AG’s Dept and key Ministries</li><li>Alleges President met vessel insurer; PMD denies claim&nbsp;</li></ul> Environmental activist Dr Ajantha Perera, one of the petitioners who secured the Supreme Court (SC) ruling on compensation for the MV X-Press Pearl disaster, has lodged a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), seeking an investigation into the conduct of several State institutions and alleging that President and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake met representatives of the insurer of the ill-fated vessel.Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (2), Dr Perera said that she had lodged a complaint with CIABOC over the matter and provided a detailed statement about a week ago.“I’ve lodged a complaint with CIABOC seeking an investigation into all the allegations relating to the MV X-Press Pearl disaster, but they’re not doing anything at all. They recorded statements from us. They wrote down everything that we said, but they didn't do anything at all.“Basically, I asked them to investigate the Marine Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA), the Attorney General’s (AG) Department, and the Ministries of Environment and Finance. All the records of those institutions should be thoroughly looked into because we know that there are lots of bribery issues there.”Dr Perera further claimed that she had received information that the President had met representatives of the MV X-Press Pearl’s insurer and challenged him to publicly clarify whether such a meeting had taken place.“I know that the President has got a letter from the P&amp;I Club insurer, and I have come to know through very reliable sources that they’ve met with the President. He should never have done that. He should tell the people very clearly if he didn't meet them. If not, we have nothing to do but to believe that he has met them. If he met them, that's the biggest corruption that happened in this country,” she alleged.When contacted by The Daily Morning regarding Dr Perera’s allegations, Presidential Media Division (PMD) Director General Prasanna Perera said that no such meeting had taken place between the President and the insurer.Her allegations come amid a separate complaint lodged with CIABOC by the Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) concerning the conduct of three SC Judges in relation to an order that terminated proceedings connected to compensation arising from the X-Press Pearl disaster.The X-Press Pearl caught fire off the coast of Colombo on 20 May 2021 and was engulfed in flames by 27 May before being declared a total loss. The vessel sank on 2 June 2021 while being towed to deeper waters after burning for 12 days.The disaster released hazardous chemicals and plastic pellets into the sea, causing extensive damage to Sri Lanka’s marine environment, fishing communities and coastal ecosystems. It has been described as the country’s worst marine ecological disaster.

Fresh CIABOC complaint over X-Press Pearl 

<ul><li>CIABOC complaint over Rs 52 m apartment&nbsp;</li></ul> A complaint has been lodged with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against a former Head of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), alleging that a luxury apartment worth more than Rs 52 million was obtained as a bribe to suppress a money laundering case involving nearly Rs 7.2 billion.The complaint was filed by the Citizens’ Power Against Bribery, Corruption and Waste organisation, which has called for an investigation into the conduct of the former FCID Chief and other individuals allegedly connected to the transactions.According to the complaint, the former FCID Chief was responsible for investigating a money laundering case filed before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court in 2015 involving a suspect who had previously been indicted and convicted in the US.The suspect is alleged to have defrauded US citizens of approximately Rs 7,246 million and subsequently laundered a substantial portion of those funds in Sri Lanka.The complaint states the FCID had obtained Court orders preventing the suspect and his wife from leaving the country and freezing assets believed to have been acquired through the alleged offences.However, the organisation alleges the investigation was subsequently weakened after the former FCID Chief received a bribe from the suspect.According to the complaint, a company was incorporated in October 2015, while the money laundering investigation was underway, and subsequently purchased a luxury apartment in February 2016 for approximately Rs 52 million.It alleges that the transaction was linked to the former FCID Chief and formed part of an arrangement through which the money laundering investigation was suppressed.The complaint further alleges that another company was incorporated three days after the apartment was purchased, with the wives of the suspect and the former FCID Chief serving as directors. The same Colombo Three apartment was allegedly used as the registered address of the company.“These transactions require detailed examination by the CIABOC to determine the source of the funds used to purchase the apartment and the purpose behind the establishment of the companies during the period in which the money laundering investigation was underway,” the complaint states.It further alleges that, following the transactions, the former FCID Chief took steps that resulted in the suspect being released from the case and the restrictions imposed on him, including travel restrictions and orders freezing assets, being lifted.The organisation has requested CIABOC to investigate whether the former FCID Chief abused his official position and whether the apartment and other transactions constituted unlawful benefits provided in exchange for influencing the handling of the money laundering investigation.It has also called for an investigation into all individuals and entities connected to the alleged transactions, including the companies involved, their financial records, property dealings and the source of funds used to acquire the luxury apartment.

Ex-FCID Chief under bribery cloud  

Lecturers at State universities staged silent protests during the lunch break yesterday (2), demanding permanent solutions to long-standing issues affecting the university system.The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) said lecturers from all State universities participated in the protest and warned that further trade union (TU) action would be launched next week if the Government failed to address their concerns.FUTA Secretary Senior Lecturer Charudaththe Illangasinghe said nearly 1,000 lecturers had left the State university system in recent years, while annual student admissions had increased from around 25,000 in 2015 to approximately 45,000 today.He said the FUTA had raised concerns with the Government soon after it assumed office and submitted proposals for their resolution. However, the Government had failed to implement the proposals or agreements reached during discussions, he alleged.Illangasinghe said the FUTA had also held discussions with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister and Higher Education Minister Harini Amarasuriya, while submitting written communications outlining the problems facing State universities.He said around 5,800 lecturers were employed in State universities in 2015, when approximately 25,000 students were admitted annually. Although admissions have since risen to around 45,000, nearly 1,000 lecturers have left the system. While vacancies have been opened for some academic positions, lecturers are not applying for many of them, he said.“The collapse of the system would mean the collapse of the country’s future,” Illangasinghe said, warning that lecturers were prepared to take further TU action if the Government failed to respond.He said the FUTA had been discussing these issues with the authorities for nearly two years and had now decided to begin a continuous protest campaign.Meanwhile, the FUTA announced that it would not conduct academic activities for the next batch of students, comprising last year’s (2025) General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (A/L) cohort, if its demands were not addressed.Speaking to The Daily Morning, FUTA Assistant Secretary Prof Aruna Wanninayake said universities were already operating at maximum capacity, with inadequate facilities and a shortage of lecturers.“We have been demanding a discussion from the Higher Education Ministry because the universities don’t have enough facilities and lecturers are leaving for overseas. Compared to 2020, more lecturers have gone abroad in 2025, while the number of students admitted has doubled since 2020,” he said.Prof Wanninayake said the shortage of lecturers had increased the workload of those remaining, affecting the quality of education.The FUTA said student admissions had increased significantly without a corresponding expansion of hostels, canteens, study areas, washrooms, lecture halls and other facilities.The FUTA further announced that it would launch a full-day token strike on 9 September if its demands were not addressed.“All around the country, we held a silent protest during the lunch break today. Almost all lecturers joined to warn the Government of what could come,” Wanninayake said. “If the Government does not mediate, we will hold a full-day symbolic strike on 9 September.”Attempts to contact the University Grants Commission and Deputy Education Minister Dr Madhura Senevirathna proved futile.

Failure to halt academic staff exodus: FUTA launches continuous protest campaign 

The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday (2) continued its hearing of 67 petitions challenging and supporting the constitutionality of the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, following nearly 12 hours of proceedings over two days.A five-member bench comprising Chief Justice (CJ) Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli, Arjuna Obeyesekere, Sampath B Abayakoon and K Gihan H Kulatunga heard the petitions.The Court directed all parties to file their written submissions by 3 p.m. today (3), following which its confidential Determination on the constitutionality of the Bill will be communicated to the Speaker of Parliament.Yesterday’s proceedings included submissions by counsel representing the petitioners, intervening petitioners and the Attorney General (AG), who had been notified by Court to make submissions on the petitions.Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne PC, appearing for the AG, told the Court that the Government had presented the 22nd Amendment Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill with the objective of expanding and streamlining the country’s judicial system.The 22nd Amendment Bill, presented to Parliament for its first reading on 18 August by Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, proposes increasing the retirement age of Supreme Court Judges from 65 to 67 and that of Court of Appeal Judges from 63 to 65.The proposed changes have drawn strong opposition from sections of the legal community, with petitioners arguing that extending the retirement age could undermine judicial independence and affect the sovereignty of the people. Some petitioners have maintained that the Bill requires not only a two-thirds majority in Parliament but also approval at a referendum.President’s Counsel (PC) M A Sumanthiran, appearing for the Bar Association, had on Tuesday requested that the petitions be heard before a full bench of the SC, arguing that provisions affecting the tenure and retirement age of Judges created a potential conflict of interest. However, the five-member bench rejected the request and continued with the hearing.Sumanthiran subsequently argued that the proposed Amendment could violate Article 3 of the Constitution relating to the sovereignty of the people. Referring to a 2022 SC Determination on the Inland Revenue Bill, he said extending the retirement age of Judges required a referendum.M U M Ali Sabry PC, appearing for former Minister and jurist Prof G L Peiris, argued that judicial independence could be affected not only by reducing the retirement age of Judges but also by increasing it.Srinath Perera PC, appearing for another group of petitioners, also questioned whether SC Judges could hear a case concerning their own retirement ages, citing the principle against judges adjudicating matters in which they have a personal interest.A total of 67 petitions have been filed in relation to the 22nd Amendment, including petitions supporting the proposed legislation.The Bill was gazetted on 7 August, before being presented to Parliament on 18 August. The SC’s Determination will determine whether the Government can proceed with the Bill through Parliament alone or whether a referendum will also be required.Meanwhile, five petitions have been filed challenging the Judicature (Amendment) Bill currently before Parliament.

24-hour water cut in several areas of Colombo from 8pm

Elderly allowance for August to be credited today

Elderly allowance for August t ...

Written submissions on 22nd Amendment petitions due today

Written submissions on 22nd Am ...

Thundershowers expected in several provinces today

Thundershowers expected in sev ...

Following HRCSL recommendation: Scanners to replace invasive searches

Following HRCSL recommendation ...

Fresh CIABOC complaint over X-Press Pearl

Fresh CIABOC complaint over X- ...

Ex-FCID Chief under bribery cloud

Ex-FCID Chief under bribery cl ...

Failure to halt academic staff exodus: FUTA launches continuous protes ...

Failure to halt academic staff ...

Day 2 on 22A: SC hears from intervenient petitioners, AG

Day 2 on 22A: SC hears from in ...

Elderly allowance for August to be credited today

Elderly allowance for August t ...

Written submissions on 22nd Amendment petitions due today

Written submissions on 22nd Am ...

Thundershowers expected in several provinces today

Thundershowers expected in sev ...

Following HRCSL recommendation: Scanners to replace invasive searches

Following HRCSL recommendation ...

Fresh CIABOC complaint over X-Press Pearl

Fresh CIABOC complaint over X- ...

Ex-FCID Chief under bribery cloud

Ex-FCID Chief under bribery cl ...

Failure to halt academic staff exodus: FUTA launches continuous protes ...

Failure to halt academic staff ...

Day 2 on 22A: SC hears from intervenient petitioners, AG

Day 2 on 22A: SC hears from in ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Elderly allowance for August to be credited today

Elderly allowance for August t ...

Written submissions on 22nd Amendment petitions due today

Written submissions on 22nd Am ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Thundershowers expected in several provinces today

Thundershowers expected in sev ...

Following HRCSL recommendation: Scanners to replace invasive searches

Following HRCSL recommendation ...

Fresh CIABOC complaint over X-Press Pearl

Fresh CIABOC complaint over X- ...

Ex-FCID Chief under bribery cloud

Ex-FCID Chief under bribery cl ...