&nbsp;India has rejected claims that the US is using Indian ports to launch attacks against Iran, describing the allegations as “fake and false”.The denial came after former US Army colonel Douglas Macgregor suggested in a television interview that the US Navy had begun relying on Indian ports during the ongoing conflict with Iran.Speaking to the US-based channel One America News Network (OANN), Macgregor claimed that American forces were facing difficulties after several of their facilities had allegedly been destroyed.“All of our bases have been destroyed. Our harbour installations are destroyed. We are actually having to fall back on India and Indian ports, which is less than ideal; that is what the navy says,” Macgregor said during the interview.The Indian Government moved quickly to reject the claim.In a post on X, the Press Information Bureau (PIB), which serves as the Government’s official fact-checking body, stated that the allegation was untrue.“Claim: On a US-based channel, One America News Network (@OANN), former US Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor made a statement suggesting that the United States is using Indian naval bases to attack Iran, amidst the ongoing Iran-US conflict. This claim is fake,” the PIB said.India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also issued a similar clarification through its FactCheck handle on X.“Fake News Alert! Claims being made on OAN, a US-based channel, that Indian ports are being used by the US Navy are fake and false. We caution you against such baseless and fabricated comments,” the post stated.The clarification comes amid heightened tensions surrounding the ongoing Iran–US conflict and growing speculation about the role of regional partners in the confrontation.Agencies&nbsp;

Strikes on Iran: India dismisses claims US using its ports 

SJB MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha told Parliament yesterday (5) that two coal grinding machines at the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai have become inoperative, forcing one unit of the plant to operate at reduced capacity.“There is a serious situation at the plant. Two coal grinding machines have stopped functioning, and as a result one unit is operating at a lower capacity,” he said.Jayamaha also alleged that excessive smoke emissions were being reported from the facility.Meanwhile, Opposition MP Hector Appuhamy claimed that one unit of the plant had to be temporarily shut down on Wednesday (4) due to the burning of substandard coal.Addressing Parliament, he said thick black smoke was currently being emitted from one of the plant’s chimneys, affecting the surrounding area.Appuhamy further alleged that the filter system installed in the chimney had been removed, worsening the environmental impact.“The chimney of one unit is releasing black smoke that has covered the surrounding area. This is due to the burning of substandard coal,” he said, warning that the situation had caused serious environmental damage in the area.

Norochcholai unit hit by coal mill failure: SJB MP

Iran launched a new wave of attacks yesterday (5) at Israel, American bases and countries around the region, threatening the US would “bitterly regret” torpedoing an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean and calling for “Trump’s blood,” while Israel said it hit multiple targets in Iran.Israel announced multiple incoming missile attacks and air sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Iranian state television said additional strikes also targeted US bases.The Israeli military said it had hit 80 targets in Lebanon linked to the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group over the past 24 hours and that a wave of strikes on Iran had hit long range ballistic missile launch sites and other targets.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US Navy of committing an “an atrocity at sea” for sinking the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, which killed at least 87 Iranian sailors.AP

Iran warns: US will bitterly regret sinking the warship

<ul><li>Govt rushes 40-foot freezer containers from Colombo</li></ul> Freezer facilities at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle are insufficient to store the bodies of Iranian sailors recovered after a naval vessel sank in waters south of Sri Lanka, Chief Government Whip Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa told Parliament yesterday (5).He confirmed that 87 bodies recovered by Sri Lanka Navy personnel have been brought ashore and placed at the hospital, creating an urgent need for additional cold storage facilities.Dr. Jayatissa said the Government does not possess large-capacity freezer units capable of handling such a large number of bodies and has therefore sought assistance from the private sector.“A 40-foot freezer container is being sent from Colombo to Galle within hours. But one will not be enough. We will need two,” he said, noting that the Ministries of Defence and Health are coordinating the arrangements.Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, speaking during the parliamentary debate, said medical professionals at the hospital had already requested 40-foot container units to store the bodies of Iranian nationals brought there.He expressed hope that the Government would act quickly to address the shortage.Dr. Jayatissa also stated that special security arrangements have been introduced at the hospital premises to ensure the safety of injured Iranian nationals receiving treatment there.Arrangements are currently underway to transport additional freezer units from Colombo to Galle to manage the situation.

Karapitiya struggles to store bodies 

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday (5) informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that retired Major General Suresh Sallay, currently detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), has been named the third suspect in the ongoing investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.The CID told Colombo Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara that Sallay was arrested on 25 February 2026 and is being held under a 90-day detention order granted to facilitate further questioning.The disclosure was made through a motion filed before court.During proceedings, the Magistrate inquired whether there was sufficient evidence to name Sallay as a suspect. The CID informed the court that evidence uncovered during investigations so far had led to his identification as a suspect.The CID also requested court approval to place the suspect under monitoring while he remains in detention under the PTA.Investigators further told the court that the probe covers sensitive information linked to the killing of two police officers in Vavunativu and the Sainthamaruthu bomb explosion, which occurred prior to the coordinated Easter Sunday attacks.The CID noted that a former Eastern Province Police Superintendent and two others have already been named as suspects in connection with the investigation.A further progress report on the inquiry was also submitted to court.

Easter attacks probe: CID names Sallay third suspect 

Admiral Colombage cautions: Warship attack exposes maritime blind spot

Sarvajana Balaya Leader and Opposition Parliamentarian, Dilith Jayaweera yesterday (5) expressed his condolences regarding the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at the Iranian Embassy, Colombo. Khamenei died in an Israeli attack.&nbsp; PHOTO Lalith Perera

Dilith expresses condolences to Iran 

Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody said the Government is considering de-designating areas within gazetted forest reserves in the Northern and Eastern Provinces where hospitals, schools and other public institutions are located, in a move aimed at resolving long-standing land disputes.Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (5), he said the move would not affect overall forest density, as new forest areas are being gazetted under the Government’s Wanaspathi programme.Jayakody said the Government had appointed a committee to examine long-standing land disputes in the North and East, which have affected residents for decades.“One key issue is that some gazetted reserves include Government offices, hospitals, schools and even parts of towns. In some of these areas, people have been living for 30 to 40 years,” he said.He noted that in several cases, lands containing such buildings had been included within forest or wildlife reserves without clearly demarcated boundaries.“To address this, all relevant institutions were instructed to conduct a joint survey to re-mark the actual boundaries. Work in one or two districts has already been completed,” he said.He added that areas containing public institutions such as hospitals and schools would be de-designated from forest reserve limits once the boundary demarcation process is finalised.The Environment Ministry has also instructed the Departments of Wildlife Conservation and Forest Conservation to complete the demarcation process at the earliest possible time and to update the relevant gazette notifications accordingly.Land disputes in the Northern and Eastern Provinces remain closely linked to the legacy of the war. Many families were displaced during the conflict and lost their homes and property.Although successive Governments have returned some lands over the years, certain areas remain under military control or under State institutions, while a number of displaced families are still waiting for their lands to be released.

NE forest reserves to be de-designated 

<ul><li>Letters also sent to Public Security and Justice Mins. alleging Police interference&nbsp;</li></ul> The Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) organisation said that it is planning to lodge a complaint with the CID alleging bias in court proceedings involving the Police, following a series of incidents where individuals allegedly died from shootings while in Police custody.Speaking to The Daily Morning on Wednesday (4), Committee Convenor Sudesh Nandimal Silva alleged that the Police are attempting to suppress the investigation into the murder of a young individual who was allegedly shot dead by the Police on 12 January, Kankanamge Krishan. Silva claimed that even though the Committee is trying to represent the victim, the Police are continuously influencing the investigation.&nbsp;"The president of our organisation, attorney Senaka Perera represented the aggrieved party. At first, he was opposed by the other party who said that he could not represent the victim. Their rationale was that the Police could represent him," Silva said. He claimed that the authorities have continuously hindered the investigation and are now creating false evidence against Perera to sabotage the inquiry. Silva further stated that yesterday, the Committee filed a complaint with the Justice Minister regarding the false allegations against Perera.In the letters sent by Perera to the Public Security and Justice Ministers complaining about the alleged false and prejudicial allegations made by the Police at the Polonnaruwa Magistrate’s Court (case number AR/73/25), the following is claimed: “On 12 January in Welikanda, Polonnaruwa, a 28-year-old man was allegedly fatally shot by Police officers. According to Police reports, three suspects travelling on a motorcycle ignored an order to stop at a roadblock, fled to a nearby residence, obstructed officers in the execution of their duties, and one suspect allegedly attempted to attack the officers with a sharp weapon. In response, the Police opened fire claiming self-defence, inflicting gunshot injuries to the suspect's leg and chest, resulting in his death. The matter is under Magisterial inquiry in the Court. I appear for the aggrieved party (the family of the deceased) in these proceedings. On 17 February, the Police objected to my appearance, claiming that I had no legal right to appear on behalf of the aggrieved party. The Magistrate permitted me to make submissions. On 20 February, I addressed a letter to the Inspector General of Police, specifically regarding the incident on 17 February,&nbsp; expressing my concerns about the repeated attempts to prevent me from representing the aggrieved party. On 3 March, the Polonnaruwa Police addressed the Court and stated that many things are happening outside the Court and that the case was being influenced through the media. The Police presented a document showing a website article. I have made no comments or statements whatsoever to any media outlet regarding this case that could have influenced the proceedings or the witnesses. The Police specifically alleged that I had influenced two witnesses. According to the Police, this alleged influence took place on 17 February. However, the two witnesses who testified in Court on 17 February made no complaint whatsoever of any influence by me. The Police further stated that my actions amounted to contempt of court. The Magistrate directed that if there was any evidence of witness influence, appropriate action should be taken accordingly. On 3 March, the mother of the deceased H.M. Damayanthi lodged a complaint at the Polonnaruwa Police (Complaint No. 283/31/CIB I). In her complaint, she and her younger son claimed that they overheard Police officers (on the Court premises) influencing the same witnesses (whom the Police allege I influenced). The officers were allegedly telling the witnesses: We need to remove Perera and instructing them to state that Perera has influenced you. Allegations made by the Police form part of a concerted effort by the Police to prevent me from continuing to appear in this case, cover up the real issues in the matter by falsely imputing wrongdoing to me, and potentially lead to my imprisonment or further harassment. These statements have tarnished my professional reputation, and interfered with the proper administration of justice. If such conduct by a senior Police officer goes unchecked, it will set a dangerous precedent and discourage members of the Bar from fearlessly representing their clients in the face of institutional pressure. I request that you direct an immediate inquiry into the conduct of the officers of the Polonnaruwa Police.”Custodial deaths in Sri Lanka remain a persistent issue, with the Human Rights Commission recording 49 deaths in Police custody and 30 deaths due to Police encounters between January 2020 and March of last year (2025). Perera has been involved in multiple custodial death cases including making legal representations in the high-profile death of Sathsara Nimesh at the Welikada Police Station.&nbsp;

Strikes on Iran: India dismisses claims US using its ports

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