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The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka (TEGOSL) has expressed serious concern over the intimidation of Editor of Aruna newspaper and directive issued by Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Sunil Watagala regarding action to be taken in terms of Emergency Regulations in respect of criticism of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The following is the full text of the statement: “TEGOSL expresses concern over two incidents having an adverse impact on freedom of expression
The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka (TEGOSL) expresses its grave concern regarding two recent incidents that have an adverse effect on the freedom of expression and media freedom in the Country.
The first instance was the summoning of the Editor of Aruna newspaper by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to record a statement, on its own premise, that a news item published on 19.11.2025 in the newspaper was ‘false’.
The Editors’ Guild notes that the letter summoning the Editor had ignored the basic information of mentioning as to who had lodged the complaint whilst disregarding the basic internationally recognized method of correcting a Purportedly erroneous news item published in a newspaper. This includes the opportunity for the virtual complainant writing directly to the Editor and/or making a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka to obtain redress.
The second incident was a statement made by the Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Sunil Watagala before a group of police officers, instructing them to take action on those who `defame’ the President, considering them as ‘accused’ under the Emergency Regulations. The said statement made in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Media contradicts an earlier statement made by the President himself that Emergency Regulations will not be used for any other purpose other than the management of the disaster situation and therefore anyone is free to criticise. This indicates that different politicians are interpreting the Emergency Regulations promulgated by the President according to their whims and fancies.
The Editors’ Guild is of the view that the Deputy Minister’s statement gives a dangerously misleading signal to the police to abuse the Emergency Regulations by taking criminal measures against media institutions and journalists.
The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka notes with concern that the two above-mentioned incidents carry a chilling effect on the freedom of expression and media freedom in the country and therefore strongly urges the government to prevent the recurrence of such in the future.”
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United Republican Front (URF) leader Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday (08) said that Friday’s devastating flood in Colombo could have been averted if the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), and other relevant officials, heeded Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya’s directive to clean canals and drainage systems across Colombo.
Dr. Amarasuriya issued the directive on October 13, 2026, at the Colombo District Coordinating Committee meeting in Narahenpita. Dr. Amarasuriya wanted the clean-up completed within two years. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, MP Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi and Samanmali Gunasinghe, local government representatives and Colombo District Secretary Ginige Prasanna Janaka Kumara were present on the occasion.
Former Minister Ranawaka dismissed Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar’s claim that the drainage couldn’tsystem couldn’t cope up with 129mm of rainfall, received on 06 Nov., as it was designed to handle 30mm of rain, as a blatant lie. First of all, the Mayor should explain as to why the CMC couldn’t carry out the PM’s specific directive, the former parliamentarian said, urging the government to inquire into the Mayor’s inaction.
Absolutely nothing had been done since the NPP won the CMC at the May 2025 local government polls, the ex-lawmaker said, pointing out that the National Hospital had never been flooded before though Colombo received far heavier rainfall before. The Fort Central Bus Stand hadn’t been so badly affected before, the URF leader said, emphasising that the crisis was caused by the CMC’s failure.
During the 13 Oct. meeting, chaired by Dr. Amarasuriya, local authorities (including Divisional Secretariats, the Department of Agrarian Development, and the Provincial Irrigation Department) explained the shortage of technical officers, in addition to difficulty in drafting plans and cost estimates, as well as long-standing maintenance gaps.
Ex-lawmaker Ranawaka said that the CMC shouldn’t only accept the responsibility for significant losses suffered by the business community and ordinary people, sufficient compensation should be paid. However, it would be pertinent to examine the failure on the part of the much hyped ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ project to intervene in Colombo, he said, pointing out that the devastating flood highlighted almost total negligence on the part of the boastful top CMC management.
Instead of taking tangible measures to improve the Colombo canals and drainage systems, the Mayor seemed to have engaged in a social media campaign to deceive the public, the ex-parliamentarian said. Ranawaka compared the CMC response to the PM’s directive with the warning issued by Athula Karunanayake, the Director General of the Meteorology Department on 12 Nov. 2025 regarding the impending cyclone. The warning was issued during an appearance on TV Derana’s Big Focus programme. Hundreds died in Cyclone Ditwah in late Nov., 2025.
Former Minister Ranawaka said that Colombo Mayor’s claim as regards the capacity of the drainage system to meet just 30 mm rainfall had been contradicted by the relevant government authorities and the government was no longer in position to side-step the issue. For those who genuinely believed in good governance and accountability, under NPP, now realised the ruling party was on a wrong path, Ranawaka said, declaring that the incumbent administration lacked vision to undertake major projects at any level.
The ground floor of the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Kandy National Hospital was inundated following heavy rainfall in Kandy town on Saturday evening.
Water accumulated at several locations within the hospital premises, causing considerable inconvenience to patients and other visitors.
Central Province Governor Specialist Dr. Harsha Suranga Fernando visited the hospital on Sunday to inspect the affected areas and assess the emergency situation. He issued directives to hospital authorities to take necessary measures to prevent a recurrence.
Hospital administrators, including Dr. Ravindra Weliwita and Dr. Iresha Fernando, were present during the inspection.
Kandy Railway Station was also affected by severe flooding following the heavy downpour.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has called on the Government to restore duty-concession vehicle import permits, suspended in 2022.
In a statement issued yesterday (08), GMOA Secretary Dr. U.K.B. Warakagoda said doctors would stage a protest outside the Colombo National Hospital on November 10 over unresolved grievances, including salary and allowance issues and the shortage of medical professionals.
The Association alleged that the Health Ministry had failed to respond to repeated requests for discussions on problems confronting medical professionals.
It said the cancellation of duty-concession vehicle permits following the 2022 economic crisis, coupled with increased taxation on doctors’ earnings and work-related allowances, had aggravated their financial difficulties.
The GMOA further claimed that one-third of doctors’ overtime and holiday allowances had been withheld under the 2025 public sector salary revision, with the Government reportedly undertaking to restore the payments once the country’s economic situation improved.
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