The Opposition yesterday called for the appointment of a special Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of tusker ‘Kawanthissa’, considered a national natural heritage, and determine whether all relevant authorities and individuals had properly discharged their responsibilities.
A motion calling on the Speaker to appoint the committee, initiated by Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa, and signed by Opposition MPs, was formally handed over to the Speaker yesterday (23).
Speaking on the occasion, Premadasa said the investigation should not only establish the circumstances surrounding Kawanthissa’s death but also lead to measures to protect the country’s remaining tusker population.
He stressed that the issue should be treated as a non-political matter.
Premadasa also pointed to the successful functioning of the Parliamentary Committee on Climate Change, under the co-chairmanship of Government and Opposition members. He proposed that the committee to investigate Kawanthissa’s death should similarly be headed by co-chairs representing both sides of Parliament.
Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday attributed the spread of tuberculosis (TB) in Colombo to the city’s high population density, while noting that reported cases have been on a declining trend since 2023.
Responding to an oral question raised by MP Mujibur Rahuman, in Parliament yesterday (23), Jayatissa said 968 TB cases were reported in Colombo city in 2025, down from 1,064 cases in 2024.
According to figures presented by the Minister, Colombo city recorded 871 cases in 2019, with the number falling to 736 in 2020 before rising to 796 in 2021.
Cases then increased sharply to 1,093 in 2022 and 1,130 in 2023—the highest recorded during the 2019–2025 period—before declining over the following two years.
Jayatissa said 25% of the TB cases reported in the Colombo District originate within the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) limits.
The Colombo District recorded 2,264 TB cases in 2015, followed by 2,156 in 2016, 2,051 in 2017 and 2,088 in 2018, according to the figures tabled in Parliament.
The Minister also said the failure of some TB patients to seek proper medical treatment was contributing to the continued spread of the disease.
However, he said the Government was providing free medication and appropriate treatment to TB patients, while mobile treatment services and X-ray examinations were being carried out as part of efforts to contain the disease.
Jayatissa said the continued decline in cases in Colombo city, particularly the reduction recorded in 2025, indicated a positive trend in efforts to control the spread of TB.
The Matara Magistrate’s Court has released, on bail, the Chairman of the National People’s Power (NPP)-controlled Kirinda Puhulwella Pradeshiya Sabha, and four others, arrested over allegations of unlawfully detaining and subjecting a retired female teacher and her son to physical and mental harassment.
The five suspects, including Pradeshiya Sabha officials, were arrested by Thihagoda Police on Thursday (22) following a complaint made by the teacher and her son, an engineer.
The incident reportedly stemmed from a dispute over the construction of a wall along Wadigawatta Road, in Kirinda.
According to reports, the dispute arose after a technical officer, attached to the Pradeshiya Sabha, who resides on a neighbouring property, constructed part of a wall that allegedly obstructed the engineer from taking his vehicle out of his residence.
The Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman had subsequently allegedly summoned the retired teacher and her son to the Council premises to discuss the legality of the construction and prepare a report for the Human Rights Commission.
However, the two were allegedly confined to a room at the Pradeshiya Sabha premises and subjected to physical and mental harassment.
Following the complaint, Thihagoda Police launched an investigation and arrested the five suspects on allegations, including the misuse of legal and political authority.
The suspects were produced before the Matara Magistrate’s Court, where the Magistrate, after considering submissions from both sides, ordered their release on personal bail.