UPFA MP and former Minister Duminda Dissanayake said he was confident that the jailed leader of the Sinhala extremist Bodu Bala Sena group Galagodaaththe Gnanasara would be freed on Sri Lanka’s Independence Day, after visiting the monk in prison this week.

“The Thera should be released on the Independence Day after considering the service he rendered to the country, to Sinhala Buddhists and his struggle to protect the Buddhism in the country,” Dissanayake told reporters after visiting the monk at Welikada prison.

^{Photograph: Hiran Priyankara for the Sunday Times.}

Sri Lanka’s police claimed to have seized a haul of high powered explosives and arrested at least four men who are accused of belonging to “a radicalised local group of Muslims”.

The discovery was reportedly made as the police were investigating the vandalism of Buddha statues on the island.

<p>Sri Lanka's Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) officers arrested a former LTTE cadre yesterday.&nbsp;</p> <p>The 40-year-old man, who is understood to have undergone an amputation, has been identified as Suthan, from Karanthai Palai.&nbsp;</p> <p>Accusing him of possessing weapons at his house, the TID have said two pistols, 150 bullets and locally made gun were found at his address.&nbsp;</p> <p>The TID have taken him to Vavuniya for further inquiry.&nbsp;</p> <p>The arrest is part of a series of interrogations and detentions of former LTTE cadre across the North-East over recent months.&nbsp;</p>

The leader of the hardline Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU), Udaya Gammanpila, accused the Tamil National Alliance MP, M A Sumanthiran of controlling the Sri Lankan government. 

Saying that Sumanthiran had become the "unofficial prime minister of Sri Lanka", Gammapila was quoted by Adaderana as saying, "now, MP Sumanthiran is the guidance behind Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Prime Minister implements Sumanthiran’s ideas."

<p>An Indian national, Tara, been arrested in Sri Lanka for alleged involvement in a kidney trafficking racket, the Deccan Herald reported.&nbsp;</p> <p>Sri Lankan police said Tara had confessed to the crime and had been a victim of the kidney racket herself.&nbsp;</p> <p>Tara is a resident of MES colony in Malavalli town, Karnataka.&nbsp;</p> <p>Read more <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/curious-case-kidney-racket-713935.ht…">here</a>.&nbsp;</p>

Speaking at an event to mark Thai Pongal in Toronto last week, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for justice and accountability in Sri Lanka, as dozens of Canadian politicians from across the political spectrum praised the Tamil diaspora’s contributions.

Local villagers in Mullaitivu have documented how a Sinhala Buddhist monk has been leading increasing efforts to construct a large Buddha statute that encroaches on a generations old Hindu temple.

The construction, which is taking place in the Karaiththuraipattu division in Mullaitivu, is reportedly being supported by Sri Lanka’s archaeological department.

Human rights organisations in the Philippines and around the world have denounced Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena’s praise of the Philippine president’s campaign against illegal drugs, which has been internationally condemned for its brutality.

Residents of Paddalipuram, Trincomalee protested on Thursday over the lack of teachers at the village schools. 

The village, which falls under Muttur division, has experienced a shortage of teacher and educational support staff over a number of years, residents said. 
 

<p>A Tamil detainee at Vavuniya prison died at the local hospital yesterday.&nbsp;</p> <p>Kesavan Sasikumar, aged 41, had been receiving treatment for ill health.&nbsp;</p> <p>He was arrested for alleged drugs smuggling.&nbsp;</p>