A sniper rifle, a magazine and seven rounds of ammunition have been recovered by the Police Special Task Force (STF) from a forested area in the Kanchikudiyaru reserve in the Damana Police Division.

Police said the weapons were discovered hidden in a tree hollow during an operation carried out by STF officers attached to the Thirukkovil camp on Monday (29).

The recovered items have been handed over to the Damana Police, which is conducting further investigations. (Newswire/ File Pic)

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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the Government is planning to allocate LKR. 2,000 billion for capital expenditure in 2027, making it the year with the highest capital expenditure in Sri Lanka’s history.

He said that the Treasury now maintains a strong account position due to the government’s success in maintaining sound financial management. 

“During 2022 and 2023, the Treasury overdraft stood at LKR. 800 billion, and the Treasury functioned on borrowed funds. However, we have now succeeded in maintaining the Treasury with a positive balance,” he said. 

The President further said that as a result, they are able to allocate the necessary funds for essential development work benefiting rural communities.

“Recently, we met separately with Members of Parliament from the relevant districts and inquired into the development work required in their respective areas. The necessary allocations for those projects can be included in the upcoming Budget. However, the responsibility for ensuring the proper utilisation of those funds rests with you,” he added. 

The President made these remarks today (22) morning while attending the commencement of construction work on the Ampara Multi-Purpose Town Hall project, which is being implemented at a cost of LKR. 1,744.85 million.

The new multi-purpose complex, equipped with modern facilities, is being constructed to fulfil a long-standing public requirement that has remained unmet for more than 70 year. The project aims to improve facilities for the public visiting the Ampara Municipal Council, provide the business community with a lawful and well-regulated environment to develop their enterprises and enhance the cultural life of the people of the Ampara District.

The complex will include a modern auditorium, shopping complex, office complex and a spacious vehicle parking facility. Construction is scheduled to be completed by 31 December 2028.

A special feature of the occasion was the participation of E.D. Hemachandra, an employee who has dedicated many years of service towards the development of the Ampara Municipal Council, as an invited guest.

Further addressing the gathering, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pointed out that LKR. 22,000 million has been allocated for 2026 for the construction of roads, bridges, canals and public buildings in the Ampara District. 

The President emphasised that it is the responsibility of public officials to ensure that these allocations are properly utilised within the 2026 financial year in order to deliver prompt benefits to the people.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s full statement:

“The challenge we face as a Government is ensuring that the allocations we make are fully utilised within the relevant financial year. For the Ampara District alone, LKR. 22,000 million has been allocated in 2026 for roads, bridges, canals and building construction. The responsibility of managing these allocations properly, preparing plans and implementing them efficiently lies with public officials. If the work planned for this year cannot be completed within the year, it will be carried forward to the following year, thereby delaying subsequent projects as well.

Therefore, the main challenge we face is the failure to utilise allocated funds properly within the relevant financial year. Recently, I called for reports on several major projects. According to those reports, projects initially estimated at LKR. 300 billion have eventually cost LKR. 600 billion due to delays and failure to complete them on time. In other words, an additional amount equal to the original estimate has been lost due to delays.

 That is why we expect these allocations to be utilised properly. We are preparing to make next year, the year with the highest capital expenditure in Sri Lanka’s history. Plans have already been formulated to allocate LKR. 2,000 billion for capital expenditure next year.

Due to our success in maintaining sound financial management, the Treasury now maintains a strong account position. During 2022 and 2023, the Treasury overdraft stood at LKR. 800 billion and the Treasury functioned on borrowed funds. However, we have now succeeded in maintaining the Treasury with a positive balance. As a result, we are able to allocate the necessary funds for essential development work benefiting rural communities.

Recently, we met separately with Members of Parliament from the relevant districts and inquired into the development work required in their respective areas. The necessary allocations for those projects can be included in the upcoming Budget. However, the responsibility for ensuring the proper utilisation of those funds rests with you.” (Newswire)

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The long‑delayed construction of the Nindavur Cultural Centre, which began many years ago but was halted midway, will be officially restarted this morning (22) under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The project, aimed at preserving Ampara District’s rich cultural heritage and passing it on to future generations, has been allocated Rs. 300 million in the 2026 budget. 

The total estimated cost stands at Rs. 945.04 million, with completion scheduled for December 31, 2027.

Later in the day, President Dissanayake is set to chair the Ampara District Special Coordinating Committee meeting at the District Secretariat auditorium. 

The session will review the progress of ongoing development projects, relief measures for communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah, and infrastructure development programs.

In addition, the construction of the Ampara Multipurpose Town Hall, a long‑standing need for the town, will also be launched this morning under the President’s leadership. 

The project, valued at Rs. 1,744.85 million, is expected to be completed by December 31, 2028.

According to the President’s Office, both initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to strengthening cultural infrastructure and addressing community needs in the Ampara District. (Newswire)

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Four suspects have been arrested after assaulting Bakkiella Police officers who raided an illegal gambling den and liquor trafficking operation in the 16th Wanguwa area in Ampara on Tuesday (14).

According to the Police, the raid was carried out following a tip‑off received by the 119 information centre. 

When officers arrived, several individuals fled, while others obstructed the police from performing their duties and turned violent.

The Officer‑in‑Charge of Bakkiella Police, along with a team, arrived at the scene to control the situation. During the confrontation, one police sergeant sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment at Ampara General Hospital.

Four suspects, aged between 24 and 52 and residents of Rajagalathenna, were taken into custody. Investigations are ongoing to apprehend around ten more individuals linked to the incident.

Meanwhile, allegations surfaced that officers involved in the raid were intoxicated. 

The Police said, however, that all participating officers were presented to the judicial medical officer, and medical reports confirmed that none had consumed alcohol at the time.

The Bakkiella Police Station is continuing further investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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The Ampara High Court today (10) sentenced six individuals to death in connection with a double homicide that occurred on April 14, 2015.

According to court proceedings, the accused had been consuming alcohol inside a lorry in the Kadupahara village of Kehelulla when two local residents objected to their behaviour. 

In response, the group assaulted the villagers and ran them over with the vehicle, killing them. 

Following a lengthy trial, the court found all six accused guilty and imposed the death penalty for their role in the killings. (Newswire)

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The Mahatma Gandhi Model Village housing project in Ampara was inaugurated and handed over to the 24 beneficiary families on Wednesday (29).

The housing project was jointly inaugurated by the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha and the Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, Susil Ranasinghe. 

The Model Village Housing Project is being implemented in all 25 districts of the island jointly with the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply of Sri Lanka, with grant support from the Government of India. 

A Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India and the Government of Sri Lanka was signed for the project in October 2017. The project encompasses housing facilities for 600 low-income families of Sri Lanka, with a model village each consisting of 24 houses per district for families selected by the District Housing Committees.

Model villages under the project have earlier been inaugurated and handed over in 16 districts: Batticaloa, Vavuniya, Jaffna, Kandy, Gampaha, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Matale, Puttalam, Colombo, Trincomalee, Monaragala, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Mullaithivu and Rathnapura. The project progress is nearly 98% and the remaining model villages too are expected to be inaugurated and handed over to the beneficiaries soon. (Newswire)

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An RO Water Plant and a Bus Shelter at Komari village in Pottuvil Division of Ampara district were inaugurated by the High Commissioner of India, Santosh Jha, on Tuesday (28).

According to the Indian High Commission, the plant, donated by the Government of India, is expected to benefit about 1000 people in and around the village. The bus shelter, also a gift from the people of India, will benefit all the villagers.

MP Abdul Washith, Divisional Secretary Pottuvil Ahamed Nazeel, the Vice Chairman of Pottuvil Pradesiya Sabha, among other dignitaries, were present for the events.

The projects were inaugurated during the Indian High Commissioner’s official visit to the Eastern Province from 28–30 October 2025. It is part of the continued outreach of the High Commission of India in the Province.

During the visit, the High Commissioner is scheduled to extend assistance to schools in Kalmunai city and launch a special financial assistance scheme with an Indian grant for meritorious students in Eastern Province from economically backward sections of society.

The High Commissioner will also join the Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, Susil Ranasinghe, to inaugurate the Mahatma Gandhi Model Village in Ampara, built with Indian grant assistance. (Newswire)

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A relay hunger strike by relatives of the disappeared was held in Thambilluvil, Ampara, entering its final stage in the North and East.

Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam today participated in the final leg of the hunger strike. 

The protest was organised by the Association of Relatives of the Forcibly Disappeared.

According to the MP, they demand international justice for enforced disappearances, mass graves, and other atrocities, rejecting Sri Lanka’s domestic mechanisms as cover-ups. (Newswire)

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A 25-year-old woman was reported dead on Wednesday after being stabbed with a sharp weapon by her ex-husband in the Arafa Nagar area in Eragama, Ampara. 

According to the Police, the woman, who had divorced her first husband, had been employed overseas for two years and had returned to Sri Lanka a few weeks ago.

Upon her return, the woman had remarried and had resided at a house belonging to the ex-husband, which had been kept closed. 

It is reported that the ex-husband had attacked the woman with a knife while at the house, and had fled the area. 

The woman who had sustained serious injuries in the attack had died after being admitted to the Deegawapiya Hospital. 

The Eragama Police has launched investigations to apprehend the suspect. (Newswire)

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A 63-year-old man has hacked to death his two children and attempted to die by suicide in Ampara. 

According to the Police, the man had hacked to death his 15-year-old daughter and 29-year-old son in Ampara.

After murdering his children, the man had attempted to die by suicide but had been admitted to the Kalmunai Hospital.

The Ampara Police is conducting investigations into the incident. (NewsWire)

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A 16-year-old boy was reported dead while participating in a marathon at an inter-school sports meet at a school in Thirukkovil, Ampara yesterday. 

According to the Police, the child had fallen sick while participating in the marathon last morning and had been admitted to the Thirukkovil Hospital. 

However, the boy who had been transferred to the Akkaraipattu Hospital for further treatment had died at the hospital. 

The deceased has been identified as a resident of the Thirukkovil 3 area.

The incident had also resulted in area residents staging a protest in front of the Thirukkovil Hospital claiming that the authorities had failed to provide the necessary treatment to the ill child. 

As the Police had intervened and explained the situation to the area residents, the crowd had dispersed thereafter.

The Thirukkovil Police is conducting further investigations into the death. (NewsWire)

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