A man who climbed onto a traffic light in front of the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo was rescued this morning by the Police and firefighters.

According to video footage, the cloth the man was hanging from suddenly gave way, but he landed safely on an Inflatable Rescue Cushion beneath the traffic light set up by the firefighters.

‘Please don’t hit,’ the man pleaded, as Police officers reassured him and then escorted him away from the scene. (Newswire)

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A tense situation arose outside the Presidential Secretariat today as police moved to stop the continuous hunger strike launched by the Association of School Development Officers. 

Four officials of the union are engaged in a life‑threatening fast, while others continue a sit‑in protest at the site. 

The police notification demanding an end to the fast triggered heated exchanges between the protesters and law enforcement.

“We have held multiple rounds of discussions with the Prime Minister and relevant officials regarding our issues. But we have not received any response or justice yet. We will continue our protest until we hear from them. We would like to tell the President and Prime Minister that we are not politicians,” a protester said, speaking to the media. (Newswire)

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Responding to an RTI request submitted on August 4, 2025, the Presidential Secretariat has refused to release information regarding the domestic travel of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The Secretariat, in its response dated August 27, stated that the request was rejected under Section 5 (1) (b) (i) of the Right to Information Act, on the grounds that the details sought are directly relevant to security-sensitive information concerning the President.

The letter, addressed to Mr. Jinath Premaratne, further noted that under Section 31 (1) of the Act, an appeal can be filed within 14 days. Such appeals should be directed to Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Mr. K. Prasanna Chandith, at the Presidential Secretariat, Colombo.

The response was issued by G.G.S.C. Roshan, Information Officer and Senior Additional Secretary to the President. (Newswire)

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A protest has been staged in front of the Presidential Secretariat against the distribution of agricultural lands in Trincomalee to private companies and the encroachment of forest land for development projects.

Protesters were seen holding banners urging the halting of 600 acres of paddy land in the Muththunagar area in Trincomalee being distributed to Indian Companies, and the encroachment of forest lands. 

Participating in the protest, student activists Wasantha Mudalige and Lahiru Weerasekara engaged in a heated discussion with a senior Police official outside the Presidential Secretariat.

During the conversation, Wasantha Mudalige claimed that the protest is being held due to the authorities having failed to provide a solution to the issue, which was discussed two weeks ago. 

“We need a response today. You can’t lie to us. We need a discussion with the President’s Secretary today. The President previously promised a date for discussions. We have arrived today, due to the situation having reached an unbearable stage,” Mudalige told the Police officer. (Newswire)

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National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa has alleged that the Presidential Secretariat has issued a list of 40 politicians to be arrested by the Bribery Commission.

Speaking during a televised interview, former minister Weerawansa revealed that the list contains names of politicians from the Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe governments.

He further said that a director of the Bribery Commission regularly visits the Presidential Secretariat to receive instructions on the course of action regarding the list.

“I am on the list. So are Kanchana Wijesekera and Ramesh Pathirane. Mahindananda Aluthgamage was also arrested like this. The arrests are made over matters that were conducted by departments under the purview of ministries. But, those who headed the ministries are being arrested over these incidents,” Weerawansa said.

Stating that this list was made after the results of the Local Government Elections in May, he said the government is of the view that it lost votes in the election due to not having arrested people over corruption allegations. 

Former Minister Weerawansa also revealed that he has been summoned before the Bribery Commission over a matter related to his tenure as the Minister of Housing and Construction. (Newswire)

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In a gesture to bolster care for war-disabled soldiers, the Presidential Secretariat today (20) handed over five vehicles to the Ranaviru Seva Authority (RSA) for use in treatment and rehabilitation efforts.

The handover ceremony, held at the President Secretariat Vehicle Yard, followed a request from the RSA to address logistical shortages at its nationwide facilities.

Under the directives of President Anura Kumara Disanayake, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake formally transferred ownership documents to the RSA at Sri Lanka Army Headquarters. The donation was formally accepted on behalf of the RSA by Major Eranga Rathnayake.

The vehicles, two Mitsubishi Montero Jeeps, a Nissan Petrol Jeep, a Toyota Carina car and a Toyota Hilux, will be deployed to RSA rehabilitation centres in Anuradhapura, Kamburupitiya, Pangolla Abimansala, Attidiya Mihindu Seth Medura and Ragama Ranaviru Sevana. These centres provide residential care and medical support to veterans injured during service.  (PMD)

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Twenty-six (26) vehicles, including luxury and decommissioned models, are scheduled to be auctioned tomorrow (15 May), as part of the second phase of the luxury vehicle auction conducted by the Presidential Secretariat.

According to the President’s Office, all vehicles set to be auctioned were manufactured within the last ten years, while the deadline for submitting bids for these vehicles concluded today.

Among the vehicles to be auctioned are 01 BMW car, 02 Ford Everest Jeeps, 01 Hyundai Terracan Jeep, 02 Land Rover Jeeps, 01 Mitsubishi Montero, 03 Nissan Patrol vehicles, 02 Nissan cars, 01  Porsche Cayenne, 05 SsangYong Rexton Jeeps, 01 Toyota Land Cruiser Sahara, 06 V08 vehicles and 01 Mitsubishi Rosa air-conditioned bus. 

Previously, under the first phase of this auction, 14 luxury vehicles, six decommissioned vehicles, and various spare parts were sold.

This initiative is part of the government’s effort to reduce expenditure and promote financial responsibility. In the first phase, 15 vehicles, including nine Defender jeeps, were successfully auctioned.

The vehicles being auctioned tomorrow are not part of the official vehicle fleet assigned to the regular staff of the Presidential Secretariat, but those that were used by advisors and staff appointed by the former President under Article 41(1) of the Constitution during his term in office. (Newswire)

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A group of fuel distributors handed over a petition to the Presidential Secretariat today in a bid to resolve the issue that has arisen due to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation’s (CPC) decision to abolish the 3% commission given to petroleum separators in fuel distribution.

Speaking to a senior official at the Presidential Secretariat, representatives of the Petroleum Dealers Associations requested the matter to be taken up with the President and to provide a just solution.

“If the authorities feel it is an unfair charge, we are willing to discuss the matter and find a fair solution. After discussing, if we also feel it is an unfair charge, then we would consider stepping down and allowing a known party to conduct the activities,” a representative of the Petroleum Dealers Association said. 

Stating that petitions had been given to many officials before, the representatives requested for their petition to be handed over to the President and to make arrangements for a discussion with a few representatives of the Petroleum Dealers Associations to resolve the matter.

They also added that the China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) and Indian Oil Company (IOC) have expressed interest in working with them for fuel distribution. 

The representatives of the Petroleum Dealers Associations said discussions have already commenced in this regard, adding that verbal consensus has already been reached with Sinopec and IOC on the matter. (Newswire)

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A protest was held near the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo today against the government’s decision to deport the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar who had arrived in Sri Lanka recently seeking asylum.

The protest was conducted by several civil activists, who claimed that the Rohingya refugees are placed at an Army Camp and UN agencies have been denied access to them.

The protesters urged the government to refrain from deporting the Rohingya refugees and consider an alternative solution. 

A group of 116 Rohingya refugees was rescued off the Mullaitivu coast on 19 December 2024.

On 03 January 2025, Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala said the government was considering deporting the Rohingya refugees.

However, the decision caused an uproar, with several parties including politicians and civil activists, calling on the government to reconsider its move. (Newswire)

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The Population and Housing Census conducted every 10 years has been initiated at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

According to the President’s Media Unit (PMD), the Presidential Secretariat was listed as the first building to be recorded. 

The PMD added that this year’s census incorporates tablet computers, alongside traditional printed documents, for data collection. (NewsWire)

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All officers and drivers of the Presidential Secretariat have been notified not to display the Presidential Secretariat name board on their vehicles. 

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the directive has been issued by the Acting Secretary to the President.

Issuing the directive, the President’s Acting Secretary said any vehicles displaying such name boards are not affiliated with the Presidential Secretariat.

Such vehicles are impersonators trying to deceive the public, the President’s Acting Secretary added. (NewsWire)

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A recent audit report reveals that at least 28 vehicles attached to the President’s Office are uninsured, it was reported. 

According to Lankadeepa, the audit report states among the vehicles 13 are high security vehicles, with each estimated to cost between Rs. 250 to 350 million.

The audit report further states that a sum of Rs. 20 million is required as insurance payment per vehicle annually due to the high value of the security vehicles.

An officer of the Presidential Secretariat has informed the Auditor General that the vehicles had not been registered for insurance considering the high costs. 

Stating that if they do not act according to the existing laws of the country, alternative policy decisions should be introduced to meet those needs, the audit report points out that the Presidential Secretariat has failed to do so. (NewsWire)

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