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Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) has been asked to investigate Deputy Public Security Minister Sunil Watagala’s claim that a person used his (Mr. Watagala’s) name to obtain 17 passports.

The deputy minister made the claim during an interview with a private television channel this week. Mr. Watagala claimed that when he visited the Department of Immigration and Emigration, the man posed as a department employee, escorted him to various divisions, and briefed him on the functions of the department. He had told the staff that he was from the President’s office.

The deputy minister said his staff members felt suspicious about the man and alerted him. Mr. Watagala added that it was only on the following day that he learned that the man had obtained 17 passports from the department using his name.

When contacted by the Sunday Times, Deputy Minister Watagala confirmed the incident. He said he had also asked the Acting IGP to investigate the matter, which happened on his first day in office. He said he had not met the person who allegedly used his name to obtain the passports before and that he hoped the police investigation would unearth the facts.

Public holidays gobble up school days

The annual requirement for 210 days of schooling for students in government, government-approved private schools, and pirivenas has been reduced to 181 in 2025, given a large number of public holidays as well as the delay in starting the first term of schools for the new year.

The school year for 2025 will technically start on January 27, as the first three weeks of school from January 2 to 24 will be held to complete the Third Term for the 2024 academic year, the Education Ministry said.

Additionally, of the 26 public holidays for 2025, only four are over the weekend, while all others are on weekdays. Hence, the minister said it was impossible to hold classes for 210 days and was given permission to limit school days to 181 for 2025.

Ranil pays last respects to Manmohan Singh

Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was in New Delhi when former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday.

Mr. Wickremesinghe, who was in the Indian capital to deliver the 7th Atal Bihari Vajpayee memorial lecture, paid his last respects to former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and also expressed his condolences to the late Manmohan Singh’s wife, Gursharan Kaur Kohli.

Mr. Wickremesinghe, who spoke to reporters, described Mr. Singh as “a person who changed India and the region” for the better.

Banner shock at meeting venue for ITAK members

Senior Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) leaders and committee members who gathered at a hotel in Vavuniya yesterday (28) for a crucial party meeting were shocked to see a banner displayed at the hotel entrance.

The banner put up by party activists had a message printed at the bottom. It urged party leaders to convene the General Council immediately and allow the party to function by withdrawing cases filed against the recent election of the ITAK president, among other issues.

The party is meeting today after it faced severe electoral setbacks in the recent elections, partly due to intra-party conflicts to promote individual agendas.

One of the key issues to be discussed is the fate of senior ITAK leader Mavai Senathirajah, who declared ahead of the recent parliamentary elections that he was stepping down from the leadership post of the party. The party is yet to decide on whether to accept his resignation, as it brought severe criticism against the party during the election campaign.

Apart from all these internal issues, one party member was heard telling his colleague after seeing the banner at the entrance and lamenting the downfall of the grand old Tamil party: “Usually, we used to put up banners for party events sending a message to the public; now our folks decided to put up a banner sending a message to the party itself.”

Kudos for tourism milestone

Sri Lanka marked the arrival of the two millionth tourist for 2024 this week, achieving a new milestone for the first time since 2018.

Thailand tourist Prasan Ingkanunt, who was tourist number 2,000,000, arrived in the country on UL 403 for his first visit to Sri Lanka with his wife and sister.

“This marks the first time since 2018—when the country recorded its highest-ever arrivals of 2.3 million—that such numbers have been reached. The achievement reflects the resilience of the tourism industry despite the challenges of the past five years,” the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau said.

The two millionth tourist receiving a memento

The milestone tourists were accorded a special welcome on their arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport. Hosted by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and Airport Aviation Services Ltd., the event featured traditional dance performances and the presentation of special mementos.

Former Tourism Minister Harin Fernando was among those who lauded the achievement. He took to X (formerly Twitter) to say that he was delighted to see that the prediction of the former government of crossing the two million mark in 2024 had been achieved.

Police flash red light for vehicles sporting festive lights

Police have begun a crackdown on vehicles that have been taking to Colombo’s roads at night during the holiday season decorated with small, multicoloured LED lights.

A trend seems to have been created, mainly fuelled by social media, where drivers install such lights on their vehicles and add other Christmas-themed decorations.

Several such vehicles have been taken into custody over the past few days by the Bambalapitiya and Kollupitiya Police, with vehicle drivers being fined and warned not to repeat the offence. Some social media users have criticised the police over the issue, saying they were taking the “fun” out of the season and that police should have better things to do.

Police Spokesman K.B. Manathunga, however, said it was illegal to have such additional lights on vehicles, and they were also a clear traffic hazard. “As such, we have instructed officers to arrest such vehicles and their drivers. They have been released after being fined, but if this continues, we will be producing the drivers along with the vehicles in court,” the Senior Superintendent warned.

SSP Manathunga claimed there have been instances where road accidents had occurred in recent days owing to other motorists slowing down or stopping to have a look at these decorated vehicles. Therefore, police have launched a special operation that will continue till December 31 to detect such vehicles and take them and their occupants into custody. “It’s actually a strain on the police as well since we have to divert officers who could be utilised for other duties for this purpose. But we have decided to continue the operation since some motorists don’t seem to listen,” he added.

Another NPP MP makes CID complaint

Though the National People’s Power (NPP) Government is only just over a month old, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been kept busy by several of its MPs lodging complaints over different matters.

At least four NPP ministers and MPs have already lodged complaints with the CID.

A CID inquiry is already in full swing over a complaint made by Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara over the title of ‘Dr.’ being added to his name on Parliament’s website. A team of CID detectives visited Parliament recently and took down statements from several Parliament staff. Two others were also summoned before the CID on Friday to have their statements recorded in connection with this inquiry.

Industries Minister Sunil Handunnetti also recently lodged a CID complaint over a scam being perpetrated via WhatsApp targeting Sri Lankans in several countries and using the minister’s name as a cover.

Meanwhile, Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody has complained to the CID over social media claims that he lacks the academic qualifications he claims to possess.

NPP Colombo District MP Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne became the latest NPP member to complain to the CID on Friday regarding what she said was “malicious and false news circulating on social media” that personally targeted her.

The complaint stems from media reports over an alleged romantic affair between an NPP Colombo district male MP and a female MP from the same party. The wife of the NPP MP has also lodged a complaint with the Piliyandala Police.

“If anyone believes such cheap tactics can deter women from participating in politics, they are sorely mistaken. Nor will these tricks harm the government—try harder,” Dr. Ariyarathne said on her Facebook page.