22nd Amendment Under Scrutiny, Drought Worsens, and Namal Rajapaksa Remanded Amidst Political Tensions

The Supreme Court has concluded hearings on the 22nd Amendment petitions, with several petitioners opting not to file written submissions, citing a lack of opportunity for verbal responses

. The Commonwealth Lawyers Association President, Steven Thiru, observed the hearings and raised four key procedural concerns regarding fairness, transparency, and public confidence

. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa criticized the government, alleging the 22nd Amendment aims to make the judiciary a "tool of the President" and could deter foreign investment, warning of a move towards authoritarian rule

. Meanwhile, MP Namal Rajapaksa was remanded in the Airbus bribery probe, with his parents visiting him in custody and arrangements made for his meals and parliamentary attendance

. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commenced a three-day official visit to Sri Lanka to strengthen defence cooperation

. Former State Minister Premalal Jayasekera reportedly left the country on August 31st, prior to a Supreme Court travel ban issued on September 4th

. A bill to abolish the Chief of Defence Staff post has been gazetted and is scheduled for presentation to Parliament on September 9th

. Thailand will end its visa-exemption scheme for Sri Lankan passport holders from September 15th, requiring online visa applications

. The UNP marked its 80th anniversary, attended by the SJB and SLFP, with UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe warning of threats to sovereignty

. In other news, the Kadawatha Metro Bus Depot, the second under the Metro Bus Project, commenced operations

, and upcountry railway line repairs are nearing completion, with services expected to resume in November/December

. A monk, Venerable Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thero, was remanded for allegedly obstructing Mines Bureau officials in Batticaloa

. The Department of Motor Traffic is issuing green number plates for electric vehicles, with 8,000 already printed

. PM Harini Amarasuriya emphasized the need for "cultured human beings" amidst concerns over harmful social media comments

. Former US President Donald Trump claimed US ownership of the moon with an AI-generated image, sparking social media debate

. Parliament is scheduled to convene from September 8th to 11th

, and the Army Commander honored the family of a fallen war hero

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Sri Lanka is grappling with significant weather challenges, including forecasts for rain or thundershowers in the Uva, Central, Eastern, and Polonnaruwa districts, with potential moderate heavy rainfall exceeding 75mm in some areas

. The El Niño-induced drought has worsened, now affecting 115,534 people across seven districts, with drinking water being distributed to over 113,000 individuals

. The Meteorology Department has issued a new warm weather advisory for the North-Central and Eastern provinces and several districts, where the heat index is expected to reach the 'Caution Level'

. Due to these prevailing drought conditions and high temperatures, Blocks 1 and 2 of the Yala National Park will be temporarily closed from September 14 to October 15 to protect wildlife

. Reservoir water levels across the island have dropped significantly, with major reservoirs at approximately 34.4% capacity, and some districts seeing levels as low as 20%

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The brother-in-law of alleged organized crime figure 'Kos Malli' was hacked to death in Dehiwala by four men who broke into his home

. Sri Lankan police have intensified their anti-drug efforts, freezing over Rs. 130 million in assets linked to drug trafficking across multiple operations, including properties in Uswetakeiyawa and Embilipitiya

. Additionally, Hingurakgoda Police arrested five suspects for allegedly conducting illegal excavations in search of ancient artifacts in the Thalpotha area

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Sri Lanka's dengue crisis continues to deepen, with the year-to-date case count reaching 96,482 and the death toll remaining at 73. The Western Province accounts for the highest number of infections, with 50,904 cases

. The 79th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia is convening in Timor-Leste, with the Sri Lankan delegation led by Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa

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The Sevanagala Sugar Factory has suspended operations indefinitely due to worker unrest, resulting in a total loss of Rs. 250 million for the Lanka Sugar Company. Management cited continued disruptions to production despite employees reporting for duty

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The Anak Krakatau eruption continues to disrupt air travel, leading to the cancellation of a SriLankan Airlines flight from Jakarta to Katunayake, adding to numerous flight disruptions impacting the region

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