Palestine Action wins High Court challenge over group’s ban as terrorist organisation
Sky News UK
Friday 13 February 2026 11:04, UK
Joshua Rozenberg explains the two grounds Palestine Action won the legal challenge on
Palestine Action’s co-founder has won a legal challenge over the group’s ban as a terrorist organisation on two grounds.
However, it will remain outlawed for now as the government has said it wants to take the case to the Court of Appeal.
Huda Ammori launched the challenge after former home secretary Yvette Cooper’s decision to proscribe the group, which came into force in July last year.
It put Palestine Action on the same footing as ISIS and al Qaeda, making membership or support for the group a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Even wearing a T-shirt or carrying a sign with the group’s name on it can carry a six-month sentence.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was “disappointed” with today’s decision and disagreed with the court that the ban is disproportionate.
She said the government had used a “rigorous and evidence-based decision-making process” when deciding to outlaw the grou
“The court has acknowledged that Palestine Action has carried out acts of terrorism, celebrated those who have taken part in those acts and promoted the use of violence,” said a statement from Ms Mahmood.
She said the ban still allowed people to protest peacefully in support of Palestinians.
At a three-day High Court hearing in London, Ms Ammori’s lawyers argued the move was unprecedented and compared Palestine Action to the suffragettes.
However, the Home Office said it struck a fair balance between the “rights of the individuals affected and the interests of the community”.
In its ruling today, the court said Ms Ammori’s challenge had succeeded on two of four grounds, including that it was a disproportionate interference with the right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.
The Defend Our Juries campaign group, which organises protests against the ban, said 2,787 people had been arrested since it came into force.
Raza Husain KC, representing Ms Ammori, said “priests, teachers, pensioners, retired British Army officers” and an “81-year-old former magistrate” were among them.
Normal People author Sally Rooney also provided evidence supporting the challenge.
The writer said she might not be able to publish new books in the UK after being warned she risked a terror offence after saying she would donate earnings to the group.
Colombo abolishes burial, cremation fees for city residents By Dharshan Balasuriya Daily Mirror lk News 12 February 2026 Views – 743
Colombo, Feb. 12 (Daily Mirror) – The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has decided to remove all burial and cremation fees for residents living within the Colombo municipal limits, Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar said.
She said the exemption, which takes immediate effect, applies exclusively to tax-paying residents within the Colombo municipal limits.
Mayor Balthazaar said the decision was a key proposal in the CMC’s 2026 budget and is intended to provide direct relief to city residents. Previously, families were required to pay around Rs. 10,000 for a cremation and approximately Rs. 300 for a burial. Under the newly approved resolution, these charges have been completely removed.
“This is the first time a municipal council in Sri Lanka has implemented such a measure,” the Mayor said, noting that families experiencing a loss should not be further burdened with financial obligations. “When a family loses a loved one, they are already under immense emotional pressure. We wanted the council to provide relief, not add to their suffering.”
The proposal, spearheaded by the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) administration, received unanimous support from all council members, including those from Opposition and independent groups.
“While minor reductions to cemetery fees had been discussed in previous years, this marks the first full waiver of such charges,” she said.
However, the Mayor clarified that the exemption applies only to residents within the Colombo municipality. Fees will continue to be charged for deceased individuals brought from outside the municipal boundaries for final rites.
Sri Lanka High Commission in London Commemorates the 78th Anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in London commemorated the 78th Anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence on 4 February 2026 at its premises in London, in a ceremony that celebrated the nation’s unity, resilience, and shared values.
The event commenced with the unfurling of the National Flag of Sri Lanka and the singing of the National Anthem in Sinhala and Tamil, followed by a two-minute silence in remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country’s freedom and sovereignty.
Religious leaders representing the Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, and Catholic faiths conducted religious observances, invoking blessings for peace, harmony, and prosperity. These observances reflected Sri Lanka’s rich religious and cultural diversity, as well as the collective commitment to national unity. Subsequently, Independence Day messages from His Excellency the President, the Hon. Prime Minister, and the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs were read in Sinhala, Tamil, and English, reaffirming the leadership’s vision for an inclusive and progressive nation.
Addressing the gathering, High Commissioner Nimal Senadheera highlighted Sri Lanka’s resilience in overcoming decades of challenges, emphasised the enduring spirit of its people, and underscored the importance of unity, good governance, and inclusive development. He reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to sustainable growth and constructive engagement with international partners, while also recognising the significant contributions of the Sri Lankan diaspora in the United Kingdom in strengthening bilateral relations and fostering cultural, social, and economic ties between the two countries.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the UK Government, the Commonwealth, members of the Sri Lankan community, and well-wishers, reflecting the enduring bonds between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom and underscoring the significance of this annual celebration of independence.
When the body keeps moving and the ego stays behind, the road turns sacred.
The Walk for Peace is a 2,300-mile pilgrimage carried by discipline rather than demands. Nearly twenty Buddhist monks began walking from Fort Worth, Texas on October 26, 2025, choosing silence, mindfulness, and compassion over slogans or confrontation. Their meditative footsteps have taken them through Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and now Virginia, moving steadily toward the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., with an expected arrival in mid-February 2026. Walking beside them is Aloka, a rescue dog whose quiet presence has become a powerful symbol of shared endurance on a road that tests every step.
Guided by spiritual leader Bhikkhu Pannakara, the journey is not a protest and not a political campaign. It is a lived discipline. The monks walk at a mindful pace, often in complete silence and sometimes barefoot, sustaining themselves on one simple meal each day. Nights are spent wherever communities open their doors—church halls, community centers, temples, or cold roadside shelters. As they pass through towns and cities, something unplanned happens. Traffic slows, voices soften, and people pause instinctively, sensing meaning without being asked to understand it.
The road has demanded real sacrifice. On November 19, 2025, near Dayton, Texas, a truck struck the group’s escort vehicle, seriously injuring two monks and resulting in the loss of one monk’s leg. The walk did not stop. In January 2026, the monks continued forward through snow, ice, and freezing winds while crossing North Carolina and entering Virginia. During this same winter stretch, Aloka briefly left the journey for leg surgery, then returned and quietly resumed his place beside the monks.
Along highways and backroads, supporters stand in silence offering fruit, flowers, and folded hands. Organizers request no cheering, no shouting, and respectful distance so mindfulness remains intact. Hundreds of thousands follow this journey not because it is loud or dramatic, but because it feels deeply human. Mile after mile, the Walk for Peace reminds the world that healing does not begin with force or argument. It begins with presence, sacrifice, and the courage to keep walking forward when stopping would be easier. See less
Appreciation of Don Ernest Wickramaratne Gunasekera who passed away on 31st December 2025.
Ernie was born on 26th July 1936 in Akuressa Mataraouthern province of Sri Lanka , hailing from a well-known business family in Akuressa . He was the eldest of the family of 3 sons who received his education at St. Johns College Nugegoda and Carey College Colombo, later entered into the university of Colombo and obtained a BSc in Engineering.
He became a civil engineer, gaining knowledge on many infrastructure projects. He eventually fell in love with his wife Vineetha, the sister of his boss while he was working at Irrigation Dept at Kuda Oya project in Badulla District.
They lived in Sri Lanka after the marriage and after the first child was born the family was migrated to United kingdom in 1964 to follow a Masters degree at the University of Hull in the United Kingdom.
Earney loved his engineering field and worked for many prestigious firms such as Mowlem, Soil Mechanics and Christianni Neilson . His job took him all over the UK and later all over the world to work on projects in the Caribbean, Asia and the Middle East. He first worked as a civil engineer and later as a senior estimator on the management team. He was specialised in drainage and deep water projects and was most sought after for his expertise.
After his retirement, he became a specialist consultant. He worked for many civil engineering projects most noteworthy being the life boat docks in cornwall, the Natwest Tower and Aldgate roundabout tunnels in London. His last big project was Terminal 5 at Heathrow.
Earnie’s passion was religion and philosophy. Born a Christian, he decided at the tender age of 18 to embraced Buddhism and its philosophy and he became a devoted Buddhist all his life, going on for retreats with his wife Vineetha learning to meditate etc. He and his wife became very much part of the Chiswick Buddhist Vihara. He enjoyed meeting fellow devotees, especially he loved interacting with the monks.
He has three children – two daughters and one son. All of them studied at UK Universities. Eldest daughter Arunika is a successful Dental Suregon who owns a successful practice in Kent and the only son Eric is a Gynaecologist. At the beginning he was attached to St Thomas’s Hospital, London thereafter migrated to Australia. The youngest daughter is Chandika is working at British Museum Library.
We extend our deepest gratitude for Mr Ernest Wickramarathne Gunasekera for his lifelong service and offer our heartfelt condolences to his family and colleagues. His monumental work and numerous contributions remain a lasting gift to future generations of Engineers.
Masterpiece of the era, the VW Beetle Cabriolet -1955 and Manel Illangakoon, 1953 Miss World , 3rd Runner-up
Manel Illangakoon holds the historic title of being the first Miss Ceylon (now Miss Sri Lanka).
The 1953 Milestone: She won the inaugural national pageant in 1953, organized by the government in Colombo.
Global Success: She represented the nation at the 1953 Miss World pageant in London. At just 20 years old, she made history by finishing as the 3rd Runner-up (4th place overall)—a record placement for Sri Lanka at Miss World that remains one of the highest to this day.
Cultural Ambition: During the competition, she was famously noted for her preference for the traditional sarong and saree, bringing Ceylonese elegance to the global stage during an era when the pageant world was very much focused on Western styles.
The 1955 Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet
The car she is seated on is a masterpiece of the era, the Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet (Type1), specifically the 1955 model produced by the renowned coachbuilder Karmann.
Design & Style: By 1955, the Beetle had become a symbol of post-war recovery. The Cabriolet version was the “luxury” variant, featuring a heavily insulated soft-top roof and a more refined interior than the standard “Bug.”
Key Features:
Engine: It featured a 1,192cc air-cooled engine producing approximately 36 bhp.
Exterior: The 1955 model is known for its “bullet” style taillights and the transition toward the larger rear windows seen in later years.
Interior: Often fitted with leatherette upholstery and a distinctive three-spoke steering wheel.
When you see Manel Illangakoon posed with this car, it represents the sophistication of 1950s Ceylon. At that time, Sri Lanka was a young independent nation with a thriving elite class that appreciated European luxury, making the pairing of the country’s first “Queen” and a top-of-the-line German convertible a perfect editorial match.
பல சவால்களுக்கு மத்தியில் பொருளாதார ஸ்திரத்தன்மையை அடைந்து, நாடு முன்னேறி வரும் ஒரு வரலாற்றுச் சிறப்புமிக்க தருணத்தில், 78 ஆவது தேசிய சுதந்திர தினத்தை நாம் கொண்டாடுகிறோம். இலங்கையர்களாகிய நாம் அனைவரும் இணைந்து போராடி, ஒன்றரை வருட குறுகிய காலத்தில் குறிப்பிடத்தக்க பொருளாதார முன்னேற்றத்தை அடைவதில் வெற்றி பெற்றுள்ளோம்.
சவால்களுக்கு மத்தியில், கூட்டாகவும் உறுதியுடனும் செயற்பட்டு நமது நாட்டை தூய்மையான அரசியல் கலாசாரத்திற்குள் கட்டியெழுப்பப்பட்ட அழகான இலங்கையாக சர்வதேச அளவில் முத்திரை பதிப்பதில் நாம் வெற்றி பெற்றுள்ளோம். நாம் பெற்றுள்ள பேரண்டப் பொருளாதார நன்மைகள் இலங்கையின் அனைத்து பிரதேசங்களிலும் உள்ள அனைத்து இன சமூகங்களுக்கும் சென்றடைவதை உறுதி செய்வதே எமது அடுத்த முக்கிய நோக்கம் ஆகும். அவ்வாறு இன்றி, புதிதாக கட்டியெழுப்பப்படும் அபிவிருத்தி செயல்முறையின் உண்மையான வெற்றியை அடைவது சாத்தியமில்லை என்று நாங்கள் உறுதியாக நம்புகிறோம்.
அண்மைய காலத்தில் இடம்பெற்ற மிகப் பாரிய இயற்கை அனர்த்தத்தை நாம் சந்திக்க வேண்டியிருந்தது. அந்த அனர்த்தத்தின் அனுபவம் வேதனையாக இருந்தபோதிலும், கடந்த ஒன்றரை வருட குறுகிய காலத்தில் நாம் கட்டியெழுப்பிய உறுதியான அடித்தளங்கள் மற்றும் அனைத்து தரப்பினரின் ஆதரவுடன், மீண்டும் இயல்பு நிலைக்கு திரும்பும் பணியில் வெற்றிகரமாக முன்னோக்கிச் செல்கின்றோம்.
சுதந்திரத்திற்குப் பின்னரான காலங்களில், நமது நாட்டை சரியான திசையில் வழிநடத்தவும், தேசிய ரீதியில் அடையவேண்டிய இலக்குகளை அடையவும், ஒற்றுமையாக வாழவும் வரலாற்றில் கிடைத்த பொன்னான வாய்ப்புகள் பெரும்பாலும் தவறவிடப்பட்டுள்ளன. இருப்பினும், இந்த முறை அந்தத் தவறை மீண்டும் செய்யாமல், நமது நாட்டை முன்பை விட மிகவும் முன்னேறிய, வலிமையான மற்றும் கௌரவத்துக்குரிய நாடாக மேம்படுத்துவதற்கு நாம் உறுதியுடன் செயல்படுவோம். நமது பெருமைமிக்க கலாசாரம், பண்டைய வரலாறு மற்றும் சிறந்த பாரம்பரியத்தைப் பாதுகாத்து, அதன் மேல் உறுதியாக நிலைத்து நின்று, இந்தத் திட்டம் செயல்படுத்தப்படுகிறது என்பதை இங்கே உங்களுக்கு நினைவூட்ட விரும்புகிறேன்.
இருபதாம் நூற்றாண்டில் பிறந்தவர்களின் ,பெருமைமிக்க நாடு பற்றிய கனவு கலைந்த போதும் , இருபத்தியோராம் நூற்றாண்டில் அந்தக் கனவை நனவாக்கி, நாட்டு மக்கள் எதிர்பார்க்கும் முன்னேறிய, வளமான மற்றும் சிறந்த நாடாக இலங்கையை கட்டியெழுப்பி, நாம் எதிர்பார்க்கும் புதிய சகாப்தத்தை உருவாக்க முடியும் என நான் திடமாக நம்புகிறேன். இதன்போது, இந்நாட்டின் அனைத்து மக்களின் வலிமை, ஒருமைப்பாடு மற்றும் உறுதிப்பாட்டில் நாம் வலுவான நம்பிக்கை கொண்டுள்ளோம்.
கடந்த நூற்றாண்டில் தவறவிட்ட வெற்றிகளை நாட்டுக்குப் பெற்றுக்கொடுத்து, அனைவரினதும் கனவான, ‘வளமான நாடு – அழகான வாழ்க்கையைக்’ கட்டியெழுப்ப, ஒற்றுமை,உறுதிப்பாடு மற்றும் சகோதரத்துவத்துடன் கைகோர்ப்போம் என்று அனைவருக்கும் அழைப்பு விடுப்பதுடன், சுதந்திரத்தின் உண்மையான நோக்கங்களை அடைவதற்கு, ஊக்கமளிக்கும், அர்த்தமுள்ள தேசிய சுதந்திர தினத்திற்கு வாழ்த்துக்களைத் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்.
அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க
ஜனாதிபதி
இலங்கை ஜனநாயக சோசலிசக் குடியரசு
Independence Day Message – 2026
We commemorate the 78th National Independence Day at a historic moment when, despite numerous challenges, our country is moving steadily forward while regaining economic stability. As Sri Lankans, through our collective struggle, we have within a short period of approximately eighteen months succeeded in achieving tangible economic progress. Amidst adversity, acting collectively and with determination, we have been able to position Sri Lanka on the international stage as a nation branded by a clean and principled political culture, a beautiful country rising with integrity.
Our next foremost objective is to ensure that the macroeconomic gains we have achieved flow to communities of all ethnicities across all provinces of Sri Lanka. We firmly believe that without this, it will be impossible to realise the true rhythm and essence of the new development process we are building.
Recently, we were compelled to confront the largest natural disaster of our time. While the experience of this calamity was painful, the strong foundations we have built over the past eighteen months have enabled us, with the support of all stakeholders, to move forward successfully in the process of recovery and restoration.
Throughout the period since independence, our nation has often missed golden opportunities to steer the country in the right direction, to achieve our national aspirations, and to live together in unity. This time, however, we are determined not to repeat those mistakes. With unwavering resolve, we are striving to elevate our country into a more advanced, resilient and dignified State than it has ever been. I wish to emphasise that this endeavour is being carried out while safeguarding our proud culture, our ancient history and our invaluable heritage, standing firmly upon them.
I hold an unshakable faith that by realising in the twenty-first century the dream of a proud nation that was born in the twentieth century but later became blurred, we can build Sri Lanka into the developed, prosperous and virtuous country that our people expect, and thereby certainly create the new era for which we have long aspired. In this endeavour, we place our firm confidence in the strength of all our citizens, in their collective spirit and in their unwavering character.
As we reclaim for our nation the victories that were lost in the past century, I once again invite all citizens to join hands in unity, determination and brotherhood to build the beautiful shared dream of ‘A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life’. With this call, I extend my warm wishes for a meaningful National Independence Day that inspires us all to advance towards the true objectives of freedom.
King Charles III, has extended his and the Queen’s warmest congratulations on the 78th Independence Day of Sri Lanka. Newsfirst.lk English
04/02/26
In a message addressed to Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, King Charles III has appreciated the enduring partnership between the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka and has called it a partnership that has been shaped by deep historical ties.
The King also praised the cooperation between the two countries in fields such as education, trade, climate resilience, and shared global challenges.
King Charles III added that he hopes for the nations to come together at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November 2026.
In his message that was shared by the British High Commission in Colombo, the King expressed sympathy to all the lives lost and the destruction caused to the country following Cyclone Ditwah, while admiring the dedication and courage of Sri Lankan authorities, during a time of crises.
King Charles III concluded his message with a reminder that all nations must take bold steps toward sustainability, now more than ever.
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