Latest Sri Lanka News and Top Stories

UPFA MP Sarana Gunawardena was released on Rs.150,000 cash bail with a surety of Rs. 60 million by the Colombo Chief Magistrate today in the case where he had allegedly been involved in 107 frauds including Rs.36 million fraud while he was the National Lotteries Board Chairman.

UPFA Parliamentarian R. Duminda Silva is to be summoned to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today for further questioning on money laundering charges.

The Sri Lankan government is set to provide a pension scheme to its overseas workers, if the workers complete two years of foreign employment.

The Colombo District Court issued a permanent injunction preventing the producer and director of the film called “Susima” from producing, screening and taking any further steps whatever in connection with the film which purportedly depicts the life story of Sri Lankan sprint champion Susanthika Jayasinghe.

Samurdhi and Housing Minister, Sajith Premadasa, yesterday in Parliament requested the Minister of Defence to investigate two unofficial armouries allegedly being operated at Beliatta and Weeraketiya.

Statements have been recorded from SLFP General Secretary and former minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa by the CID over alleged forged document case of UNP’s former General Secrretary Tissa Attanayake.

Ninety-two Sri Lankan citizens hold a total of $58.3 million in 129 Swiss bank accounts, according to data released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and leaked by an HSBC whistleblower.

Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage today ordered former ITN News Director Sudarman Radaliyagoda to be remanded till February 24.

Police said 60 percent of 82 accounts of MP Duminda Silva has been investigated so far. SSP Ajith Rohana said MP Silva was questioned by the CID for over six hours this morning.

Plans are under way to prepare a new national policy for the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, Tourism and Sports Minister Navin Dissanayake said.

President Maithripala Sirisena expressed his dismay at the delay in taking legal action against those who embezzled public money. Speaking at a rally held in Aralaganwila yesterday, he added that he will use his powers and appoint a special presidential commission to investigate alleged corruption.

Four people were killed and thirteen injured when a lorry toppled at the Ehelagahawanguwa on the Medawachchiya — Vavuniya road this evening, police said.

Self-Employed Persons Federation’s President Mahinda Kahanda Gamage has been arrested by the Fraud Investigation Unit of the Wellawatte police, this afternoon.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday that Parliament would be dissolved straightaway if the government failed to defeat the no-confidence motion against Public Order, Disaster Management and Christian Affairs Minister John Amaratunga.

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, in a startling revelation, said that the Northern expressway, for which the bids from the five contractors had been estimated at Rs 245 Billion, during the previous regime had overnight reduced by Rs 60 Billion!