Former BAR Association President and President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris has criticized the recent actions of the Police for publicly questioning the suspect arrested in the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Lasantha Wickramasekara’s murder case. His remarks come after a video showing Police officers interrogating the suspect soon after his arrest went viral on social media. Peiris said arrests and criminal investigations must be conducted strictly in accordance with the procedure established by law. He warned that parading suspects before the media, getting them to make statements, and circulating such footage may excite some sections of the public but would ultimately harm…
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The Sri Lankan Rupee has depreciated further against the US Dollar at commercial banks in Sri Lanka today (27), compared to last Friday. At Seylan Bank, the buying rate of the US Dollar has increased from Rs. 300.20 to Rs. 300.50, while the selling rate has also increased from Rs. 305.70 to Rs. 306. According to NDB Bank, the buying and selling rates of the US Dollar have increased from Rs. 300.35 to Rs. 300.55 and from Rs. 306.85 to Rs. 307.05, respectively. People’s Bank reports that the buying rate of the US Dollar has increased from Rs. 300.25 to…
The Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA) and the Sri Lanka Media Cricket Club (MCC) renewed their long-standing friendship through the annual Cricket Journalists Trophy T20 encounter, played at the MCA grounds yesterday. The match, first introduced in 2008, has been a cherished tradition aimed at strengthening ties between the cricketing community and the media. After a hiatus since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other practical challenges, the event returned to the calendar this year in a spirit of unity and sportsmanship. MCA President Mahesh de Alwis led the MCA team, while veteran journalist Ranjan Paranavitana captained the Media…
India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has been admitted to a hospital in Sydney after medical tests revealed internal bleeding caused by a rib cage injury, according to reports from PTI. As a precautionary measure, Iyer was moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for observation and treatment. He is expected to remain in hospital for about five to seven days. Iyer suffered an injury while fielding during the third One-Day International against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday. The 30-year-old right-hander, known for his aggressive middle-order batting, has been a key figure in India’s limited-overs setup. Cricket fans…
The head of Australia’s competition watchdog has slammed Microsoft, claiming it “deliberately hid” a subscription option from Australian customers. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has sued the tech giant for allegedly misleading about 2.7 million Australians over its Microsoft 365 subscriptions. The ACCC has launched proceedings against Microsoft for allegedly misleading customers about subscription options and price increases after it integrated its AI assistant, Copilot, into Microsoft 365 plans. The regulator has alleged that since late last year, the tech giant told subscribers of certain plans that they must pay a higher price to maintain their subscriptions, which…
A 39-year-old Indian national has been arrested by officers of the Customs Narcotics Control Division at Katunayake Airport with a stock of heroin valued at Rs. 84.96 million. According to the authorities, the man had arrived from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at 4:15 pm yesterday (26). The Sri Lankan authorities have discovered 2.832 kilos of heroin in his possession, concealed in his luggage. Preliminary investigations revealed that the narcotics were intended to be handed over to local drug agents at a hotel in Bambalapitiya, Colombo. The suspect is scheduled to be presented before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court today (27). (Newswire) The…
The Ministry of Digital Economy says GovTech Ltd., the organization replacing the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), is expected to become fully operational within 3–6 months. According to the Sunday Morning newspaper, Acting Secretary to the Ministry, Waruna Sri Dhanapala, said an appropriate organisational structure is yet to be determined for the entity and that the required workforce was yet to be hired. He further said that the ministry has commenced the process to hire a consultancy firm to recommend an appropriate organisational structure. Waruna Sri Dhanapala also revealed that the government has formally incorporated GovTech…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka average coconut prices at a weekly auction fell 5 percent for the third consecutive week, Coconut Development Authority (CDA) data showed. The average price for 1,000 nuts was 128,060 rupees last week. CDA has declined to divulge the highest and the lowest price for a nut at the the auction from July 19. The number of nuts offered declined to 302,679 from 361,926 a week earlier, while nuts sold dropped to 214,469 from 272,939. In the local market, the wholesale price for a large nut was 175-185 rupees, while small nuts were 150-165 a piece. The…
A 57-year-old man has been reported dead after being shot by an air rifle by his father-in-law over a personal dispute in the Galenbindunuwewa area. Preliminary Police investigations reveal that an argument between the two men had escalated, resulting in the shooting last night. The victim, a resident of Ihalagala, had died after being admitted to the Galenbindunuwewa Hospital with serious injuries. The Galenbindunuwewa Police have launched a probe to arrest the suspect. (Newswire/ Image- File Pic) The post Father-in-law kills son-in-law over dispute appeared first on Newswire.
One person has been reported dead and two others injured in an accident on the Central Expressway early this morning (27). According to reports, a car that had entered the Central Expressway from the Kurunegala interchange had collided with the rear of a lorry travelling ahead. It is reportedly that the accident occurred around 04.30 am today due to the driver falling asleep at the wheel. One person had died on the spot, while two others who had sustained serious injuries had been admitted to the Kurunegala General Hospital. The deceased has been identified as a passenger travelling in the…
A Saudi Arabian national was taken into custody on Sunday (26) for allegedly assaulting two female flight attendants aboard a SriLankan Airlines flight, it was reported. According to the Katunayake Airport Police, the suspect had allegedly assaulted the flight attendants while travelling from Riyadh to Colombo. The suspect is a 28-year-old Saudi national who had arrived at Katunayake Airport with plans to continue his journey to Malaysia. According to preliminary investigations by Katunayake Airport Police, the incident occurred while the aircraft was preparing to land. At that time, all passengers are required to remain seated with seat belts fastened. However,…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee opened at 303.90/304.00 to the US dollar Monday, weaker from 303.70/85 Friday, while bond yields were broadly steady, dealers said. A bond maturing on 15.03.2028 was quoted at 9.18/20 percent, down from 9.19/25 percent. A bond maturing on 15.09.2029 was quoted at 9.67/72 percent, up from 9.65/70 percent. A bond maturing on 01.07.2030 was quoted at 9.77/82 percent, up from 9.75/79 percent. A bond maturing on 15.05.2031 was quoted at 10.08/13 percent. A bond maturing on 15.10.2032 was quoted at 10.55/65 percent. The telegraphic transfer rates for the American dollar was 300.2500 buying, 307.2500 selling;…
A Police sergeant was reported dead in a fatal road accident in the Adawelayaya area on the Wellawaya–Thanamalwila road last evening. According to the Police, an Army bus travelling towards Wellawaya collided head-on with a motorcycle coming from the opposite direction. The motorcyclist, a 36-year-old Police sergeant from Wellawaya, was pronounced dead on admission to the Wellawaya Hospital. His body has been placed at the hospital morgue while the Wellawaya Police are conducting an investigation. (Newswire/ Image- Accident1st) The post Police sergeant killed in a road accident in Wellawaya appeared first on Newswire.
Police have launched an investigation into the suspicious death of a 48-year-old woman found inside her home at Mahaliyana Gewatta in Baddegama. Area residents informed police after noticing that the woman had not been seen for several days and that the lights in the house had been left on. Police officers discovered her body lying naked on the floor of the living room, with signs of bleeding. The deceased has been identified as a resident of Sandarawala, Baddegama. The body remains at the scene under police protection pending a magistrate’s examination. The Baddegama Police are conducting further investigations. (Newswire) The…
A 68-year-old man drowned while fishing in the Mudaththawa tank in the Rasnayakapura Police Division, the Police said. The deceased, a resident of Monnekulama, had been fishing using an inflated tube and failed to return home on time. Family members who went in search of him discovered his body floating in the middle of the tank last evening (26). The body has been placed at the Nikaweratiya Hospital morgue. The Rasnayakapura Police are conducting further investigations. (Newswire) The post Man drowns while fishing in Rasnayakapura appeared first on Newswire.
Police have arrested four individuals in two separate incidents for conducting illegal excavations in search of archaeological artefacts in the Polonnaruwa and Kapugollewa areas. The Polonnaruwa Divisional Crime Investigation Unit arrested three suspects in the Nuwaragēyaya area of Diyabeduma early yesterday (26). They were found digging at the site with excavation tools and ritual items. The suspects, aged 20, 22, and 43, are residents of Puttalam and Aththanakadawala. In a separate operation on the same day, Kapugollewa Police arrested a 65-year-old resident of Dutuwewa while he was engaged in an illegal excavation. He, too, was found with tools and ritual…
Strong winds of about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts due to the cyclonic storm “Montha” to the northeast of Sri Lanka in Bay of Bengal. The post Cyclonic storm “Montha” : High risk strong wind alert issued appeared first on Newswire.
Weather forecast for Monday : Several spells of showers will occur in the Northern, North-central, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts. Strong winds of about 50-60 kmph can be expected at times over the Western slopes of the central hills and in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, Northern, North-central and Northwestern provinces and in the Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts. The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers. Weather forecast for sea areas: Showers or thundershowers will occur at…
The main suspect arrested in connection with the murder of Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Lasantha Wickramasekara has been handed over to the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) for further questioning, along with two other suspects, including a woman, police said. In a statement, the Police Media Division said that the FCID will now carry out the next phase of investigations under the direct supervision of the Inspector General of Police. Earlier yesterday (26), two suspects and a female suspect were taken into custody in the Kakirawa area, while the main suspect, who had fled the scene, was arrested later in…
Rain once again played spoilsport in the Women’s Cricket World Cup as the final league match between India and Bangladesh was abandoned at Navi Mumbai on Sunday.