News

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s chief security officer, Neville Wanniarachchi, has been remanded until the 17th of this month.

This is followed his appearance before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court a short while ago.

He appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption this morning to provide a statement.

Following lengthy questioning, officials of the Bribery Commission took him into custody on charges of failing to cooperate with an investigation into his assets.

Official sources confirm that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has made a decisive breakthrough in the investigation into the murder of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen, which took place 13 years ago.

According to the findings, Thajudeen, who was murdered in Colombo, had in fact been killed by the same individual who was shot dead about eight months ago. This revelation was made by the police through ongoing inquiries.

A key eyewitness has now formally identified a previously unknown individual seen in CCTV footage on the night of the incident. Investigators consider this as one of the most concrete pieces of evidence uncovered so far.

These new developments emerged following the arrest and questioning of an organized criminal known as "Bako Saman" in Indonesia. Based on his information, investigators obtained a statement from the wife of another underworld figure, Aruna Shantha (alias "Kajja"), who is now deceased.

In her official statement to the CID, she confirmed that the person seen in the vehicle following Thajudeen’s car in 2012 was her late husband, Aruna Shantha (“Kajja”). She stated that she recognized him based on his physical features and mannerisms.

Meanwhile, Kajja’s son has claimed, “My father’s murder was connected to my own mother and her illicit partner.”

Meanwhile, doubts have arisen regarding the statement given by the wife of Aruna Shantha, also known as “Kajja.”

Kajja’s son, Induwara Vidanagamage, has alleged that his father’s murder — as well as the killings of his brother and sister — are connected to his mother, Amisha Bethmee, and her illicit partner, Sampath Ramanayake.

He made this claim through a post published on his official Facebook page, which stated the following:

Correction of the false report linking my father, Anura Priyantha alias “Middeniya Kajja,” to the murder of Wasim Thajudeen

The Police recently announced that my father, who was killed on 19 February this year, was also connected to the murder of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen, which occurred on 17 May 2012. According to their statement, my late father was identified by his former wife as the individual seen in CCTV footage getting into the vehicle that followed Thajudeen’s car.

However, I wish to point out the following concerns:

Why have the Police not shown the CCTV footage to my father’s brothers and sisters to confirm the identity, instead of relying only on the statement of the estranged wife who left him?

Why has testimony been taken solely from the woman who abandoned her husband and children for another man?

In 2012, my father was employed on Hettiyawatta Road, Nugegoda (Route 176), a fact known to his associates. Why was this not considered?

The identification was based merely on body features and gestures, such as placing his hand on his waist, which is hardly conclusive evidence.

There are also suspicions that my father’s estranged wife and her illicit partner, Sampath Ramanayake, were involved not only in his murder but also in the killings of my siblings.

Evidence further shows that Sampath Ramanayake, her partner, is a close associate of “Bako Saman,” who was recently arrested in Indonesia.

Moreover, she had been in Dubai with “Bako Saman,” the prime suspect in my father’s killing, after abandoning her husband and children.

For these reasons, there is clear evidence that my mother, Amisha Bethmee, and her illicit partner, Sampath Ramanayake, are directly connected to the murders of my father and my siblings.

Death of Wasim Thajudeen Initially Ruled as an Accident

The death of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen on May 17, 2012, was initially declared by authorities to have been the result of a road accident.

However, in 2015, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) reopened the case, classifying it as a possible murder.

A second post-mortem examination revealed multiple fractures to Thajudeen’s chest, abdomen, and neck — injuries determined to be consistent with a severe assault rather than a vehicle accident.

Under the administration of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, there has been a renewed commitment to resolving long-standing high-profile crimes, giving new momentum to the investigation.

Officials note that the latest findings provide a strong foundation for further inquiries. The investigation remains ongoing, and public attention is now focused on the next steps.

The murder allegations have directly implicated Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the second son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and his wife Shiranthi Rajapaksa.

Thajudeen’s killing, which was also a key issue during the 2015 presidential election campaign, had been repeatedly suppressed due to political and hidden influences. However, a close associate of the Thajudeen family stated that under the current administration, “justice will finally be served.”

Former President Rajapaksa’s Ex-Security Chief Presented in Court Following Bribery Commission Arrest

Neville Wanniarachchi, the former Chief Security Officer of ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was presented before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (02) after being arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

Officials from the Bribery Commission escorted Wanniarachchi to court shortly after his detention. He had been taken into custody earlier in the day, following a statement he provided to the Commission this morning, according to Ada Derana’s correspondent.

A mother and her 2½-month-old baby have been remanded in custody for allegedly stealing two chocolates.

Yesterday (30), the 26-year-old woman and her infant were taken into custody by the Gandara Police and produced before the Matara Chief Magistrate’s Court.

Lawyer Sameera Meekandawatta argued extensively on behalf of the mother, stating that remanding her in custody would cause severe hardship to the young child and requested bail. However, Chief Magistrate Chathura Dissanayake denied bail, and ordered the mother to be remanded.

BYD’s Sri Lanka steering into electric mobility Shadowed by Nepal CG Corp Tax Issues

Sri Lanka’s biggest blue-chip, John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH), is steering into electric mobility through a high-profile partnership with Nepal’s Chaudhary Group (CG Corp Global) to distribute Chinese automaker BYD. The joint venture, John Keells CG Auto (JK CG Auto), launched BYD showrooms in Colombo in 2024 and is preparing expansions in Kurunegala, Ratnapura, and Ampara.

The partnership unveiled BYD’s Sealion 6 SUV last year, with the first deliveries expected in March 2025. Union Bank of Colombo acquired by the Chaudhary Group in 2023 has signed on to provide financing for BYD purchases.

Yet the initiative has come under legal spotlight. In Colombo, JK CG Auto is currently facing proceedings in relation to BYD vehicle imports. According to court filings, the issue concerns the classification of vehicles under customs regulations and the corresponding duties.

The matter is ongoing before the judiciary, and no outcome has yet been determined. The case resonates with earlier controversies in Nepal involving Chaudhary Group’s auto arm, CG Motors.

In 2023, the company imported 30 King Long minibuses under HS code 8702.40.30, paying a 10 percent duty.

Months later, 50 identical vehicles were brought in under HS code 8702.40.20, classified as “15-seater minibuses,” slashing the duty to 1 percent. Nepali regulators said the move, which added auxiliary seats to exploit a loophole, resulted in tax shortfalls of nearly NPR 14.5 million.

CG Motors has previously been ordered to repay duties over the misclassification of KYC-branded electric vans. Regulatory scrutiny in Nepal has also extended to other EV brands it distributes, including XPENG, Neta V, and GAC Aion.

Meanwhile, CG’s financial dealings in Sri Lanka have raised governance concerns. Its 70.8 percent acquisition of Union Bank of Colombo in 2023 was carried out through a Dubai-based entity.

The deal was executed in Singapore, placing it outside Sri Lankan jurisdiction. Following the acquisition, Nirvana Chaudhary was appointed chairman of Union Bank, while also serving as a director of Nepal’s Nabil Bank.

For JKH, the BYD partnership combines brand value with global EV technology, potentially placing Sri Lanka at the forefront of the broader region's going green. But with ongoing events in Colombo and a track record of overseas regulatory challenges, the initiative also calls for investor and regulatory scrutiny.

As Sri Lanka steers towards electric mobility to decrease the importation of fuel and reach climate targets, the success of BYD's venture will not just lie with the automobiles it sells but with the safeguards surrounding the administration of the companies bringing them in.

Bandula Sirimanna

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The relevant authority has issued a notice regarding the price of Laughs gas following the monthly price adjustment.

Accordingly, there will be no change in the price of Laughs gas for the month of October.

Under this pricing, a 12.5 kg Laughs gas cylinder will cost Rs. 4,100, while a 5 kg Laughs gas cylinder will be priced at Rs. 1,645.

Police have recovered another large cache of empty weapon magazines from the Veheragala Reservoir, continuing a major search operation launched yesterday based on military intelligence.

According to police, the latest discovery includes:

214 empty T-56 magazines
38 LMG drum magazines
11 MPMG 200-round magazines
9 MPMG 100-round magazines
6 T-81 magazines
One 100-round drum for 12.7mm anti-aircraft guns

The search operation, which began yesterday afternoon with the assistance of divers, was initiated following information provided by an Army Intelligence officer.

Police have launched an investigation to identify those responsible for dumping the magazines into the reservoir. 

The case will be reported to the Wellawaya Magistrate’s Court, according to a statement from the Police Media Division.

The National People’s Front (NPF) has submitted a written request today to the Information Officer of the Department of Examinations, seeking clarification regarding the accuracy of the educational qualifications of Minister of Trade, Wasantha Samarasinghe.

The request was made under the provisions of the Right to Information Act, No. 12 of 2016.

Present at the occasion were NPF Chief Advisor Ven. Wellampitiya Sumanadhamma Thero, Deputy Leader Upatissa Kumarathunga, Financial Secretary Dinushka Gunasekara, Kolonnawa Chief Organizer Ajith Kumara, and Kolonnawa Organizer Jayasinghe.

Deputy Leader Upatissa Kumarathunga, addressing the media after handing over the letter, stated that Minister Samarasinghe has repeatedly claimed in Parliament, on television programs, and on political platforms that he passed the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination in 1995 from the Anuradhapura District in the Commerce stream, securing District Rank 03, and was subsequently selected to the University of Kelaniya to study for a Management degree.

However, according to the NPF, during the years 1995–1998, students who achieved District Ranks 01 to 05 in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts in the Commerce stream were admitted to the Management Faculty of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Therefore, the NPF has formally requested the Examinations Commissioner to confirm whether Minister Samarasinghe sat for the A/L examination in the Commerce stream from the Anuradhapura District, and if so, whether he in fact secured District Rank 03.

Allegation of Political Placement

The NPF further questioned whether the Minister was directed to the University of Kelaniya not based on merit but for political purposes, specifically to engage in student politics on behalf of the JVP. They alleged that his placement was strategically arranged by the JVP to enable him to play a leading role in the Inter-University Students’ Federation.

According to the NPF, this raises doubts as to whether his entry into Kelaniya University was primarily for political activism rather than academic pursuit.

Call for Transparency

The NPF challenged Minister Samarasinghe to publicly produce his Advanced Level results sheet as proof of his claims. They stated that if his District Rank was indeed 03, he should have been admitted to the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, not Kelaniya.

The NPF further alleged that Minister Samarasinghe’s political involvement at Kelaniya University contributed to student unrest, loss of educational rights, classroom bans, and in some cases, students being deprived of their degrees.

Concluding their remarks, the NPF urged the Examinations Commissioner to verify and communicate the truth regarding the Minister’s A/L results without delay. Until then, they said, they would closely monitor the matter.

They also appealed to university students, parents, and the general public to be cautious of the “double standards” of the JVP and its allies, stressing that the NPF would not allow such “falsehoods” to continue misleading the country.

From November 1, 2025, will no longer receive plastic shopping bags free of charge, as the government plans to introduce a regulation requiring a fee for such bags. This was informed to the Supreme Court today (01) by the Minister of Environment and other responsible authorities.

The announcement came during the hearing of a fundamental rights petition filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice, which requested a court order to introduce measures to reduce the environmental damage caused by polythene use.

The case was heard before a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Priyasath Dep, Justice Kumuduni Wickramasinghe, and Justice Sampath Abeykoon.

The Centre for Environmental Justice had earlier pointed out that although the Minister of Environment agreed on March 28, 2024, to impose a levy on plastic bags issued by supermarkets and other retail outlets, no steps had been taken to implement it.

Appearing for the petitioners, Attorney-at-Law Dr. Ravindranath Dabare argued that the government’s failure to act on its earlier commitment made the petition necessary.

Deputy Solicitor General Dr. Avanti Perera, representing the respondents, informed the court that a gazette notification would be issued to enforce a fee on plastic shopping bags from November 1.

Following this undertaking, the Centre for Environmental Justice agreed, and the case was accordingly concluded.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka reports that with the lifting of restrictions on vehicle imports, the country has spent a total of USD 1,007.5 million on vehicle imports during the eight-month period from January to August 2025.

This was disclosed in the Central Bank’s External Sector Performance Report for August 2025.

According to the report, the highest monthly expenditure on vehicle imports so far this year was recorded in August 2025, amounting to USD 255.7 million.

The monthly expenditure on vehicle imports for the period January to August 2025 is as follows (in USD million):

• January – 29.1
• February – 22.3
• March – 54.0
• April – 145.6
• May – 125.2
• June – 169.6
• July – 206.0
• August – 255.7

The Colombo Marathon, which had been on hold for seven years due to unavoidable reasons, will take place again on October 5, starting in front of the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH).

The race will begin at 6:00 a.m. near the BMICH traffic lights and conclude at the Negombo Beach Park.

Runners will start from BMICH, proceed along Bauddhaloka Mawatha, turn at the Borella Cemetery roundabout, and continue through Dematagoda, Peliyagoda, and Wattala. From there, they will pass through Hekitta, Hamilton Canal, Pamunugama, Thalahena, Pitipana, and Duwa, before reaching Negombo Beach Park for the finish.

The 19th Colombo Marathon is organized by Lanka Sports Reisen (LSR) with the support of the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Tourism, under the full supervision of the Sri Lanka Athletics Association.

First launched in 1998 by LSR as an international marathon, the event became widely known as the Colombo Marathon. It was held continuously until 2018, but had to be canceled in 2019 due to the Easter Sunday attacks and again in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With Sri Lanka’s tourism sector now recovering, LSR has decided to relaunch the Colombo Marathon along with other international sporting events.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake returned to the country this morning (01) following his official visit to Japan.

The President departed Sri Lanka on September 22 to attend the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Thereafter, on the invitation of the Government of Japan, he arrived at Kansai International Airport in Osaka on the morning of September 27.

Joining the President on this visit were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Wijitha Herath, together with senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.