News

The Ministry of Finance has announced the increase of the Special Commodity Levy (SCL) on two imported essential food items—potatoes and B' onions—effective from August 26, 2025.

According to an official order issued under Section 2 of the Special Commodity Levy Act No. 48 of 2007, President & Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake has imposed the following levies:

Potatoes (HS Code 0701.90): Rs. 80 per kilogram

B' Onions (HS Code 0703.10.20): Rs. 50 per kilogram

This new order rescinds the previous levy published in Gazette Notification No. 2417/20 dated December 31, 2024, and will remain in effect for three months, subject to the provisions of the Act.

Western Province Governor Haniff Yusoof has firmly denied recent rumors suggesting his resignation from office, calling them "baseless and false."

In a statement released via social media platform X, Governor Yusoof reiterated his unwavering dedication to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s vision for national transformation.

The Governor emphasized that he remains fully engaged in the mission to rebuild the nation without pause or hesitation.

Former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa has been ordered to remain in remand custody until August 29, following his appearance before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

The remand order was issued by Chief Magistrate Asanka Bodaragama after considering submissions made by officials from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and Defence Counsel.

Rajapaksa is accused of unlawfully obtaining Rs. 8.85 million in compensation.

The charges relate a building constructed on Mahaweli Authority land, which was allegedly destroyed by protesters during the 2022 “Aragalaya” movement.

Despite the land being state-owned, Rajapaksa is alleged to have claimed compensation in violation of legal procedures.

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has confirmed that it will launch an islandwide strike in all government hospitals from 8.00 a.m. tomorrow (Monday).

The GMOA said the decision was taken over what it described as corrupt and arbitrary practices by Health Ministry officials in relation to the medical officers’ transfer process.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was in remand custody over allegations of misusing public funds, has been granted bail by the court.

The order was issued by Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was ordered released on three surety bails of Rs. 5 million each.

The hearing of the case filed against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe commenced at the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court, at around 1:40 p.m. on Tuesday.

The former President, who is at the Intensive Care Unit of the Colombo National Hospital at present, joined the court hearing virtually via Zoom.

During the hearing, a detailed medical report of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was presented to the court by his attorneys.

According to the submissions made by President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratna, three of the four coronary arteries of the former President have been blocked.

He also submitted that the former President is suffering from multiple health complications and therefore requested the Magistrate to consider it as a special case and released former President Wickremesinghe on bail.

Earlier today, Prisons Media Spokesperson Jagath Weerasinghe said the former President is unlikely to be produced before court today, due to medical recommendations stating that he must continue to remain under observation in the ICU.

He further stated that if the Magistrate issues an order for Wickremesinghe to be presented via Zoom for legal proceedings, necessary arrangements can be made accordingly.

Accordingly, the case against the former President was taken up without his presence at the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.

Following his arrest on Friday (22), court ordered that former President Wickremesinghe be remanded until today. However, considering his health condition, he was first admitted to the Prison Hospital, and later transferred to the Intensive Care Unit of the Colombo National Hospital based on medical advice.

Former President Wickremesinghe, who was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department at around 1:10 p.m. on Friday for allegedly misusing state funds, was produced before Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura at around 3:00 p.m. the same day.

The case, filed under the under provisions of the Penal Code and the Public Property Act, was adjourned after initial submissions, and subsequently the commencement of court proceedings delayed due to a blackout at the Fort Magistrate Court premises.

After the resumption, considering the submissions made by the Attorney General’s Department and the defence attorneys, Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura ordered that the former President be remanded until August 26, a first in the history of Sri Lanka.

Wickremesinghe was taken into custody for allegedly “misusing government funds” after being questioned about a September 2023 visit to London to attend a ceremony for his wife at a British university while he was head of state.

Ranil Wickremesinghe had stopped in London in 2023 on his way back from Havana, where he attended a G77 summit.

He and his wife, Maithree, attended a University of Wolverhampton ceremony.

Wickremesinghe had maintained that his wife met her own travel expenses and that no state funds were used.

However, the Criminal Investigation Department of the police alleged that Wickremesinghe used government money for his travel on a private visit and that the state also paid his bodyguards.

Wickremesinghe became president in July 2022 for the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s term, after the latter stepped down following months of protests over alleged corruption and mismanagement. He lost his re-election bid in September 2024.

This was the first time a former president had been arrested in Sri Lanka’s history.

The Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, announced that postal trade unions have agreed to suspend their ongoing strike.

He made this statement to the media following discussions held with trade union representatives today.

However, the unions emphasized that their trade union action would continue until the agreements reached during the discussion are officially provided to them in writing.

Meanwhile, Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara said that necessary steps will be taken to provide the agreements in writing.

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has scheduled November 6 to hear the appeal filed by the convicted individuals in the high-profile rape and murder case of 18-year-old schoolgirl Sivagloganathan Vidya from Jaffna.

The decision was made before a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice P. Padman Surasena, Justices Achala Wengappuli, and Sampath Abeykoon.

The bench convened to consider the appeal petitions submitted by the defense counsel representing the seven individuals sentenced to death by the Jaffna High Court in 2017.

The defense attorney informed the court that it had taken over four and a half years to obtain Tamil translations of the case documents, which had delayed the appeal process. Citing this delay, the attorney requested an expedited hearing date.

Responding to the request, Chief Justice Jayawardena assured that a short date would be granted to ensure the appeal is heard promptly.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court fixed November 6 as the date for the hearing.

The original incident occurred on March 3, 2015, when Vidya was abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered while returning home from school. The case sparked national outrage and led to widespread calls for justice.

In 2017, the Jaffna High Court sentenced seven individuals, including the main accused "Swiss Kumar," to death.

The convicts have now appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the death sentence was unlawful and seeking acquittal.

Opposition parties today held a joint press conference in Colombo condemning the arrest of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Speaking under the theme “Let’s defeat the constitutional dictatorship,” the parties accused the government of using the law to target political opponents. Leaders from several opposition groups said the detention of Wickremesinghe was part of a broader effort to weaken democratic institutions and silence dissent.

Former State Minister Diana Gamage has been released on bail after she appeared in court today through her lawyers.

She had a warrant out for her arrest after failing to appear for seven previous cases filed against her.

Gamage was released on a surety bail of Rs. 10 million by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama. Among the charges against her is that she remained in Sri Lanka without a valid visa.

Former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, named as a suspect in the 2015 Central Bank bond fraud case, has been issued a notice to appear before court on September 26.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali issued the order yesterday, following a request by the Bribery Commission.

Although a notice was issued last year to Mahendran, who is reportedly in Singapore, officials informed court that it had not been properly executed.

Accordingly, the Bribery Commission requested that the notice be reissued in English. The Chief Magistrate granted the request and issued the order.

The Bribery Commission has filed the case alleging that the government incurred losses from the sale of bonds worth over Rs. 10 billion to Perpetual Treasuries Company during a Central Bank auction on February 27, 2015.

Former State Minister Prasanna Ranaweera has been further remanded until 8 September by Mahara Magistrate Janitha Perera on charges of selling state-owned land by forging documents.

Ranaweera and four others were arrested in connection with the case, which involved a plot of land in Kiribathgoda.

Former Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha member Milroy Perera and an individual named Sarath Kumar were also remanded until the same date.

Ranaweera and Milroy Perera were not physically present in court as the hearing was conducted via Skype.

The United National Party (UNP) held a press conference earlier today (23), raising concerns about the motive behind the arrest and detention of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

During the briefing, the party’s assistant leader, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, said that while they respect the judiciary, social media discussions have raised concerns of political prosecution following the former President’s arrest.

He also played a recording of Ranil Wickremesinghe, made before his arrest yesterday, in which the former President is heard saying, “I have always worked for the country, not for a personal agenda. What we see today is the true picture of this regime.”