News

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was receiving treatment at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, was discharged from the hospital this evening.

This was after receiving treatment at the National Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit for 06 days.

Despite being discharged from the hospital, the former President’s media unit says that Ranil Wickremesinghe will continue to rest at home as per the medical instructions given.

Ranil Wickremesinghe was admitted to the National Hospital last Saturday due to dehydration.

Later, the doctors recommended that he be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit

Former Sri Lanka Navy Commander Nishantha Ulugetenne has been further remanded until September 10, following his appearance before the Polgahawela Magistrate’s Court today.

Ulugetenne, who was already in remand custody, was arrested on August 28 by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with an investigation into the abduction and alleged murder of a person in the Pothuhera area.

At the time of the alleged incident in 2010, Ulugetenne served as the head of Naval Intelligence. According to police, the illegal detention center where the abducted individual was reportedly held operated under his command.

Investigations were launched after a letter, allegedly sent by the abducted individual from the detention center, surfaced.

Several other suspects have already been arrested in connection with the case.

Former Member of Parliament Venerable Athuraliye Rathana Thero was remanded until the 12th of September by the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court.

The order was made when a case filed by the Colombo Crimes Division was taken up for hearing today.

Venerable Rathana Thero, who secured a National List seat in Parliament through the Ape Jana Bala Party at the 2020 General Election, is accused of kidnapping and detaining the party’s General Secretary, Venerable Vedinigama Wimalathissa Thero, in an attempt to claim the seat through undue pressure.

Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Jagath Wickramaratne, endorsed the certification on the Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill and the Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill in accordance with Article 79 of the Constitution recently (22).

The Bill to amend the Samurdhi Act, No. 1 of 2013, presented to Parliament on 17th June 2025 by the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, provides for the strengthening of financial accountability within financial institutions and the improvement of financial supervision of such institutions.

Furthermore, by assigning to the National Audit Office the responsibility to audit the accounts of Samurdhi community-based banks and Samurdhi community-based banking societies, this Amendment ensures compliance with the prevailing statutory and national auditing procedures while strengthening accountability within financial institutions.

Meanwhile, the Rubber Control (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to amend the Rubber Control Act, No. 11 of 1956, replaces the designations “Controller” and “Rubber Controller” with the title “Director-General,” thereby providing for the control of the rubber development sector under the office of a Director-General.

Accordingly, these two Bills shall come into operation as the Samurdhi (Amendment) Act, No. 15 of 2025 and the Rubber Control (Amendment) Act, No. 16 of 2025.

The Government of Sri Lanka has released photos of the underworld figures that were arrested in Indonesia yesterday.

The wanted suspects were arrested during a joint operation conducted by a team of Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officials and the Jakarta Police.

According to the government, the arrested underworld figures are Kehelbaddara Padme, Commando Salinda, Backhoe Saman, Panadura Nilanga, and Thembili Lahiru.

Addressing the media today, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala said that discussions are underway with the Indonesian authorities to repatriate the suspects to Sri Lanka.

He further said that legal action will be initiated against the arrested group upon their repatriation to Sri Lanka.

The Fort Magistrate's Court has ordered the release on bail of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, who was arrested and remanded for failing to take action to prevent the attack on peaceful protesters at Galle Face on May 9, 2022.

The order was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura when the case was heard today.

The Magistrate ordered the release of Deshabandu Tennakoon on two surety bails of Rs. 1 million each.

He was also issued an overseas travel ban.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon was remanded until August 27 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court in connection with the violent crackdown on peaceful protesters at Galle Face Green on May 9, 2022.

Former Director of the National Lottery Board, Thusitha Halloluwa, has been ordered to be remanded until September 4 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva. The order was issued today during a hearing related to the May 17 shooting incident involving Halloluwa’s vehicle.

According to the Colombo Crimes Division, the suspect was arrested under a court-issued warrant after allegedly evading the investigation.

Authorities informed the court that Halloluwa was named as the 11th suspect in the case due to conflicting statements made regarding the incident.

Investigators further alleged that the suspect may have orchestrated the incident with the intent of discrediting the current government and the President, adding that inquiries are still ongoing.

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.

The Inland Revenue Department has relocated its tax crime investigation unit to the 10th floor of the Department building in a move aimed at expanding operations.

Present at its formal relocation were commissioner general of inland revenue Rukdevi Fernando, senior officials and IMF resident tax administration advisor Gregory Topping.

The primary mandate of the unit is to investigate and initiate criminal proceedings on tax-related offenses under Chapter XVIII of the Inland Revenue Act, No. 24 of 2017.

Offenses under its scope include deliberate tax evasion, obstructing tax administration, aiding in criminal activities, and other unlawful practices.

Prosecution will be carried out by the Attorney General’s Department in coordination with the Attorney General’s Department, Bribery Commission, Central Bank, CID, Customs and the Excise Department.

Several legal proceedings have already been initiated, and further expansion of the unit’s activities is planned in the future, Fernando said.

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.

Venerable Narampanave Ananda Thero has been appointed as the new Anunayake of the Asgiriya Chapter of the Siyam Sect.

The appointment was made following a decision taken earlier today (28) by the Executive Sangha Council, led by the Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter.

This position became vacant after the recent passing of Venerable Anamaduwe Dhammdassi Thero, who previously held the post.

Alongside Venerable Narampanave Ananda Thero, Venerable Urulewatte Dhamma Rakshitha Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Mahiyanganaya Rajamaha Viharaya, was also nominated for the role.

The Asgiriya Chapter maintains two Anunayake positions.

The other position is currently held by Venerable Wedaruwe Upali Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Polonnaruwa Solosmasthana.

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.