News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.