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A controversial video circulating online has triggered renewed public debate over governance, transparency, and strategic direction at Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) and Mobitel, particularly surrounding the long-delayed commercial rollout of 5G services.

The presenter, Ajith Dharmapala, alleges that operational delays and internal decision-making failures within SLT-Mobitel may be benefiting rival telecom operators at the expense of the state-owned company and Sri Lankan taxpayers.

Central to the criticism are SLT Chairman Mothilal De Silva and CEO Riyaz Rasheed, both of whom are alleged to have previously worked within competing telecom circles. The video questions whether such past affiliations may present conflicts of interest in current strategic decisions.

The presenter also raises concerns regarding leadership capacity and sector readiness, particularly pointing to the rapidly evolving telecommunications industry and Mobitel’s comparatively slow commercial 5G rollout despite reportedly investing nearly LKR 5 billion in spectrum rights. According to the claims made, the company is allegedly incurring approximately LKR 200 million in monthly costs linked to the spectrum investment while competitors continue expanding their market share through active 5G deployment.

Another major issue highlighted involves allegations surrounding a high-level meeting said to have taken place at Shangri-La Colombo regarding a telecom-related transaction reportedly valued between LKR 20–25 billion. The video questions why such discussions were allegedly handled privately by a limited group of executives instead of being formally tabled before the SLT Board. However, no documentary evidence supporting these allegations was presented publicly.

The video further claims that certain politically connected individuals and some board-level appointments may be undermining governance standards within the institution. Concerns are also raised regarding transparency, accountability, and broader public confidence in the management of the state-backed telecom entity.

The presenter has ultimately called for:

•⁠ ⁠A formal government audit into the 5G investment and rollout delays

•⁠ ⁠Investigations into possible conflicts of interest

•⁠ ⁠Greater transparency in decision-making processes

•⁠ ⁠Administrative changes within the current leadership structure

As of now, SLT-Mobitel has not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the video.

All 11 people aboard a private airplane that crashed at sea off central Florida survived the wreck and were rescued from their lifeboat hours later by a U.S. Air Force Reserve team, U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force officials said on Wednesday.

“For all those people to survive is pretty miraculous,” Air Force Major Elizabeth Piowaty, commander of one of the aircraft involved in the rescue, told reporters at a news briefing a day after Tuesday’s crash.

The ill-fated plane, a twin-engine turboprop flying from the Bahamas with 11 adults on board, ⁠went down in the Atlantic about 80 miles (129 km) off Melbourne, Florida, activating an emergency locator signal that was picked up by the Coast Guard.

Piowaty’s HC-130J Combat King II, a plane designed for combat search and rescue, was already airborne on a training mission when the search was initiated, and her crew immediately joined the operation, according to the Coast Guard.

The major said her team spotted the life raft as a thunderstorm was approaching and dropped a package of food, water and additional flotation to sustain the survivors until rescuers could reach them in the water.

By then the survivors “had already been in the raft for about five hours, and we could tell ⁠just by looking at them they were in distress, physically, mentally, emotionally,” Air Force Captain Rory Whipple, one of the pararescuers, recalled at the briefing.

The survivors ultimately were hoisted to safety by the crew of a hovering rescue helicopter, dispatched from the Air Force Reserve’s 920th Rescue Wing from a base near Melbourne, and were flown to Melbourne Orlando International ⁠Airport for medical attention, officials said.

Whipple said the crew managed to get all 11 survivors into the helicopter with nine hoists, completing the rescue with just five minutes of fuel left before they would have reached the point of needing to ⁠refuel mid-air or land immediately.

Air Force and Coast Guard officials said they had no immediate information about the extent of injuries and medical conditions of the survivors.

Bahamian authorities were investigating the cause of the crash, but ⁠the aircraft was reported to have experienced engine failure, according to the Coast Guard. The agency said the plane reportedly left Marsh Harbour in the Bahamas and was headed for Freeport on Grand Bahama Island, a distance of about 100 miles.

Source: Reuters

Water levels in several major river basins across Sri Lanka have begun to recede following reduced rainfall over the past 24 hours, according to the Irrigation Department.

Director of the Hydrology and Disaster Management Division, L.S. Sooriyabandara, stated that water levels in the Nilwala Ganga, Gin Ganga, Kalu Ganga, and Attanagalu Oya basins are gradually decreasing, with most areas showing a downward trend.

However, he noted that water levels remain high at Millakanda on the Kalu Ganga, marking one of the few exceptions amid the overall improvement.

Despite the easing situation, officials cautioned that the progress may be temporary, as the Department of Meteorology has forecast further rainfall in the coming days.

Meanwhile, reservoir conditions remain closely monitored, with 18 of the country’s 73 major reservoirs currently spilling water. In addition, 18 medium-sized reservoirs are also discharging excess water, reflecting the continued strain on water management systems even as river levels show signs of decline.

A red warning for heavy rains has been issued by the Department of Meteorology, with the advisory coming into effect at 9.30 a.m. today (14) and remaining valid until 8.30 a.m. tomorrow (15).

According to the Department, a low-pressure area located northeast of Sri Lanka continues to persist. It is expected to move away from the island and gradually weaken over the next 36 hours.

The warning highlights the likelihood of heavy showers exceeding 100mm in several areas, including the Western Province, Sabaragamuwa Province, and North Western Province. Similar intense rainfall is also expected in the districts of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle, and Matara.

Authorities have urged the public to take adequate precautions to minimize possible damage caused by heavy rain, strong winds, and lightning during thundershowers.

Ousmand Gunasekara, alias ‘Gampaha Ousmand’, has been arrested by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) for allegedly aiding and abetting the killing of notorious underworld figure and organised criminal Sanjeewa Kumara Samararatne, alias ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa’, and for allegedly supplying firearms used to carry out the murder.

“Ganemulla Sanjeewa” was shot dead inside the Colombo No. 05 Magistrate’s Court inside the Aluthkade Courts Complex by an individual disguised as an attorney while he was being produced before the court by prison officials on February 19, 2025.

Police stated that the suspect was arrested last night (13) in the Sri Bodhi Road area in Gampaha based on information obtained from suspects currently held under detention orders in connection with the murder.

Investigations have revealed that the murder plot had allegedly been orchestrated in collaboration with organised criminals operating overseas, and that the suspect had aided the crime by providing the firearms required to carry out the killing.

Police further stated that a foreign-manufactured repeater shotgun, two magazines and 10 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the suspect’s possession at the time of his arrest.

The arrested suspect has been identified as a 69-year-old resident of Gampaha.

Further investigations into the murder are being conducted by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD).

(Adaderana.lk)

The Colombo High Court today (14) rejected a preliminary objection raised by the defence in a case filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, clearing the way for the trial to proceed.

The ruling was delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga, according to an Ada Derana reporter.

In delivering the order, the judge stated that the defence argument claiming the conspiracy charge against the defendant could not be maintained was without basis. The court further held that there was no impediment to proceeding with the relevant charge.

Following the ruling, the indictment was read out in open court to the defendant, Yoshitha Rajapaksa. Appearing from the dock, he pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him, the Ada Derana report said.

With the plea recorded, proceedings officially commenced before the Colombo High Court, marking the start of the trial under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.