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Sri Lankan political activist Maheel Bandara Dehideniya addressed the Asia Pacific Civil Society Conference in Jinan, China, pitching the island nation as a prospective regional hub for wellness tourism and knowledge exchange under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The three-day international forum, which ran from 1 September to 3 September, gathered approximately 300 delegates representing 40 countries across global research institutes, universities, United Nations agencies, and non governmental development organisations.

High level oversight for the event was led by Xiao Jie, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress and President of the China NGO Network for International Exchanges, alongside Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

Senior parliamentary figures from Thailand, Spain, and Vanuatu also attended the sessions alongside Lu Kang, Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

Representing Sri Lanka on an international panel, Dehideniya spoke during a specialised thematic session focused on promoting practical cooperation and people to people connectivity between China and partner nations through smart health and wellness livelihood initiatives.

He emphasised Sri Lanka's strategic potential within the Belt and Road Initiative framework, detailing how targeted infrastructure and health sector investments could transform the country into a primary destination for regional wellness tourism.

His presentation outlined the economic and social advantages of leveraging international partnerships to build cross border expertise and establish robust medical exchange programs across Asia.

Sri Lanka will not seek an increase in electricity tariffs for the upcoming quarter, Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka told Parliament today (11).

The Minister attributed the decision partly to recent rainfall levels, which exceeded expectations and helped reduce the pressure on electricity generation costs.

He said the improved availability of water resources had allowed authorities to manage generation expenses to some extent, making a tariff increase unnecessary at this stage.

Minister Karunathilaka also assured Parliament that arrangements have been made to maintain an uninterrupted electricity supply during the first three months of next year.

He said the Ministry of Energy has already implemented the measures required to support continuous power generation and supply during that period.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has accused Sri Lanka Customs of operating an organised extortion scheme that targets importers.

Speaking in parliament, SJB MP Mujibur Rahman said that unchecked officer harassment was driving micro, small, and medium enterprises out of trade while simultaneously threatening jobs, household incomes, and national tax revenue.

He questioned the silence of the ruling National People's Power (NPP) government on the issue, noting that steady declines in import activity coincided directly with sustained pressure on business operators.

The lawmaker highlighted structural flaws in penalty distribution, explaining that fifty per cent of collected fines fund officer rewards, twenty per cent enters the welfare pool, and only thirty per cent reaches the Treasury.

He revealed that while initial valuation units issue on-the-spot fines before releasing shipments, separate excise teams routinely conduct secondary raids on the same businesses to impose additional financial penalties.

He noted that importers face deliberate delays during questioning, with officers pressuring them to alter documentation under explicit threats of business closure.

He added that affected traders regularly avoid legal appeals out of fear that officials will subject their subsequent shipments to retaliatory delays.

He further criticised the promotion of a former Customs official to Additional Secretary despite previous presidential commission findings implicating the officer in the improper release of 320 uninspected containers.

These parliamentary allegations emerged while an International Monetary Fund delegation visited Colombo for the Seventh Review under the ongoing Extended Fund Facility programme.

Previous governance assessments by the multilateral lender highlighted deep-seated vulnerabilities across revenue agencies, citing persistent corruption, a lack of disciplinary enforcement, and delays in digital transformation.

The severe criticism coincides with record financial performance by Sri Lanka Customs, which reported revenues of Rs 2,557.535 billion in 2025 alongside collection of Rs. 1,852.5 billion during the first eight months of 2026.

The opposition maintains that urgent structural reforms remain essential to protect legitimate businesses and preserve economic stability.

Abdul Razak Mohomed Basik, the father of suspected major drug trafficker Shiran Basik, has been arrested by the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) in connection with an investigation into a property valued at around Rs. 30 million.

Police said the arrest was made under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The investigation reportedly concerns an apartment at a luxury residential complex in the Gampaha area. According to investigators, the apartment had allegedly been purchased by Shiran Basik but was registered under his father’s name.

Abdul Razak Mohomed Basik had been summoned to the CCIB today (11) to provide a statement regarding the property.

Following his appearance before investigators, he was taken into custody in connection with the ongoing inquiry.

The investigation comes after Shiran Basik, who is suspected of major involvement in drug trafficking, was recently brought back to Sri Lanka from Dubai.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will launch a major national demonstration on 24 September to oppose the government's proposed 22nd Constitutional Amendment.

Speaking at a meeting of SJB local government members and electorate organisers from the Colombo District at the Opposition Leader’s Office, Premadasa said the current government was advancing the amendment to destroy democracy, undermine the independence of the judiciary, and corrupt the administration of justice and the rule of law.

The Opposition leader accused the government of misleading the electorate to secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority, asserting that holding 159 seats gives the government no authority to disregard the rights of 22 million Sri Lankans.

He warned that the proposed legislation aims to destroy democratic institutions, erode judicial independence, and clear the path for single-party rule.

The Opposition Leader that his party has already mounted its initial challenge to the measure and pledged to exhaust every constitutional channel to block its passage.

“The September 24 protest will be the biggest step yet in the campaign to defeat the amendment. It would mark the beginning of efforts to change the government,” Premadasa said, adding that such action was essential for the future of both the present generation and generations to come.

A multi-million rupee procurement process to modernise passenger bus halts and billboards in Colombo on a public-private partnership basis has stalled following serious administrative and legal irregularities.

Under tender ME/ME/ML/34/2025, the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) planned a four-year project to renovate 128 bus halts and 250 billboards while constructing 20 new bus halts and 20 billboards.

However, controversy surrounding the initial award forced municipal authorities to cancel the contract and call for fresh bids, sparking intense concern among procurement experts.

Price formula discrepancy and shift in position

Disagreements over project valuation surfaced shortly after municipal officials issued a Letter of Award on 7 July 2026 to a joint venture comprising Emerging Media (Pvt) Ltd and Hammer BTL (Pvt) Ltd.

Addendum 1 of the tender document mandated that bidders add ground rent to the minimum annual value set by the CMC.

The joint venture later claimed its Rs. 75,750,000 bid covered all mandatory fees, whereas CMC calculations placed the required total at Rs. 102,948,500.

Attempting to reduce agreed prices after winning an award violates standard bidding rules and undermines procurement discipline.

Is a bid bond of Rs. 500,000 sufficient?

Industry analysts have questioned the overall commercial design of the tender, particularly the low bid bond requirement. Despite the total project value exceeding Rs. 400 million, authorities set the bid bond at just Rs. 500,000.

Standard national procurement guidelines recommend setting bid securities at roughly one percent of estimated project value.

Observers note that setting an abnormally low security threshold may have discouraged established investors from competing while exposing the council to financial default.

Finance Committee intervention and legal contradictions

Controversy escalated on 13 August when the Standing Committee on Finance submitted its recommendations to the CMC.

The committee reported that the defaulting joint venture could bid in the upcoming re-tender because the firm had not undergone official blacklisting, despite failing to furnish a performance bond within seven days.

This recommendation directly contradicts Clause 10.1(2) of the municipal tender guidelines, which explicitly disqualifies any entity that directly or indirectly fails to execute a previous council contract.

Urban infrastructure and the future of PPP projects

Bus stops serve as critical daily infrastructure for thousands of commuters across the capital.

Mismanaged procurement procedures, commercial oversights, and questionable committee interventions have deprived the municipal council of vital revenue while delaying modern facilities for the public.

Failing to resolve these administrative flaws risks delaying future urban transport initiatives and harming ordinary passengers across Colombo.

Sri Lanka Police have arrested a 22-year-old man in connection with the murder of an individual who was allegedly attacked with a sharp weapon in front of a house in the Aluketiyawa area of Mahiyanganaya.

The incident occurred on September 10, with officers of the Mahiyanganaya Police Station subsequently launching a special investigation to identify and apprehend the suspect.

Police said the suspect was arrested last night (10) following the investigation.

The arrested individual is a resident of the Mapakadawewa area, police said.

Mahiyanganaya Police are continuing investigations into the incident.

Two men have been arrested by Katunayake Police in connection with a series of alleged thefts involving motorcycles, copper wires and mobile phones.

Police launched the investigation after officers received information about a suspicious man allegedly dismantling a motorcycle in the Andiambalama area.

The suspect was searched by police, who reportedly found 11 grams and 200 milligrams of heroin in his possession.

During questioning, investigators learned that the motorcycle being dismantled had allegedly been stolen from Veyangoda on September 8.

Police then traced and arrested a second suspect in the Seeduwa area over his alleged involvement in assisting the theft.

The suspects, aged 22 and 25, are residents of Andiambalama and Seeduwa respectively, according to police.

Further questioning reportedly uncovered information linking the suspects to two separate copper wire thefts and a mobile phone theft in Katunayake, as well as another alleged motorcycle theft in Seeduwa.

Katunayake Police are continuing investigations into the suspects and the reported thefts.

The body of an unidentified man has been recovered from the Kelani River in the Jalthara area, which falls under the Hanwella Police Division.

According to police, the body was recovered yesterday evening (11) after the Hanwella Police Station received information regarding the incident.

The identity of the deceased has not yet been determined.

A magistrate’s inquiry is scheduled to be held in connection with the recovery of the body.

Hanwella Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.

Two brothers have died following a hand grenade attack on a residence in the Sirisangabo Mawatha area, within the Dehiwala Police Division, early this morning (11).

According to Sri Lanka Police, an unidentified person carried out the attack, leaving a 55-year-old man and his two children injured.

The injured father and his two sons, aged 11 and 17, were rushed to the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital for treatment. However, the two children later succumbed to their injuries.

The 55-year-old man, identified as the father of the two deceased boys, remains under medical care.

Police have not yet established the motive behind the attack or identified the person responsible.

Three police teams have been assigned to the investigation and are currently working to identify and apprehend those behind the attack.

Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thero was granted bail by the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court today (11), following his arrest by Batticaloa Police.

The court ordered his release on two personal bail bonds of Rs. 200,000 each.

He was taken into custody on September 7 over an alleged incident involving the obstruction of duties carried out by officials at the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau office in Batticaloa.

The court order allows the Buddhist monk to remain on bail while proceedings relating to the incident continue.

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appeared before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) today (11) to provide a statement as part of an ongoing investigation into the controversial MiG aircraft transaction.

Rajapaksa had been summoned by investigators to answer questions relating to the deal, which remains under investigation by the financial crimes authorities.

The development follows the appearance of former Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke before the FCID yesterday (10).

Goonetileke was questioned for more than five hours in connection with the same investigation before leaving the FCID premises.

The statements from the former President and the former Air Force Commander form part of the continuing inquiry into the MiG aircraft deal.