News

Suspended Prisons Commissioner General Thushara Upuldeniya has been further remanded until June 25. He was produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (June 11) following his arrest by the CID.

The investigation relates to the alleged unlawful release of an inmate under the presidential pardon, with the Cabinet on Monday deciding to suspend his duties.

The Attorney General’s Department told Colombo Magistrate’s Court that Upuldeniya unlawfully released the convicted financial fraudster under a Presidential pardon. The inmate, Athula Thilakarathna, was not on the official Vesak pardon list.

Upuldeniya is alleged to have bypassed legal procedures and operated the department like a “private empire,” court was informed.

Preliminary investigations also revealed that 68 inmates may have been released illegally.

The CID arrested Upuldeniya on June 9, and his bail was denied due to potential interference with the investigation.

The Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya who was arrested by the CID last night has been remanded until tomorrow (11), after he was produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court today (10).

Yesterday, Cabinet decided to suspend him from his duties.

This decision follows allegations that the presidential pardon was misused to facilitate the illegal release of an inmate from the Anuradhapura Prison.

Additionally, Anuradhapura Prison Superintendent Mohan Karunaratne, who was arrested in connection with the case, has been remanded until June 11.

The CID has launched a special investigation into the release of an inmate from Anuradhapura Prison on Vesak Poya Day, despite the individual not being granted a Presidential pardon.

A woman, who had worked as a domestic worker at former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella’s house, has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

The Bribery Commission says the woman was arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation into Rambukwella for allegedly misusing government salaries and overtime allowances by making nominal appointments to the Health Ministry.

The woman arrested is a resident of the Embilipitiya area. The Bribery Commission further stated that the suspect is scheduled to be produced before the court.

The government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding renewable energy generation, with the launch of two new wind power projects in Mannar, a region seen as central to Sri Lanka’s wind energy future.

Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody made the announcement during an inspection tour of existing and proposed wind power sites in the area, underscoring the administration’s focus on sustainable solutions to the country’s ongoing energy challenges.

During the visit, the Minister toured the site designated for the proposed Mullikulam Wind Power Plant, a 100-megawatt (MW) facility currently open for tenders.

He also visited the Thambapawani Wind Power Plant, which is already in operation under the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), and reviewed development plans for the Hayleys Fentons Wind Farm, a 50 MW project.

The government has secured a power purchase agreement for a segment of the Hayleys Fentons facility at a competitive rate of 4.65 US cents per kilowatt hour, signaling a shift toward cost-effective and investor-friendly renewable energy development.

In addition to technical assessments, Minister Jayakody held discussions with CEB officials and local stakeholders to ensure the projects align with both national energy goals and local community interests.

Among those he met was Rev. Fr. S. Marcus, Chairman of the Mannar Citizens’ Committee, who voiced support for renewable development provided local concerns are respected.

The Mannar region, known for its high wind resource potential, has become a focal point for Sri Lanka’s renewable energy ambitions.

As the country seeks to reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels and transition to cleaner alternatives, wind power is expected to play a growing role in the national energy mix.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe reported to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to record a statement today.

It is reported that the former President has arrived at the CID to record a statement regarding a complaint made by former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella regarding the importation of medicines.

Keheliya Rambukwella had previously submitted a complaint to the CID regarding an incident involving the importation of drugs into the country.

Members of Parliament from the previous government have also recorded statements regarding the investigation into the complaint.

The Ministry of Public Security has announced plans to recruit 10,000 legally retired military personnel under the age of 45 into the Sri Lanka Police Service.

Minister of Public Security, Ananda Wijepala, revealed the proposal during the opening ceremony of the new Superintendent of Police Office in Thambuttegama.

He stated that a Cabinet paper outlining the recruitment initiative will be presented for approval at the Cabinet meeting scheduled for today (09).

According to the Minister, the proposed recruitment will be for a fixed term of five years. The move is expected to bolster the operational capacity of the police, particularly in the areas of public safety, anti-narcotics operations, and crime prevention.

Minister Wijepala also expressed concern over the increasing threat of drug abuse among the youth. “At present, we have identified approximately 7,880 children across the country who are at risk of falling victim to drug abuse,” he said, emphasising the urgent need to intensify preventive and rehabilitative efforts.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has confirmed that electricity tariffs will be increased by 15% starting tomorrow, June 12, as part of the second tariff revision for the year.

Medical Laboratory Technologist and trade union activist Ravi Kumudesh has been suspended from service, effective from 10 June 2025.

Ravi Kumudesh has been suspended for contesting the 2024 General Election, in violation of the Establishments Code.

According to the Ministry of Health, as such, Ravi Kumudesh will not receive any salary or allowances.

It is also stated that he is barred from travelling abroad until disciplinary action is initiated.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake arrived at Berlin Brandenburg International Airport, commencing his official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany.

An official welcome ceremony hosted by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is scheduled for this afternoon at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, followed by official talks between the two leaders, the President’s Media Division said.

The President is accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijith Herath, and a delegation of senior government officials.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the suspension of Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya, as investigations continue into the unauthorised release of inmates allegedly under the false pretext of a presidential pardon.

The move comes in the wake of a formal complaint lodged by the Presidential Secretariat, which accused prison authorities of misusing the presidential pardon process to unlawfully release certain inmates.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has since launched a full-scale inquiry into the matter.

Upuldeniya was questioned by CID officers for over 10 hours on Saturday (08), as part of the ongoing investigation.

The controversy centres around the release of an inmate from Anuradhapura Prison on Vesak Poya Day, who was not on the official list of 388 prisoners approved to receive clemency by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The inmate had reportedly been convicted of financial fraud.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Commissioner of Anuradhapura Prison was arrested by the CID on Saturday in connection with the incident.

The arrest marks the first in what is expected to be a wider crackdown on individuals involved in what authorities now suspect may be a pattern of irregular prison releases.

Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala described the matter as “serious and unacceptable,” and confirmed that there are indications of similar incidents having occurred in the past.

Dr. Gita Gopinath, the First Deputy Managing Director (FDMD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka from 15-16 June 2025. This visit is significant, as it marks the first time since 2005 that a serving FDMD of the IMF visits Sri Lanka.

During this visit, Dr. Gopinath will be the guest of honour at the conference on “Sri Lanka’s Road to Recovery: Debt and Governance”, jointly co-hosted by the Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the IMF, scheduled to be held on 16 June 2025.

At the mid-point of the IMF-supported reform programme, the conference aims to reflect upon the lessons learnt from Sri Lanka’s experience in restoring macroeconomic stability, implementing debt restructuring and governance reforms, and to focus on the challenges ahead.

Additionally, FDMD is expected to hold bilateral discussions with the Sri Lankan authorities and several key stakeholders on the IMF’s engagement with Sri Lanka.

The wholesale price of a 50kg bag of cement will be increased by Rs. 100 with effect from today (8), according to company sources quoted by Ada Derana.

While the price revision is reportedly being implemented, no official announcement has been issued by cement manufacturers or relevant authorities as of yet.