News

Serious governance and operational lapses have surfaced at the iconic Colombo Lotus Tower, following the revelation of questionable management practices and financial irregularities involving its hospitality operations run by Citrus Leisure PLC.

According to audit findings, Colombo Lotus Tower Management (Pvt) Ltd. had entered into agreements with Citrus Leisure PLC to operate hospitality facilities located on the 25th to 28th floors of the tower, including the kitchen area. The agreement, signed under Clauses 8.1 and 8.2, required Citrus to pay a management fee of 3.5% of gross revenue and an additional 10%, excluding total employee costs, each month. A further 20% of gross operating profit was also due to the Lotus Tower Company.

However, during the period from October to December 2023, Citrus Leisure reported a net loss of Rs. 20.3 million, while Colombo Lotus Tower Management still disbursed Rs. 1.4 million as management fees and Rs. 1.06 million for employee salaries. Notably, the agreement lacked any clause specifying how losses should be managed in the event of negative operating results.

In addition, auditors found that Rs. 1.01 million had been spent on mobile phones, despite no contractual approval for such expenditure.

The audit also noted physical damage to the Lotus Tower’s observation deck, where visitors had scribbled names and images on the walls. To mitigate this, management spent Rs. 1.08 million installing illuminated plastic panels on the viewing platform, but these too were later vandalized.

Although security cameras had been installed and staff assigned to monitor footage, the management failed to deploy adequate security personnel, leaving the site vulnerable to repeated acts of vandalism.

The findings highlight serious deficiencies in oversight, accountability, and financial management at Sri Lanka’s tallest landmark, raising questions about the enforcement of public–private partnership agreements and the long-term sustainability of the project’s commercial operations.

Based on information received by the Mattakkuliya and Pamunugama Police Stations, three unidentified male bodies have been discovered.

Police stated that investigations were launched yesterday (29) following the information provided to the respective stations. Two of the bodies were found along the coast of Kaaka Island in Mattakkuliya and near the mouth of the Kelani River, while the third body was discovered in the backyard of an under-construction two-storey house in the Epamulla area of Pamunugama.

According to reports, the man found in Pamunugama was last seen wearing a black pair of trousers and a light blue long-sleeved shirt. He is believed to be between 50 and 60 years old, approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, and of a medium build.

Police further said that the identities of the deceased have not yet been confirmed. The two bodies recovered from Mattakkuliya have been placed at the mortuary of the National Hospital in Colombo for further examination, while the body found in Pamunugama has been transferred to the Ragama Hospital mortuary following a preliminary inquest. Investigations are ongoing under the supervision of the Pamunugama Police.

The Port City Colombo (PCC) project has moved well beyond a mere “critical juncture”  it now presents a contrasting picture of early commercial traction paired with lingering infrastructure delivery gaps.

Official data for the first nine months of 2025 indicate substantial advances in tenancy and investment registrations, yet the Auditor‑General’s Department’s October 2024 audit for the year ended 31 December 2023 reveals several key infrastructure commitments remain incomplete and cost overruns persist.

The project’s primary foreign developer, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC, a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company/CCCC), is doubling down commercial ambition: a July 2025 gazette confirmed that its subsidiary, IFC Colombo 1 (Pvt) Ltd, will invest approximately USD 142.7 million into real-estate development within the city. 

According to project disclosures, by May 2025 roughly 80% of the leasable space in the Business Centre had already been leased to “Authorised Persons”.

 A notable lease was signed in May 2025 when Swedish-based IGT 1 Lanka committed to two office buildings, covering more than 500 employees. Meanwhile, reports show over 100 companies were slated to begin operations in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) as of October 2024.

Yet the audit flags structural concerns. Of 118 plots scheduled for completion by 16 September 2019, only 85 had received certificates by 30 September 2023   roughly 72%. Landscaping, scheduled to reach 100% by 9 March 2020, was only 77% complete by 30 November 2023.

 The accompanying roads, bridges and tunnels, originally due 14 March 2020, were still more than half unfinished by September 2023. Perhaps most concerning: the temporary sewage solution had an initial cost estimate of Rs. 1,000 million but escalated to Rs. 3,700 million, with the permanent system of Rs. 2,900 million yet to commence the AGD treated the Rs. 3,700 million as a loss to the Government.

In February 2025 the Government extended the operational period of the Project-Management Unit for PCC until June 2027, implicitly acknowledging the ongoing delays. Mid-2025 also saw new regulations tightening strategic-business thresholds in the zone, signaling a regulatory recalibration just as commercial leasing begins to accelerate.

The bottom line: Port City’s commercial engine is revving, but its delivery chassis remains incomplete. If CHEC, government agencies and their partners can close out the infrastructure backlog by the revised 2027 deadline while keeping investor momentum, the project could still fulfil its aim of becoming a regional service hub. 

Until then, the contrast between leasing wins and infrastructure gaps remains sharp, and the scrutiny from investors and auditors alike is unlikely to fade.

Sri Lanka’s long-delayed Krrish Tranceworks Tower project once touted as a billion-dollar symbol of Colombo’s post-war revival has again come under scrutiny, following revelations by India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) that the project was partly financed with ₹205 crore diverted from Indian homebuyers’ funds by Gurugram-based developer Krrish Realtech Pvt Ltd.

The luxury real-estate and hotel complex, located at Transworks House, a colonial-era heritage building in central Colombo, was launched in 2012 with promises of a five-star hotel, premium residences, and an international business hub. More than a decade later, the sprawling site remains largely idle, ringed by hoardings and skeletal structures, symbolizing years of stalled progress, regulatory uncertainty, and now, international financial controversy.

The ED’s investigation in India alleges that Krrish Realtech, led by promoter Amit Katyal, collected over ₹500 crore from 400 homebuyers in Gurugram for projects that never materialized. Of this, about ₹205 crore was allegedly siphoned off through shell companies to finance the Colombo venture under 

The One Transworks Square Pvt Ltd, which holds the lease for the Sri Lankan project. Indian investigators claim the money was layered through intermediaries and disguised as overseas investment, forming part of a larger money-laundering network.

Following the probe, the ED in January 2025 provisionally attached properties worth more than ₹200 crore, including about four acres of prime Colombo land tied to the Krrish project. The assets, held under the Sri Lankan subsidiary, are now subject to legal proceedings under India’s Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). 

The ED’s chargesheet names Krrish Realtech directors and associates, some of whom are also linked to offshore entities and dual citizenships, including St. Kitts and Nevis.

In Colombo, government officials say the project has effectively been frozen pending legal clarity. The Urban Development Authority (UDA), which leased the Transworks land, has been reviewing compliance conditions after repeated delays and unpaid dues.

Industry insiders note that while initial groundworks and design approvals were completed years ago, no substantial construction has resumed since 2018, and the site remains guarded but inactive.

For Sri Lanka, the development is both an embarrassment and a cautionary tale. The project was once marketed as a landmark foreign investment expected to attract over USD 650 million, create thousands of jobs, and enhance Colombo’s skyline. Instead, it has become a high-profile example of how opaque cross-border real-estate financing can entangle two jurisdictions in legal disputes.

Legal experts warn that the ongoing ED case in India could further delay any revival, as asset seizures and ownership claims will require bilateral coordination. Until then, the iconic Transworks site intended as a symbol of progress stands as a stark reminder of ambition undone by financial misconduct

The head monk of a Buddhist temple in Melbourne, Australia has been found guilty of sexually abusing children aged as young as four.

Naotunne Vijitha, 70, faced a four-week County Court trial in Melbourne after he pleaded not guilty to 19 historical child sexual offences.

He was accused of abusing six girls aged between four and 12 inside his living Buddhist temple quarters, a prayer room and at Sunday school.

Prosecutors claimed Vijitha’s abuse started after he moved to Melbourne from overseas to become head monk of the Dhamma Sarana Buddhist temple at The abuse continued after the temple moved to Keysborough in 2000.

The victims, who are now adults, all gave evidence to the jury in their trial, as did their relatives and friends.

Vijitha’s barrister Nick Papas KC told the jury to set aside emotion and remember the allegations were from 25 or 30 years ago, so they must question their reliability and accuracy.

“Some of the events are so improbable as to stretch any grounds of credulity,” he said.

Jurors retired to commence their deliberations on October 23 and returned on Thursday with a guilty verdict to 17 of the 19 charges.

He was acquitted on a single charge of indecent act with a child aged under 16, while the jury will continue deliberating on a separate indecent act offence.

Judge Pardeep Tiwana advised the jurors he would accept a majority verdict, instead of a unanimous one, on the remaining charge.

The jury will continue their deliberations on Friday morning.

(Source - Neos kosmos)

Sri Lanka has unveiled a transformative framework to align Official Development Assistance (ODA) with its national development and climate resilience agenda. The new National Climate Finance Strategy 2025–2030, launched by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to channel foreign aid toward climate adaptation, sustainable infrastructure, and inclusive growth.

Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma said the strategy marks “a critical step in turning climate policy into tangible results,” noting it would strengthen financial accountability and transparency. “It allows us to build resilience, cut emissions, and protect vulnerable communities while ensuring value for every dollar of public spending,” he added.

From 2021 to 2024, Sri Lanka received more than USD 2 billion annually in ODA, mostly directed to renewable energy, transport, water management, and health projects. Over the past five years, total ODA inflows amounted to USD 10.9 billion, including USD 10.7 billion in concessional loans and USD 147.9 million in grants. Following Sri Lanka’s recent reclassification from IBRD to IDA status, the country is refocusing aid utilization to support long-term development goals instead of fragmented, donor-led projects.

Under the new framework, the Department of External Resources (ERD) will act as the central coordination hub for all ODA-related activities. The ERD will streamline project approvals, align foreign-funded initiatives with national priorities, and monitor outcomes through a centralized digital reporting system that enables public access to performance data and transparency in donor-funded projects.

A core component of the initiative is the close integration of ODA with Sri Lanka’s climate finance strategy. The plan prioritizes renewable energy, water resource management, and climate adaptation, while introducing innovative tools such as green bonds, blended finance, disaster-risk insurance, and carbon trading to attract private capital alongside donor funding.

International partners including Japan, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the UK-funded Climate Finance Network have already shown interest by extending concessional financing and technical support for renewable energy and coastal protection programs. Officials emphasized that the new model focuses on outcome-based partnerships rather than traditional aid transfers.

However, challenges remain. Building the institutional and technical capacity to design and manage complex, multi-donor projects will require sustained effort. Coordination among ministries and partners with diverse goals is another obstacle. Yet, policymakers are optimistic that the framework provides the structure to overcome these hurdles and deliver visible results.

With climate-related losses estimated at over 2% of GDP annually, the strategy envisions annual investments of nearly USD 500 million for climate-resilient infrastructure and ecosystem restoration. If effectively implemented, it could redefine Sri Lanka’s relationship with foreign partners turning ODA from a temporary economic buffer into a catalyst for sustainable growth and national renewal.

Education is not merely about passing exams, but about shaping good citizens who can make the world a better place, said Prime Minister Harinie Amarasuriya.

She made these remarks at the inaugural session of the Student Parliament of Mahamaya Girls’ College, Kandy, held recently (28) at the Old Parliament Chamber of the Presidential Secretariat, under the patronage of the Prime Minister and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rizvie Saliy.

The event was organized jointly by the Department of Communications of Parliament, the Presidential Secretariat, and the Ministry of Education as part of the ongoing Student Parliament initiative — a platform designed to encourage civic understanding and leadership among school students across the country.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Harinie Amarasuriya emphasized that the education system is being gradually transformed to produce responsible, empathetic citizens rather than burdened students. “Our goal,” she said, “is to nurture individuals who can contribute meaningfully toward making the world a better place.”

Students were also given the rare opportunity to directly raise questions with the Prime Minister.

Deputy Speaker Rizvie Saliy, in his address, reminded students that no one can be a true lawmaker without being a law-abiding citizen. He urged all to commit themselves to building a just and disciplined society. Reflecting on the venue’s rich history, he added that conducting the session within the old Parliament Chamber was an extraordinary and honorable experience for the young participants.

Acting Secretary-General of Parliament Chaminda Kulatunga enlightened the student parliamentarians on the history of female representation in the Sri Lankan Parliament and its legislative functions.

Meanwhile, Professor A. Sarveswaran, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, delivered a special lecture on law, inspiring the students to view justice and integrity as essential pillars of democracy.

Dharmasiri Gamage, Director General of Public Relations at the Presidential Secretariat, and Subhash Roshan Gamage, Senior Additional Secretary to the President, also addressed the students, briefing them on the Clean Sri Lanka initiative and how communities can access Presidential Fund benefits at the local level.

The session began with the election and swearing-in of the Speaker and student Members of Parliament, followed by speeches from the Student Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers, after which the Student Parliament was adjourned. Certificates of participation were also awarded to the student members.

The ceremony was attended by Major Nadika Dangolla, Assistant Director of the Presidential Secretariat; Shashikala Senadheera, Principal of Mahamaya Girls’ College; members of the academic staff; parents; and other distinguished guests — marking a truly inspiring day where education met leadership in one of Sri Lanka’s most historic chambers.

Sri Lanka’s long-promised visa-free travel scheme for 33 additional countries has been hit by fresh delays, revealing deeper issues in policy consistency, administrative inefficiency, and questionable deals involving the country’s visa processing system. The scheme intended to expand visa-free entry to 40 nations to boost tourism has been stalled for months as the Attorney General’s Department examines lingering legal complications tied to a controversial private visa management deal.

Tourism and Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath admitted this week that implementation remains pending “until the Attorney General provides clearance,” citing unresolved legal questions about revenue sharing and system management. “We have to submit a new gazette to Parliament, and we expect to finalize the process within one or two months,” he told reporters at the weekly Cabinet briefing.

However, the Attorney General’s review reportedly stems from an ongoing case related to a deal signed last year with VFS, IVS, and GBS, private firms contracted to handle online visa applications. The contract was later suspended by court in August 2024 following allegations of inflated fees, lack of transparency, and non-remittance of state revenue. A special audit by the Auditor General found that portions of income due to the Treasury had not been properly accounted for under the system, raising questions about oversight and governance.

The controversy has complicated the government’s efforts to relaunch a clean, transparent visa process. Prior to the VFS arrangement, visa fees had already been increased sharply, drawing criticism from tourism operators who said higher costs discouraged short-term travelers.

Under the proposed new free-visa system, only citizens of China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, and Thailand currently enjoy exemption from the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) fee. The government announced in July 2025 that it would expand this list to include 33 more countries, mainly in Europe and the Middle East. Yet, months later, tourists from those nations still face standard visa fees.

Industry experts warn that the delay undermines Sri Lanka’s competitiveness as a destination in a region where rivals like Thailand, Malaysia, and the Maldives have aggressively eased entry requirements to capture post-pandemic travel demand. “At a time when every dollar counts, the delay in implementing a zero-fee visa system is costing us tourists and revenue,” a senior tourism official told this paper.

The prolonged legal and policy confusion also highlights the government’s mixed signals on foreign investment and public-private partnerships. Analysts argue that the failure to swiftly resolve the visa outsourcing scandal has created uncertainty across agencies.

As Sri Lanka battles to revive its crisis-hit economy, the free visa plan originally pitched as a quick win to attract foreign exchange is now emblematic of policy paralysis and bureaucratic inertia. Until the government restores clarity and accountability in its visa policy, the promised tourism revival may remain trapped in paperwork.

GMOA to Launch Islandwide Strike Tomorrow Over Health Ministry’s Transfer Policy

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has announced that it will begin an islandwide trade union action tomorrow (31) to protest against what it calls the arbitrary transfer policy introduced by the Ministry of Health.

In a statement, the GMOA said the new transfer system was being implemented without proper consultation and warned that the government would be fully accountable for any disruption to hospital operations or healthcare services as a result of the move.

The doctors’ union urged health authorities to immediately suspend the current transfer process, and instead establish a fair, transparent, and consultative framework that safeguards both medical professionals’ rights and the continuity of patient care.

Furthermore, the association accused the Health Ministry of eroding the independence of the medical service, cautioning that unilateral administrative decisions could cause serious long-term damage to Sri Lanka’s healthcare system.

The national program “The Whole Nation Unites to Defeat Drug Addiction” will be launched under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (30) at 10:00 a.m. at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.

The primary objective of this program is to eradicate the drug menace from its roots. To implement the initiative, a National Operations Council has been established under the leadership of the President.

As part of the mechanism to obtain public support, the government aims to establish operational committees at district, divisional, and village levels, along with community safety committees at the village level.

The Secretary to the President will serve as the Chairman of the National Operations Council.

In addition, a new bill is scheduled to be presented to Parliament to further strengthen the existing legal framework relating to narcotic drugs.

The highest number of dengue mosquito breeding sites in the country have been found within the school system, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).

Dr. Prashila Samaraweera, a specialist at the NDCU, revealed that 43% of the schools inspected were identified as having active mosquito breeding grounds. The warning comes amid a surge in dengue cases across the island, exacerbated by the prevailing rainy weather conditions.

The NDCU further reported that 11 districts have now been classified as high-risk zones for dengue transmission. Public health officials are urging school administrations, parents, and local authorities to take immediate action to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, particularly in and around school premises.

(Source - newsfirst)