News

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation announced that fuel prices will be revised with effect from midnight.

Accordingly, the price of a litre of Auto Diesel has been reduced by Rs.6 to Rs.283, while Super Diesel has been reduced by Rs.12 to Rs.313. Meanwhile, 92 Octane Petrol has been reduced by Rs.6, bringing the new price down to Rs.299.

The CPC said the revision comes into effect from August 31 midnight.

Former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa has been remanded until 12 September in connection with corruption and misuse of state property.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court ordered the extension after he was produced before the court today (29).

Rajapaksa was arrested by the Bribery Commission on 6 August over allegations of illegally constructing a farm building on land owned by the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority near the Kiribbanwewa reservoir in Sevanagala.

The building, destroyed during the 9 May 2022 ‘Aragalaya’ protests, was later confirmed to be on Mahaweli Authority land.

He is accused of misusing his authority to pressure officials into approving the reconstruction, leading to charges of corruption, conspiracy, and illegal occupation of state property.

Former Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake has been summoned to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) tomorrow morning (1st Sep).

Police stated that the summons relates to an investigation into former President Ranil Wickremesinghe over allegations of misusing public funds amounting to Rs. 16.6 million for a private overseas trip.

A new commemorative Rs. 2000 banknote was presented to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today to mark the 75th Anniversary of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).

The commemorative note was handed over to the President by the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, at the Presidential Secretariat this morning.

This is the fifth commemorative currency note released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Reflecting the Bank’s unwavering commitment to strengthening economic stability as the foundation for national development, the note has been issued under the anniversary theme “Stability for Prosperity.”

On this occasion, the President also engaged in cordial discussions with officials of the Central Bank.

Participating in the event were Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Senior Deputy Governor of the Central Bank Mrs. K. M. A. N. Daulagala, Assistant Governor K. G. P. Sirikumara and Superintendent – Currency Department P. D. R. Dayananda.

Radiation therapy at Maharagama Apeksha Hospital has been disrupted.

Deputy Health Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni said all three radiation machines stopped working due to a faulty air conditioning system.

Repairs to the AC system have now started.

The Deputy Minister stated that radiation therapy services could resume within two days.

Many patients at Apeksha Hospital are currently suffering due to the lack of radiation treatment.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was receiving treatment at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, was discharged from the hospital this evening.

This was after receiving treatment at the National Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit for 06 days.

Despite being discharged from the hospital, the former President’s media unit says that Ranil Wickremesinghe will continue to rest at home as per the medical instructions given.

Ranil Wickremesinghe was admitted to the National Hospital last Saturday due to dehydration.

Later, the doctors recommended that he be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit

The Aircraft carrying the five organized criminals, including Kehelbaddara Padme, who were arrested in Indonesia, arrived in Sri Lanka from Jakarta International Airport.

The wife and child of Backhoe Saman, an organized criminal arrested in Indonesia, arrived in the island yesterday afternoon and are currently in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department.

Six people, including the leaders of three organized crime gangs led by Kehelbaddara Padme, were arrested in Indonesia the day before yesterday in a joint international operation carried out by the Sri Lankan Police, the Indonesian Police, and Interpol.

They include organized crime gang leaders known as Commando Salintha, Backhoe Saman, and Panadure Nilanga.

Former Member of Parliament Venerable Athuraliye Rathana Thero was remanded until the 12th of September by the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court.

The order was made when a case filed by the Colombo Crimes Division was taken up for hearing today.

Venerable Rathana Thero, who secured a National List seat in Parliament through the Ape Jana Bala Party at the 2020 General Election, is accused of kidnapping and detaining the party’s General Secretary, Venerable Vedinigama Wimalathissa Thero, in an attempt to claim the seat through undue pressure.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that future incentives will be introduced to encourage export diversification and the development of value-added products.

The President further said that the role of governments is to support industries rather than hinder them and he underscored the necessity of consulting with relevant sectors during the regulation drafting process, ensuring sufficient time is allocated for their execution.

The President made these remarks yesterday (29) at the Presidential Secretariat during the 2026 pre-budget discussion with private sector representatives from the agriculture and food & beverage sectors.

The meeting focused on providing facilities for farmers, exports, tax concessions, recycling and the legal environment affecting the sector.

The Government of Sri Lanka has released photos of the underworld figures that were arrested in Indonesia yesterday.

The wanted suspects were arrested during a joint operation conducted by a team of Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officials and the Jakarta Police.

According to the government, the arrested underworld figures are Kehelbaddara Padme, Commando Salinda, Backhoe Saman, Panadura Nilanga, and Thembili Lahiru.

Addressing the media today, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala said that discussions are underway with the Indonesian authorities to repatriate the suspects to Sri Lanka.

He further said that legal action will be initiated against the arrested group upon their repatriation to Sri Lanka.

Five high-profile underworld figures, including ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’, who were arrested in Indonesia, are scheduled to be brought back to the island this afternoon (30), said police.

A special police team from Sri Lanka was dispatched to Indonesia to facilitate their return. The team has reportedly taken the criminal gang members into custody and is now bringing them back to the island.

Former Director of the National Lottery Board, Thusitha Halloluwa, has been ordered to be remanded until September 4 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva. The order was issued today during a hearing related to the May 17 shooting incident involving Halloluwa’s vehicle.

According to the Colombo Crimes Division, the suspect was arrested under a court-issued warrant after allegedly evading the investigation.

Authorities informed the court that Halloluwa was named as the 11th suspect in the case due to conflicting statements made regarding the incident.

Investigators further alleged that the suspect may have orchestrated the incident with the intent of discrediting the current government and the President, adding that inquiries are still ongoing.