News

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa has been further remanded until September 29, 2026, by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

Rajapaksa was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over allegations that he accepted a Rs. 100 million bribe in connection with the procurement of Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama issued the order after hearing submissions from both sides.

Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara appeared for CIABOC, while President’s Counsel Shavindra Fernando represented Rajapaksa.

The court also ordered that a decision on the MP’s bail application will be announced on September 29.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa has been brought before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court following his arrest and subsequent remand.

Rajapaksa was taken into custody by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on September 4.

The arrest followed several hours of questioning by CIABOC, during which Rajapaksa provided a statement concerning the controversial Airbus transaction.

He was subsequently remanded and has now been produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court in connection with the case.

The Department of Railways says train services are continuing despite a strike launched by several railway trade unions, with office trains operating as scheduled today.

Railway Transport Superintendent Asanka Samarasinghe said all office train services operated yesterday and continued to run today despite the ongoing trade union action.

He said office trains on all railway lines are also expected to operate as usual this evening.

The Intercity train from Kankesanthurai to Colombo is scheduled to operate this afternoon, while the night mail services between Kankesanthurai and Colombo, in both directions, are also expected to run tonight.

However, Samarasinghe stressed that passenger safety remains the primary consideration before any train service is operated.

Accordingly, the Badulla–Nanu Oya service was not operated because the safety of the railway track could not be confirmed in advance. No arrangements have been made to operate trains along that route for the same reason.

Meanwhile, passengers whose railway stations have been closed due to the strike have been advised to purchase their tickets through www.pravesha.lk.

The Railway Department requested passengers affected by station closures to use the online platform to obtain tickets for their journeys.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the United National Party (UNP) have agreed to form a common policy alliance to protect democratic institutions and provide economic relief to the public.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa announced the major political realignment on Thursday (17) during an academic conference at the National Library and Documentation Services Board auditorium in Colombo.

The event, organised by the Alumni Association of the D.S. Senanayake School of Political Science, brought together former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, senior politicians and leading academics.

Warning against a growing centralisation of power under the current government, Premadasa said a strong democratic alternative was now essential to safeguard fundamental rights.

He noted that the cooperation between the two traditional political rivals was not designed to share executive positions or gain short term electoral advantages.

He said that the alliance represented a permanent break from past transactional deals in favour of a public centred, progressive agenda.

He also highlighted the severe pressures currently facing micro, small and medium enterprises, arguing that targeted welfare and state support for entrepreneurs were vital components needed to rebuild the national production economy.

The Opposition Leader said that Sri Lanka must reject both extreme left wing and extreme right wing economic doctrines in favour of a pragmatic middle path originally championed by former President J.R. Jayewardene.

He observed that a modern state must use the wealth created by an open market to fund robust social safety nets for vulnerable citizens.

Drawing parallels with welfare systems in developed democracies like the United Kingdom, he pointed to historic national projects including the Mahaweli scheme, Gam Udawa, Mahapola scholarships and Yowunpura as evidence that economic growth and social welfare can successfully coexist.

The Opposition leader urged all democratic factions to unite behind a participation driven national programme to restore long term stability to the country.

Sri Lanka is set to mark a new step in renewable energy development with the inauguration of the country’s first Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and the “Diyajanani” floating solar power plant in Dambulla today (18).

The two projects are scheduled to be inaugurated under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The Battery Energy Storage System, constructed in Anuradhapura, has a capacity of 10 megawatts and is intended to strengthen the country’s renewable energy capacity while improving the stability of the national electricity grid.

Meanwhile, the “Diyajanani” floating solar power project has been constructed on Ibbankatuwa Wewa in Dambulla as part of the Government’s national programme to expand electricity generation through renewable energy sources.

The floating solar facility is expected to contribute an additional 5 megawatts to the national grid and provide electricity to around 10,000 households.

The inauguration of both projects is scheduled to take place today, with the floating solar power plant set to be inaugurated by the President this afternoon.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Inland Revenue Department’s decision to impose Advance Personal Income Tax (APIT) on the remuneration of judicial officers is legally valid under the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act.

The decision was delivered after the Court dismissed appeals filed by representatives of the High Court Judges’ Association, the Judicial Service Association of Sri Lanka and the Association of Judicial Officers of Labour Tribunals.

With the dismissal of the appeals, the Court determined that judicial officers, including High Court judges, District Judges and Magistrates, are liable to pay income tax on their remuneration.

The ruling also confirms that the relevant authorities have the legal authority to deduct APIT directly from the remuneration paid to judicial officers.

The Court of Appeal has scheduled September 30 to deliver its decision on a writ petition filed by Parliamentarian Dilith Jayaweera.

The petition seeks an order quashing a complaint lodged against Jayaweera before the Fort Magistrate’s Court in connection with an allegation of contempt of court.

The matter was taken up today before a three-member bench chaired by President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya.

Following consideration of the petition, the bench announced that its order would be delivered on September 30.

Former National Transport Commission (NTC) Chairman Renuka Perera has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over alleged irregularities in the issuance of passenger transport permits.

According to CIABOC, the arrest relates to allegations that Perera caused a financial loss to the government and provided an unlawful benefit to an outside party while serving as NTC Chairman.

He was taken into custody at around 9:55 a.m. today (17) over allegations that 56 bus passenger transport service permits were issued to operate on the Southern Expressway without following the legally prescribed procedures.

The permits were also allegedly issued without collecting the required annual fees as a single payment, according to CIABOC.

The alleged conduct is said to have violated provisions of the National Transport Commission Act No. 37 of 1991, as well as recommendations contained in a Cabinet decision dated September 19, 2014.

Perera, who is also the Administrative Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), is due to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

He previously served as Chairman of MILCO, the state-owned dairy producer and marketer.

An Assistant Controller attached to Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over allegations of helping an organised criminal obtain an illegally prepared passport.

The arrest was carried out yesterday (17) by officers from the CID’s Special Investigations Unit at the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

According to Police, the suspect is a 42-year-old resident of Gampaha.

The CID’s Special Investigations Unit has launched further investigations into the circumstances surrounding the alleged preparation of the passport and the official’s involvement in the matter.

Police have found that the driver involved in a fatal road accident in Mattakkuliya was allegedly under the influence of cannabis when the crash occurred.

The accident took place last night (16) after the car, which was travelling at high speed, collided with several vehicles on the road.

According to police, the car crashed into three three-wheelers and four motorcycles during the incident.

Ten people were seriously injured and were admitted to the Colombo National Hospital for treatment. Three of the injured later succumbed to their injuries, bringing the death toll from the accident to three.

Police arrested the driver of the car following the crash.

The Mattakkuliya Police are continuing investigations into the incident.

Sri Lankan authorities will begin strictly enforcing the requirement for drivers and passengers to wear seat belts when travelling on expressways from tomorrow (19).

Director of the Traffic Control and Road Safety Division, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manoj Ranagala, said the approximately one-year grace period granted for compliance with the requirement will end today (18).

From tomorrow, drivers and passengers found travelling on expressways without wearing seat belts will face legal action.

Police will also prevent vehicles that are not fitted with seat belts from entering expressways, SSP Ranagala said.

The requirement applies to passengers seated in both the front and rear seats of vehicles using expressways.

SSP Ranagala stressed that the strict enforcement of the law is intended to reduce the risk of serious injuries and deaths resulting from road accidents, rather than simply to impose penalties.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the National Council for Road Safety Manjula Kularatne said the mandatory seat belt requirement had been introduced approximately one year ago, but additional time was provided for owners of older vehicles in which seat belts had not been installed by manufacturers.

Several extensions had been granted to allow such vehicle owners to install the required safety equipment. However, the final grace period will expire today.

Kularatne said there would be no further extension, noting that vehicle owners had been given nearly a year to comply with the requirement.

Police have been informed to enforce the relevant regulations, and all drivers and passengers using expressways will be required to wear seat belts from tomorrow.

Police have commenced an investigation following the discovery of the body of a 51-year-old man on an abandoned piece of land near Ilimba Junction in Horana.

According to police, the man was a resident of Pokunuwita. His body was found on land located across the canal, prompting authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.

A magistrate’s inquiry is due to be held today (17) as part of the investigation into the incident.

The Horana Police are continuing investigations to establish the circumstances that led to the man’s death.