News

CID probe into Piyumi’s assets

Published

1 year ago

June 20, 2024

editor

The Illegal Assets Investigation Division of the CID informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday that an investigation was initiated regarding the purchase of a Range Rover Jeep for Rs. 78 million, the purchase of a house in Colombo 7 Grand Housing Complex for Rs.148 million and maintaining 20 bank accounts with suspicious transactions by model Piyumi Hansamali.

The Illegal Assets Investigation Division also informed court that an investigation has also been started regarding a Skin Care Company, which is said to be her main source of income.

The CID informed the Court that reports have been obtained by the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka regarding the financial facilities maintained by this person and her close associates in Sri Lanka and according to that, it has been revealed that 20 accounts have been opened in relation to the National Identity Card numbers of her and people closely associating the model.

President of the ‘Magen Ratata’ organisation Sanjaya Mahawatta had lodged a complaint requesting an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to find how Pattiyage Piyumi Hansamali Gomes, a resident of Kolonnawa Road, Rajagiriya, had earned a large amount of money to have a luxurious life, in a very short period of time after becoming a model.

(dailynews.lk)

(This story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Seat belt compulsory for bus drivers from today

Published

7 minutes ago

July 1, 2025

editor

The National Transport Commission (NTC) has announced that starting today (July 01), it will be mandatory for all bus drivers to wear seat belts, with strict penalties for non-compliance.

Under the MotorTraffic Act, bus drivers are legally required to wear seat belts, but a rise in accidents due to drivers ignoring this rule has prompted the authorities to re-enforce it.

Police confirmed that action will be taken against drivers who fail to comply.

Seat belts to be made mandatory for all passengers in expressways

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport has also stated that wearing seat belts will be made mandatory to all passengers of light vehicles travelling on expressways from August 01, 2025.

Meanwhile, wearing seat belts will also be mandatory to all passengers of all vehicles on expressways from September 01, 2025.

Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake also confirmed the directive while speaking to media this morning (July 01) during an inspection tour at the Colombo Central Bus Stand.

BIZ

End of parate relief for large SMEs

Published

16 minutes ago

July 1, 2025

editor

The grace period granted to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) under Sri Lanka’s Parate Execution Law officially ended midnight yesterday (June 30) for businesses with loans exceeding Rs. 50 million.

The Parate Law grants banks the authority to seize properties pledged as collateral without court proceedings. Although its implementation had been suspended for three months by the current administration—and for six months earlier under former President Ranil Wickremesinghe—it has now been reinstated, triggering serious concern among entrepreneurs.

Deputy Minister of Economic Development – Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando has stated that the government intends to hold discussions with all relevant parties in the coming days to address the issues linked to the law’s reimplementation.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader – Sajith Premadasa has warned that the re-implementation of the Parate Execution Law could lead to the rapid auctioning of assets from small, medium, and micro businesses, putting them at risk.

In a statement yesterday (June 30), he emphasized that these businesses contribute over 50% to Sri Lanka’s Gross Domestic Production (GDP) and employ over 04 million people.

News

Ex-SriLankan Airlines chief produced before court

Published

27 minutes ago

July 1, 2025

editor

Former Chairman of SriLankan Airlines – Nishantha Wickramasinghe has been produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court by prison officials today (July 01).

Wickramasinghe was arrested last week by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and is currently in remand custody,