News

Party secretary among several arrested for taking Rs. 30M bribe from Janaka Ratnayake

Published

9 months ago

August 14, 2024

editor

A group of officials including the Secretary of the “United Lanka Podujana Party” (Eksath Lanka Podujana Pakshaya) have been arrested while soliciting a bribe from the party’s presidential candidate, former PUCSL chairman Janaka Ratnayake.

They have reportedly been arrested today by officers of the Bribery Commission while accepting the bribe of Rs. 30 million from Mr. Ratnayake, the party’s presidential candidate.

The suspects have been arrested based on a complaint lodged by the former PUCSL chairman, on behalf of whom the security deposit was placed this morning as the party’s presidential candidate.

The arrested persons including the secretary of the “United Lanka Podujana Party” are accused of attempting to solicit a bribe of Rs. 30 million from Mr. Ratnayake in exchange for making him the party’s presidential candidate.

Former Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), Janaka Ratnayake is running for the presidential election this year as the candidate of the ‘United Lanka Podujana Party’ (Eksath Lanka Podujana Pakshaya).

The Secretary of the United Lanka Podujana Party, Nihal Premakumara Deshapriya, had placed the security deposit on behalf of Janaka Ratnayake at the Election Commission this morning (14).

(adaderana.lk)

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

News

Helicopter crash during SLAF training session

Published

39 minutes ago

May 9, 2025

editor

A Bell 212 helicopter belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has reportedly crashed today (May 09).

It crashed during a training session at the Hingurakgoda Air Force Base.

Further reports indicate that the helicopter crashed into the Maduru Oya Reservoir.

News

American Cardinal elected as new Pope: Pope Leo XIV

Published

46 minutes ago

May 9, 2025

editor

Following a 02-day papal conclave, American Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as the new Pope yesterday (May 08) evening, Vatican time.

At 69, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the 267th Pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.

He becomes the first American to ascend to the papacy in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

Pope Leo XIV now assumes spiritual leadership of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

The election follows the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88 at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, Vatican City, a day after participating in Easter Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.

News

Heavy rains expected in the afternoon

Published

3 hours ago

May 9, 2025

editor

The Department of Meteorology says that showers or thundershowers will occur at most places of the island after 1.00 p.m. today (May 09).

Showers may occur in Western province and in Puttalam, Galle and Matara districts in the morning too.

Fairly heavy rains above 50 mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Northern and North-central provinces.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Ampara and Polonnaruwa districts during the morning.