Maureen Nelia Ballardney Hingert, Sri Lanka’s first beauty queen to act in Hollywood, has passed away at the age of 88.

The news was announced by former Miss Sri Lanka and actress Angela Seneviratne via Facebook.

Maureen made history by winning the Miss Ceylon title in 1955 and went on to represent the country at the Miss Universe pageant, where she was crowned second runner-up – a milestone achievement at the time.

Following her success, she entered the film industry and starred in several Hollywood productions. In 1958, she appeared in the film Gun Fever, and a photograph from the movie shoot was later published in Playboy magazine in September 1957 – making her the first and only Sri Lankan woman to be featured in the magazine.

She signed with major studios like 20th Century Fox and Universal International Studios, and her filmography includes titles such as The King and I, Fort Bowie, The Rawhide Trail, Gunman from Laredo, Pillars of the Sky, and The Adventures of Hiram Holiday, among others.

During her peak, she was regarded as one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood.

Maureen married Marion Zamperelli in 1958, later separating in 1970, and married William J. Ballard in 1976. 

She had two children, and after the tragic passing of her daughter due to cancer, Maureen chose to live a private life away from the public eye in Los Angeles, where she remained until her death.

Litro Gas Lanka Limited and Laugfs Gas PLC  have said that LP gas prices will remain unchanged for the month of July.

Accordingly, the prices of Litro Gas cylinders are as follows;

• 12.5kg – Rs. 3,690
• 5kg – Rs. 1,482
• 2.3kg – Rs. 694

The current district-wise prices are as follows; https://www.litrogas.com/price-list/ 

Meanwhile, prices of Laugfs Gas cylinders are as follows;

• 12.5 kg – Rs. 4,100
• 5kg – Rs. 1,645
• 2kg – Rs. 658

The current district-wise prices are as follows; https://www.laugfsgas.lk/pricelist.php 

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is likely to attend the grand opening of City of Dreams Sri Lanka on August 02, 2025.

A post on the official Facebook page of City of Dreams Sri Lanka has hinted at his presence, with a silhouette featuring his signature pose, although no official confirmation has been issued yet.

Sources close to the organisers say the actor is expected to be the star attraction at the launch of South Asia’s first fully integrated luxury resort, developed by John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) in partnership with Melco Resorts & Entertainment (MRE).

The USD 1.2 billion City of Dreams development includes a world-class casino, the ultra-luxurious Nüwa hotel, and a high-end shopping mall, making it the largest private sector investment to date in Sri Lanka’s luxury lifestyle sector.

The launch is expected to be a landmark moment in positioning Colombo as a global tourist and entertainment hub.

The event is likely to attract international celebrities, investors, and global media, marking a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s post-crisis revival of its tourism and leisure industry.