For the first time in the history of the New Zealand beauty pageants, a Sri Lankan has won the Mrs. Universe New Zealand title. Accordingly, Nimakshi Sachindri Ranatunga (Nishi) will represent New Zealand in the Mrs. Universe pageant to be held in Bulgaria next year. Since the pageant was not held last year due to COVID-19 pandemic, it has been held this year to cover both the 2021 and 2022 pageants. Accordingly, two winners have been selected. One of the winners has been qualified for the 2022 Mrs. Universe to be held next month in South Korea, and Nishi has been qualified for the 2023 Mrs. Universe to be held in Bulgaria. Nishi, who received her primary education from Bomiriya Central College and tertiary education from Visaka College, Colombo, moved to New Zealand in 2015. She currently resides in Auckland and runs a dance academy called NZSL. While in Sri Lanka, Nishi has worked as a teacher at Vidura College, Museus and Kotikawatta Asian Grammar School and is currently working as a teacher at a school in Auckland. She excelled in badminton and basketball during her school days and acted in school plays as well. “I also worked as a dancer in Sri Lanka. I learnt dancing from Channa Wijewardena. Later on, I acted in many music videos. I also participated in dance competitions in other countries representing Sri Lanka,’ she said. Nishi, the younger daughter of Sri Lanka’s former ‘Miss Ceylon’ Chithra Kantha Ranatunga and businessman R.A. Premaratne, also wors as a fashion model. She has acted in many short films in New Zealand, including international award-winning films.
One of the two persons injured in the Kandana shooting today (June 03) has succumbed.
The other victim – Mr. Sameera Manahara is currently receiving further treatment at Ragama Hospital. According to reports, his condition is not critical.
(Previous news 2025 July 03 – 11.03 am)
Pvt. secretary of late minister injured in shooting
A shooting incident has been reported in Kandana this morning (July 03).
Reportedly, two people traveling in a car were shot near the Kandana Public Market.
According to reports, Sameera Manahara, who served as the private secretary of late Minister Mangala Samaraweera, has been injured in the shooting.
The two injured individuals have been admitted to the Ragama Hospital, police say.
Investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the assailants.
Former Minister Mervyn Silva and two other individuals were granted bail today (July 03) by the Gampaha Provincial High Court.
They were released on a cash bail of Rs. 200,000 and five personal sureties of Rs. 5,000,000 each.
Additionally, the court imposed overseas travel bans on them.
The defendants were strictly warned to refrain from influencing witnesses and were ordered to report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) every Sunday.The defendants were previously remanded over allegations of selling a state-owned land in the Kiribathgoda area using forged deeds.
Monara TV, launched with much fanfare just a year ago under the Swarnavahini media network, has reportedly shut down operations.
Employees have been informed that the closure is temporary, citing the need to resolve certain administrative issues.
The channel, led by Buddhika Wickramadhara, was ceremonially launched on June 25, 2024, with a grand event at Waters Edge.
Producers who supplied teledramas to Monara TV say they are owed nearly Rs.200 million in unpaid dues.
Meanwhile, it is reported that the parent Swarnavahini TV channel is also reportedly grappling with a serious financial crisis, paying teledrama producers only after 60 episodes are broadcast.
Producers claim they are compelled to wait about 03 months to recover an investment of around Rs.15 million per teledrama. Even then, payments are made in small portions, covering just 05 episodes at a time.
Producers who supplied teledramas before the appointment of Mr. Susara Dinal as CEO say it is even harder to claim their outstanding payments, as they have been asked to recover the dues from former CEO – Udara Wijesinghe.
The Swarnavahini Media Network is owned by Subaskaran Allirajah – Chairman of Lyca Group, which also owns Lycamobile, a global telecommunications company.
