The Colombo High Court today sentenced a mother to seven years of rigorous imprisonment after finding her guilty of attempting to sell her two-day-old infant for Rs. 75,000.

Delivering the verdict, High Court Judge Navaratne Marasinghe ruled that the prosecution had proven the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a fine of Rs. 20,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional six months of simple imprisonment.

The case revealed that the woman, along with her husband, had lured another woman to an illegal abortion center they operated, with the intention of selling the newborn after delivery.

The baby was ultimately sold to a female police sergeant from the National Child and Women’s Bureau, who was working undercover as part of a sting operation.

The woman was arrested at the scene by law enforcement officers.

In his ruling, the judge emphasized the gravity of the crime, stating that the act committed by the mother of three was deeply disturbing and shook the conscience of humanity. He further noted that such offenses could not be met with leniency.

“Every child deserves equal protection under the law,” the judge declared, stressing that the punishment must reflect the seriousness of the offense.

The court also ordered that the woman’s fingerprints be recorded as part of the sentencing procedure.

(News1st)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by News1st has not been edited by SLM staff)

SriLankan Airlines has to pay only a USD 275,000 monthly fee to the new airbus leased by the SriLankan airlines from France, Transport Minister Bimal Ratnayake said today.
He told Parliament that it is not a big amount when compared to the revenue generated from an airbus.

The Minister said SriLankan Airlines still pays USD 800,000 monthly due to the airbus deal of the Rajapaksa regime, whereas SriLankan received no airbus in the deal.

He said the Rajapaksa government defrauded millions by striking the airbus deal while the Ranil Wickremesinghe government defrauded on the other hand in cancelling the deal.

(dailymirror.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

Constructions on the stretch connecting Kadawatha and the Central Expressway will commence in August this year, Transport Minister – Bimal Rathnayake has said,

Speaking in Parliament today (June 05), he said that relevant Tenders have already been called.

The Minister added that measures will also be taken to initiate construction of the Central Expressway’s main section.