News

State Vesak Festival in Puttalam

Published

2 years ago

March 17, 2023

editor

The Buddhasasana Ministry has decided to hold the state Vesak festival in Puttalam District this year.

Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry Secretary Somarathne Vidanapathirana said the Vesak festival will be celebrated this year with the aim of promoting Buddhist teachings across the country focusing on the Puttalam District. He said the ministry is working together with several institutions at the national level as well as the district and local level in this regard.

State Vesak festival includes pre-Vesak programmes, Vesak day programmes during the Vesak week and Vesak Poya programme.

A special discussion in this regard was held at Sri Rathanasiri Piriven Vihara in Karavitagara, Chilaw under the auspices of Maha Sangha including Ven.Nadagamuwe Wijaya Maithree Anunayake Thera of Paththaduvana Sri Lanka Ramagna Maha Nikaya.

However, Ven. Itthepana Sumana Nayaka Thera, the Chairman of the Kalpitiya Regional Shashanarakshaka Mandala protested the move to hold the State Vesak festival at the Rathanasiri Pirivena.

In a letter to the President, the Thera said that it is a disgrace to the Buddhist community to hold the State Vesak ceremony in this temple according to the whims of a political leader from a different religious background in Chilaw.

News

3 ex-DMT officials including ex-commissioner, arrested

Published

7 minutes ago

July 1, 2025

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Former Commissioner General Nishantha Weerasingha and two other former officials of the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) have been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

The arrests were made as part of an investigation into vehicles that were illegally registered with the Department of Motor Traffic without receiving proper clearance from Sri Lanka Customs, CIABOC said in a statement.

According to CIABOC, former Commissioner General Nishantha Weerasinghe has been arrested for granting approval to issue a number plate for a jeep.

Additionally, a former Assistant Director of Information Technology at the department and a clerk have also been taken into custody for facilitating the illegal data entry and executing it.

The suspects are scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

News

Ex-Immigration Controller pleads guilty

Published

3 hours ago

July 1, 2025

editor

Controller of Immigration and Emigration – Harsha Illukpitiya, today (July 01) unconditionally pleaded guilty before the Supreme Court in a case related to contempt of court.

The charge stemmed from his failure to comply with a court order related to the e-visa issuance process.

The Supreme Court announced that sentencing will take place on July 24.

News

Nishantha Wickramasinghe remanded again (Update)

Published

3 hours ago

July 1, 2025

editor

Former SriLankan Airlines Chairman – Nishantha Wickramasinghe has been remanded till July 15 by Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayathunga.

(Previous news 2025 July 01,12.15pm.)

Ex-SriLankan Airlines chief produced before court

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,