A complaint was filed with the CID last night (May 04), requesting an urgent investigation into a claim made by former Director of the National Lotteries Board – Thusitha Halloluwa.

Halloluwa had alleged that President Anura Dissanayake had made a large financial investment in Greece.

The relevant complaint was submitted at midnight yesterday by the Attorney-at-Law Akalanka Ukwatte, with President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma.

Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake stated yesterday (May 04) that voters at the upcoming Local Government (LG) elections must mark only one cross (X) in the empty box next to the symbol of their chosen political party or independent group.

He emphasized that any writing, drawing, or additional markings outside the single cross in the designated box – such as names, lines, or other symbols – will result in the vote being rejected.

He also noted that separate ballot papers are being printed for each Local Government body for this election, and all assigned officials are required to report to their designated locations.

Meanwhile, Ratnayake stated that voters who have not yet received their official polling cards for the 2025 LG Elections can collect them from the relevant post offices or download them from the Election Commission’s website. He added that even without a polling card, voters can cast their vote by presenting a valid document of identification at their polling station.

The Election Commission Chairman said that all preparations have been made for the Local Government Election on Tuesday and after voting ends vote counting will take place at ward level, with most wards having one polling station and a few larger ones having multiple.

Voting will be held on Tuesday from 7.00am – 4.00 pm to elect members for 339 Local Government bodies across the country. A total of 17,156,338 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots, with 75,589 candidates contesting from various political parties and independent groups.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has summoned vice chancellors from all state universities across Sri Lanka for a high-level meeting, according to UGC Chairman Professor Kapila Senavirathne.
The meeting is expected to address several pressing issues, including the ongoing problem of ragging (hazing) in universities, which has once again come under scrutiny following recent incidents.

In a related development, four students from the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (SUSL) are scheduled to be presented before the Balangoda Magistrate’s Court today.

These students were arrested on Sunday (4) by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with alleged ragging activities.

Police reports indicate that the arrested individuals are third-year students from the Faculty of Technology at SUSL.

Their arrests stem from investigations launched following a complaint lodged with the Samanalawewa Police on April 29.

Meanwhile, multiple investigations are underway into the recent death of a second-year student from the same faculty.

(News 1st)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by News 1st has not been edited by SLM staff)