News

Borelle Sirisumana Thera arrested over Priyamali’s fraud!

Published

7 months ago

November 2, 2022

editor

Ven. Borelle Sirisumana Thera, a resident monk of a temple in Kadawatha, has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday (01) afternoon in connection with the investigation into the large-scale financial fraud committed by Thilini Priyamali.

The CID revealed that the arrested Thera had maintained a close relationship with Priyamali, the owner of the Thico Group, who is currently in remand as well as with businessmen who gave their money to Priyamali.

It has been revealed that the suspect has used many different technical methods, including a mobile phone App which deletes call records within 24 hours.

When the billionaires who deposited billions of rupees in the Thico Group demanded their money back, the monk had assured them that they would get their money soon.

It has been revealed in the investigation that the Thera had deceived a large number of people by saying that there is a large gold bar weighing 2500 kg in his Kadawatha Temple.

A senior officer of the CID said that they have received the photos of the gold bar and an investigation is being conducted.

Police Media Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa said, “The CID officers arrested Sirisumana Thera based on the facts revealed during the investigations regarding the financial fraud allegedly committed by Priyamali.”

The suspect, who claims he has achieved the ‘Arhat’ status, is scheduled to be produced in the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today (02).

Priyamali, her partner Isuru Bandara and Wijesuriya Arachchige Kasun who was a director of Thico Construction Company will also be produced in the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court by the Prison officials today (02).

News

CMC’s receivable income exceeds Rs.6,200mn in 2022!

Published

1 hour ago

June 9, 2023

editor

The receivable income of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) for the year 2022 was Rs.6,280.50 million, it was revealed during the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) meeting.

This was revealed when the COPA met in Parliament on June 06 under the chairmanship of State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna to examine the Auditor General’s reports and current performance of the Colombo Municipal Council for the years 2020/2021.

The CMC’s total receivable income of the year 2021 is Rs.5,835.6 million, Rs.5,386.4 million in 2022 and Rs.4,481.5 million in 2019. It was found that these arrears are in the form of assessment tax, rent and other taxes.

Accordingly, the officials who were present pointed out that they are making arrangements to acquire the properties where the taxes are in arrears.

They said that there are issues related to the identification of the owners of certain properties, and that there is also a shortage of CMC officials available to look into these matters.

The COPA member MPs pointed out that assessment numbers have been given for unauthorized constructions as well.

Accordingly, the committee recommended that a programme should be prepared with specific dates to recover the arrears and a full report should be submitted to the COPA by July 06, 2023.

It was also revealed that the private companies contracted to collect parking fees have continued to default on the monthly rent due to the CMC and the amount of arrears to be collected from 38 companies as at December 31, 2021, was Rs. 265 million.

BIZ

Parliament SOC recommends not to privatise SLT

Published

2 hours ago

June 9, 2023

editor

The Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security has said that it does not recommend the privatisation of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT).

This was stated in a report issued by the SOC on National Security headed by MP Sarath Weerasekera.

The report said that matters sensitive to national security can be exposed through the privatisation of SLT.

News

Fonseka resigns from SOC on National Security

Published

2 hours ago

June 9, 2023

editor

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has resigned from the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security, Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe announced in Parliament today (09).

He said MP Rauff Hakeem has been appointed to the vacant position instead.