Connect with us

News

Brian Thomas’s DNA to be tested over Schaffter’s death

Published

on

Colombo Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya yesterday (24) granted permission to obtain a DNA report on former cricket commentator Brian Thomas over the death of late Director of Janashakthi PLC Dinesh Schaffter.

The Magistrate issued this order on the request of the members of the five-member expert panel chaired by Asela Mendis, Professor of Forensic Medicine of the University of Colombo, appointed by the court in relation to the incident.

This request has been made after it was revealed that there are two more unidentified biological samples based on the DNA reports obtained into the death.

The government analyst reported to the court that the water bottle used by Mr. Schaffter, the cable wire that was used to strangle him and the zip tie that was used to tie his hands contained unidentified biological samples.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed the Court that according to the tests, the DNA samples obtained from the Borella Cemetery watchmen and four other persons including a Police officer do not match with the DNA samples taken from the place where Schaffter was found.

In addition, the CID told the court that medical reports showed that the vomit on Mr.Schaffter’s shirt contained poison.

The expert panel said that more time is needed to arrive at a final decision regarding this death and since investigation reports are being received from time to time, these should be properly investigated.

The aggrieved party agreed to provide all the support to the expert panel.

After considering the facts, the Magistrate issued the orders and asked the panel to submit the conclusion over the death as soon as possible.

News

Names of Mayors and Chairpersons of several LG bodies gazetted

Published

on

By

A gazette extraordinary has been issued containing the names of Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Chairpersons, and Vice-Chairpersons of several local government institutions.

The names have been gazetted based on recommendations sent to the National Election by political parties and independents groups that secured a majority in local government bodies at the recently concluded Local Government (LG) election.    

Accordingly, the Election Commission has taken steps to publish the names from among the political parties and independent groups that secured a majority at the Local Government election held recently.

The names of the elected and nominated members for the respective local authorities, following the Local Government election were also published in the government gazette based on the respective administrative districts.

As per the gazette notification issued by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government on February 17, 2025, the term of office of local government bodies is scheduled to commence on June 2, 2025

පළාත් පාලන ආයතනවල සභාපතිවරුන්ගේ නම් ඇතුළත් ගැසට් පත්‍රය නිකුත් කෙරේ by poornima

Continue Reading

News

Weather Alert: Showers to ease in Southwest, strong winds forecast in North

Published

on

By

Prevailing showery condition in the southwestern part of the island is expected to reduced gradually from today (01st)

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.

Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Hambantota and Trincomalee districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Continue Reading

News

Aluthgamage and Fernando assigned printing work in prison

Published

on

By

Former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando, sentenced this week to jail for 20 and 25 years, respectively, have been assigned duties in the printing section at the Welikada prison, sources said.

Both of them are being held together away from the main section of the prison’s ‘chapel’ section, where prisoners serving life sentences and those convicted of murder and rape are held. The prison’s printing section prints its own documentation.

Prison sources said that in placing them in relevant wards to serve their jail term, the authorities had taken into consideration the security of the two convicts, as they might have had political enemies.

Mr Aluthgamage was handed a 20-year term of rigorous imprisonment, while Mr Fernando was given a 25-year term of rigorous imprisonment by a High Court trial-at-bar after being found guilty of causing a Rs 53 million loss to the state.

They were accused of importing carrom boards and checkers boards through Sathosa during the 2015 presidential elections and distributing them to clubs.

Their lawyers said yesterday they were awaiting the certified copy of the judgement to prepare the appeal papers. The appeal will be considered by the Supreme Court.

(sundaytimes.lk)
(This story, originally published by sundaytimes.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Sri Lanka Mirror. All Rights Reserved