There is an urgent need to introduce new buses to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus fleet, as nearly 52% of the regular bus fleet of the Sri Lanka Transport Board and nearly 94% of the luxury bus fleet have exceeded the economic life span. 

As to the insufficient buses to meet the passenger demand on the expressway, the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) is currently operating 61 luxury buses belonging to the private sector on a profit-sharing basis. 

Therefore, the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has decided to purchase 200 new super-luxury buses by using their own funds. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, Port and Civil Aviation to purchase 29 super luxury buses through the financially capable depots and to purchase the remaining buses by making a down payment using SLTB funds and the balance to be paid in monthly instalments over a period of 5 years.

Suspended Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya, has been further remanded until July 09.

The order was issued by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court after considering the submissions made by Deputy Solicitor General Suharshi Herath, who appeared on behalf of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and President’s Counsel Sarath Jayamanne, who appeared on behalf of the defense.

The CID arrested Thushara Upuldeniya on June 09, in connection with investigations into allegations that he aided and abetted the unlawful release of an inmate from Anuradhapura Prison under the Presidential Pardon granted for Vesak Poya.

The Committee of Inquiry to inquire and report its findings on IGP T. M. W. Deshabandhu Tennakoon in respect of acts of gross abuse of power concluded recording witness testimonies from the respondent IGP’s witness list today (June 25).

Although Attorney-at-Law R.S. Weerawikrama, representing the respondent IGP, previously stated that 15 witnesses, including the IGP himself, were scheduled to testify, he later informed the Committee that no further witnesses from the list would testify after two additional witnesses gave evidence today.

As a result, although the remaining witnesses appeared before the Committee, they were released based on the recommendation of the Committee, which convened under the chairmanship of Supreme Court Justice P.P. Surasena, with the participation of Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawala and Chairman of the National Police Commission E.W.M. Lalith Ekanayake. Accordingly, evidence was recorded from only 7 witnesses on the respondent’s list, marking the conclusion of the respondent’s side of the proceedings.

Two other witnesses of the prosecution, who were abroad on official duties, are scheduled to provide testimony after June 26. This was agreed upon by both parties represented by Additional Solicitor General and President’s Counsel Dileepa Peiris and Deputy Solicitor General Rajitha Perera from the Attorney General’s Department, as well as the respondent’s legal counsel. It was decided that the Committee would reconvene on July 1, 2025, at 9:30 am to record these remaining testimonies.

Subsequently, both parties agreed to submit their written submissions to the Committee by 3:30 p. on July 8, 2025.