News

Easter attacks: SC orders to recall defence over acquittal of Pujith & Hemasiri

Published

8 months ago

November 5, 2024

editor

The Supreme Court has ordered the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar to recall the defence following an appeal filed by the Attorney General (AG) challenging the verdict issued by Colombo High Court to acquit former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former IGP Pujith Jayasundara from the charges of failure to prevent 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks despite receiving prior information.

The appeal was filed against the verdict issued by the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar to acquit the former Defence Secretary and the former IGP from the charges of Criminal dereliction of duty and murder through their failure to prevent 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks despite receiving information prior to the attacks.

This decision was taken by the five-member Supreme Court judge bench led by Justices Preethi Padman Surasena following an extended hearing of the relevant appeal filed by the AG.

The Colombo High Court had earlier ordered to acquit and release Hemasiri Fernando and Pujith Jayasundara without calling for defense testimonies, following the hearing of a case filed by the Attorney General.

The AG had later filed this appeal with the Supreme Court challenging the Colombo HC’s decision, seeking to invalidate the relevant verdict and for it to be declared unlawful.

Following the hearing of the appeal, the Supreme Court judge bench declared that the High Court should have called for defense during the hearings of the case.

(adaderana.lk)

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

BIZ

Lanka IOC donates Rs. 100 mn. to the President’s Fund

Published

5 hours ago

July 4, 2025

editor

The Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) has donated Rs. 100 million to the President’s Fund.

Mr. Dipak Das, Managing Director of Lanka Indian Oil Company, handed over the relevant cheque to Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, at the Presidential Secretariat today (July 04).

It is noteworthy that this donation is in addition to the contributions Lanka Indian Oil Company already makes to the education, health and cultural sectors in the country.

Mr. Roshan Gamage, Senior Additional Secretary to the President and a group of representatives from Lanka Indian Oil Company were also present at the occasion.

Mr. Das was a part of the CEOs delegation of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) who was in Colombo from June 29 – July 02.

News

Bus veers off road and crashes into a tree (Pics)

Published

6 hours ago

July 4, 2025

editor

A Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus has veered off the road and crashed into a tree near the Deduru Oya bridge along the Chilaw – Puttalam Road.

It is reported that the accident took place around 11.30 am today (July 04) while the bus was plying from Point Pedro to Colombo.

Injured passengers in the accident have been admitted to the Chilaw General Hospital.

(Pics : Facebook)

News

S.M. Chandrasena remanded (Update)

Published

6 hours ago

July 4, 2025

editor

Former Minister S.M. Chandrasena, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) earlier today (July 04), has been remanded until July 18th.

(Previous news 2025 July 04 – 10.49.am)

Ex-Minister S.M. Chandrasena arrested

Former Minister – S.M. Chandrasena has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) a short while ago.

Chandrasena had appeared before the CIABOC today (July 04) to record a statement.