News

Five Cargills employees arrested; 2 more to be arrested

Published

2 years ago

September 25, 2023

editor

Five people were arrested in connection with the incident of brutally assaulting a young woman at one of the Cargills Foodcity supermarket outlets, the Borella Police said.

The attack took place inside the supermarket on Cotta Road in Borella.

Initial police investigations revealed that the girl was attacked for allegedly stealing chocolates from the store on the 18th.

Meanwhile, it was reported that two more employees are to be arrested.

Investigations are being conducted on the instructions of Borella Police OIC Chief Inspector Janaka Priyadarshana Withanage.

Why did employees become violent?

Meanwhile, social media platforms were alive with conversations on how some factions in the society were attempting to justify the attack.

Some media organizations have published the news without mentioning the name of the institution where the attack took place.

However, Cargills employees have been heavily criticized for taking the law into their own hands.

Meanwhile, human rights organizations and consumer rights protection organizations pointed out that Cargills Foodcity’s strict management has led to the employees’ violent behaviour.

Sri Lanka Mirror was able to reveal that the employees are under immense pressure due to the ‘strict’ rules imposed by the management of Cargills Foodcity on its employees.

Mentioned below are some of the rules and regulations imposed on the employees by the Cargills Foodcity.

1. If any of the items packed in Cargills Food City are missing, the employees will bear the responsibility and the value will be deducted from their wages.

2. Cargills Foodcity will give a certain amount (1000/-) to the cashiers in the morning and if there is a shortfall in that amount after the balancing books at the end of the day, it should be recovered from their salary or in some other way.

3. All the employees have been assigned certain shelves in the Food City and they should bear the responsibility for the assigned shelves.

4. Even if the employees are given leave, it is difficult for them to get a leave on the required day.

5. Cargills also cut and sell vegetables, meat and fish and they are being prepared by the employees. It is said that they often have to cut pieces from items that are about to expire, and therefore, the task is unpleasant.

6. Although the working hours are from 7 am to 9 pm, the work shift in some Cargills Food City outlets ends at around 11 pm.

News

700,000 postal voting applications for LG Polls

Published

27 minutes ago

April 3, 2025

editor

The Election Commission has received nearly 700,000 applications for postal voting at the upcoming Local Government (LG) Elections.

The application process for those eligible to vote by mail commenced on March 03 and concluded on March 17.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission announced that the process of compiling information on public officials assigned for election duties is nearing completion.

Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake urged any public officials who have yet to submit their details to do so immediately. Such officials must forward their information, along with the recommendations of their institution’s head, to the District Election Office in their respective districts.

News

Probe into misuse of Presidential Fund

Published

44 minutes ago

April 3, 2025

editor

The Financial and Commercial Crime Investigation Division (FCCID) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has initiated an investigation into 22 former Ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs) concerning funds they allegedly received from the Presidential Fund between 2008 and 2024.

Police said that 22 files related to the disbursement of these funds were being examined by the CID.

Preliminary investigations revealed that over Rs. Rs. 100 million have been received by the twenty two former Ministers and MPs in various amounts, and investigations are being carried out as to whether any irregularity has occurred in receiving the money.

As part of the investigation, CID officers have sought approval from the Fort Magistrate’s Court on April 2, 2025, to access details of the checks issued from the Presidential Fund account.

Earlier, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa revealed in Parliament that 36 former Ministers and MPs had received Rs. 112.5 million from the Presidential Fund between 2005 and 2024.

Among those named, former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella received Rs. 11 million, former Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne received Rs. 10 million, late Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne received Rs. 30 million, and former MP Ranjith De Zoysa received Rs. 18 million.

Other individuals who reportedly received financial assistance include Vasudewa Nanayakkara, Widura Wickremanayake, Wimala Dissanayake, Sumeda Jayasena, S.B. Nawinna, John Amaratunga, Sarath Amungama, P. Harrison, Piyasena Gamage, Manoj Sirisena, P. Dayaratane, and S.C. Muthukumarana.

(dailymirror.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

BIZ

‘Beedi’ tax upped

Published

51 minutes ago

April 3, 2025

editor

The Ministry of Finance has increased the Tobacco Tax on all ‘Beedi’ products,with effective from yesterday (April 02).

Accordingly, the relevant tax will be increased from Rs. 02 to Rs. 03, resulting in the price hike of a rupee.