News

Housing Ministry Secretary added to Admin Officers’ Pool

Published

3 years ago

November 14, 2022

editor

Urban Development and Housing Ministry Secretary Pradeep Rathnayake has been referred to the Pool of Administrative Officers under the Public Administration Ministry over misconduct committed when he was the Matara District Secretary.

Internal sources at the Public Administration Ministry said that this decision has been taken by the Presidential Secretariat after receiving the preliminary investigation report of the inquiry into the matter.

Mr. Ratnayake was scheduled to retire at the end of this year.

Ministry secretaries are managed through the Presidential Secretariat.

The government has focused on emptying the pool of administrative officers and the Public Administration Ministry said the officials who are in this pool will be employed in temporary positions.

Former Sports Ministry Secretary Anuradha Wijekoon was also in this pool but he was appointed as an Additional Secretary of the Public Administration Ministry recently.

Action to be taken against more..

Meanwhile, it was reported that the Ministry is focusing on transferring several senior and junior administrative officials employed in the Peliyagoda, Kelaniya, Gampaha, Wattala and Ja-ela areas over incidents of misconduct.

Most of them have been accused of complicity in granting permits to construct unauthorised buildings, endangering public health and complicity in constructing substandard roads.

Special attention has also been paid on the complaints received to the Bribery Commission via the Public Administration Ministry against these officials.

Meanwhile, a reliable source revealed that a report is being prepared at the Western Province Governor’s Office regarding the state officials who disregard the instructions of the Governor.

A special programme has also been implemented at the Presidential Secretariat to collect data of administrative officials against whom allegations have been made through the media.

News

Consultant neurosurgeon further remanded

Published

13 minutes ago

July 8, 2025

editor

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered to further remand Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne, a consultant neurosurgeon attached to the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, until July 15.

Dr. Wijeratne was previously arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and subsequently remanded.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali issued the order after considering the facts presented by officials from the CIABOC and legal representatives of the defense.

The court also ordered the release on bail of two other suspects who had been remanded over the same case.

News

Johann Peries returns after conquering highest peaks of all continents

Published

20 minutes ago

July 8, 2025

editor

Sri Lankan mountaineer Johann Peries returned to the island this morning (08) after successfully summiting Mount Denali in Alaska, completing his remarkable journey to conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents.

Starting with Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa in 2014, Johann has now achieved the prestigious Seven Summits challenge — scaling the tallest mountain on each continent. His journey includes Mount Everest (Asia), Mount Elbrus (Europe), Aconcagua (South America), Mount Vinson (Antarctica), Mount Kosciuszko (Australia), and now, Mount Denali (North America).

Johann, a professional hairdresser and entrepreneur with salons in Colombo, London, and Australia, proudly planted the Sri Lankan flag atop each summit, earning international recognition and bringing pride to the nation.

Speaking at the Katunayake Airport, he announced plans to publish a book based on his mountaineering experiences and expressed hopes of promoting Sri Lanka as a premier destination for adventure tourism.

(dailynews.lk)

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

News

Presidential Secretariat declines to disclose names of PMD officials

Published

22 minutes ago

July 8, 2025

editor

The Presidential Secretariat has informed social activist Anuruddha Bandara that the names of officials attached to the President’s Media Division (PMD) cannot be disclosed.

Senior Assistant Secretary to the President G.P.H.M. Kumarasinghe has conveyed the decision in a written response to an appeal filed by Bandara, who had sought details regarding all designations at the Presidential Secretariat, along with the names of appointees, their salaries, allowances and other benefits.

The Presidential Secretariat invoked Section 5(1)(a) of the RTI Act. Section 5(1)(a) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act No. 12 of 2016 of Sri Lanka relates to the exemptions under which a public authority may refuse to disclose information.