Several spells of showers will occur in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts today (July 08), the Department of Meteorology said.

A few showers may occur in the North-western province as well.

Meanwhile, strong winds of about 40-50kmph can be expected at times over the Western slopes of the central hills and in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in the Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.

The Election Commission has officially gazetted Ushettige Don Nishantha Jayaweera as a Member of Parliament representing the National People’s Power (NPP). 

This appointment has been made to fill the parliamentary vacancy created by the recent resignation of Harshana Suriyapperuma, the Election Commission said.

Dr Suriyapperuma was recently sworn in as the new Secretary to the Ministry of Finance after resigning from Parliament.

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An Inland Revenue Department (IRD) Deputy Commissioner has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) for allegedly soliciting a bribe of Rs. 50,000 from a businessman.

According to investigations, the IRD officer had demanded a bribe from a businessman in Piliyandala in order to issue a tax clearance report for his business located in Dematagoda.

It is reported that the officer had initially demanded Rs. 100,000, but the amount was later reduced to Rs. 50,000 after negotiations. The businessman had already paid an advance of Rs. 42,000 on July 03, reports add.

CIABOC officials had nabbed him while accepting the balance Rs. 8,000 in cash, at the IRD office on Jawatte Road in Colombo.

The suspect is to be produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.