One of the daughters of former Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella who was granted bail today, has been remanded after failing to fulfill the bail conditions.
Presviously today, two daughters and the son-in-law of former Minister Rambukwella, who were arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), were granted bail.
Each suspect was ordered to be released on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 and three surety bails amounting to Rs. 5 million each.Meanwhile, earlier today, former Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella, his wife Kusum Priyadarshini Epa and a daughter were released on bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court after fulfilling bail conditions.
(Previous News on 19th June 2025 at 4:18pm)
Keheliya, wife & daughter bailed ; more family members arrested
Former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, along with his wife and daughter, has been released from remand custody after fulfilling bail conditions, as ordered by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (June 19).
Keheliya, his wife Kusum Priyadarshini Epa, and their daughter Chandula Ramali Rambukwella, were arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and later granted bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday. However, they were remanded due to their failure to fulfill the bail conditions.
Meanwhile, Two daughters and the son-in-law of Keheliya Rambukwella were arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) today (June 19).
Chamithri Rambukwella, Amali Rambukwella and her husband Isuru Pulasthi Bandara have been arrested in this manner.
They are implicated in the investigation into undeclared assets worth over Rs. 134 million which includes a house valued Rs. 40 million and a van and a motor vehicle worth Rs. Rs. 20.5 million.
As part of the ongoing investigation, several fixed deposit accounts and approximately 40 life insurance investment plans have also been suspended.
They are scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.
Chairman of the All-Ceylon Egg Producers’ Association, R.M. Sarath Rathnayake has said new measures to announce daily standardized egg prices will be introduced from next Monday (June 23) to ensure fair pricing for consumers.
The prices covering wholesale, retail, and intermediary rates will be communicated daily at 5.00am via SMS to small, medium, and large-scale egg producers, as well as bakery owners, food manufacturers, and hotels through the number 070-7030700.
He warned of recent practices where eggs were bought at Rs.15-18 and stockpiled, stating such actions will no longer be tolerated.
He also criticized groups posing as “egg associations” without actual farming experience.
The cost of producing an egg is around Rs.28 for large farms, Rs.29-30 for medium range farms, and Rs.32 for small-scale producers, he further said.
Speaker of Parliament – Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne endorsed the certificate on the National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill) yesterday (June 19).
This Bill was presented in Parliament on 08th May 2025 to amend several provisions of the National Transport Commission Act, No. 37 of 1991, to update and adapt them to the current needs in order to provide solutions to several practical issues identified in the transport sector and to regulate several transport sectors that are currently not regulated. Accordingly, this Bill was passed after the Second Reading debate in Parliament on 05th June 2025.
Expressing his views on the bill, the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation – Bimal Ratnayake, said that before the amendment of this bill, the National Transport Commission was only able to regulate interprovincial private bus services.
However, the Minister stated that this bill has been amended in a way that allows the National Transport Commission to regulate school vans, office vans, three-wheelers and other vehicles including goods transport institutions and to establish new institutions required for that purpose.
The Minister further stated that the Amendment Bill will remove the legal obstacle currently preventing the buyer from obtaining ownership when purchasing a bus with a road permit.
Accordingly, this Bill shall come into force as the National Transport Commission (Amendment) Act, No. 8 of 2025.
Police report that nearly 2,000 individuals have lost their lives in fatal road accidents during the first 06 months of 2025.
He pointed out that January 01 – June 15, 2025, a total of 1,133 fatal accidents were reported, resulting in the deaths of nearly 2,000 individuals.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the Department of Government Information, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police for Traffic Control and Road Safety, Indika Hapugoda has stated that the primary causes of these accidents are unroadworthy vehicles and reckless driving.
He added that 7,152 people suffered serious injuries from road accidents last year, in addition to the fatalities.
DIG Hapugoda further noted that starting July 01, 2025, authorities will begin removing unauthorized and unnecessary vehicle modifications and spare parts, which contribute to traffic hazards.
He further announced that, starting July 1, 2025, authorities will begin removing unauthorized and unnecessary vehicle modifications and spare parts, which contribute to traffic hazards.
