News

Locate, initiate extradition of Royal Park murder convict

Published

5 months ago

December 20, 2024

editor

The Attorney General has informed the Supreme Court that investigations have been launched to locate Jude Shramantha Jayamaha who was sentenced to death in connection with the Royal Park murder case.

In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court recently ruled that former President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to grant a Presidential pardon to Royal Park murder convict Don Shramantha Jude Anthony Jayamaha was arbitrary and invalid in law. The Court further directed the Attorney General and all relevant authorities to take the necessary steps to arrange Jayamaha’s extradition, as he is considered a convict on death row.

When the Fundamental Rights petition which was filed challenging former President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to grant Presidential Pardon to Royal Park murder convict was called before Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Shiran Goonaratne and Proyantha Fernando, State Counsel appeared on behalf of the Attorney General informed Court that the investigations have been initiated to locate Jude Jayamaha with assistance from Interpol.

The Women and Media Collective had filed this Fundamental Rights petition challenging the legality of former President Sirisena’s decision to grant the Presidential pardon to the Royal Park murder convict. It was revealed that Jude Jayamaha fled the country shortly after receiving the pardon. The Supreme Court had earlier issued an interim order directing the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration to prevent Don Shramantha Jude Anthony Jayamaha from leaving the country, without Court permission. However, it was revealed that Jayamaha had left the country soon after the Presidential pardon was granted.

(DailyNews)

(This story, originally published by DailyNews has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Mahindananda files anticipatory bail petition over bribery case

Published

2 hours ago

May 14, 2025

editor

Former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has filed a petition before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (May 14), seeking anticipatory bail against his possible arrest by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

The application has been filed over his possible arrest over the importation of a shipment of substandard organic fertilizer during the tenure of the previous government.

Following the submission of the petition, Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali issued a notice to the Bribery Commission, directing it to present its position regarding the matter to the court on May 19.

News

Youth Affairs Ministry denies links to NYSCO courses

Published

3 hours ago

May 14, 2025

editor

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has issued an official statement over the ministry’s name being used by courses and programmes of the National Youth Services Cooperative (NYSCO).

The ministry states that NYSCO has been unauthorizedly using its name and the official state emblem to promote their courses and while using them in the relevant certificates as well.

The ministry says that they have also appointed a separate committee to investigate the issue, on the directives of the COPE committee.

The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs further reiterated that it is not affiliated with any of the courses or programmes offered by NYSCO.

The full statement issued in this regard, is as follows :

තරුණ_කටයුතු_සහ_ක්_රීඩා_අමාත්_යාංශය Download

News

Divisional Secretariats to disburse financial assistance for Kotmale bus accident victims

Published

3 hours ago

May 14, 2025

editor

On the instructions of President Anura Kumara Disanayake, the funds allocated from the President’s Fund for those who lost their lives in the recent bus accident in the Garandi Ella area, Kotmale have now been forwarded to the relevant Divisional Secretariats.

Accordingly, a sum of Rs. 1 million will be provided for each individual who lost their life in the accident, and the funds will be handed over to their respective family members.

These funds have been released to the Divisional Secretariats of the following areas -Tissamaharama, Lunugamvehera, Welimada, Haldummulla, Ella, Kundasale, Bamunakotuwa, Paduwasnuwara West, Polpithigama, Wanathawilluwa, Chilaw, Buttala, Thanamalwila, Wellawaya, Kanthale and Rambewa where the 22 individuals who lost their lives in the accident were residents.

(President’s Media Division)