News

Misuse of plantation funds and lands exposed!

Published

1 month ago

March 15, 2025

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Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure – Samantha Vidyarathna has alleged that numerous associates and officials, including former ministers, have recently received substantial sums of money and government lands under the pretext of various cultivation projects, which were subsequently not implemented.

Speaking in Parliament, Vidyaratne announced that investigations will be initiated into these matters.

Minister Vidyarathna accused former Minister Salinda Dissanayake of acquiring 76 acres of fertile land from the Kurunegala Plantation Company through a company the latter had personally established.

Additionally, he claimed that a friend of former Minister Arundika Fernando was allocated 21 acres of fertile land belonging to the same company, misrepresented as barren land, with the transaction allegedly authorized by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Minister further alleged that Anoma Gamage, wife of former Primary Industries Minister Daya Gamage, received 14 million rupees purportedly for an agricultural project, which was never executed.

These allegations were presented during the debate on the expenditure head of the Ministry of Plantations and Community Infrastructure.

He also stated that former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda was granted 18 million rupees for a cultivation project, and that 8.2 million rupees were given to the son of former Ministry Secretary Bandula Wickramarachchi for a similar initiative.

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Weather advisory for severe lightning & heavy rain

Published

2 hours ago

April 22, 2025

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The Department of Meteorology has issued a warning for strong lightning and heavy rain in several parts of the country, effective until 11:00 pm today (April 22).

Thundershowers accompanied by intense lightning are expected this evening and tonight in the Eastern, Uva, Central, and Northern provinces, as well as in the Hambantota and Polonnaruwa districts.

Temporary strong winds may also occur during these storms.

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Police appoints committee to study PCOI report on Easter Sunday bombings

Published

2 hours ago

April 22, 2025

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Sri Lanka Police have appointed a four-member committee to study the final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Easter Sunday bomb attacks.

According to Police Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manathunga, the committee is headed by a Senior DIG, Asanka Karawita.

The remaining members consist of the DIG in charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Director of the CID, and the Director of the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID).

He added that several more sub-committees have been appointed under the purview of the main committee.

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Pope Francis’s funeral on April 26

Published

5 hours ago

April 22, 2025

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Pope Francis’s funeral will take place on Saturday (April 26) at 10:00 local time (09:00 BST, 08:00 GMT), the Vatican confirms.

The funeral will take place outdoors in front of St Peter’s Basilica.

The dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, will lead the service.

At the end of the funeral, Re will deliver the final commendation – a concluding prayer where the Pope will be formally entrusted to God – and the body moved to St Mary Major for the burial.

The Vatican has also released images of Pope Francis in an open coffin, dressed in a red robe with the papal mitre on his head and a rosary in his hand.

He will be taken to St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning (April 23), where his casket will remain until burial for the public to pay their respects.

The Pope’s coffin will be there until the burial for the public to pay their respects.

His body is currently laid out in a coffin in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence, where he lived during his 12-year papacy.

The pontiff’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief from Catholics across the globe. From South Sudan to Argentina, Poland to the Philippines.

(BBC News)