The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne, a consultant neurosurgeon at Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, who was arrested and remanded in connection with alleged medical equipment fraud.

Colombo Chief Magistrate -Thanuja Lakmali Jayatunga issued the order today (July 15) after considering submissions made by officials from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and the defense counsel.

Dr. Wijeratne was released on a cash bail of Rs.50,000 and 02 sureties of Rs.05 million each.

The court also imposed additional conditions, prohibiting her from entering the premises of the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital and from traveling overseas.

A meeting between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) Sultan A. Al-Marshad was held yesterday afternoon (14) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The primary focus of the discussion was to assess the current progress of projects implemented with assistance from the Saudi Fund for Development and to identify opportunities for new initiatives.

During the meeting, extensive discussions were held on the support provided by the Saudi Fund to Sri Lanka. The Fund also expressed its willingness to place greater emphasis on digitalization, recognizing its importance in strengthening and enhancing the efficiency of key public services.

The discussions also focused on the continued implementation of the projects currently underway in Sri Lanka with the support of the Saudi Fund for Development.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake recalled the long-standing friendship between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia and expressed his gratitude for the unconditional support extended by Saudi Arabia during Sri Lanka’s recent economic crisis.

The President stated that the assistance provided by the Saudi Fund for Development for new projects would be allocated based on the priorities of the people and directed toward meeting those identified needs.

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Sri Lanka, H.E. Khalid Hamoud Nasser Aldasam Alkahtani, along with Director General of Asia Operations Saudi Fund for Development Dr. Saud Ayid Al-Shammari and a delegation of representatives from the Fund, participated in this occasion.

Representing the Government of Sri Lanka, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister Economic Development Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma and Director General of the Department of External Resources R.M.S.P.S. Bandara participated in the occasion.

(President’s Media Division)

Kadawatha Police have launched an investigation into a shooting incident in which 05 gunshots were fired at a house near the Techno Junction in Kadawatha.

The premises is reported to be the temporary residence of social activist – Sanjaya Mahawatta.

According to Mahawatta, he has filed about 15 complaints with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and around 20 complaints with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), resulting in the arrests of over 15 individuals to date.

However, he claims that nearly 100 accused persons named in these complaints are yet to be arrested.

Mahawatta further stated that some of these complaints involve former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Sampath Bank, LOLC subsidiary – Browns Engineering & Construction, and Union Chemists (Pvt) Ltd – matters which he says he has already brought before the attention of the police.

Meanwhile, he highlighted that one complaint relates to the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) purchasing the drug ‘Paper in Hydrochloric 16mg’ from Union Chemists (Pvt) Ltd at a cost of Rs. 76,000.

In connection with this complaint, the CID reportedly recorded statements last week from SPC Chairman – Shalan Rodrigo and another individual.