News

NLB warns public of illegal lottery betting

Published

1 month ago

April 12, 2025

editor

The Bibila Magistrate’s Court has sentenced 02 men to 10 months of rigorous imprisonment after they were found guilty of operating an illegal lottery betting den.

The illegal operations had been conducted using the last two numbers of the Mahajana Sampatha lottery of the National Lotteries Board (NLB).

These activities had taken place in the Meegahawathura and Miyanakandura police jurisdictions.

Meanwhile, the NLB has warned of this illegal gambling operation known as “box cutting” where individuals attempt to profit by guessing the winning numbers of the Mahajana Sampatha lottery using only the last two digits of the drawn numbers.

In a statement the NLB has urged the public not to fall victim to this scheme, highlighting that such activities are entirely unlawful and that participants do not contribute to any form of public service or national development.

According to the NLB, several individuals have already been arrested during raids carried out in connection to these gambling activities with legal redress sought against them.

News

Mahindananda files anticipatory bail petition over bribery case

Published

17 minutes 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

20 minutes 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

Financial assistance for Kotmale bus accident victims to be disbursed through Divisional Secretariats

Published

31 minutes 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)