It has been reported that Dishan Wickramaratne Gunasekara – the Basnayake Nilame of the historic Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya, is facing pressure including from several parties including political circles to withdraw his complaint lodged against the custodians (Kapu Mahattaya) of the devalaya.

The issue had arisen after it was discovered that some custodians were collecting money into their own tills instead of allowing them to be deposited in the official donation box.

Public discussion about the transparency of the temple’s donations intensified after the Basnayake Nilame had begun using a portion of the funds for community projects like hospital construction.

Traditionally, devotees often handed donations directly to the custodians, but the Basnayake Nilame had urged the public via media to place offerings only in the official donation box managed by the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.

He subsequently arranged a proper audit of all such donations for the first time.

In response, some custodians had reportedly begun pressuring devotees near the official box to hand over donations to them instead.

Upon learning of this, the Basnayake Nilame had lodged a complaint with the Kataragama Police, arguing that diverting funds from the official box amounts to fraudulent misappropriation.

Acting on the complaint, police arrested 02 custodians who were collecting offerings near the official box.

However, other custodians then surrounded the police station and pressured the officers to release the arrested individuals, resulting in their release.

03 close associates of a former Presidential Director General (DG) have been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over the illegal land grabbing within the Haldummulla Bogahapelessa Reserve, which straddles the Badulla and Monaragala district border.

Investigations revealed that these lands were unlawfully occupied through political influence, with the former DG allegedly connected to the act.

Following a CID probe, the individuals were arrested as main suspects.

It is reported that one of those arrested is a female, while another had previously served as the former DG’s private secretary.

(Source: Silumina)

A tense situation arose yesterday (July 04) when officials from Sri Lanka Port Management and Consultancy Services (Private) Ltd., accompanied by police officers, arrived to remove unauthorized stalls at Galle Face, Colombo.

The removal was part of an effort to ensure that trading activities in the area are conducted safely and with the necessary approval from public health inspectors.

However, traders who have been operating in the area for some time strongly opposed the decision.

The traders explained that they had been trading at this location for some time, but the officials were preparing to remove themselves from the location, saying that they needed to obtain certificates from public health inspectors.

Following discussions at the site, officials informed the traders that they would be permitted to continue their business until this Sunday.