News

Onmax Sandaruwan transfers 20 lands to wife & friend

Published

2 years ago

September 5, 2023

editor

Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis issued orders to the Land Registrar’s Office yesterday (04) prohibiting the alienation, sale and transfer of properties belonging to Sampath Sandaruwan, one of the board members of Onmax D.T.

It was revealed in the court that the value of the properties owned by Sandaruwan is Rs.630 million.

The Magistrate issued the orders to the land registrars of Matara, Kalutara, Hambantota and Kadawatha.

After the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) received information that eight lands belonging to the suspect were transferred to his wife and 12 lands to his friend on the same day, the court issued orders prohibiting the transfer of land.

Accordingly, six lands in Matara, two lands in Hambantota, 10 lands in Kalutara and two lands in Kadawatha were prohibited from being transferred.

The CID informed the court that according to the bank account records, Rs.790 million was found in the accounts banned by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Accordingly, it was revealed that Rs.550 million was found in 16 bank accounts of Sampath Sandaruwan, Rs.20 million in the bank account of Athula Indika, Rs.110 million in the bank account of Dhananjaya Jayanath, Rs.180 million in the bank account of Saranga Jayanath and Rs.20 million in the bank account of Gayashan.

An investigation called Block Chain Analysis was conducted together with the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank and it was found that the last account (wallet) through which this money flows is under the name of a Sri Lankan and not an Australian.

The CID said that this company has earned 100 million US Dollars from illegal pyramid deals. The court has already issued orders prohibiting six directors of the company from travelling abroad.

News

Train services operate as usual from today

Published

4 minutes ago

May 14, 2025

editor

Starting today (May 14), train services will operate as usual, according to the Locomotive Operating Engineers’ Union of Sri Lanka Railways.

Due to a shortage of train drivers and their leave requests, about 23 train services were canceled over the past 02 days, affecting key routes like the Main, Coastal, Puttalam, and Kelani Valley lines.

The Railway Drivers Association claims that the cancellation of trains is primarily due to the government and the administration’s failure to address the long-standing shortage of railway drivers.

News

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith meets Pope Leo XIV (Pics)

Published

4 hours ago

May 14, 2025

editor

The Archbishop of Colombo – Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, has met the newly appointed Pope Robert Prevost.

The Archdiocese of Colombo shared pictures on social media of Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and Pope Robert Prevost engaging in cordial discussions.

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith met with the new Pope following his participation in the Papal Conclave in the Vatican City to elect a new Pope.

(Pics : FB page of News – Archdiocese of Colombo)

News

High blood pressure causes 70% of deaths in SL – MOH

Published

4 hours ago

May 14, 2025

editor

Around 70% of all deaths in Sri Lanka are linked to complications from high blood pressure, according to the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Unit at the Ministry of Health.

Consultant Dr. Samindhi Samarakoon from the NCD Unit stated that a 2021 national survey found 34.8% of Sri Lanka’s population suffers from high blood pressure.

Alarmingly, 64% of those diagnosed are not on any form of medication, she added.

“Most of the time, there are no early symptoms. Often, the first sign is a stroke. Sometimes, it appears as a heart attack. Hypertension is also a leading cause of kidney diseases,” Dr. Samarakoon explained.

We do a survey every five years on Non-Communicable Disease. According to the 2021 survey data, around 70% of deaths in the country are caused by conditions related to high blood pressure, only 18% of people with hypertension were aware of their condition, with 54.7% of diagnosed cases being newly identified. Alarmingly, just 14% of those diagnosed had their blood pressure under control, highlighting a very serious situation.

Dr. Samarakoon emphasized the importance of prevention and early detection, noting that while ‘Suwadivi’ clinics are available in addition to hospitals, patient turnout remains very low; she stressed the need for annual blood pressure checks, highlighted the harmful effects of smoking and alcohol – particularly among men – and underscored the importance of regular physical activity.