Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawala issued orders to several mobile network companies yesterday (20) to immediately hand over the phone records of four people including the wife of Janashakthi Company Director Dinesh Schaffter to the Borella Police in connection with Schaffter’s murder.
Filing a motion in the court, the Borella Police requested the Magistrate to issue an order to obtain phone records of these suspects.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had taken statements from Mr. Schaffter’s wife Tania for nearly three hours.
Accordingly, the court ordered to obtain the phone analysis reports of Ms.Schaffter, Janashakti Director Chris Perera, an office assistant and a worker at the Borella Cemetery.
Analysis reports have been called regarding the calls made and received on their phones from December 1st to December 16th.
Dinesh Schaffter was found killed inside his car at the Borella Cemetery on December 15th.
Based on the initial information into the incident, the court called for the phone analysis reports of cricket commentator Brian Thomas.
A court order was also issued prohibiting Mr. Thomas from travelling abroad.
Monara TV, launched with much fanfare just a year ago under the Swarnavahini media network, has reportedly shut down operations.
Employees have been informed that the closure is temporary, citing the need to resolve certain administrative issues.
The channel, led by Buddhika Wickramadhara, was ceremonially launched on June 25, 2024, with a grand event at Waters Edge.
Producers who supplied teledramas to Monara TV say they are owed nearly Rs.200 million in unpaid dues.
Meanwhile, it is reported that the parent Swarnavahini TV channel is also reportedly grappling with a serious financial crisis, paying teledrama producers only after 60 episodes are broadcast.
Producers claim they are compelled to wait about 03 months to recover an investment of around Rs.15 million per teledrama. Even then, payments are made in small portions, covering just 05 episodes at a time.
Producers who supplied teledramas before the appointment of Mr. Susara Dinal as CEO say it is even harder to claim their outstanding payments, as they have been asked to recover the dues from former CEO – Udara Wijesinghe.
The Swarnavahini Media Network is owned by Subaskaran Allirajah – Chairman of Lyca Group, which also owns Lycamobile, a global telecommunications company.
A young woman was found in the Dewipahala-Dodam Ella area in Kuruwita, after being brutally attacked and her gold necklace stolen
According to the police, the victim was found collapsed on the roadside with severe neck injuries caused by a sharp weapon. She was rushed to the Ratnapura Hospital but succumbed to her injuries shortly after admission.
The victim has been identified as a 26-year-old.
Arrests are yet to be made and an investigation is underway.
