News

Prisons Chief Thushara Upuldeniya before Colombo Magistrate’s Court today

Published

6 hours ago

June 10, 2025

editor

The Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya was arrested yesterday (June 9) over explosive allegations of illegally granting a presidential pardon to a high-profile inmate and is set to appear before Colombo Magistrate’s Court today.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) took Upuldeniya into custody following a probe into claims that he abused presidential pardon powers to secure the early release of a prisoner under questionable circumstances.

A police spokesperson confirmed the arrest, stating that Upuldeniya had been questioned for three straight days before being detained. Investigators allege he bypassed legal protocols in facilitating the inmate’s release.

In a dramatic late-night development, the Cabinet—chaired by the President—moved swiftly to suspend Upuldeniya, citing concerns that his continued role could obstruct justice. “This decision ensures investigations remain impartial,” an official statement noted.

Nishan Dhanasinghe, Additional Secretary of the Judicial Ministry’s Prisons Division, has been named acting Commissioner General amid the unfolding scandal.

Entertainment

“The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida” wins French literary prize

Published

51 minutes ago

June 10, 2025

editor

Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka has won the 8th Émile Guimet Prize for Asian Literature for the French translation of his novel “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida”.

According to the Sri Lankan Embassy in France, Karunatilaka was awarded the French literary prize by the Guimet Museum on June 05.

“The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida”, was translated from English by Xavier Gros and published in French by Calmann Lévy in 2024.

The president of the Guimet Museum, Yannick Lintz, in a statement, praised the work’s “literary invention of universal dimension” and “the modernity and radicalism of its writing.”

“The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida” also won the prestigious Booker Prize in 2022.

Congratulations to #SriLankan writer Shehan Karunatilaka on winning the 8th Emile Guimet Prize for Asian Literature for his novel “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida” awarded by the Guimet Museum on Thursday 5 June 2025. Karunatilaka’s novel also won the prestigious #BookerPrize in… pic.twitter.com/fs4zjaQ565
— Sri Lanka in France 🇱🇰 (@SLinFrance) June 9, 2025

News

10-hr. water cut tomorrow in Gampaha District

Published

1 hour ago

June 10, 2025

editor

A 10-hour water cut will be imposed in several areas in the Gampaha District tomorrow (June 11), the National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWSDB) has announced.

Accordingly, the water supply to the Peliyagoda, Wattala, Ja-Ela and the Katunayake-Seeduwa Urban Council areas and Kelaniya, Biyagama, Mahara, Dompe, Katana, Minuwangoda and Gampaha Pradeshiya Sabha areas will be suspended from 08:30am – 06:30pm tomorrow, the NWSDB said.

The NWSDB noted that the water cut is being imposed to facilitate the connection of the solar grid at the Biyagama Water Treatment Plant to the main grid and also to carry out essential maintenance activities.

News

First Dy. Managing Director of IMF to visit Sri Lanka

Published

1 hour ago

June 10, 2025

editor

Dr. Gita Gopinath, the First Deputy Managing Director (FDMD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka from June 15 -16, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka states.

The CBSL adds : This visit is significant, as it marks the first time since 2005 that a serving FDMD of the IMF visits Sri Lanka. During this visit, Dr. Gopinath will be the guest of honour at the conference on “Sri Lanka’s Road to Recovery: Debt and Governance”, jointly co-hosted by the Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the IMF, scheduled to be held on 16 June 2025. At the mid-point of the IMF-supported reform programme, the conference aims to reflect upon the lessons learnt from Sri Lanka’s experience in restoring macroeconomic stability, implementing debt restructuring and governance reforms, and to focus on the challenges ahead. Additionally, FDMD is expected to hold bilateral discussions with the Sri Lankan authorities and several key stakeholders on the IMF’s engagement with Sri Lanka.