News

Resignation of Mullaitivu Judge raises concern: Jurist

Published

2 years ago

October 2, 2023

editor

The resignation of Sri Lankan Judge T. Saravanaraja raises serious questions about the independence of the judiciary in Sri Lanka, the Jurist Website said.

In the resignation letter, addressed to the Secretary of Sri Lanka’s Judicial Services Commission, Judge Saravanaraja cited the “threat of my life and … [a] lot of stress” as the reasons for his decision to step down.

Saravanaraja was a judge in the Mullaitivu District. Notably, Saravanaraja had recently presided over two significant cases, the website said.

“The first case involved a dispute over a religious site, Kurunthamalai. Saravanaraja ordered the removal of recently erected structures, including an unlawfully constructed Buddhist shrine situated atop Kurunthamalai.

“The second case pertained to the Sri Lankan government’s stifling of a memorial event honoring a deceased member of the LTTE. Additionally, in July 2023, Saravanaraja ordered excavations at a mass grave site in Kokkuthoduvai, adding to the growing list of sensitive issues in the region.

“Saravanaraja alleged that a senior official from the Attorney General’s Department invited him to his office on September 21 and, during that meeting, compelled him to reverse his order in the Kurunthurmalai case.

“Furthermore, Saravanaraja claimed that Sri Lankan Members of Parliament Sarath Weerasekera and other politicians threatened his life.

“The judge also said that his police protection presence had been reduced while intelligence officers continued to surveil him. Lastly, the judge stated that two cases were filed against him personally in Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeals in connection to his decision on the Kurunthamalai case,” the Jurist said.

News

Worker remittances up by nearly 18% in May

Published

5 minutes ago

July 1, 2025

editor

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) reports a 17.9% increase in foreign worker remittances for May 2025, bringing total remittances for the January–May period to US$ 3.1 billion.

Tourism earnings for May are estimated at US$ 164 million, contributing to a cumulative total of US$ 1.5 billion over the past year—highlighting a steady recovery in the tourism sector.

In terms of imports, US$ 118 million was spent on vehicle imports in May, with a total of US$ 312 million recorded from January to May 2025.

Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves remain stable at US$ 6.3 billion, maintaining the same level as in April.

On the domestic front, construction activity rebounded in May after a slowdown in April due to the festive season. The Sri Lanka Buyers Index rose to 59.7 points, signaling increased activity—especially in road development, which saw a notable rise in new project awards.

(dailynews.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

Entertainment

Sri Lanka’s first Hollywood starlet bids adieu

Published

15 minutes ago

July 1, 2025

editor

Maureen Nelia Ballardney Hingert, Sri Lanka’s first beauty queen to act in Hollywood, has passed away at the age of 88.

The news was announced by former Miss Sri Lanka and actress Angela Seneviratne via Facebook.

Maureen made history by winning the Miss Ceylon title in 1955 and went on to represent the country at the Miss Universe pageant, where she was crowned second runner-up – a milestone achievement at the time.

Following her success, she entered the film industry and starred in several Hollywood productions. In 1958, she appeared in the film Gun Fever, and a photograph from the movie shoot was later published in Playboy magazine in September 1957 – making her the first and only Sri Lankan woman to be featured in the magazine.

She signed with major studios like 20th Century Fox and Universal International Studios, and her filmography includes titles such as The King and I, Fort Bowie, The Rawhide Trail, Gunman from Laredo, Pillars of the Sky, and The Adventures of Hiram Holiday, among others.

During her peak, she was regarded as one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood.

Maureen married Marion Zamperelli in 1958, later separating in 1970, and married William J. Ballard in 1976.

She had two children, and after the tragic passing of her daughter due to cancer, Maureen chose to live a private life away from the public eye in Los Angeles, where she remained until her death.