News

Schaffter’s body exhumed

Published

2 years ago

May 25, 2023

editor

The body of late Janashakthi Group Director Dinesh Schaffter was exhumed under special police protection at the Borella Cemetery today.

The body has been identified by Mr. Schaffter’s father Chandra and brother Ramesh.

Mr.Schaffter’s body was exhumed under the supervision of Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya.

The five-member panel of medical experts appointed to investigate Mr. Schaffter’s death requested the Colombo Magistrate’s Court to exhume his body in order to find the cause of death.

Even though the court has informed that the exhumation of the body should be carried out openly, the journalists said that the police prevented the journalists from entering the cemetery.

However, the journalists have been allowed to enter the cemetery after a while and they have been stationed 30 meters away from the exhumation site.

Colombo Additional Magistrate Jayasuriya earlier rejected a request made by the relatives of Mr. Schaffter to conduct the exhumation without the presence of media.

President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne who appeared on behalf of the relatives of the deceased made a request to allow the exhumation of Mr. Schaffter’s body to be carried out in private in the presence of the family pathologist.

The Magistrate said that a special committee has been appointed to conduct investigations independently and that she did not want to influence the committee’s affairs. The Magistrate rejected the requests and ordered the family members to be present at the exhumation site by 8.30 am today (25).

News

CoI on Deshabandu concludes examining evidence by both parties

Published

3 hours ago

July 2, 2025

editor

The examination of evidence by both the Respondent and the Prosecution before the Committee of Inquiry concluded.

The Committee recommends that both parties submit their written submissions to the Committee of Inquiry before 3:30 p.m. on the 8th of July.

Examining evidence before the Committee of Inquiry to inquire and report its findings on IGP T.M.W. Deshabandu Tennakoon in respect of acts of gross abuse of power, concluded yesterday (July 01), with the presentation of evidence by both the Respondent, representing Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon and the Prosecution.

The Committee of Inquiry, chaired by Supreme Court Judge P.P. Surasena and comprising Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawala and E.W.M. Lalith Ekanayake, Chairman, National Police Commission, convened today, during which, testimonies were obtained from two additional witnesses by the Prosecution.

These two witnesses had been overseas on official duty. Thus, in accordance with the prior agreement between the two parties, reached to obtain the evidence post June 26, held before the Committee of Inquiry with the participation of Additional Solicitor General (President’s Counsel) Dileepa Peiris and

Deputy Solicitor General Rajitha Perera, representing the Attorney General’s Department, and R.S. Weerawickrama Attorney-at-Law, appearing on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, it was decided to record the statements of these two witnesses today.Furthermore, both the Prosecution in representation of the Attorney General’s Department and the Respondent Inspector General of Police agreed to submit their respective written submissions to the Committee of Inquiry before 3:30 p.m. on July 08, 2025.

News

Govt to present 2026 Appropriation Bill in October

Published

6 hours ago

July 2, 2025

editor

Cabinet approval has been granted to a proposal presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as Minister of Finance , Planning and Economic Development to present the Appropriation Bill for the year 2026 to Parliament in October 2025.

Approval has also been granted to present the Budget speech in November 2025 and to hold the third reading and budget debate during November and December.