News

Speaker’s permission needed for outsiders to attend committee meetings

Published

2 years ago

November 20, 2023

editor

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena made a special statement in Parliament today (20).

It was stated that if an outsider is to attend any Parliamentary Committee meeting, it is mandatory to obtain prior written approval of the Speaker.

The issue came up after COPE Chairman Prof. Ranjith Bandara’s son attended a COPE meeting recently.

Noting that he had also received information on several occasions that the Parliamentary Committee chairmen were exceeding their limits, the Speaker also reminded that all committee chairmen were bound to act in a way that preserves the long standing traditions of Parliament.

News

Ex-chairman of Lindula-Talawakelle UC, remanded

Published

2 hours ago

June 2, 2025

editor

Former chairman of the Lindula-Talawakelle Urban Council – Asoka Sepala has been arrested today (June 02).

The Colombo Chief Magistrate has ordered to remand the suspect until June 11.

The former chairman has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) for causing a loss of Rs. 2.38 million to the government, during the issuance of a tender to lease stall belonging to the Urban Council.

It is said that instead of awarding the tender to the highest bidder, it was given to a lower bidder, resulting in the aforementioned loss.

News

Halloluwa further remanded

Published

2 hours ago

June 2, 2025

editor

Former Director of the National Lotteries Board (NLB) – Thusitha Halloluwa, has been further remanded until June 04, by the Fort Chief Magistrate’s Court.

Halloluwa remains in custody over alleged misappropriation of government assets belonging to the NLB.

He was previously arrested and released on bail on May 02 over the alleged misuse of a computer and a mobile phone valued at over Rs. 470,000 during his tenure as the Acting Director of the National Lotteries Board.

News

Electricity (Amendment) Bill challenged

Published

2 hours ago

June 2, 2025

editor

The Electricity (Amendment) Bill, which was recently tabled in Parliament, has been challenged in the Supreme Court.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court today (June 02) ordered that the petition filed by the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union requesting a ruling that certain provisions of the Electricity Bill are unconstitutional be taken up for hearing on June 06.

The order was issued when the petition was taken up before a three-member Supreme Court bench comprising Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Arjuna Obeyesekere and Priyantha Fernando.