News

Wanathe Olcott’s relative arrested for issuing death threats!

Published

2 years ago

December 13, 2022

editor

Seven suspects who attempted to take ownership of a two-storey house at Fair Hill Park in Borella belonging to a deceased specialist doctor by threatening the residents with a toy pistol have been arrested by the Borella Police.

The police said a woman who is an aunt of a deceased underworld gang leader named “Wanathe Olcott” was also among the arrested.

The specialist doctor passed away a few days ago and his son, who lives in California, had returned to the US after performing last rites.

A few days after the funeral, a woman who came to the Borella Police had said that she is from Kandy and that the house was sold to her for Rs.8 million by the doctor and that she was moving into the house.

Sub-Inspector Sriyaratne Kuruppuarachchi, OIC of Borella Police’s Minor Complaint Division, who refused her request, informed the woman not to move in until an investigation is conducted and to file a complaint in this regard first.

Borella Police officers who went to the house to investigate the complaint had questioned a person who had taken care of all the affairs of the doctor and the house for many years. He had said that the doctor had not sold the house to anyone and that he had been given this house and land by a power of attorney on the condition that he should hand it over to the doctor’s son upon his request.

When this complaint was scheduled to be heard today (13), a group of seven people had visited the house and threatened the resident in the house with firearms and ordered him to leave.

Subsequently, the police arrested the suspects and it has been revealed that they have used a fake pistol to threaten the residents.

Further investigations revealed that the suspects had gone to the house on the request of deceased underworld leader Wanathe Olcott’s aunt.

The officers of the Minor Complaints Division including Sub-Inspector Sriyaratne Kuruppuarachchi are conducting further investigations under the instructions of Borella Police Chief Inspector A.J.M.R. Samarasinghe.

(Aruna)

News

PNB seize over Rs. 280 mn. in biggest drug money bust

Published

9 hours ago

January 17, 2025

editor

The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) has seized a stash of currency notes amounting Rs. 283 million.

It is said that this is the largest amount of cash ever confiscated from a drug trafficker in Sri Lanka.

The banknotes were recovered from a residence in Kurunegala during a search operation. 18 grams of ‘Ice’ (Crystal Methamphetamine), a double-cab, and a van were also seized during the raid.
According to police, the money allegedly belongs to a suspect who is currently in prison.

The suspect was presented before the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court and the Magistrate has granted permission for authorities to detain and further interrogate him.

News

Energy Ministry differs on electricity tariffs (Update)

Published

9 hours ago

January 17, 2025

editor

Hours after the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) announced a 20% average reduction in electricity tariffs effective from midnight today (Jan. 17), the Energy Ministry has stated that the tariff revision would be implemented only upon receiving approval from the Finance Ministry.

In a media release, the Ministry has said that the proposals should be first officially received and thereafter they would need Finance Ministry advice.

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(Previous News : January 17, 2025 3.05pm)

Electricity tariffs slashed by 20%

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has decided to slash electricity tariffs by an overall average of 20 percent.

The tariff reduction will affect all consumer categories and will come into effect from midnight today (Jan. 17).

The PUCSL’s proposed reductions are as follows;

Domestic tariff – reduced by 20%
Places of worship – reduce by 21%
Hotels – reduced by 31%
Industries – reduced by 30%
Government Institutions – reduced by 11%

Electricity tariffs reduction (Domestic)

0-30 units reduced by 29%
31-60 by 28%
61-90 by 19%
91-180 by 18%
More than 180 by 19%

BIZ

SL – China currency swap agreement, renewed

Published

10 hours ago

January 17, 2025

editor

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the People’s Bank of China, in December 2024, successfully renewed the Bilateral Currency Swap Agreement signed in 2021, for a period of another three (03) years, under the terms and conditions stipulated in the original agreement.

The CNY 10 billion (approximately USD 1.4 billion) currency swap facility reflects the financial cooperation between China and Sri Lanka.

Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, signed the agreement on behalf of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, while Mr. Pan Gongsheng, Governor of the People’s Bank of China, signed on behalf of the People’s Bank of China.

(CBSL)