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India infuses more funds to construct Sobitha Thera Village

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W.S. Sathyananda and Santosh Jha

Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and Urban Development and Housing Ministry Secretary W.S. Sathyananda signed and exchanged diplomatic letters on 21 March, 2024, to formalize the Government of India’s (GOI) decision to provide an additional grant of SLR 150 million for the Construction of Houses and Infrastructure Facilities in Sobitha Thera Village in Anuradhapura. With this, the GOI’s total commitment to the project currently stands at SLR 450 million, the Indian HC said.

With the formalization of the additional grant amount, 90 houses shall be constructed in the village with the GOI grant. The project is currently underway and the proposed houses are at various stages of construction. The project is being executed in collaboration with the Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera Commemoration Foundation.

Responding to the drastic changes in the economic landscape of Sri Lanka, the GOI decided to infuse additional funds into nine ongoing grant projects in order to expeditiously complete these projects, while also minimizing the impact of the sharp rise in cost of construction materials on the original scope of projects. The extent of additional funds is up to 50% of the original commitment by the GOI in each of the nine projects.



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Drug haul detected in Ambalangoda

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The police have seized a drug haul linked to notorious underworld figure Jayalath Silva, also known as Karandeniye Sudda. The detection followed an investigation by the Ahungalla Police, which resulted in the arrest of four suspects, including a former Army intelligence operative. The drug consignment is believed to have a street value of Rs. 50 million.

Investigations have revealed that drugs smuggled via sea routes were stored in a house in Ambalangoda before being distributed across the Southern Province through Karandeniye Sudda’s network.

Another police operation got underway after questioning a suspect at Maragasdeka, where officers, led by Ahungalla OIC Amith Jayamaha, found one kilo of crystal meth concealed in the suspect’s motorcycle and photos of parcels of heroin on the suspect’s mobile phone. Interrogation led police to the main drug storage location.

A subsequent raid on the Ambalangoda residence led to the arrest of a woman who was seen delivering a bag to a trishaw near the house. Police seized 6 kilos of crystal meth and 6 kilos of heroin along with 7 kilos of meth from the rider of the trishaw and 6 kilos of heroin hidden in the house.

The suspect, a former intelligence officer, is believed to have played a key role in Karandeniye Sudda’s drug and weapons distribution network. Officers also seized firearms from the woman, including 30 rounds of 9mm pistol ammunition and 30 rounds of 3.8mm ammunition.

by Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randunu 

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Six-month-old fetus found at Jaffna bus stand

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Jaffna Magistrate S. Lenin Kumar and police conducting investigation

A six-month-old human fetus, left at the Jaffna main bus stand was handed over to police on the 28th, authorities said.

Following a court report, Jaffna Magistrate S. Lenin Kumar inspected the site and CCTV footage, ordering the remains to be sent to Jaffna Teaching Hospital and directing police to apprehend those responsible.

Text and Pic by Dinasena Rathugamage

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Commercial Bank appoints Hasrath Munasinghe as Executive Director/COO

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Hasrath Munasinghe

The Board of Directors of Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC has announced the appointment of Hasrath Munasinghe as Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer of the Bank with effect from 27th April 2026.

He succeeds S. Prabagar, who retires on 26th April 2026 after serving in the position for four years, and completing a distinguished career of more than 30 years with Commercial Bank.

Munasinghe currently functions as Deputy General Manager – Corporate Banking at Commercial Bank and previously served as Deputy General Manager – Retail Banking and Marketing. Over the course of his career at the Bank, he has overseen Corporate Banking, Retail Banking, Digital Banking, Marketing, the Cards Business, Remittances, Customer Experience and Sustainability, guiding these key verticals to deliver sustained growth and strong performance outcomes. Munasinghe also serves as a Trustee of the Commercial Bank CSR Trust.

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