News
Diana pleads innocent
By A.J.A. Abeynayake
The indictment against former State Minister Diana Gamage, filed by the Attorney General, was read out in open court on Thursday (09) by Colombo High Court Interpreter Mudith Prasad Fernando before High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne.
Diana Gamage, who was present in the dock, pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
President’s Counsel Shanaka Ranasinghe, representing the defendant, raised a comprehensive preliminary objection, arguing that the first and second charges in the indictment were unsustainable.
However, High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne dismissed the objections, deeming them meritless, and granted permission for the Attorney General to proceed with presenting evidence in the case.
The charges against Gamage are linked to an entry made on 11 December 2003 in birth certificate number 4685, concerning an amendment to her name. In his objection, Mr. Ranasinghe argued that 20 years had passed since the date of the document, rendering the charges invalid. Nevertheless, the judge ruled that it was too early to assess the validity of the charges and stated that such determinations should be made after evidence is examined during the trial.
The judge emphasised that if any charge in the indictment was not supported by evidence, the court would acquit the defendant of that charge.
Don Sumathipala, a retired official, formerly employed at the Dehiwala Divisional Secretariat, testified for the prosecution under the direction of Senior State Counsel Akila Dalpadatu.
The trial was adjourned until 5 March for further proceedings.
The Attorney General’s case alleges that between 09 October 2004 and 01 December 2004, Diana Gamage failed to legally amend her name to “Diana Gamage.” It is also alleged that she knowingly misrepresented her citizenship status, facilitated the creation of a forged birth certificate to apply for a National Identity Card in the name “Diana Gamage,” and attempted to mislead government officials. These allegations form the basis of the three charges in the indictment.
Lakbima Rice Mills (Pvt) Ltd, based in Polonnaruwa, has contributed Rs. 100 million to the Government’s ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to provide relief to communities affected by Cyclone Ditwa.
The donation cheque was handed over this morning (13) at the Presidential Secretariat to Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, by Dudley Sirisena, Chairman of the Araliya Group of Companies.
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Advisory for severe lightning issued to the Districts of Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara
Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
at 12.30 p.m. 13 December 2025 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 13 December 2025 for Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts.
There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
Based on the prevailing disaster situation and the upcoming festive season, arrangements have been made to provide a nutrition allowance worth Rs. 5,000 to pregnant mothers.
This allowance, which will be provided only once, will be given to pregnant mothers who were registered at maternal clinics on or before 30 November 2025.
The distribution will take place through the Divisional Secretariat offices from 16 December, as a program of the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
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