News
Ranil granted bail despite AG’s objections
JVP-led NPP seeking to establish one-party rule: Opposition
Reiterating that the NPP government was seeking a one-party rule, the SJB-led Opposition yesterday (26) vowed to stand by former President and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, 76, as the latter received bail in spite of the Attorney General advocating that he should be remanded until the conclusion of the case.
The case will be taken up again on 29 October.
Wickremesinghe, who is receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of the Colombo National Hospital, joined the hearing virtually via Zoom.
Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura released Wickremesinghe on three surety bonds of Rs. 5 million each.
The bail was approved primarily on medical grounds after the former leader was hospitalised shortly after his remand.
Earlier in the day, Prisons Department Spokesperson Jagath Weerasinghe said if the Colombo Fort Magistrate issued an order for the former President to be granted access to the proceedings via Zoom, it could be arranged.
On Monday, the National Hospital indicated that the former President was not in a condition to appear in court as directed by the Colombo Fort Magistrate last Friday (22).
Hospital officials confirmed he was suffering from acute dehydration, compounded by existing conditions, including severe diabetes and high blood pressure .
Wickremesinghe faces three charges under the Public Property Act related to alleged misuse of approximately Rs. 16.6 million of state funds during a trip to the United Kingdom in September 2023 Heavy police presence near the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s court prevented the people from moving in that direction, while water cannons were also brought in.
The former President has been charged under the Public Property Act for alleged misuse of state funds to the tune of Rs 16.6 mn by joining his wife, Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe in the UK for celebration of her receiving Honorary Professorship from the University of Wolverhampton.
The visit occurred while the former President was returning from the G77 summit in Cuba and the UN General Assembly in New York .
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Dileepa Peiris, who appeared for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) opposed bail being granted to the former President. The UNP leader’s legal team, included Anuja Premaratne, PC, and former Attorney General Tilak Marapana, PC.
Protesters caused traffic disruptions in the area as the former President’s defence team and the Attorney General’s Department made submissions.
ASG Peiris has opposed bail for Wickremesinghe as the authencity of the invitation has not been ascertained from the University of Wolverhampton. Therefore, the former President should not be granted bail and kept in remand until the conclusion of the case.
In court, the prosecution argued that Wickremesinghe had “played ducks and drakes with public funds” by using state resources for what they characterised as a private visit. The CID investigation, initially referred to court in June, alleged that the UK stopover was a private visit for which state funds were improperly used .
The defence countered that as sitting President, Wickremesinghe was entitled to certain privileges and that private and official visits can be hardly demarcated on a President’s agenda.
Magistrate Lankapura ultimately granted bail based on what she termed “exceptional circumstances” related to Wickremesinghe’s health, specifically referencing medical reports signed by six physicians. She emphasised that her decision was based primarily on considerations regarding the former President’s medical condition .
By Sanath Nanayakkare
Advisory for strong winds and rough seas for Multi-day boats in the Bay of Bengal deep sea areas
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 05.00 p.m. 18 September 2026, valid for the next 24 hours.
PLEASE BE AWARE!
The atmospheric disturbance to the North of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, is likely to develop into a low pressure area within the next 24 hours.
Due to its influence, wind speed over the Bay of Bengal sea areas will increase during the next few days starting from
tomorrow (19th).
The wind speed in the sea areas marked under the “Advisory” category on the map below will increase to 55-65 kmph at times and those sea areas will be rough or very rough at times.
Navel and fishing communities engaging the activities over this sea area are advised to be vigilant and be attentive to the future forecasts and bulletins issued by the department of Meteorology in this regards.
Text and Pic by Priyan de Silva
Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) Ranga Dissanayake has questioned whether some promises contained in the National People’s Power (NPP) manifesto, A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life, could be fulfilled even if the government wanted to implement them.
Dissanayake raised the issue during a discussion following the release of the third biannual report on manifesto monitoring by the March 12 Movement, at the BMICH, on Wednesday.
He questioned whether the report had taken into account legal and institutional constraints affecting the implementation of certain pledges.
Citing the proposal to establish Anti-Corruption Investigation Offices in each district, Dissanayake said such offices could be established only with the agreement of CIABOC and that amendments to the Anti-Corruption Act would be necessary.
He also referred to the pledge to abolish the Executive Presidency, noting that successive governments had made similar commitments since 1994. He questioned whether there had been adequate consideration of where the powers vested in the Executive President would be transferred if the system were abolished.
On the proposal to establish a Public Prosecutor, Dissanayake questioned whether the Government intended to maintain the office alongside the Attorney General, who currently performs prosecution-related functions.
Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Manjula Gajanayake said Dissanayake’s remarks should be regarded as his personal views and not as Government policy.
Monitoring and Evaluation Consultants M. Thilakarajah and D.D. Mataharaarachchi presented the third-phase findings, covering January to June 2026.
The corruption case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against former Navy Commander, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, and Yoshitha Rajapaksa was set for a pre-trial conference by the Colombo High Court.
The case was taken up before the Colombo High Court on Thursday (17), when the accused, who are currently out on bail, appeared before the court. After considering the submissions made, the court ordered that the case be called for a pre-trial conference.
The CIABOC had filed the case against the accused, alleging that a corruption offence was committed by sending Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, for training at the Royal Naval College in the United Kingdom despite him not having the required qualifications.
Advisory for strong winds and rough seas for Multi-day boats in the Bay of Bengal
Showers in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya Districts
Some NPP manifesto promises may be difficult to fulfil – CIABOC DG
Yoshitha and ex-Navy chief Karannagoda’s case fixed for PTC
Court orders probe into Wimal’s rally speech
Court to rule on Dilith’s writ petition on September 30
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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