News
CID sleuths record statement from Schaffter’s widow few hours after his funeral
By Hemantha Randunu
The Criminal Investigation Department sleuths recorded a statement from the wife of murdered businessman, Dinesh Schaffter at her residence, on Flower Road, Colombo, on Sunday night, a few hours after the funeral of the victim.
The CID asked Schaffter’s wife about the threats he had faced as well as problematic business dealings.
The CID has also started an investigation into calls and SMS messages he received.
The investigations conducted so far have revealed that someone used Schaffter’s phone to text cricket commentator, Brian Thomas. The text implying that Schaffter was waiting for Thomas was sent when the businessman’s car was inside the Borella Cemetery. Thomas had replied that he had no intention of meeting Schaffter.
The CID is trying to ascertain if the text was sent before Schaffter was harmed or by someone involved in his murder.
It is assumed that the text was sent to divert the attention of investigators.
Investigations conducted by the CID have revealed that the car in which Schaffter travelled had moved directly to the Borella Cemetery from his home on the day of his murder.
The CID investigators said they believed that Schaffter had left home, around 2.06 pm, and that the crime was committed within half an hour of his departure.
A senior CID official said that further investigations were being conducted to find out whether a person had got into the car, on the way, or whether he had gone to the cemetery to meet someone.
When observing the location of the car, entering the cemetery, and stopping, it appears that someone who has a good understanding of the Borella Cemetery was involved in this crime, CID sources said.
Police spokesman, Senior Superintendent of Police, Nihal Talduwa, said that even the security camera system in Brian Thomas’ house had been examined by the CID.
A specialists committee has been appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation adhering to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 29.12.2025 for submitting appropriate recommendations analyzing the provisions of the draft bill formulation in regard to Animal Welfare.
Based on the recommendations of the said Committee, the Legal Draftsman has been instructed at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 18.05.2026 to prepare the final bill on the animal welfare.
Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the draft bill and the clearance of the Attorney General has been received in the connection.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to publish the said draft bill in the
Government Gazette Notification and subsequently forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Under the legal provisions for elections in this country since 2004, it is mandatory for voters who come to mark their votes to verify their identity through a valid identity card, and it is also mandatory for all such voters to be marked with an appropriate mark using indelible ink. The dual purpose of these two functions is to prevent a voter from voting more than once in a single election.
It has been observed that having to follow two different
methods at the same time to achieve the same objective hinders the efficiency of the duties performed at the polling stations and also incurs additional costs to the government.
Therefore, it has been deemed appropriate to remove the legal provisions regarding the use of indelible ink and marking the voter with the appropriate mark from all election acts.
Accordingly, the development activities of the province, as well as national security, will benefit. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the
President to take necessary steps to remove the legal provisions
• Section 36 of the presidential Election Act, No 15 of 1981
• Section 38 of the Parliamentary Election Act, No 01 of 1981
• Section 36 of the Provincial Council Election Act, No 02 of 1988
• Section 53 A of the Local Government Elections Ordinance (262 Authority)
• Section 21 of the Referendum Act No 7 of 1981
News
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 24 JUNE 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 24 June 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m.
Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expectedat times over the Western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
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Animal Welfare Draft Bill to be Gazetted
Legal provisions on marking voters using indelible ink during elections removed
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
Court vacancy row throws Parliament into turmoil; sittings disrupted
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‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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