News
Ex-MP Sarana granted bail in corruption case under tough conditions
Colombo High Court Judge Damith Totawatte, yesterday (20) directed police to fingerprint ex-SLFP lawmaker, Sarana Gunaw-ardena, before granting him bail.
The Judge released former Gampaha District MP Gunawardena on Rs 30,000 cash bail and two sureties of Rs 500,000 each.
Judge Totawatte said that one of the sureties should be a relative of the former MP.
The Judge stressed that the sureties should pledge that they would produce the suspect in court when the court orders the sureties to do so. Judge Totawatte further emphasized that the sureties should not have any criminal cases against them in any court of law.
The corruption case was filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against the accused while being the Chairman of the Development Lotteries Board for deliberately causing losses to the State as a result of his failure to follow the protocol and the necessary procedures adopted by the Development Lotteries Board when hiring vehicles to the Board.
The Court postponed the case to March 23, 2023. Counsel Sajeewa Anthony of the Bribery Commission appeared for the prosecution, while Counsel Danaraj Samarakoon, on the instructions of Senior Counsel, Anil Silva, PC, appeared for the accused.
News
Amendment of the Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted at their meeting held on 19.05.2025 in order to introduce amendments to the Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017 including the proposed tax revisions to enhance the tax structure paving way for state financial integrity based on revenue.
Accordingly, the revised draft bill has been prepared by the legal draftsman and clearance of the Attorney General has been received.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for
the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Policy Planning and Economic Development to publish the aforementioned draft bill in the government gazette notification and subsequently, forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
News
Cabinet nod for “National Mineral Policy” – 2026
The National Mineral Policy was prepared for the first time in the year 1999, and the aforementioned policy has been amended in 2023 to cover matters such as preparing an updated data system related to mineral resources, adding value to the export of minerals, encouraging mineral-related industrialists, extracting mineral resources and managing the environment sustainably, and resolving the issues related to the ownership of the land arising in extracting mineral resources.
The revised National Mineral Policy has been reupdated in line with the manifesto “A Sustainable Resource Utilization – Generation of the Highest Benefit” under the policy statement of the current government” A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life.”
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the Minister of Industries and
Entrepreneurship to implement the so-formulated “National Mineral Policy—2026.”
Latest News
Twelve sentenced to death by Gampaha High Court
The Gampaha High Court has sentenced Twelve (12) individuals to death over the 2022 murder of former Polonnaruwa District Member of Parliament Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his security officer.
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