News
CID begins questioning Bathiudeen brothers
By Hemantha Randuna and Norman Palihawadane
The CID had commenced questioning SJB Vanni District member and All-Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Leader Rishad Bathiudeen and his brother Riyaj for their involvement in releasing stocks of copper worth millions of rupees to terrorists involved in the Easter Sunday carnage, sources said.
The Bathiudeen brothers were being held on a 90-day detention order under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), police said.
They would be further questioned on their links to the terror group that carried out the Easter Sunday carnage killing over 269 persons and wounding about 500 others, DIG Rohana said, adding that they were among altogether 702 persons arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday terror attacks on churches and tourist hotels.
Investigations hav established that Mohamed Ilham, one of the suicide bombers who carried out the Easter Sunday attacks and his father Ibrahim were close friends of Rishad and his brother.
Mohamed Ilham had a copper factory in Wellampitiya and it had obtained stocks of copper removed from government institutions.
Investigations have established that institutions coming under the purview of Rishad Bathiudeen’s ministry had released stocks of copper without following proper procedures to the suicide cadre’s company. That company had received the highest amount of copper from the Rishad’s ministry.
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Petrol to cost less from midnight today (30)
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) has announced a reduction in the prices of Petrol 92 and Petrol 95, effective from midnight today (30).
The price of Petrol 92 has been reduced by Rs. 15 per litre, from Rs. 414 to Rs. 399 while the price of Petrol 95 Octane has been reduced by Rs. 20 per litre, from Rs. 495 to Rs. 475
There will be no change in the prices of diesel, Super Diesel and kerosene under the latest revision.
News
“Rathuwewi Mihimadala” Book Launched with the Participation of the Prime Minister
The book “Rathuwewi Mihimadala”, written based on the life story of Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Leader of the Democratic Left Front, was launched on Friday [August 28] at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.
Speaking to the media afterwards about Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:
“Vasudeva Nanayakkara is a prominent figure in Sri Lankan politics, particularly within the left-wing political movement. There were several influential figures within the left movement, and that left-wing influence also contributed to bringing the country to where it is today. Politically, there were areas where we agreed and areas where we did not. However, I have great respect for the contribution made by Vasudeva Nanayakkara to left-wing politics. When I entered Parliament in 2020, Vasudeva Nanayakkara was also in Parliament. We sat in the same row, and we spoke about many important as well as interesting moments in his political career. I believe some of these experiences have also been included in this book.”
The event was attended by members of the Maha Sangha, Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara, former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Speakers Karu Jayasuriya and Chamal Rajapaksa, as well as party members, family members and friends.


[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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Sun directly overhead Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon today (30)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (30) are Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and
Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon.
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