Former India Under-19 player Manjot Kalra has been remanded by the Magistrate’s Court in Colombo until July 31, Sri Lanka police has confirmed, after he was arrested on July 16 on charges of corruption relating to the 2026 Lanka Premier League season.

Kalra, who is one of the co-owners of the Jaffna Kings franchise along with entrepreneur Mayank Goel, was produced before the court on July 17.

According to local media, the court heard that Kalra had allegedly approached players participating in LPL 2026 – Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Sri Lanka national players Dunith Wellalage and Avishka Fernando – all of whom play for the Jaffna Kings franchise. Investigators revealed in court that Kalra had allegedly offered the players over USD 30,000 to influence the outcome of games, and that they had in their possession recorded phone conversations and video evidence to support their case.

The 10th Navy Open Shooting Championship, organised by the Sri Lanka Navy, concluded successfully following events held from 1 to 12 July 2026 at the Small Bore Firing Complex,
Welisara.

The awards ceremony took place on 18 July at the Commander Parakrama Samaraweera Memorial Indoor Sports Complex at SLNS Gemunu, under the patronage of the Commander of
the Navy.

More than 900 shooters representing the Sri Lanka Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and a number of shooting clubs from across the island competed in this year’s championship. Notably, over 800 of the participants were school athletes, highlighting the growing interest and participation of young athletes in the sport.

The championship provided a valuable platform for members of the Tri-Forces, Police, shooting clubs and school competitors to compete alongside one another, exchange experience and further develop their technical skills in shooting. It also reaffirmed the championship’s role in nurturing young talent and supporting the development of future national and international-level shooters.

Competing in a highly competitive field, marksmen representing the Sri Lanka Navy delivered an impressive performance, securing a number of medals and bringing distinction to the Navy through their achievements.

The event also made a significant contribution to the promotion of shooting sport in Sri Lanka by identifying emerging talent and strengthening cooperation, sportsmanship and healthy
competition among participants representing a wide range of institutions and organisations.

He was examining security officer’s new weapon while waiting for his wife to join him on a morning walk

Friday’s shock death of former IGP Chandana Wickramaratne due to gunshot injuries on his chest was possibly due to an accidental discharge of his personal security officer’s (PSO’s) pistol. Wickramaratne, who was kitted for his walk and waiting on the verandah for his wife to join him, was examining the PSO’s new weapon, knowledgeable sources said.

These sources said the wife who was putting on her shoes inside the house heard a bang and found Wickramaratne fallen on the verandah.

The retired IGP had noticed the security officer carrying a new weapon and had asked to examine it. Saying he carried a similar weapon years ago, he found no magazine and said, “are you planning to accompany me on my walk with a pistol without a magazine?”

The PSO had then handed the loaded magazine and gone into the house to fetch a requested bottle of water when the weapon had gone off.

The sources said that Wickramaratne was in no way depressed and had attended an Ananda College old boy’s event a few days ago, had dinner with friends and chatted with them. He had an appointment to meet a friend on Saturday.

Friends and family saw no reason for Wickramaratne to take his own life and there was no evidence whatever of an external agent shooting him. The former IGP was pronounced dead at the Colombo East Teaching Hospital to which he was rushed.

Police said investigations were proceeding and an autopsy report was awaited.

Wickramaratne was appointed the 35th Inspector General on November 25, 2020 and retired  three years later in 2023. He had also set a record as the longest serving acting IGP since his naming to that position in May 2019 after his predecessor Pujith Jayasundara was sent on compulsory leave.

He joined as a trainee Assistant Superintendent  in June 1986 after graduating from the Colombo University. He was absorbed to the National Intelligence Bureau where he worked till 1995. Thereafter he reverted to the uniform service and had been posted across the country, including the northern and eastern areas at the height of the war.