News
Ex-TRCSL Chairman Palpita enlarged on bail
Former Mass Media Ministry Secretary and former Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) Chairman Anusha Palpita was yesterday released on bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama granted bail after considering submissions made by officials of the Bribery Commission and counsel for the defence.
The Magistrate ordered the suspect’s release on two personal surety bonds of Rs. 5 million each and imposed a foreign travel ban.
When the case was taken up, Bribery Commission officials informed court that a report had been called regarding alleged investments made by the suspect in the stock market. They sought a further date to present facts pertaining to those reports.
Appearing for the suspect, Attorney-at-Law Kanchana Ratwatte submitted that his client had been in remand custody for nearly a month and was prepared to extend full cooperation to investigators. He moved for bail on that basis.
After hearing both sides, the Magistrate observed that no reasonable grounds had been placed before court to further remand the suspect and ordered his release on bail. The case was fixed for 29 May.
Palpita was arrested on 23 January in connection with an investigation initiated by the Bribery Commission over the alleged failure to disclose the source of assets amounting to Rs. 46 million.
The Commission stated that he had arrived at its office on the day of his arrest to give a statement and was taken into custody thereafter.
He was arrested on allegations of amassing assets and property disproportionate to his declared income during a specified period, following a probe into wealth allegedly accumulated beyond his lawful earnings.
A discussion with the Catholic Council was held on Thursday (21) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat under the co-chairmanship of Minister of Science and Technology, Chrishantha Abeysena and Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Discussions focused on administrative issues relating to Catholic schools taken over by the Government, the formulation of a structured teacher cadre system for Catholic religious education, the need to recruit Catholic nuns and priests into the teaching profession and the establishment of a mechanism to obtain the support of the Ministry of Education for the administration of Government-acquired Catholic schools.
It was also decided that discussions with the Catholic Council would be held three times annually, while Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage would serve as Secretary to the forum.
Expressing appreciation on behalf of the Catholic Council, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith thanked President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Government for facilitating the discussion.
His Eminence further stated that the expectation was to ensure every student, without discrimination, is given the opportunity to learn his or her own religion and stressed the importance of resolving the prevailing issues within the education sector.
Also present at the occasion were Most Rev. Bishop Harold Anthony Perera, Most Rev. Bishop Christy Noel Emmanuel, Most Rev. Bishop Anton Ranjith, Most Rev. Bishop Wimal Siri Jayasuriya, other clergy representing the Catholic Council, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa and senior officials of the Ministry of Education.
(PMD)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to broaden the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, which was launched last year. Unlike the inaugural edition held in November 2025 that featured eight Associate teams, the second edition will comprise 10 teams, including five Test-playing nations. The tournament is scheduled to be held in November this year.
Italian Navy’s ITS GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE, which arrived in Colombo (21 May 2026) on a replenishment visit, departed the island today (22 May).
The Sri Lanka Navy bade a customary farewell to the departing ship in compliance with naval traditions at the port of Colombo.
During her brief stay in Colombo, the Commanding Officer of the ship, Commander Antonio BUFIS called on the Commander Western Naval Area at the Western Naval Command Headquarters.
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