A sudden fire that broke out at a textile store in Menikhinna town early hours of yesterday (22) has caused damage to it, as well as several surrounding shops, police said.

According to police the textile store where the fire originated had suffered severe damage.

Although the Menikhinna Police, the Kandy Municipal Fire Brigade, and local residents worked together to extinguish the flames, significant damage had been sustained by the time it was put out.

The cause of the fire has not yet been revealed, and a proper assessment of the property damage has not been conducted. The Menikhinna Police are conducting further investigations into the cause of the fire.

By S.K. Samaranayake

Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa and leader of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) parliamentary group Namal Rajapaksa yesterday expressed concern over the Treasury losing USD 2.5 mn. They questioned the failure on the part of the government to follow proper procedures required to prevent such frauds. They warned of catastrophic consequences unless remedial measures were taken promptly against those responsible.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday (22) ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to report on May 20 the progress of the investigations into the arrested suspects, including the former Director of the State Intelligence Service, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, over the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Suresh Sallay was produced before the court when the case was taken up. The court directed that Sallay who served as Director, Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) from 2012 to 2016 remain in detention.