News
Magistrate orders fugitive Chief Inspector’s assets to be frozen
The Polonnaruwa Magistrate on Tuesday, ordered the freezing of all assets belonging to former Officer-in-Charge of the Welikanda Police, Chief Inspector R. M. Ratnayake, wanted in connection with cattle rustling.
Ratnayake, who is on the run, is accused of orchestrating the return of stolen cows to traffickers, after seizing the animals in September 2024.
Ratnayake, who is currently assigned to the Pujapitiya Police, was issued an arrest warrant on 11 March after his failure to report for duty. According to the Anuradhapura Division Criminal Investigation Unit, he reported sick and left the area, evading arrest.
The case began when 20 cattle, transported without proper doccumentation, were taken into custody by Rathnayake during his tenure as Welikanda OIC on September 23, 2024. The animals were brought before the Polonnaruwa court, which ordered their transfer to a state-owned livestock farm. However, an anonymous tip-off alleged that Rathnayake had arranged for the animals to be returned to the particular cattle rustlers.
Following the complaint, the IGP assigned the Criminal Investigation Unit in Anuradhapura to probe the allegations. Two individuals have been arrested and brought to court in connection with the case, but Rathnayake remains at large.
On Tuesday (25), as proceedings continued in court, Ratnayake failed to appear, prompting Magistrate Anwar Sadak to take further action.
Citing Section 60(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, the Magistrate ordered the seizure of all of Ratnayake’s movable and immovable assets and placing them under court custody.
Additionally, the Central Bank Governor was instructed to freeze any local and foreign bank accounts held by the suspect. A travel ban was also imposed, and Rathnayake has been ordered to appear before the court by 29 April.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dr. Kristalina Georgieva, at Temple Tress on the 17th of February
Dr. Georgieva, commended the Government’s efforts in stabilizing the country’s economy and in managing recent economic and natural shocks. She noted that Cyclone Ditwah had caused severe impacts, especially on economically vulnerable communities, underscoring the importance of targeted support and resilience-building measures.
The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the IMF’s continued support to Sri Lanka, particularly in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. The PM further emphasized that real economic recovery and development must directly benefit the economically vulnerable groups and ensure inclusive growth, highlighting the need for Sri Lanka to attract quality and sustainable investments, particularly in the tourism sector.
The importance of reforming the education system to focus not only on knowledge acquisition but also on skills development and employability was also discussed
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff of the IMF Managing Director Andreas Bauer, Director, Asia and Pacific Department, Dr. Krishna Srinivasan Division Chief (Strategic Communications), Communications Department, Pierre Mejlak Resident Representative for Sri Lanka Dr. Martha Woldemichael, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, and Deputy Governor Dr. C. Amarasekara, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri and Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution forwarded by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to relocate the Deniyaya Base Hospital after constructing a new hospital with a capacity of 300 beds at an estimated cost of Rupees 6,000 million.
The Southern Provincial Department of Health has acquired a plot of land in Handford estate which is approximately 03 kilometres away from the town for this purpose.
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