An investigation would be launched to determine whether former State Minister of Water Supply and Irrigation Sasheendra Rajapaksa was involved in demolishing a tank bund in Monaragala in an alleged search for treasure, Deputy Irrigation Minister Aravinda Senarath told Parliament yesterday.

Responding to a question raised by Monaragala District NPP MP Sarath Kumara, Senarath said discussions had begun with relevant officials to initiate an investigation while steps were also being taken to resume and complete the long-delayed rehabilitation of the tank.

The Palekanda Tank, located in the Galgamuwa Grama Niladhari Division of the Medulla Divisional Secretariat Division in the Monaragala District, was scheduled for rehabilitation after the existing tank bund was demolished in May 2020, when the then government commenced the project.

The initial estimate for the rehabilitation was Rs. 82.2 million, but this was subsequently revised to Rs. 167.26 million. The government has so far spent Rs. 70.5 million on the project, Senarath said.

According to official records, 80 percent of the tank rehabilitation work has been completed. The Pitawana (surplus weir) is 95 percent complete, while the left sluice gate is 90 percent complete. The construction of the right sluice gate has not yet commenced, while work on the tank bund is estimated at 50 percent completion.

However, MP Sarath Kumara said a recent inspection of the site had revealed little work commensurate with the Rs. 70.5 million already spent on the project.

He said residents had alleged that the rehabilitation project was being used as a cover for treasure hunting allegedly linked to former State Minister Sasheendra Rajapaksa, and called for a formal investigation.

Hundreds of farming families, who depended on the tank for their livelihoods, have been adversely affected by the stalled project for nearly six years, Kumara said.

Senarath said the project had originally been scheduled for completion in 2022, but work had been abandoned due to the country’s economic crisis.

He said the new government would resume the project and complete the remaining work by the end of next year.

By S.K. Samaranayake

Workers carrying out maintenance work at an old elite bungalow in Kahapathwela, within the Galagedara Police Division, unearthed a cache of 3,711 rounds of ammunition, including ammunition for various firearms, pistols and automatic weapons.

The workers made the discovery while excavating a concrete-sealed pit on the premises. Four weapon storage boxes were also found at the site.

The businessman, who owns the bungalow, subsequently informed the Galagedara Police, who inspected the cache and took the ammunition and storage boxes into police custody.

Police investigations have revealed that the bungalow was purchased in 2022 by a Kandy-based businessman from a member of an elite family that had formerly lived in Kandy.

The Galagedara Police are conducting further investigations into the origin and ownership of the ammunition and the circumstances in which it was concealed on the premises.

The police are also due to report the facts surrounding the discovery to the relevant court.

The investigation is being conducted under the supervision of Central Range Senior DIG Lalith Pathinayake, DIG Sudath Masinghe and SSP Anuruddha Bandara Hakmana.

The Sri Lanka–Canada Business Council of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently convened its 35th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, bringing together Council members, office bearers and distinguished stakeholders to review the Council’s activities during the past year and set its direction for the year ahead.

The AGM was attended by Isabelle Martin, High Commissioner of Canada to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, together with members of the Council, office bearers and distinguished invitees.

At the AGM, Mohamad Hameez, Managing Director of Spillburg Holdings (Pvt) Ltd., was re-elected as President of the Council for the 2026/2027 term. M. Irshad Razack, Managing Director of Global Academy of Further Education, was re-elected as Senior Vice President, while Pemith Paaris, Associate Vice President of Acentura Inc., was appointed Vice President. Hiran De Silva of the Asian Institute of Business and Science (Pvt) Ltd was re-elected as Treasurer.

The Executive Committee for 2026/2027 was also appointed, comprising representatives from Aitken Spence Travels (Pvt) Ltd, Aspect Trading (Pvt) Ltd, BOV Capital (Pvt) Ltd, ECD Holidays (Pvt) Ltd, Fab Foods (Pvt) Ltd, Hatton National Bank PLC, Maliban Biscuit Manufactories (Pvt) Ltd, Marlbo Trading Company, MWAY (Pvt) Ltd, and Ningbo Marketing Company (Pvt) Ltd.

In addition, a dedicated subcommittee was appointed to oversee initiatives relating to Membership Development, Women Entrepreneurship and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Recognising the valuable contributions made towards the Council’s activities, Lionel Silva and Jay Ong will continue to serve as Honorary Members of the Council. The Council also announced the appointment of Kala Amirthalingam as Honorary Goodwill Ambassador for Women & Child Development and Empowerment.

The post-business session featured an address by Isabelle Martin, who emphasised the importance of continued engagement and cooperation between the business communities of Sri Lanka and Canada.

A keynote presentation was delivered by Dr. George I.H. Cooke, Senior Lecturer, Department of International Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, on “Canada–Sri Lanka Economic Relations in a Changing Global Order: Opportunities for Business, Investment and Trade.” The presentation examined the evolving global economic landscape and highlighted potential opportunities for enhanced bilateral trade, investment and business cooperation between Sri Lanka and Canada.