Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena over alleged violations of court-imposed bail conditions in connection with the production of allegedly unsuitable sureties.

The move came after the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) requested the court to revoke Chandrasena’s bail and remand him until the conclusion of trial, arguing that the conditions under which bail was granted had been breached.

The Commission told court that two individuals produced as sureties for Chandrasena were later found to be unsuitable and had allegedly been presented in a manner that undermined the court’s trust.

The matter was taken up when a motion seeking the issuance of a warrant to arrest and produce Chandrasena was called before Magistrate Bodaragama. Chandrasena had earlier been released on bail in connection with the controversial 2013 procurement of a fleet of 10 Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines.

Meanwhile, Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva remanded two suspects, identified as Mohamed Rizwan and Mohamed Irshan, until May 13 after they were produced by Keselwatte Police in connection with furnishing sureties for Chandrasena.

Police told court that the two men, residents of Sanchi Arachchiwatte near the Hulftsdorp court complex, had acted as sureties in exchange for Rs. 15,000 each despite having no personal connection to the accused.

The Supreme Court yesterday directed the Election Commission to take necessary steps in accordance with the law to conduct elections for the Kalmunai Municipal Council and the Sainthamaruthu Urban Council.

A three-judge bench comprising Janak de Silva, Priyantha Fernando and Sampath Abayakoon delivered the ruling in a Fundamental Rights petition filed by two residents of Sainthamaruthu.

The petitioners said they were residents within the Sainthamaruthu Urban Council area and the area had not been included in a 2020 gazette notification calling for nominations for the local government elections. They contended that the omission amounted to a violation of their fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

In its judgment, the Court also directed the President, represented by the Attorney General, to issue a gazette notification specifying the number of wards, their boundaries, names, numbers or alphabetical designations assigned to each ward, based on recommendations of the National Committee for the Kalmunai Municipal Council and the Sainthamaruthu Urban Council.

The Court held that such steps were necessary to ensure that the electoral process proceeded in accordance with the legal framework governing local government elections.

Counsel Suren Gnanaraj appeared with Rashmi Dias for the petitioners.

The National Cadet Corps (NCC) commemorated its 145th anniversary with a series of religious observances and ceremonial events held on April 28 and 29, invoking blessings for the institution and paying tribute to cadets and officers who sacrificed their lives for the nation.

The commemorative events commenced at the NCC Headquarters on April 28 with a Pirith Chanting Ceremony organized to seek the blessings of the Triple Gem for the continued progress and prosperity of the Corps. The Maha Sangha was ceremonially escorted in a vibrant procession featuring traditional dance troupes representing the 3rd, 9th, and 26th battalions.

Religious rites were conducted under the guidance of the Chief Incumbent of Sri Sudarshanaramaya Temple, Kalubowila. During the ceremony, merits were transferred to all NCC officers and cadets who made the supreme sacrifice in safeguarding the sovereignty of the motherland.

Following the overnight Pirith chanting, an almsgiving ceremony for the Maha Sangha was held at the Headquarters Administrative Complex in the early hours of April 29.

The Chief Incumbent commended the organizers for the successful arrangements and highlighted the importance of preserving religious and cultural traditions within national institutions. Cadets, commanding officers of all 30 battalions, executive and training officers, Tri-Forces permanent staff members, and civilian employees of the Corps also participated in the religious observances.

Meanwhile, the NCC’s annual flag blessing ceremony was held with solemnity and grandeur at the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo on April 29.

Accompanied by traditional Hewisi drummers, Corps flags were carried in procession into the temple premises, where Pirith chanting and religious blessings were conducted for the National Cadet Corps flag, training centre flags, provincial headquarters flags, and all battalion flags representing the Corps’ 30 battalions.

The ceremony brought together Cadet Regimental Sergeant Majors (Cadet RSMs), commanding officers, executive officers, provincial deputy directors, training officers, and commandants of NCC training centres representing all battalions countrywide.

Senior NCC officials, including Brigadier (Administration and Quartering), the Corps Secretary, Colonel (Training), and the Head of Procurement, joined the Director of the NCC, Major General A.P.C.R. Premathilaka, in the religious observances.