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Ex-President to give statement to Bribery Comm. on transfer of funds by ex-Uva CM on directive of his govt.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Bribery Commission on Monday (28 April) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.
Accordingly, the former President will appear before the Commission at 9.30 am on Monday.
Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on 17 April in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against New Democratic Front MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake.
In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the Commission but requested a different date citing that his Attorneys will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.
Accordingly, the Commission provided him with a new date and requested him to appear before the Commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (25 April).
On 07 April, Wickremesinghe had said that Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during his tenure as the Prime Minister.
The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to his vocal criticism of the government in Parliament. Dassanayake is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016. Dassanayake was taken into custody on 27 March, over three separate corruption-related cases. The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.
According to the CIABOC sources, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province. Two banks
complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account. However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution. The Bribery Commission filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.
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Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern, Northern and North-central provinces and in Monaragala and Kurunegala districts.
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 04 May 2025, valid for 05 May 2025.
The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern, Northern and North-central provinces and in Monaragala and Kurunegala districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
“Power failures on election day could occur due to natural causes or sabotage”
Funds allocated for hiring power generators for the counting centres were inadequate, and the Grama Niladaris (GNs) would not be able to ensure a back-up power supply to those places, President of the Sri Lanka United Grama Niladhari Association, Nandana Ranasinghe warned yesterday.
Addressing a press conference, Ranasinghe said: “Under these circumstances, it will not be possible to provide the counting centres with generators. Funds must also be allocated for hiring electric bulbs, cables and transporting generators as well.
“Unless funds are made available immediately, the GNs must not be held responsible if something goes wrong in the event of a power failure, either due to natural causes or sabotage. The GNs must not be asked to bear the cost of supplying back-up power to counting centres.
“In some areas, the District Returning Officers are pressuring the GNs to bear the cost of hiring power generators. The GNs must not be forced to spend their personal funds to provide facilities to counting centres.
“If a power outage occurs, it will definitely cause issues at counting centres. In the event of disruptions to the vote counting process, the results in the polling divisions under the centres may have to be annulled.”
More than 65,000 police officers would be deployed for the 06 May local government (LG) elections from today (05), Police Media Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manatunga told The Island, yesterday. The police personnel will include members of the Police Special Task Force, intelligence units, security divisions, and mobile patrol teams.
Army Media Spokesman Brigadier Varuna Gamage told The Island that 8,500 military personnel would be deployed on the roads across the country in view of the LG elections.
He said the Army would coordinate with the police, and that troops in all military camps had been placed on standby to face any situation.
By Norman Palihawadane and Chaminda Silva
Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern, Northern and North-central provinces and in Monaragala and Kurunegala districts.
Showers expected in most provinces during the afternoon or night today
Fund issues may leave counting centres without back-up power tomorrow: GNs’ trade union
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