Cabinet spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday (29) denied President Anura Kumara Dissanayake receiving an update from CIABOC regarding the ongoing bribery case involving former Uva Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Dr. Jayatissa, who is also the Health and Media Minister, said so responding to media queries at the post-Cabinet press conference held at the Information Department.

Minister Jayatissa said that there was no issue as regards President Dissanayake’s commenting on the matter as it was not a secret. President Dissanayake only quoted Wickremesinghe’s social media post on his correspondence with the Bribery Commission.

Having given a statement to the CIABOC on Monday (28) regarding his earlier declaration that withdrawal of fixed deposits belonging to Uva PC was not a crime, Wickremesinghe queried as to how President Dissanayake came to know of his correspondence with the Bribery Commission.

Minister Jayatissa pointed out that Wickremesinghe posted in his social media on April 11 that he could not appear before the Bribery Commission on April 11 and that he was given another date.

“Summoning Ranil Wickremesinghe before the Bribery Commission was a known fact by April 11. The President came to know about it through Ranil’s social media posts. The Bribery Commission had not informed of it to the President,” the Minister said.

Institute of Chemistry (IChemC) celebrated the Sinhala and Tamil New Year on the 24th and 25th of April, 2025. A New Year breakfast table consisting of traditional food items was organised by the staff of IChemC. Prof. Janitha Liyanage, the President of IChemC, Prof. Chandani Perera, Dean of the College of Chemical Science, former Presidents of IChemC, Academic and Non- Academic staff members took part in this event, which brought the whole staff together.

A New Year festival was also organised with the involvement of Students, Staff-members, and the alumni. The participants dressed in traditional costumes added a unique color to the event. This vibrant event included many traditional New Year games such as Tug o’ war, Kotta pora, Aliyata asa thabeema, Thoppi maru kereema, etc., which created much enthusiasm and excitement within the IChemC community.

These events serve as an ideal platform to bring the students and staff members together to celebrate this joyful time of the year, signifying the importance of our rich culture.

Veteran journalist Keerthi Warnakulasuriya, who launched his career as a reporter with Janadina, passed away recently. Warnakulasuriya was 73 at the time of his death. During his decades-long stint with our sister newspaper Divaina, Warnakulasuriya extensively covered the war against the LTTE and handled the foreign affairs section. Warnakulasuriya’s wife Disna passed away several years ago. After retirement from the Divaina, he had been staying with his brother Ajith Warnakulasuriya, at Ragama. According to Warnakulasuriya’s wishes, a private funeral was held.