The United National Party (UNP) has asked President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to reveal the identities of those who fraudulently transferred nearly USD 1 bn (approximately Rs 300 bn), since 2023.

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Prime Minister, held the Finance portfolio from 25 May 2022, before he was appointed the President in July 2022. Wickremesinghe retained the Finance portfolio.

Addressing the media at former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Flower Road Office, on Sunday (28), ex-Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said that the President should be able to disclose whether the funds were illegally transferred from the public or the private sector.

President Dissanayake made the claim in Parliament last week. Former MP Dr. Senaratne said that an explanation was required as to how such transfers took place, for a period of nearly four years, without the fraudsters receiving the relevant sections of the Central Bank.

The top UNP spokesman challenged President Dissanayake to furnish documentary evidence to prove his claim regarding loss of nearly USD 1 bn. Dr. Senaratne reminded President Dissanayake that as the Minister of Finance he should be able to reveal the culprits without delay.

The UNPer pointed out that the Chairman of Committee on Public Finance (COPF), MP Dr. Harsha de Silva, has declared that his Committee would take up the issue at hand in Parliament this week.

President Dissanayke told Parliament that the illicit outflows included proceeds generated through criminal activities, such as drug trafficking. (SF)

Youtuber Chamuditha Samarawickrema yesterday (29) said that that he would soon move court against an injunction obtained by Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, last year in respect of a ‘Truth with Chamuditha’ programme.

Samarawickrema said that he had decided to seek court intervention in the wake of the CIABOC taking the former Minister’s son, Attorney-at-Law Rakitha, along with SJB’s Horana organiser Charith Abeysinghe, into custody, in connection with alleged bribery case involving Nadun Chinthaka Wickremaratne, alias Harak Kata. In view of the recent developments, the programme, which featured ex-SLAF officer Keerthi Rathnayake, should be made available to the viewers, Samarawickrema said.

Samarawickrama tendered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court and to Rajapakshe, P.C. in the Supreme Court, when the contempt proceedings, filed by Rajapakshe, was taken up on 4 th July, 2025. The case was filed against Samarawickrema and Rathnayake.

The court had been told that the programme was contemptuous and defamatory to the Courts and detrimental to Dr. Rajapakshe, and, thereby, they committed the offence of contempt of court. It was alleged that by the said telecast they have undermined and disregarded the judiciary of the country, creating a suspicion about the courts system and eroding the public trust and the confidence on the judiciary.

The bench consisted of Justice S. Thurairaja, Justice Priyantha Fernando, and Justice Sobitha Rajakaruna. (SF)

The Sri Lanka Scout Association National Scout Poson Zone, on Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha, in Colombo, was opened on June 28 by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The event featured bhakthi gee, light patterns, dansal, lanterns, and a replica of Mihintale.

Organised for the first time, the event will be carried out with the co-ordination of the Presidential Secretariat and contribution of the State and private sectors.

This is a concept of Chief Commissioner Manoj Nanayakkara. Its primary objective is to bring the splendour of Poson to Colombo city and create an environment for the people of our country to experience it.

Pic by Nishendra Silva