News
Police scour CCTV footage in strategic locations in a bid to find decapitated woman’s head

By Norman Palihawadana
Police have begun checking CCTV footage in other areas to find out where the policeman had thrown the head of the woman he decapitated and also whether any others had helped him to carry out the grisly killing at Hanwella, police officials said.
The headless body of the woman was found inside a travelling bag at Dam Street.
“We are scouring CCTV images in certain strategic locations to gather more information on the movements of the sub inspector implicated in the killing of the woman at a guest house in Hanwella”, they said.
Meanwhile, the funeral of the woman identified as Dilini Yasodha Jayasundara took place at the Theppanawa public cemetery at Kuruwita on March 10.
The victim’s body was released following identification after her DNA matched samples taken from her mother and brother.
Her body was placed in the police morgue until Additional Government Analyst, D. H. L. W. Jayamanne completed the DNA examination. Thereafter, the body was handed over to her relatives on the night of March 9 to be taken to her hometown of Theppanawa in Kuruwita.
Thirty-year-old Thilini Yasodhara was unmarried and lived with her mother, who was a person with special needs, a brother, who was a local politician and an elderly female relative. Her father had died many years ago.
She was not employed and devoted most of her time to painting and social work. She had developed a love affair with the police officer at the time she did some temporary work in the political office of parliamentarian Heshan Vithana. The policemen, S. M. Premasiri (52), a sergeant at the time, served in the security contingent of the MP.
The romance had continued despite the transfer of her partner to serve as a security officer to then Minister Harin Fernando. Subsequently, the policeman was transferred to Buttala police station, close to his hometown of Badalkumbura, where he received a promotion and served as a sub inspector.
Police believe that the suspect policeman may have killed the woman after she continued to insist that they get married. Perhaps, she was unaware that he was a married man with two children.
He had killed the woman inside a guest house room at Hanwella, which the couple had occupied overnight. A woman employee of the guest house had seen him leaving with a travelling bag the previous morning and thought his companion may have left earlier.
Police said that thanks to CCTV footage, they were able to retrace his journey from Hanwella to Colombo in a private bus and later dumping the bag at Dam Street. The decapitated body of the woman was later found by police on being alerted by traders in the vicinity.
A day after the gruesome find in Pettah, a bag belonging to the woman was found at Hanwella. An identity card from a youth camp and an address in Kuruwita were among the contents.
Police investigators were also able to trace the guest house the couple had booked into on the evening of February 28, the day before the woman’s body was found in Pettah. The visitors’ book had revealed Premasiri’s identity and the area he lived in.
When the police closed in on him, Premasiri had escaped to a jungle area near his house at Badalkumbura and committed suicide. His body was later found hanging from a tree. A bottle of poison was also found nearby.
In a suicide note, he had apologized to his wife and two children for the shame over what happened and urged them to be brave and face the future despite whatever obstacles they would have to face He had also asked his family to go ahead with the preparations for his mother’s alms-giving.
Business
European Union has a favorable perspective on the current GSP+ review process.- Charles Whiteley

The Head of South Asia Division, European External Action Service of the European Union Charles Whiteley stated that the European Union has a favorable perspective on the current GSP+ review process.
He made these remarks during a meeting held today (30) at the Presidential Secretariat with President Anura Kumara Disanayake, as part of an official visit by a European Union delegation to Sri Lanka.
Mr. Whiteley highlighted the longstanding partnership between Sri Lanka and the EU, which has led to significant trade gains. He affirmed the EU’s willingness to continue supporting Sri Lanka in achieving further commercial progress.
He stated that the GSP+ concessions from the European Union are anticipated to encourage Sri Lanka to provide products that meet standardized quality requirements. He further said that the continuation of GSP+ trade concession is assessed on alignment with the current government’s policy commitments and progress.
The meeting assessed Sri Lanka’s advancements in executing 27 international conventions related to the European Union’s GSP+ tax concession, known as the Generalized System of Preferences.
President Disanayake expressed his gratitude for the EU’s assistance during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis. He acknowledged that the GSP+ facility has played an important role in supporting the country’s export sector and economic recovery.
The President further noted that the collapse of Sri Lanka’s economy was the result of a deeply flawed political system, marked by corruption and mismanagement. The President stated that the current administration is working to rebuild the country through stable and transparent governance, though this transformation will require time.
Highlighting a key shift in political support, the President pointed out that unlike previous governments, which relied heavily on support from the South, the current administration was elected with the collective support of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities from across the country. The President reaffirmed his government’s commitment to delivering on the promises made to all citizens.
Also present at the meeting were Minister of Labour, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-law, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma , Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, the Ambassador designate of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives . Carmen Moreno, General for Trade and Economic Security – Policy Officer of the European Commission’s Directorate Guido Dolara, Desk Officer for Sri Lanka at European External Action Service Ms. Galija Agisheva along with other EU and Sri Lankan officials.
[PMD]
Latest News
Fuel prices reduce from midnight today [30]

the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (Ceypetco) announced that fuel prices will be reduce from midnight today (30),
Accordingly, the revised prices are as follows:
Petrol 92 Octane – Rs. 293 (reduced by Rs. 06)
Petrol 95 Octane – Rs. 341 (reduced by Rs. 20)
Auto Diesel – Rs. 274 (reduced by Rs. 12)
Super diesel – Rs. 325 (reduced by Rs. 06)
Kerosene – Rs. 178 (reduced by Rs. 05)
Business
CBSL presents Financial Statements and Operations Report 2024 to President

The Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, officially handed over the Financial Statements and Operations Report 2024 of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to President Anura Kumara Disanayake at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday (29).
A copy of the report was also presented to Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Several senior officials from the Central Bank were present at the occasion.
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