Former Minister C.B. Rathnayake, remanded on 02 December, following his arrest by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), was granted bail yesterday (16).

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court released him on two surety bonds of Rs. 2 million each and imposed an overseas travel ban.

Rathnayake, who held several Cabinet portfolios, has been charged in terms of the Money Laundering Act relating to corruption charges.

The case is linked to an investigation conducted by CIABOC’s Assets Investigation Division under Section 23(a)(1) of the Bribery Act, concerning the alleged illegal acquisition of assets exceeding LKR 57.3 million.

The government has granted special leave to state officials who were unable to report to work due to floods, landslides, and road blockages.

The relevant circular was issued yesterday (16) by the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government to all Ministry Secretaries, Provincial Chief Secretaries, and Heads of Departments.

Accordingly, special leave will be granted to officials who were unable to report to work due to disruptions to public transport services between their place of residence and workplace caused by

Cyclone Ditwah, as well as those affected by road blockages or other disaster-related conditions.

To obtain this special leave, affected officers are required to submit a written request to the Head of their Institution, clearly stating the reason for their absence.

The request must be accompanied by a recommendation from the relevant Grama Niladhari, certified by the Divisional Secretary.

The circular further stated that the Head of the Institution must examine the request certified by the Divisional Secretary and, only if satisfied with its accuracy, forward it to the Head of the Department for approval of special leave for the number of days the officer was unable to report for duty.

The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government has also informed that this special leave will be applicable only for the months of November and December.

The government is making an effort to streamline Sri Lankans employed in Romania. The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Romania, led by Ambassador Madurika Joseph Weninger, recently held a strategic meeting with the country’s Chief of Police, General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Tiberiu Giurea, to address critical concerns affecting Sri Lankan migrant workers. The discussions focused on illegal recruitment, fraudulent visa practices, work-permit and residence-document compliance, repatriation, and overall worker protection, Embassy sources said.

The meeting comes ahead of major reforms to Romania’s labour-immigration legislation, expected from January 2026, which aim to strengthen recruitment oversight, clarify employer responsibilities, and enhance protections for non-EU migrant workers. These reforms also target illegal recruitment and exploitation, issues that have affected several migrant communities, including Sri Lankans.

During the discussions, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka highlighted challenges faced by Sri Lankan workers, including scams by recruitment agents in Sri Lanka and Romania, delays in work-permit processing, and cases where workers were returned upon arrival. IGI confirmed measures to investigate illegal recruitment networks, ensure employer compliance, and strengthen accountability under the new legislation.

The Chief of Police of the IGI also emphasised that the confiscation of passports or travel documents is illegal and encouraged workers to report any violations immediately. The Embassy will continue providing guidance, translation support, and coordination with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), which holds primary responsibility for ensuring that Sri Lankan migrant workers receive timely pre-departure information and assistance before traveling to Romania.

This engagement reflects the ongoing commitment of both the Sri Lankan and Romanian governments to safeguard migrant workers, promote safe migration, and uphold transparent, accountable recruitment practices.