Japanese Government donates vehicles to Sri Lanka
The Government of Japan has provided Sri Lanka with a stock of vehicles and equipment that can be used to investigate on drugs and terrorism. It includes 28 Land Cruisers, a Prado car, a stock of equipment including a mobile scanner to detect explosives and narcotics. The value of the stock of vehicles and equipment is 700 million rupees. The vehicles and equipment were handed over to President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa by Japanese Ambassador Misukoshi Hideyaki yesterday (08), the Presidential Media Unit said.
Dunith Vellala was named to the ICC Under 19 team for his best performances
Sri Lanka captain Dunith Vellala has been named in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) squad for the Under-19 World Cup. In addition to Dunith, the squad includes three Indian players, two Pakistani players, two English players, a South African player, an Australian player, a Bangladeshi player and an Afghan player. The team consists of 12 players.
Mrs Pushpika de Silva had officially removed from the title of ‘Mrs Sri Lanka’ with immediate effect
The Mrs Sri Lanka pageant has decided to immediately remove the Mrs. Pushpika de Silva from the title of ‘Mrs Sri Lanka’ This was announced by Chandimal Jayasinghe, National Organizer of the Mrs Sri Lanka beauty pageant. Accordingly, from yesterday, Mrs Pushpika de Silva will not be allowed to use the name ‘Mrs Sri Lanka ‘ either locally or abroad. Last year, Mrs Sri Lanka beauty queen Pushpika de Silva won the title in the finals despite all the circumstances. Rosy Senanayake and Chandimal Jayasinghe have been accused of losing her crown due to pressure from them after losing the recent Mrs World beauty Pageant in the United States. Â Two cases have been filed against her in this regard and a defamation suit has been filed against her.
Bin Laden’s son met with Taliban leaders last year
Abdullah bin Laden, the son of al – Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, is reported to have met with Taliban leaders in Afghanistan in October last year. The UN Security Council has released a recent report on the activities of the Islamic State and Al Qaeda and its allies. According to the report, the meeting took place after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan on August 15 last year. Today, al-Qaeda’s leadership is in a state of disarray, and as a result, it is no longer able to carry out highway attacks.
25% surcharge on ETF- EPF funds
 A gazette notification was issued yesterday (07) on the bill to impose a 25 per cent surcharge on the taxable income of a person, a joint venture or a company whose taxable income exceeds Rs. 2000 million. Accordingly, clauses have been prepared to include the Employees Provident Fund and the Pension Gratuity Fund in the relevant bill, said Dr Harsha de Silva, Member of Parliament for the Samagi Jana Balawega. He added that a 25 percent surcharge would be levied on several funds, including the Employees Provident Fund. The surcharge will be levied on the assessment year commencing on April 1, 2020, which is calculated in accordance with the provisions of the Inland Revenue Act.
Mahapola Higher Education Fund Bill will be read for the second time
Parliament will convene from today until next Friday. Accordingly, two orders under the National Drug Regulatory Authority Act and the Lalith Athulathmudali Mahapola Higher Education Fund Bill will be read for the second time today. Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena said that two amendments will be made today regarding the Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Fund. Accordingly, a retired Supreme Court Judge or a retired Auditor General will be appointed to replace the former Chief Justice who has been the Chairman of the Fund. Among the amendments to be tabled today is an amendment to appoint a representative to replace the Minister in charge of the subject who was a member of the Fund.
The Cylone Petroleum Corporation (CPC) will increase all fuel prices within a week
The Cylone Petroleum Corporation (CPC) will definitely increase all fuel prices within a week, says the United Trade Union Alliance. Its convener Ananda Palitha said that with the increase in fuel prices by Lanka India Kell, customers at those outlets will also be flocking to Cipetco outlets. He added that as a result, Ceypetco’s losses would continue to rise and, as a result, Ceypetco’s fuel prices would inevitably rise. He said the Indian Oil Company had raised its prices with the understanding of both parties and that Ceypetco would soon increase fuel prices accordingly.
The body of a missing Maldivian boy has been found on the beach in Wellawatte
The body of Afham Nasir, a Maldivian national, has been identified by his family as being found off the Wellawatte beach in Dehiwala. He has been studying at a private university in the country. Afham Nasir, 21, was born on the island of Meedu in the Maldives. He was reported missing while residing in Sri Lanka as a student last Friday and a search operation was launched on the same day. Two bodies have been found near the Dehiwala beach and one of them has been identified as Afham Nasir. The media has reported that there are many injuries on the bodies. Afham’s family has confirmed that his body was found in Sri Lanka. The family said they did not know much about the inquest into his death and further details.
Woman arrested with 1kg of heroin
Police have arrested a suspect with 1kg and 64g of heroin in Kalubowila. The police stated that further questioning of the suspect revealed that she and her husband were involved in distributing drugs to another smuggler. The suspect is a 40-year-old resident of Kalubowila. The arrested suspect is to be produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court today.
Dhanu filed a writ petition against Pushpika for Rs. 200 million for damaging his media reputation
Dhanu Innasithambi, a presenter on Vijaya Media Network, has sent a letter of intent (LOD) to Mrs Sti Lanka Pushpika de Silva seeking Rs. 200 million through a lawyer. This stems from allegations that Pushpika de Silva threatened him over the phone He had recently complained with the Mirihana Police against her. Dhanu Innasithambi, who received a call from Pushpika de Silva following an interview with Tana Johnson, Vice President of Mrs World Inc., said that he had been threatened. In addition, the letter states that Pushpika has publicly accused Dhanu of making false statements through the YouTube program ‘Truth with Chamuditha’. The article also states that Pushpika made malicious and untrue statements on social media in connection with an interview with Chandimal Jayasinghe. Therefore, the letter of request (LOD) sent to Pushpika de Silva states that Dhanu Innasithambi’s media reputation has been tarnished and that those statements should be corrected and apologized for or he should pay a loss of Rs. 200 million. Earlier, Rosy Senanayake, a former world married woman, had also filed a writ petition against Pushpika for Rs. 500 million because she said untrue and malicious things through the YouTube program ‘Truth with Chamuditha’.