According to the University Grants Commission, all universities across the island will be closed on November 13 and 14.

This step has been taken due to the general election.

State officials from 22 government institutions were caught by the Anti-Corruption Commission last year for involvement in bribery.

The institutions include the Police Department, Ministry of Education, Consumer Affairs Authority, Provincial Local Government Commissioner’s Office, Sri Lanka Transport Board, National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Land Commissioner’s Office, Regional Engineering Offices, Ministry of Justice and Legal Reform, Municipal Councils, Pradeshiya Sabhas, Department of Agrarian Services, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Ministry of Health, Eastern Provincial Passenger Transport Authority, Divisional Secretariats, Department of Immigration and Emigration, Mahaweli Authority, Samurdhi Authority, Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, Judicial Services Commission, and the Central Environmental Authority.

During this period, 73 complaints were received regarding raids, out of which 43 were successful. Additionally, four raids were postponed. A total of 57 individuals were arrested during successful raids, all while accepting bribes.

Among those arrested, the majority were police officers, numbering 16 in total. They included 2 Police Inspectors, 2 Sub-Inspectors, 7 Sergeants, and 5 Constables.

Apart from the police officers, those arrested included a former Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman, a school principal, an investigation officer from the Consumer Affairs Authority, a secretary of a Pradeshiya Sabha, a former Member of Parliament, the Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority, a drilling engineer from the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, a Quazi Judge, and a Grama Niladhari, among others, making up a total of 57 individuals.

Following the police, the highest number of arrests for bribery was from the Department of Immigration and Emigration, with 5 individuals involved, 3 of whom were civilians. After that, the next highest number of arrests was from the Sri Lanka Transport Board, with 4 individuals caught.

A candidate from the National Democratic Front contesting from the Batticaloa District in the upcoming general election, representing the faction of Karuna Amman, along with two of his supporters, was admitted to the Batticaloa Hospital last night after being severely injured in an attack with swords allegedly carried out by supporters of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) party led by Pillayan.

In addition, four supporters of the TMVP party were also admitted to Batticaloa Hospital early this morning, claiming that they were attacked by members of Karuna Amman’s group.

Hospital sources stated that the condition of the three individuals, including the candidate from Karuna Amman’s faction, is serious.

Police investigations have revealed that the clash originated due to a rivalry over preferential votes in the election.

The Election Commission has announced the necessary arrangements to provide leave for state and private sector employees to vote in the upcoming parliamentary election without losing salary or personal leave.

Accordingly, public sector officers should be given special leave without salary reduction for an uninterrupted minimum of four hours, as deemed necessary for voting.

If the distance from the workplace to the polling station is 40 kilometers or less, half a day of leave should be granted; if the distance is between 40 and 100 kilometers, at least one full day of leave should be given.

For distances between 100 and 150 kilometers, one and a half days of leave should be granted, while for distances over 150 kilometers, two days of leave must be provided, as stated in the notice issued by the Election Commission.

However, employees must request the relevant leave in writing from their employers for this purpose.

Additionally, every employer must prepare a record showing the special leave applicants and the granted leave periods and display it at the workplace, according to the Election Commission.

Meanwhile, today (03) has been designated as a special day for distributing the official voter notification cards related to the 2024 General Election.

The Post Department mentioned that individuals who do not receive the official voter notification cards can collect them from the nearest post office after the 7th.

Additionally, tomorrow will be another opportunity to cast the postal votes for the General Election.

Postal voting was held on the 30th of last month and the day before yesterday, and those who could not cast their postal votes on those days will be able to do so tomorrow.

Moreover, those unable to mark their postal votes on these dates will have the opportunity to do so on the 7th and 8th.

Former State Minister Lohan Ratwatte, who was under remand custody, has been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital.

The Prisons Department states that Mr. Lohan Ratwatte was admitted to the National Hospital due to an emergency health condition that occurred last night (02).

Mr. Lohan Ratwatte was arrested on the 31st of last month in connection with the possession of a luxury car that had been illegally imported into the country.

He was remanded until the 7th of this month after being produced before the acting Magistrate of Nugegoda.

Following the Magistrate’s recommendation to direct him for medical treatment, considering his health condition, steps were taken to send Mr. Lohan Ratwatte to the prison hospital.

Gothatuwa police found a Suzuki cab belonging to the Road Development Authority in an advertising agency located in Kolonnawa.

This vehicle was found in a private company located on Adihena Road, Kolonnawa, according to the information given to the 1997 hotline on 30th.

It has been reported that a former member of Parliament of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna has parked a cab without number plates at this place.

An inquiry into the ownership of the cab by the Motor Vehicle Commissionerate has confirmed that it belongs to the Road Development Authority.

According to the police, there is information that this car has been in the advertising company in Kolonnawa for about three years.

A man, identified as the son of a priest known through media coverage for conducting a shrine in Galathenna, has been arrested by Theldeniya police with a Montero-type jeep assembled from various parts. The vehicle, reportedly in violation of legal requirements, was found following a tip-off received on the 1997 hotline.

The suspect, a resident of Digana, did not possess any registration documents for the jeep. During questioning, he claimed that the vehicle was left at his house by the late state minister Lohan Ratwatte’s secretary.

Further investigation revealed a 2022 electricity bill found in the jeep, indicating it belonged to the suspect’s residence. It was also discovered that the jeep had been used by the suspect for several years, bearing a license plate registered to a vehicle owned by an individual from Kandy.

Based on these findings, the man was taken into custody on suspicion by the police on the 31st.

A bus carrying a group of students of Kotalawala Defense University overturned this morning at the Ambagahambaya bend on the Badulla-Mahiyanganaya road, killing two female students and 35 people who were travelling in it were injured and taken to hospital.

The police said that the bus belongs to the Kotalawala Defense University (KDU).

The police say that these students are students of the Faculty of Quantity Surveying of KDU.

The accident happened at the last-second bend while going downhill after passing Dunhinda.

Police say that the bus was travelling from Badulla towards Mahiyangana. The police stated that the accident occurred when the bus was going to take a sharp turn at the Ambagahambaya bend while driving past Dunhinda.

Police say that 41 people were travelling in the bus when the accident occurred.

Today is the second day of postal voting for the parliamentary elections to be held on the 14th.

Postal voting started yesterday (31).

There, the officers of the district secretariats, election offices and police stations as well as all the offices belonging to the police department cast their votes.

The Election Commission informs that other government officials will be able to mark postal votes today and on the 4th.

Four individuals, residents of Deniyaya, have lodged a complaint with Deniyaya Police, alleging that their names were included in the National Democratic Front candidate list for the Matara District in the upcoming parliamentary election without their consent. The four complainants, identified as Taranga Deshapriya, Chamal Lasantha, Nishal Priyantha, and Prasad Udaya, reported on the 29th that they had only discovered they were listed as candidates when they received an official election notice at their homes containing the candidate list.

According to the police, the National Democratic Front’s Matara District candidate list consists of 10 individuals, all of whom appear to be from Deniyaya. Deniyaya Police have documented the complaint and forwarded it to the election division of the Matara Police Superintendent’s Office, which, in turn, is set to notify the Election Commission. The police have also informed the complainants to submit a related complaint to the Matara Returning Officer.

A person involved in large-scale drug trafficking, identified as Dhammika Saman Kumara, known as “Ami Chuti,” was apprehended by the Special Task Force (STF) with approximately 60 kilograms and 910 grams of heroin, valued at around 200 million rupees, along with one kilogram and 17 grams of “ice” (methamphetamine), estimated at approximately 15 million rupees. This individual is reportedly a key member of the drug network run by notorious organized crime figure Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, also known as “Harak Kata.”

The STF operation was conducted under the guidance and supervision of Assistant Superintendent of Police (Intelligence/Special Operations/Anti-Narcotics & Organized Crime Suppression) Mr. Sagara Kulasekara and led by Inspector R.A.D.A. Ranasinghe of the Special Task Force Special Operations Unit III. The raid took place in front of Lanka Ben House and Hotel along the road near the 10th Milepost Junction, located in Boralesgamuwa Police Division.

Dhammika Saman Kumara, the suspect, aged 41 and residing in the Dehiwala area, is a prominent associate within Harak Kata’s drug network. During the raid, STF officers seized a truck and a motorcycle in addition to the heroin and ice drugs. Following his apprehension, he was handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) for further investigation.

This drug haul and arrest were based on intelligence received from the Sri Lanka Army.

On the occasion of Diwali festival, all Tamil schools in the Central Province have been given a holiday on tomorrow (01).

Accordingly, it has been decided to hold school on the 09th instead of that.

The Army Inter-Regimental Bodybuilding, Weightlifting, and Powerlifting Tournament – 2024 was held from 22 to 24 October 2024 at the Army Indoor Stadium, Panagoda. A total of 140 male and female athletes, representing 17 regiments, participated in the event, which featured competitions in bodybuilding, weightlifting, and powerlifting categories.

After a series of intense and thrilling competitions, the Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps (SLAGSC) claimed victory in the men’s weightlifting Championship, while the Sri Lanka Artillery Regiment secured the runner-up position. In the women’s category, the SLAGSC also emerged victorious, with the Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps team securing the runner-up position.

In the powerlifting event, the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment won the Championship, with the Sri Lanka National Guard taking the runner-up title. The bodybuilding Championship was won by the Sri Lanka Signal Corps, with the Gemunu Watch team securing the runner-up position.

Major General Janaka Wimalarathna, the General Officer Commanding of the 51 Infantry Division and Chairman of the Army Bodybuilding, Weightlifting, and Powerlifting Committee, graced the event as the Chief Guest and presented certificates and medals to the winners.

A petition has reportedly been filed with the Supreme Court seeking an order to reject the nomination of former Member of Parliament Ranjan Ramanayake, who is contesting from the Gampaha District under the United Democratic Voice Organization for the upcoming general election.

The petitioner, K.M. Mahinda Senanayake, an independent candidate from the Gampaha District, has requested a ruling that Ranjan Ramanayake be deemed ineligible for a parliamentary seat and for voting rights.

The petition names the Election Commission and its members, Ranjan Ramanayake, and the Gampaha District Returning Officer as respondents.

The Coconut Cultivation Board says that the program of selling coconuts to the consumers by mobile lorries will not be implemented today (26) and tomorrow (27).

Yesterday (25) 5000 coconuts were sold for the people of Maharagama.

One coconut was given at the price of Rs. 110, said Mr. Wajira Tennakoon, Model Coconut Garden and Nursery Development Manager of the Coconut Cultivation Board.

The Election Commission has decided to mark the index finger of the voter’s left hand for voting in the upcoming general election.

In the last presidential election, the index finger of the voter’s left hand was marked.

Below is the announcement made by the Election Commission in this regard.

A senior police officer from the Gampola Police Control Division was arrested yesterday by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs. 20,000. The bribe was purportedly requested under the pretense of obtaining fuel for a vehicle used to transport documents related to a corruption complaint filed with the Commission.

The arrest took place at a restaurant on Panabokke Road in Gampola. The individual who made the complaint to CIABOC had reported that the officer had demanded the bribe to assist in the investigation and provide support before the commission.

The suspect allegedly threatened the complainant, stating that if the money was not paid, he would act against the complainant and make the situation difficult for him. Upon receiving this information, the complainant notified CIABOC, leading to a sting operation where the police officer was apprehended while accepting the bribe.

The police officer was set to attend CIABOC on the 25th of the month, carrying various reports and records relating to previous complaints, as requested by the commission. The officer’s request for money was allegedly linked to obtaining fuel for this trip to Colombo. The officer was caught red-handed during the transaction, leading to his immediate arrest.

Two suspects, including a Maldivian national, were arrested by Sri Lankan security forces in Ratmalana on suspicion of planning an attack targeting foreign nationals in Arugam Bay. The arrest follows intelligence from India’s RAW (Research and Analysis Wing), which suggested that the suspects had been contracted for a $100,000 operation allegedly ordered by a terrorist group from the Arabian Peninsula.

One of the suspects is a Sri Lankan resident from Jaffna, previously linked to terrorist activities, according to security sources. The duo had been temporarily residing in Ratmalana before their arrest.

The special police unit handling the case has detained both individuals for extended questioning. Investigations are ongoing to identify others potentially connected to the plot.

Similar to the intelligence provided ahead of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, the Indian intelligence service passed this information to Sri Lankan authorities on October 7th.

Police sources confirmed that the suspects had received financial support for the planned operation, and further investigations into their activities and connections are underway.

The Criminal Investigation Department arrested Mr. Johnston Fernando, a former minister, on suspicion of using and possessing an assembled vehicle.

This vehicle was found abandoned in the parking lot of the Colombo Hilton Hotel and he was arrested after appearing before the Criminal Investigation Department to give a statement in this regard.

Sri Lanka’s acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Priyantha Weerasooriya, stated that intelligence operations have been on high alert regarding potential threats linked to the Middle East conflict. He revealed that the first intelligence information concerning a possible attack targeting foreigners was received on October 7th.

He further emphasized that there are currently no domestic security concerns in Sri Lanka, adding that necessary precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of foreign nationals and sensitive locations. Weerasooriya mentioned that discussions were held under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake regarding this potential threat and that security measures have been implemented accordingly.

The acting IGP made these remarks during a media briefing held today (23) at the Polonnaruwa Police Headquarters.

Here are key points from his statement:

• Intelligence services have been closely monitoring the situation since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, as there were concerns about possible threats to Sri Lanka.
• On October 7th, the authorities received intelligence suggesting that foreign nationals might be targeted for an attack.
• A special security plan was launched from October 22nd onwards, focusing on safeguarding foreign nationals, religious sites, and critical locations.
• As of this morning, a meeting of the Security Council was convened, and it was confirmed that the necessary security measures had been taken, and foreign embassies were notified.
• There are no reports of any domestic individuals being targeted or any significant threats detected.
• Security operations, including searches and inspections, are ongoing, but no suspicious individuals or objects have been found.
• The acting IGP reassured that there is no national security threat in Sri Lanka, and security at airports and entry points has been enhanced.