Otara Gunewardene's Birthday

The charismatic chairperson of Odel Limited, Ms. Otara Del Gunewardene, celebrated her 48th birthday today (Aug. 30).

The employees organized a small function to celebrate the event.

Cobra woman remanded till 30th

A woman who is alleged to have kept a cobra in a room at a Kollupitiya night club was today ordered to be remanded till tomorrow (30th) under the custody of female prison officers.

In a complaint to the Kollupitiya police, a security officer of the Cleopatra Night Club in Colombo 3 said this woman employee of the night club kept a cobra with her for two days.

He said he was compelled to lodge the complaint because the other women who were inside the room were frightened by the woman with the cobra.

The Kollupitiya police who investigated the matter arrested the woman on charges of having violated the provisions of Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. They also seized the cobra, which was handed over to the Dehiwala Zoological Gardens.

Police told Colombo Fort Magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne that the suspect was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital for treatment as she appeared to be mentally unsound.

Dehiwala Zoological Gardens official Pattige Premasiri told the police that someone had defanged the cobra.

After inspecting the suspect’s health condition, the Magistrate ordered that she be held in remand custody under the protection of female prison officers.  

Udari Warnakulasuriya with daughter

Udari Warnakulasuriya was born in Negombo and studied at Ave Maria Convent, Negombo. She was one of the participants at the Miss Sri Lanka pageant 2007. She's  one of the most famous actress in Sri Lanka. she enter in to Sri Lankan cinema by the film call Paya Enna Hiru Se and then become very popular with her character in Bonda meedum tele drama.

She gave a birth to little girl couple of months ago and this is her first child. Her name is Shenarya Umeyli. according to her it mean queen of God.

More Photos of Udari

Nalaka appointed SEC Chairman

The government appointed the head of Sri Lanka's state run tourism board, Nalaka Godahewa, to chair the country's markets regulator, the Treasury Secretary said today.

P.B. Jayasundera said Godahewa would join the Securities and Exchange Commission with immediate effect.

The SEC post has been vacant since August 17 when Tilak Karunaratne resigned, claiming he had come under pressure from market participants being investigated for alleged stock market manipulation.

The IMF last week raised concerns over the resignation of Karunaratne, saying that, under his leadership, the SEC had been taking the right steps to ensure its regulations were obeyed.

Godahewa, meanwhile, has been viewed as a market friendly candidate, and hopes he would succeed to the top regulatory post had boosted the stock market 4.1 percent since Karunaratne's resignation.

Godahewa has worked extensively in the private sector, including as the head of an insurance firm and of the overseas operations of the island's top garment exporter, MAS Holdings.

Godahewa, who will be the third SEC head since December, said he was unaware of the appointment.

Sri Lanka's SEC has been heavily criticized by some market players, who have claimed the stock exchange is over regulated and blamed this for a 20 percent drop in the index this year.

Karunaratne's predecessor also left amid complaints from brokers that tougher regulations were hurting stock prices.

Analysts and brokers are divided over Karunaratne's resignation with some noting regulations will be difficult to enforce even under a new SEC chief as investors were powerful enough to lobby against any probes.

Karunaratne had been pushing investigations into stock market malpractice, including so called pump and dump deals in which investors are lured into apparently cut price equities.

Bail for singer Amal Perera

Singer Amal Perera, arrested by police over an alleged traffic offence, was given bail by the Kalutara magistrate today (Aug. 28).

He was taken into custody at Payagala earlier in the day.

At the court, it was revealed that he had an open warrant issued in 1997.

Over that warrant matter, he was ordered a Rs. 25,000 surety, while for the traffic offence, a Rs. 50,000 surety was ordered.

The case will be taken up again on October 08.

Actress Samudra accused of running brothel

Actress Samudra Liyanage is reportedly the owner of a brothel fronting as a hotel in Moratuwa that was raided by the anti-vice squad yesterday (Aug. 23), according to police.

During the raid, two women and the manager of the place were arrested.

Police said the actress was the owner of the hotel, who had not been there at the time of the raid.

A decoy was used for the raid, and it has been found that a client had to pay Rs. 8,000 per hour to obtain services of a woman there.

Samudra Liyanage was the second runners up at Miss Sri Lanka 1995 and later acted in several films and tele dramas.

The suspects are due to be produced before courts, while the actress is to be questioned.

Three for Tilak’s post at SEC

Following the resignation of Mr. Tilak Karunartne, the former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, there is a three officers cornered tussle for the post, according to reliable sources.

Minister for Economic Development, Mr. Basil Rajapaksa has proposed the  name of the former IGP  Mr. Chandra Fernando  to head the Securities and Exchange Commission Mr Chandra Fernando who is an Advisor to the President  is currently engaged as a Consultant  for the Uthuru Vasanthaya project.

Senior Attorney at Law, Mr. Kalinga Indratissa ‘s name has also been proposed for the post, it is learnt.

 The name of Udya Sri  Kariyawasam , a former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission  has also been nominated for the post. While he is considered to be an expert regarding monetary frauds has been guest  lecturer   on the subject at Cambridge university, U.K.  

During his tenure as Chairman, despite a climate of world recession, the stock market  had registered  a figure of  a Trillion rupees.

Nevertheless, during next week or two, one of these gentleman will be appointed to the post, it is believed.

Teledrama star’s hotel a five star brothel

The Panadura- Walana Central Anti-Vice Squad raided a hotel said to be owned by a film and teledrama actress in Sagara Lane in Moratuwa yesterday. Two alleged prostitutes and the manager of the hotel, a retired police sergeant, had been arrested.

One of the women had kept her one year and three month old child in this hotel where she allegedly worked as a prostitute.

At the time of the arrest the manager of the hotel had been looking after the child while the mother was working.

The police, on information received, had obtained a search warrant from the Moratuwa magistrate and raided the place

Police had used a decoy who posing as rich businessman and solicited the services of a woman for Rs 8000, and, after selecting a Tamil woman, had paid the money, The police party who arrived on the scene had arrested the woman plus another woman and the manager.

The Panadura Walana Anti-Vice Squad, under the direction of DIG Mahesh Samaradiwakara conducted this raid with the assistance of a police team. The suspects are to be produced in court after preliminary inquiries.

Universities closed until further notice

Amid the continuing strike by university teachers, Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanyake said today all universities excluding the medical faculties would be shut down with immediate effect until further notice.

The minister said all management level stakeholders including University Vice Chancellors, Directors and Academics had met on Monday to discuss the crisis and it was unanimously decided to shut down all universities.

“As Higher Education Minister and under the Universities Act No.16 I have decided to close the universities until further notice. The Higher Education Ministry will notify the date of reopening,” the minister said.

Mervin Silva in Action

Minister Mervin Silva back in action. When he was checking around the Kiribathgoda area he has seen this construction site and he tried to destroy it saying it is illegal. Watch video.

Office belonging to Minister Athauda Seneviratne sealed

An office belonging to senior Minister Athauda Seneviratne which was located within the Kegalle District Secretariat has been sealed.

According to Kegalle District Returning officer and the District Secretary Thusitha Wanigasinghe, the office has been sealed in compliance with election laws.

He added that the office was sealed as a son of Minister Athauda Seneviratne is contesting
for the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Elections.

Meanwhile, according to the Police Media Spokesperson SSP Ajith Rohana, the police has received reports stating that Minister Athauda's son had been using the said office for political activities.

The Police Media Spokesperson added that after taking these information into consideration election officials together with the police took steps to seal the office.

SEC Chief says will resign before Friday

The head of Sri Lanka's Securities and Exchange Commission said he will resign before Friday after coming under pressure to step down amid accusations by some investors under investigation for "pump-and-dump" deals.

 "I'll be doing it within the course of this week definitely. Definitely before Friday," Tilak Karunaratne told Reuters.

Karunaratne has called for investigations into market manipulation and malpractice, including so-called pump-and-dump deals in which naive investors are lured into apparently cut-price equities.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed Karunaratne in December after his predecessor, Indrani Sugathadasa, resigned "to uphold her principles" amid broker complaints that tougher regulations were hurting stock market prices.

Nittawela Clash ( Photos and Videos )

There was a  clash that took place during an inter club rugby encounter at Nittawela in Kandy Aug 12.

The Navy, which has all three sons of the president as players, was defeated by Kandy Sports Club in the match.

Failing to accept the defeat, a group of Navy men had assaulted the spectators, said Kandy SC president Lasantha Wijesuriya.

It was the Navy physiotherapist who had begun all Navy supporters too beat up the spectators and drove them away from the grounds as the winners were celebrating, he has told BBC Sandeshaya.

It had taken place after President Mahinda Rajapaksa and first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa had left the venue after the match, while their three sons, as well as the large police contingent present, looked on as the assault was taking place, he charged.

Last year too, the Navy beat up Kandy SC players, but police were yet to take any action, Mr. Wijesuriya said.

However, Navy spokesman Commodore Kosala Warnakulasuriya has rejected the accusation, saying Navy players were injured when spectators attacked them.

Kandy Sports Club beat Navy Sports Club by 25-20 in a second round Dialog Division A club rugby match played at Nittawela last 12th.

Romesh Sugathapala Wedding Photos

Young Singer Romesh Sugathapala's wedding was held recently at Cinnamon lakeside colombo. These are some photos of the wedding.

According to sources they have met in school days and after long love story they got married.

We OUR LANKA team wish Both of them Happy Wedded Life.

Villagers surround Child brothel

A brothel maintained by a person called Lalith, a resident opposite Maliyadeva Arahanna Temple in
Mal-asna area in Kurunegala and a leader of the ‘Blue Brigade’ has been surrounded by villagers say reports.

The villagers say there are two underage girls that are between 13 and 17 years of age in the residence where the brothel is maintained.

Today at about 10.00 a.m. parents of a girl had come to the house and inquired about their daughter stating she had left home yesterday (10th) saying she was coming to the house but she had not returned. A woman called Nanda in the house had told them that their daughter had left today (11th) with another girl. Then a villager who had been there had said he had seen the two girls at “Lalith’s other residence.”

This had led to a hot argument and at the moment villagers have surrounded the two houses and they have informed 119, the police emergency service.

On 10th December, 2011, on a complaint received by 119 police emergency service, the leader of the ‘Blue Brigade’ and the woman known as Nanda’ were arrested with an underage girl kept in the house but were released within a few hours without keeping any records in the official books in the police station.

Lalith, the suspect, is involved in timber rackets and using his political powers evades arrest and any legal action being taken against him. According to the villagers the vehicles that come to the house are that of VIPs and the OIC of Wallawa Police too is a frequent visitor to the house they further say

Actor Sampath Jayaweera’s Wedding Photos

A present era Tele dram Actor Sampath Jayaweera’s wedding took place recently. They have got married after having had a love affair. The bride was ‘Ruwini’ not connected to the field. photographer : Kosala Senevirathne

Land owner says he paid deputy minister Sarana Gunawardena Rs.250 million

A complaint lodged by a land owner that Deputy Petroleum Minister Sarana Gunawardena had asked for Rs.250 million in order to continue construction of a housing scheme , was forwarded to the Bribery Commission by Police Chief N.K. Illangakone

The complainant Duminda Lakshan Liyanage who is a resident of Pelawatta is putting up a housing scheme at Horagolla. He had lodged his complaint at the Police Headquarters on Thursday evening.

The Deputy Minister in a counter complaint told Police Headquarters that the businessman had made these allegations with the intention of tarnishing his image.

The land owner in his complaint said he had given the Deputy Minister two dated cheques for nearly Rs.200 million and gave another Rs.50 million in cash.

However Deputy Minister Gunawardena has denied these allegations.

source : DM

Power cuts again

Power cuts of two hours and fifteen minutes duration will be imposed on 58 towns and Colombo City area tomorrow (09) due to a breakdown at the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant (LCPP) at Norochcholai, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said.

Power will be cut for 2 ¼ hrs. between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm. --  at different times in different places. The towns will be placed in four different groups each of which will have its power cut at a different time.

The CEB said that the Lakvijaya Power Plant at Norochcholai had automatically shut down on Wednesday monring due to the tripping of the transmission line from Norochcholai to Veyangoda. The shutdown deprived the national grid of 300 MW, the CEB said.

source : DM