Author: Buzzer Editorial

A former Chief Legal Officer (retired) of the Ministry of Health has been arrested by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.The arrest was made in connection with an investigation based on a complaint received by the Commission. While serving as a legal officer, the individual had facilitated leasing a building to the Ministry of Health.Subsequently, in order to extend the lease period, he had prepared three lease agreements and had requested a sum of Rs. 4,134,887 as fees for drafting those agreements. He had already received Rs. 2,000,000 and had been requesting the remaining amount.Out…

An individual has been killed in an accident involving a motorcycle and a luxury jeep along the Siyambalanduwa– Ethimale road.The motorcyclist and the pillion rider were seriously injured following the clash, police stated.One of the injured individuals has succumbed to his injuries after being admitted to the hospital.The deceased was a 27-year-old resident of Siyambalanduwa.Siyambalanduwa Police are conducting further investigations into the accident.

A special discussion was held between British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick and the Minister of Ports, Civil Aviation, and Energy, Anura Karunathilaka.During the discussion, the High Commissioner expressed agreement to provide both state and private sector partnerships for the development of ports and airports.He also stated that foreign investments and expert assistance could be provided for essential areas such as modern technological equipment for airport operations and airspace management.Commenting during the meeting, Minister Anura Karunathilaka said that several port terminals are already being operated with private sector partnerships.He further noted that the Hambantota Port is also being…

Former Ratnapura District Parliamentarian Premalal Jayasekara, who was arrested yesterday (21) in connection with an alleged incident of threatening an individual with a firearm, is scheduled to be produced before the Nuwara Eliya Magistrate’s Court today (22).Jayasekara was taken into custody yesterday by the Nuwara Eliya Police over allegations that he had threatened a person by brandishing a firearm.According to police, the incident had occurred following a heated argument between the former MP—who had arrived in Nuwara Eliya with family members—and a group of individuals who had travelled from Avissawella on an excursion.It is reported that the situation escalated, during…

Showers or thundershowers will occur at most places of the island after 1.00 pm today (22), the Department of Meteorology stated.Fairly heavy falls above 75 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva and Southern provinces and in the Ampara and Kurunegala districts.Showers may occur in Batticaloa, Ampara and Hambantota districts during the morning too.Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa, North-central and Uva provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kalutara, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts during the early hours of the morning.The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize…

World Earth Day is being observed today (22).This year’s theme is “Our Power, Our Planet.”A range of complex environmental challenges is expected in 2026, including climate change, loss of biodiversity and ecosystems and the accumulation and degradation of industrial waste.Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970, in the United States.The observance was pioneered by U.S. Senator and environmentalist Gaylord Nelson and has since expanded globally. Today, it is marked in 193 countries with the participation of more than one billion people.Following a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2009, the day was formally recognized with…

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (Apr 21) he would indefinitely extend the ceasefire with Iran, hours before it was set to expire, to allow the two countries to continue peace talks to end a war that has killed thousands of people and shaken the global economy.Backing down from threats of new violence earlier in the day, Trump said in a statement he had agreed to a request by Pakistan, which has mediated peace talks in the seven-week-old war, until Iran’s “leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal”.Trump also said he decided to extend the ceasefire…

A new low-floor bus service that gives priority to persons with disabilities and special needs was launched today (21) from the Makumbura Multimodal Center (MMC).The service was inaugurated under the patronage of Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Bimal Rathnayake.Accordingly, ten specially designed low-floor buses have been introduced into the transport service today. These buses are specially designed so that wheelchair users, visually impaired passengers and also expectant women can board the bus with ease, the Transport Ministry said.Each bus has 30 passenger seats and separate seating areas have been allocated for passengers using wheelchairs.The pilot project operates on…

A suspect has been arrested for allegedly defrauding Rs. 1,000,024 by creating a fraudulent website resembling an official website of a private bank.Investigations were launched following a complaint received by the North Western Province Unit of the Computer Crimes Investigation Division (CCID), police stated.Accordingly, the suspect was arrested yesterday (20) and brought to the Wariyapola Police Station.The suspect has been identified as a 22-year-old resident of the Minuwangoda area, police said.He is scheduled to be produced before the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court today (21), while the North Western Province Unit of the CCID is continuing further investigations into the incident.

Officials in Japan have warned of an increased risk of a ‘‘huge’’ earthquake in the next week after a 7.7 magnitude quake struck off the north-east coast, triggering an evacuation order and warnings of 3m (10ft) tsunami waves.Thousands of people were told to leave coastal areas for higher ground after the quake in waters off Iwate prefecture, 530km (330 miles) north of the capital Tokyo.The biggest tsunami waves measured 80cm. Tsunami warnings and advisories were lifted hours after the quake on Monday.But Japan’s meteorological agency has warned that quakes ‘‘causing even stronger shaking’’ could occur in the next week, producing…