Son who confessed to the Kotakethana murder released on bail

Kotakethana serial murders gripped the island by terror until the murderer behind the killings was caught. Police arrested a number of suspects but was forced to release them as there weren’t enough evidence.

The youth who was arrested over the murder of his mother in Kotakethana was released on bail. He was held in remand custody for over a year and was finally released, on Rs. 25,000 cash bail and Rs. 200,000 surety bail, by the Pelmadulla Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

His release comes as a fresh suspect was arrested over the brutal murder of a woman in the area.

this suspect escaped the grips of law as he sexually assaulted and murdered women, and left without leaving a shred of evidence.

However, now it was reported that he murdered the women after he sexually assaulted them. This was proved by the DNA evidences on the suspect.

In 2015 April 04, 47-year-old Chandrani Swarnalatha was found hacked to death in Kotakethana. Her son was arrested over the murder and remanded. It was revealed that the son was home during the murder of the mother.

Later he confessed to the killing stating that he was enraged as the mother refused to give money to buy his girlfriend a gift.

But the real murderer was Lakshman alias Mahatthaya, DNA evidences has shown. Later the son, a student, was granted bail.

50,000 soldiers deployed to Restore Normal civilian life

Twelve Service Centres will be set up to provide relief to people in 12 Grama Niladhari Divisions affected by the Salawa Armoury explosion and fire and 50,000 soldiers would be deployed if necessary to restore normal civilian life in the region, Army Commander Lt.Gen. 

Crishantha de Silvasaid. He was addressing a disaster relief meeting at the Seethawaka Divisional Secretariat presided by Science Technology and Research Minister Susil Premajayantha yesterday.

The Army Commander at the outset set he wished to apologise to the affected people on behalf of the Army for this unforeseen incident.

He said as much as civilians, Army personnel and troubled War Heroes too faced the disaster. People affected may be concerned about the restoration of their business and other vocations and the schooling of them children. They need not entertain any fears about these issues as the Army would step into assist them to restore their lives.

Fielding a question the Army Commander said they had no desire or need to hide the death toll. Only one soldier was killed and another soldier injured.

Minister Susil Premajayantha said they visited the scene on the day of the incident but had no occasion to meet the people. That was why they had visited the area yesterday.

He said all people affected by the incident would be provided with relief without any political or other bias. Those who lost moveable and immovable properties will be compensated but it would take sometimes. Those who lost their commercial establishments would be paid or monthly allowance of Rs 50,000 until their properties were restored valuation officers would visit the area from today.

He said interests of employees of business ventures who lost employment would also be looked into. He said 125 out of 750 places destroyed were business places. The needs of school children including books stationery and uniforms would also be provided.

The government would keep a close observation until civilian life was fully restored in the area.

U.S. President Obama Endorses Hillary Clinton

U.S. President Barack Obama formally endorsed fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton for president on Thursday and called for Democrats to unite behind her after a protracted battle with Bernie Sanders for the party nomination.

After an unexpectedly tough battle against Sanders’ challenge from the left, former first lady Clinton made history when she reached the number of delegates needed to win the party nomination this week. That made her the first woman to lead a major U.S. party as its White House candidate.

However the two were opponents in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary race, which Obama won, but they buried their rivalry and she served as his secretary of state for four years.

Clinton posted a video of the endorsement to her official campaign website, just an hour after Sen. Bernie Sanders left the White House after a private meeting with Obama in the Oval Office.

Obama said that he don’t think there’s ever been someone so qualified to hold president office and Clinton got the courage, the compassion and the heart to get the job done.

Obama thanks Sanders in the video for bringing the message of income inequality into the campaign, a message that he said Democrats will take with them from here on.

Basil - PB to appear before PRECIFAC

Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa and former Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. P. B. Jayasundera have been summoned to appear before the Presidential Commission Investigating Fraud Corruption, Abuse of Power State Resources and Priviledges (PRECIFAC) today.

Initial evidence will be heard in connection with an investigation made by the Commission on the alleged misuse of SLAF aircraft and several other acts of alleged fraud and corruption.

Motion of no-confidence defeated in Parliament

The No Confidence motion, which was taken up against Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, was defeated with a majority of 94 against the motion, 145 voted against the  motion, while 51 voted for the motion, 28 were absent.

Earlier, the No Confidence motion was submitted to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya by the Joint Opposition on March 24. It carries the signatures of 37 Joint Opposition MPs.

The no-faith motion stated the Minister had misled the House with inaccurate information on the economy and the finance of the country. The motion has held the minister responsible for the current economic crisis in the country. The JVP during its Central Committee meeting held on Sunday decided to vote in favour of the motion. It is learnt the TNA is most likely to either abstain or vote against the motion.

3 persons dead following bomb blast in Thalangama

Three people were killed and a child was injured following a grenade attack in Koswatta, Thalangama today, the police said.The police said that the attack was carried out over a private dispute.

According to the police, a girl and her mother were attacked when they were on their way to the police station to make a complaint.The attack had taken place over a love affair, the police said. The girl and her mother were killed in the attack.

Gayantha , Rajitha justify purchase of new vehicles

Ministers Gayantha Karunathillake and Rajitha Senaratne yesterday justified the purchase of more good vehicles for various Ministry’s saying that their work entailed a lot of travelling.

Responding to questions at the weekly Cabinet Press Briefing in Colombo, they claimed that there was a shortage of vehicles at government institutions and that was the reason for more funds being allocated to buy new cars.

" We, have a lot of work to do and travel to many remote areas.You need powerful engines to climb hilly terrain", they added.

The Ministers said that all purchases were done in a proper manner devoid of commissions and with parliamentary approval.

Sri Lanka recall experienced Farveez Maharoof for England ODIs

Paceman Farveez Mahroof has been picked for the ODI segment of Sri Lanka's tour of England.

Maharoof who last played an ODI in 2012 has been picked alongside Upul Tharanga, Dhanushka Gunathilaka, Suraj Randiv and Seekuge Prasanna to join the national squad currently engaged in the Test tour, SLC said in a statement yesterday.

Meanwhile SLC announced the (Four-day and One-day) squads for Sri Lanka 'A' team tour of UK on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka A-Team 4-day squad: Ashan Priyanjan (Captain), Mahela Udawatta, Udara Jayasundara, Madhawa Warnapura, Niroshan Dickwella, Roshen Silva, Angelo Perera, Minod Bhanuka, Charith Asalanka, Sachith Pathirana, Lahiru Gamage, Kasun Rajitha, Vishva Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Ramith Rambukwella, Prabath Jayasuriya.

These five players join the team for ODIs: Bhanuka Rajapakse, Kithruwan Vithanage, Thisara Perera, Mohamed Dilshad, Lakshan Sandaken.