Daily NEWS Srilanka

The commemoration of artiste the Late Wijaya Cumaratunga held annually was held yesterday with the attendance of wife of Wijaya, former President Chandrika Cumaratunga inclusive of relatives and comrades while Chathura Senaratna, Member of Parliament who says that 'because of Wijaya, a political comeback' was launched was not present on this occasion. Rajitha who was an active stalwart in Wijaya's Mahajana Party also was absent. The collection of photos of the occasion, from below  

An incident where the Chief Administrative Officer of Malabe SAITM Private Medical College Sameera Senaratna being shot at sometime back in the night hours at a spot close to that university was reported and the team of police officers who conducted an inquiry into the incident were constantly plagued with the baffling point of how the person inside the vehicle managed to remain unharmed under such circumstances.

We brought forward views and opinions of readers on our website the following day after the incident

Accordingly it has been understood that the sum of all this pointed to the fact that this was something planned out by Sameera himself and therefore he was taken into custody yesterday and interrogated at length in connection with the incident by a special police team, Police Headquarters report. Though all details in this respect have still not been officially released to the media, according to news reported it is learned that Sameera had secured the assistance of 2 individuals to open gunfire while help from a politician of Kaduwela Provincial Council too has been obtained. The previously referred to 2 persons have now fled the area, it was reported.

This situation has now achieved a complex facelift as such based on the fact that by using weapons the public have been led astray and in addition Sameera has made false complaints to the police with the motive of seeking protection. Police investigations are continuing to apprehend all suspects involved and sometime in the future this incident would be reported to courts via the police.

Previous news items by Gossip Lanka concerning the incident

Ambulance driver's statement about shooting incident of SAITM Chef Executive, contradictory, here

Shooting at vehicle of SAITM Chief Administrator ... role-acting?, here

Underground leader Samayan (30) inclusive of others who were imprisoned were being accompanied to courts today and on its way the prison bus was shot at by some gunmen where 6 persons lost their lives.

The gunshots have been fired at in Kalutara. From the shooting 6 persons including a member of the underworld gang Aruna Udaya Shantha Pathirana alias Samayan and a prison officer

Samayan the notorious gang leader who is an accused in connection with several complaints and hailing from Kaduwela, Ranala is accused of 3 cases of homicide, 2 cases of attempted murder and for being in possession of a T56 weapon. On September 23rd in the year 2015 too when prison officers accompanied the suspect to be produced before courts there had been an instance where gunshots were fired at him in courts premises; but he scraped through life on that occasion. (The above photo shows Samayan after he was shot at). However in this instance the target found its mark. Investigations are proceeding regarding this incident.

Stones and rotten eggs were thrown at the Dharma Sanwada programme of Pitiduwe Siridhamma Thera (Arahat Siri Samatha Bhadra) held at Piliyandala Somaweera Chandrasiri playground yesterday, Sunday the 26th by way of protest by people in the environs and because of this opposition proceedings had been halted halfway, it is reported.

The said Dharma Sanwadaya programme was scheduled to be held last evening for the fifth time,
organised by a radio channel at Piliyandala Somaweera Chandrasiri playground and publicity in this connection was given for this programme with arrangements and all preparations made with a large chair installed at the centre of the stage when from evening it was seen that crowds who displayed their opposition surrounded the arena, lighting crackers and carrying stones voicing their protest, it was reported.

Some people targeted their criticisms that this thera who appears by the name of Samantha Bhadra says that he has achieved the state of Arahat behaving in the past as someone similar to a Mahayana thera, thus destroying the Theravada Sasana. Various factions of the public have aimed numerous criticisms against this thera for participating in cutting large cakes, enjoying fun and presenting all forms of meat and food, holding birthday celebrations within the temple premises itself, having his statues installed at the temple while still among the living and having flowers thrown at his feet by disciples.

Perhaps because of protests from the beginning of the Piliyandala programme being launched yesterday Pitiduwe SiridhammaThera did not show up and instead, on his behalf another thera had taken his place to carry on with the programme and only a small crowd had been present on the occasion. Whatever it is, even during the time the programme was in operation the protestors who were surrounding the playground had thrown rotten eggs and stones towards the stage and though police protection was provided for the place, they had not retreated either.

In the end, a group of monks and some laymen who showed a protesting attitude had appeared on the scene where the audience was and had created some commotion at which moment it was announced on stage that the programme is suspended. The video at the time of commotion, from below

Sometime back notorious criminals arrested by police had died unanticipatedly even before they were taken to courts. This trend came to be known as the trend of 'taken to show the weapons', among readers. However, though it was popular at that time, such incidents are random these days. A Sub Inspector and 5 police officers of Peliyagoda Police Crime Branch were taken into custody last afternoon (26) over an alleged incident of a suspect who was arrested over a theft of a vehicle and who had died as a result of being assaulted by the police.

Deceased Shaman Wickramaarachchi (42) a father of two from Kaduwela, Biyagama is a three-wheel

As such, the team of police officers had accompanied him at about 4 in the morning to Sapugaskanda area, but the police who accompanied the suspect had in the process admitted the latter to hospital saying that he had fallen sick all of a sudden. The police had even made a remark and comment to the effect that the suspect had suffered from an asthmatic condition and when trying to struggle to flee from the grasp of the police while being so escorted was therefore hospitalised. After a short while he was admitted to Colombo General Hospital where he passed away.

Doctors who conducted the postmortem found some discrepancy in the data that was provided by the police. What was revealed at the inquest was that the suspect had been assaulted that day. It was further revealed that death was caused by multiple injuries on various regions of the victim's body in addition to internal haemmorage. No signs of an asthmatic condition had been observed. Assistant Superintendent of Police M. Jayalath together with a special team accosted the said 5 police officers and took them into custody and interrogations are underway.  

The number of victims who died being covered by an earth embankment of the Moragahakanda -- Kalu Ganga Irrigation Project has now risen to two. At the beginning the information received was that 1 person who was injured had died and that 2 were wounded and that rescue operations were underway to save 1 person involved in this

The reason why Malinga put his hand inside his pocket while bowling during the Twenty 20 match which concluded between Sri Lanka and Australia recently aroused the curiosity of the umpire. Before delivering every ball he paused for a while after putting his hand in his pocket. Some people suspected that this strategy concerned was carried out for some underhand purpose. Most viewers were in fact interested in knowing about

Subsequently the umpire sanctioned him to carry on with this procedure of inserting his hand into the pocket and it was the opinion of international cricket announcers engaged in commentaries on the match that using such a gadget did not constitute anything against the law. The Australian judges went on to point out that on occasions when cold weather conditions were present, it was Malinga's custom to warm up his hands which was a regular procedure of his before bowling every ball. When making further inquiries over this matter, information revealed that usage of this type of warming up gadgets at present in countries where cold weather conditions were present was of course a normal matter.

The hand-warming gadget used by Malinga in this instance happened to be something known by the trade name of 'Zippo' and is a gadget which operated on gas. The special type of gas required to fill it once is after lighting and the cover of the gadget is closed with some heat being exerted from tine holes in it. This small gadget could be taken around enclosed in the hand and by retaining it inside the pocket it could be made use of to warm the atmosphere under required conditions. Since the warmth created exists for a period of 12 hours each time and the gadget could be utilised even during a cricket match extending over a period of time. A video which carries further information about the gadget concerned, from below

Tele-actor Ruwan Wickramasingha whom most viewers came to know because of the tele-drama Chathuryaya, entered into marriage yesterday. Though both mother and father from the bride's party were present on the day of Ruwan's wedding, since Ruwan's mother and father were deceased, Ruwan had only to bow down in front of pictures of his mother and father and thus plead for their blessings. This occasion became a

At the time his mother passed away the only person who was by his side to banish his loneliness was his deceased mother aged 73 years. Since his mother had requested that her body be handed over to the Ayurveda Hospital according to her last will, no special activities were held on her dead body. His mother in fact lamented very much on the delay of Ruwan's marriage; but in the last stages he was able to introduce his future partner to her.

Ruwan was the youngest in the family which comprised 4 brothers and sisters inclusive and because of the bereavement of his mother he was moved by the loss and was unable to talk for some days. Finally he had said "I can't still believe that mother left me. I can't even talk ... as if I am left all alone in a desert ... my whole life has stopped. Everybody in the family loved mother equally. But because I happen to be the youngest, mother had a special corner for me. It was about my marriage that she always kept thinking. I have introduced to her the girl I was friendly, with during the past few days. Mother was very happy about her. But I am sorry that I couldn't have my wedding before she closed her eyes". Whatever it is, Ruwan was able to bring mother's wish into reality just a few months after her death. Ruwan got the blessings of his dearest mother ... sobbing. Photos of yesterday's wedding, from below

Ruwan Wickremasingha puts on his wedding ring.

Popular tele-drama actor Ruwan Wickremasingha has entered into marriage today (23). His bride is Vasana Edirisuriya. Religious customs were conducted at Narahenpita Abhayarama and those present at the wedding were well-wishers of the family. On that occasion former President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa and some MPs of the United Opposition who had come to Abhayarama to attend a political get together took time to greet the couple.

The case regarding the death of a young man named Lahiru Dissanayaka because of an overdose of Viagra while in the Hokandara home of Member of Parliament Wimal Weeravansha which incidentally created an uproar was taken up in courts once again yesterday and on that occasion Wimal's son Vibhuthi and a friend of his who was there in that house on that day came forward to give evidence. In the meantime

Wimal Weeravansha's son gave his evidence yesterday (19) in relation to the death of Lahiru in the presence of Kaduwela Magistrate, Addl. District Judge Mr. Prasanna Alwis in the following manner: "That day was October 25th ... can remember well. At about 4 in the evening my friends came to my house. It was Arjuna, Dilika, Isuru and Lahiru ayya who came. We went upstairs and after having a chat there, later began to watch TV. Around 6.30 in the evening mother (Sashi Weeravansha) came home. That time we went down. After that we again started started chatting. Around 9 in the night Lahiru ayya went out and came back once again at about nine thirty. After bowing down to mother we went upstairs and started watching TV till about 12.30 in the night and went to sleep after that.

I slept in my room; Arjuna, Isuru and Dilika slept in the adjoining room. Lahiru ayya put a mattress on the floor on the top floor in the hall and slept there. I got up the following morning around 9.30 or 10. When I was going down to have my breakfast I saw Lahiru ayya sleeping on the top floor. I called him ... called him over and again. What I thought was that he was pretending to be asleep. I then went close to him and turned him to the other side and at that moment I noticed something queer about him. I got afraid. After that I went downstairs and told mother. She didn't believe me. I remained downstairs because I was frightened. After mother called Lahiru ayya's mother, she came running. Later he was taken to hospital".

Wimal's son's friend Dilika also gave evidence and what he said as evidence tallied with Vibhuthi's evidence. After the Magistrate left after hearing the case, Wimal's wife Sashi Weeravansha together with those who had accompanied her were involved in some argument with the female typist who recorded the statements in open courts. What Sashi Weeravansha said was that certain information in the evidence she submitted do not appear in the typed sheet. Thereafter she said that she wanted that information inserted once again and the typist noted down the observations. Whatever it is, what Mrs. Sashi Weeravansha said was that only after those observations were typed out that she would place her signature. At that moment a state of confusion was noted and a media reporter who was present at that time to report the proceedings complained that it was Buddhadasa's crowd who had appeared there. This case is to be heard once more on April 26th.

Report -- Airangi Edirisingha

Member of Parliament Chathura Senaratna was a character who was mostly talked about across the social media during the past few days. The reason for it was certain incredible matters of interest about which he had spoken about at an interview on Derana 24-7 Channel. 

At this interview he had stated that he who was born in 1982 and had been involved with Late Vijaya Cumaratunga in 1988. He even explained information about how he went with Chandrika Madam to check the bank account of Late Vijaya Cumaratunga. In addition to that he also stated that he provided information to Victor Ivan for the book 'Chaura Regina' against Chandrika Madam. Apart from these matters Chathura who spoke incessantly about Politics as 'there was nothing that he did not do' further stated in that discussion that though he was requested thrice by President Maithri to grant him the highest positions in the government, he continuously rejected them. 

This talk was seriously criticised by the social media as a case of 'boasting' which cannot be acknowledged and a media reporter on contacting Victor Ivan over the telephone had inquired from him about a remark made regarding him in which instance he rejected Chathura's story, responding "Lies ... madness ... if at all I may have discussed just twice over the phone ... that's all". 

Professor Carlo Fonseka was suddenly admitted to Colombo National Hospital last night as a result of a heart ailment and his condition has now turned out for the better, hospital sources say. Physicians have said that the Professor could be released from hospital without delay after some medical

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As a result of a severe bout of sickness Professor Carlo Fonseka had been admitted to hospital on 23rd Thursday night. He was subjected to strong discussion as well as criticism by some elements. Professor Carlo Fonseka who functioned as the President of SLMC (Medical Council) did not approve SAITM and having worked tirelessly in that connection was exhausted. Further information about the Professor being admitted to hospital has still not been reported as such.

A father gave testimony at the inquest into the death of child in wife's womb ending in a still birth being congested with excreta as a result of a delay due to negligence of doctors of the child when the child was to be delivered after an urgent Ceasarian operation.

The said child was supposed to have been delivered at Mawanella Base Hospital on February 9th. On the occasion when the husband concerned had accompanied his wife to consult the private doctor, the

It was a matter of grave concern why the child was delivered without a normal operation and after going on leave on all 3 days of February 10th, 11th and 12th he mentioned this on 12th night to the doctors at the hospital in which instance the patient should have been transferred to Kegalle General Hospital by doctors of the hospital  since there was nobody to attend to the operation. Later however the doctors there who examined her had pronounced that it was too late and that the child had died inside the womb. It was further informed that even if an operation was carried out and the child was delivered, it was of no use. As such, since a normal delivery was permitted, on the 13th the pregnant mother had thus delivered a still childbirth.

The child's father happens to be an Army soldier named Demodera Wijesinghalage Wasantha Kumara, a 25 year old attached to the Trincomalee Artillery living in Gammangoda, Mawanella and he says that the cause of this death is the negligence of the doctor concerned. The postmortem was conducted at Kegalle General Hospital by Specialist Judicial Medical Officer of the same hospital, Dr. Ramesh Agaliyawanna and has delivered a verdict of death caused by the child suffering congestion of excreta accompanied by an undernourished umbilical cord.

It is only 3 months since popular actress and former Member of Parliament Upeksha Swarnamali has turned into a mother of a cute little baby girl of 3 months. It was only a part of a toddler's hand that was first made visible to her fans. However sometime back she had taken steps to expose the looks of the baby by posing before a camera of a newspaper for others to see amidst domestic

"Our daughter is Dhanuji Shanon Perera ... 3 months old. On the day daughter was born, most people of course commented saying that she looks like Samantha. Samantha was very happy about that remark. Then I of course had some jealousy because nobody said that she was like me. But now of course most people say that daughter's looks are like mine. It's not like the period spent looking forward with glee of becoming a mother. After becoming a mother it's not an easy thing ... busy all 24 hours. Must stay with baby only. Not like us ... with an age where nothing could be understood ... we've got to understand every sentiment of hers. Whenever she cries it's difficult to understand for what reason she cries. Life is strenuous ... feel so tired. When I was to deliver the baby ... had to undergo pain. I thought that I'd be free from pain after I get the baby ... but now I've had to bear up another responsibility. But I don't feel that it is a burden. I feel a change to the extent that I hardly feel any fatigue as such. This life is really wonderful. I don't let anybody handle her work. My mother and another person is there to help. Whoever is there to help me ... I at least ask mother whatever I don't know and handle it all alone by myself. I won't palm it over to somebody and wash my hands for that matter.

Samantha is someone who is busy with business activities. I can't expect any help from him for domestic work or for me either. But now I feel the cost of living in a big way. He should be well-armed in a financial sense. For that I have to give my support after letting him have the freedom he looks forward to. When taking into consideration with my age, Samantha is a little elder to me. He enjoys maturity in life. I think for that very reason he has understood me. But at the beginning stages like a small fellow I hung around him craving for his love. Now it's from him the question should be asked whether my love has diminished. Though most of the time I am with daughter, I like to take part in acting until I die. Samantha has not imposed taboos on me ... neither has he placed restrictions asking me not to go for acting. I also like to be a strength to the economy of the family.

(Discussion -- Harshani Weeraratna  / Photo -- Chamila Karunaratna) 

15 Second Year students of the Agricultural Faculty of University of Peradeniya who have engaged in ragging of a torturous nature of some freshers of the same Faculty were taken into custody early last morning (20) by Peradeniya Police.

According to the Ragging Act since stringent measures have been enforced against ragging within the campus, in order to escape from such rules and regulations these students have rented out a house externally in Hindagala Megodakalugamuwa area and had carried on ragging activities in that
location. In this case it is 8 male 1st Year students who have become victims of ragging. The victims have been contacted over the telephone and have been asked to come to Galaha Junction and subsequently they had been escorted on motor cycles to the relevant spot and after arriving at the house concerned they were made to undress and had forced them to engage in various types of exercises and postures which provoked sexual stimulation, it is reported.

A villager had alerted Mr. Gamini Hitinayaka, Welfare Officer of Peradeniya University around 10.30 in the night and informed him over the telephone of these activities and he had hastened to that location in the company of Head of the Agricultural Faculty Mr. D.K.N.G. Pushpakumara together with officers of the Security Unit. On that occasion they were able to observe in secret how the freshers were subjected to acts of nudity and to video the incident as a source of evidence. Later after apprehending the accused students this incident was notified to Peradeniya Police and subsequently all 15 of them were taken into custody. 

It was revealed at the police inquiry that the accused had secured the said house at a rent of Rs. 10,000 for 3 months last January 2nd. The house concerned in fact belongs to a certain junior employee of Galaha Medical Office of Health and is still under construction. The accused students have on a number of previous occasions too have brought students there for purposes of ragging, it was revealed. These culprits have misled the owner by saying that they are Architects attached to an Architectural firm and he had said that he was unaware that misdeeds of this nature were taking place there. 

The students who became victims of this ragging activity are residents of Buttala, Kuliyapitiya, Opatha, Dodangoda, Nagalagamuwa, Pattiyawattha and Udugampola areas. Students who have been arrested are residents of Rabukkana, Lunuwila, Denipitiya, Mewanella, Homagama, Buttala, Galle, Galagedera, Kadawatha, Pothuhera and Amparai areas, police say. These 15 students who engaged in acts of torture and frightened the students after making them naked were produced before Kandy Addl. Magistrate Mrs. Rangani Gamage yesterday and were remanded till March 2nd. 

The offenders on the other hand were all 2nd Year students of the same Agricultural Faculty by the names of Chathura Lasantha, Darshana Goonewardena, Rajitha Basnayaka, Niroshan Rajapaksha, Kodituwakkulage Mihiranga, Segu Thaidu, Priya Kelum Jayatissa, Sasinda Wedapitiya, Sanjeewa Seneviratna, Pubudu Alwis, Dhananjaya Kanishka Bandara, Kavishka Lakshan Umesh Eranga Kumara, Harshana and Suresh Wijeysiri. The charges levelled against them came under clauses 2, 3 and 6 of the 1998 No. 20 Act of Ragging. The Magistrate conclusively informed that her judicial authority has no permission to grant bail to the accused concerned.

After Sri Lanka trounced Australia twice one after the other with yesterday's victory at the T20 cricket match, all eyes of this country was focused on this new player called Asela Guneratne who in fact was behind these wins.

The question that sprang up among most people was as to where this 31 year old player was all this time. Devundagedera Asela Sampath

Asela who showed a liking for the game of cricket during his schooldays managed to find time for the game during his service with the Army. In fact he had played for the Sri Lanka Sports Club and also has taken part in first-class competitions too. At a later time he had become the cricket Captain of the Army team too. Subsequently he had joined Mohammedan Sports Club and had developed his cricketing skills and gained a reputation in the Army as a player who was aggressive enough to crack the ball with his shots. In this context the Sri Lankan Army team was able to boast of victories throughout a number of years because of this player. It was during that period that he was able to record his maiden double century which incidentally comprised of 22 fours plus 5 sixes all of which he amassed within a space of just 170 balls. Whatever it is, he was unable to find a place in the Sri Lanka team until he was 30 years old.

The moment came when he was selected for the Twenty 20 match between Sri Lanka and India for the first time as far back as February in the year 2016, an year ago. However he could score only 4 runs and when it came to bowling, after delivering 2 overs and 5 balls he was unable to clinch a single wicket after having given away 22 runs during that spell.

He was once more selected for Test matches and One-dayers in October -- November 2016. Whatever it is, Asela Guneratne became a foremost outstanding batsman in Zimbabwe Tests, One-Day match series and Sri Lanka Premier League competitions. It is the view of cricket critics that if an opportunity to play him in Tests against South Africa dawned on the selecting committee, the outcome of the Test series would have taken a different turn. Statistics of Asela's exploits are as follows 

The auction for cricketers' bid for the year 2017 for the Indian Premier League competition is underway from this morning until this moment.

By now several names of Sri Lankan players have come forward and among Sri Lankans who have

Those sold: