Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake today (11) told Parliament that the Treasury could provide financial assistance for a student of Bandarawela Dharmasoka Vidyalaya who suffered severe facial burns in a laboratory accident, if details of the child were submitted. 

Addressing the Parliament, he said he had spoken to the Treasury Secretary and that the government was prepared to intervene to support treatment.

The assurance came in response to Opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, who raised the issue under Standing Orders. 

Addressing the Parliament, Dassanayake alleged the accident occurred due to a teacher’s mistake and criticized authorities for failing to launch an inquiry. 

He highlighted that the injured child, from a family of four without a father, is unable to attend school and requires plastic surgery.

He said, yet no investigation or assistance had been provided by the Governor, Education Zone Director, or Ministry of Education.

Thanking Rathnayake for the pledge of support, Dassanayake pressed for a proper probe, claiming reports suggested the teacher had thrown a substance on the child. 

He urged authorities to establish how the accident occurred and hold those responsible accountable. (Newswire)

The post Govt pledges support for student injured in Bandarawela school lab accident appeared first on Newswire.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that indictments have been filed in the Colombo High Court against former Minister Chamara Sampath Dissanayake over a corruption allegation.

The Bribery Commission notified the court when the case in this regard was taken up today before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.

At the hearing, the Bribery Commission notified the court that indictments had been presented before the Colombo High Court against the suspect.

Accordingly, concluding the proceedings before the Magistrate’s Court, the Magistrate ordered MP Chamara Sampath Dissanayake to appear before the High Court once a notice is issued. (Newswire)

The post Corruption allegations : Indictments filed against MP Chamara Sampath appeared first on Newswire.

The Supreme Court today (01 Sept) granted permission to proceed with a fundamental rights petition filed against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, several former Cabinet members, and other respondents.

The petition claims that during the previous government’s tenure, phosphate stocks extracted from the Eppawala deposit were exported to several favoured companies at prices significantly lower than the approved market rates, constituting a violation of fundamental human rights.

The petition was submitted by the Center for Environmental Justice.

Thirty-two respondents were named, including former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Cabinet members, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, its Director General, and the Attorney General.

The petition was reviewed today by a three-member Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Janak de Silva, Priyantha Fernando, and Sampath Abeykoon.

Appearing for the petitioners, Attorney-at-Law Ravindranath Dabare argued that Lanka Phosphate Ltd had acquired phosphate stocks in violation of a Supreme Court directive issued in the year 2000 regarding the Eppawala deposit.

He further alleged that phosphate was exported to several favoured companies at prices far below the global market rate per metric ton.

According to the petition, this practice resulted in significant financial losses to both the government and the general public.

The lawyer also revealed that former Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, who oversaw the subject at the time, had exerted pressure on state institutions, including the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, to issue the necessary licenses for phosphate release.

After reviewing the submissions, the Supreme Court bench scheduled the petition to be heard on March 9, 2026. (Newswire)

The post Ranil Govt phosphate exports : SC to hear FR petition appeared first on Newswire.

Badulla District MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake has been released on 02 personal bails by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court in connection with a case that had been filed by the Bribery Commission over the misuse of state funds. 

The Badulla Magistrate’s Court today released the Parliamentarian on two personal bails of Rs. 01 million each concerning a case filed over the misappropriation of Rs. 01 million.

MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake was arrested by the Bribery Commission, after recording a statement on 27 March, on 03 separate corruption charges linked to his previous tenure as a State Minister.

He was remanded on two corruption charges, while he was granted bail for one. 

One charge was over the misappropriation of Rs. 01 million from the Provincial Council fixed deposit with a state bank.

The second charge was for causing a loss of Rs. 23 million to the government by withdrawing fixed deposits held in a state bank. (Newswire)

The post Chamara Sampath granted bail over one corruption case appeared first on Newswire.

Badulla District MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake has been remanded in connection with another case filed by the Bribery Commission on corruption allegations.

The Badulla Magistrate’s Court today remanded MP Chamara Sampath Dissanayake until 21 April 2025 over the incident of allegedly misappropriating Rs. 01 million from the Provincial Council fixed deposit with a state bank. 

The MP has been remanded while being in remand custody over the allegation of allegedly causing a loss of Rs. 23 million to the government by withdrawing fixed deposits held in a state bank. 

MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake was arrested by the Bribery Commission, after recording a statement on 27 March, on 03 corruption charges linked to his previous tenure as a State Minister.

After being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, the MP was released from two charges and remanded on one corruption charge. 

However, the Badulla Magistrate’s Court today remanded him over a second corruption charge. (Newswire)

The post Chamara Sampath further remanded appeared first on Newswire.

Opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake today slammed authorities for making the shooter involved in the murder of underworld kingpin Ganemulla Sanjeewa a hero.

Addressing the Parliament today, MP Dassanayake criticised the manner in which media related to the incident was handled, where inappropriate pictures of the gunman had been shared online.

“Do not let them share pictures of the gunman. Look at the pictures, the criminal seems to be displaying affectionate behaviour with the authorities,” he said. 

MP Dassanayake called on the Minister of Public Security to conduct a probe into the matter.

He further said that media reports say the suspect had been caught within hours of the shooting, not due to the efficiency of the Police, but due to a tip-off from Dubai. 

Responding to the MP, Minister Ananda Wijepala said some of the pictures regarding the shooting incident had been manipulated using Artificial Intelligence (AI).

He requested the Members of Parliament to fact-check before presenting such matters in Parliament. (Newswire)

The post Chamara wants investigation on “Lovable” pics of Gunman appeared first on Newswire.