Gossip Lanka News [English]

Person who disguises himself and comes to Wesak Assembly ... arrested

A suspicious person dressed as a Catholic priest who came to Bandaranaika Memorial International Hall on Wesak Day to attend the International Assembly which was held recently under the auspices of the Indian Premier was taken into police custody. He had tried to get inside in the company of other members of the clergy when visitors were being ushered in; but has been unable to produce the invitation card usually issued

by the organisers.

Whatever it is, he had said that he forgot to bring it with him and had tried to make his way through. However the security unit who developed a suspicion about his appearance had taken him away for questioning in that instance. He was not able to furnish the name of some other priest either and in that instance and later had admitted that he was not a priest.

Suspicions whether this person has come with the motive of sabotage in mind to this premises where tight security has been enforced had caught the attention of the police and therefore he was taken into custody that day. This person who was under custody of the police was produced before courts yesterday and was instructed to be remanded until 19th of this month. It has still not been found as for what reason he has come disguised in this manner.

Foreign emissaries who attended final Wesak festival ... stranded without bus transport to go to hotel

It was Ampitiya Hotel which had been reserved for lodging on behalf of United Nations Wesak Day Commemoration Festival being the final festival held in Kandy. This crowd who came from Nepal, Cambodia and Thailland having joined in the festival in Colombo had prepared themselves to travel by train to Kandy and then to proceed to their place of stay at Ampitiya Hotel where they were expected to stay by being transported in buses

from the said railway station.

However, what the organisers had planned in advance was to provide the same buses given to the guests in Colombo for the town of Kandy as well. Under this plan while the emissaries were on their way to Kandy, those buses were on their way along the bus-route from Colombo to Kandy. Anyhow since the train happened to reach Kandy before the scheduled time, this crowd had stayed at Kandy Railway Station and have had to await the buses from Colombo. The Deputy Inspector General of Police of Central Province who understood the inconvenience faced by them had taken steps to get down several air-conditioned buses and thus provide necessary transport facilities. This situation had arisen because of poor decisions taken by the organisers. If the police did not mediate in this instance, the inconvenience they so faced in Sri Lanka may have turned into a serious problem.

Wimal who got together with Mahinda and shouted that black flags be hoisted against Modi ... later changes because of Karuna!

Member of Parliament Wimal Weeravansha announced at the Joint Opposition rally held last May 1st at Galle Face that Indian Prime Minister is coming down to Sri Lanka saying that it is to commemorate Wesak as a result of a betrayal by the government and therefore to protest against it to hang black flags for Premier Modi to witness.

Though Wimal spoke about this black flag matter in such an aggressive manner, his closest comrade

Udaya Gammanpila nor his leader Mahinda followed suit. Former President Mahinda attended the celebration afforded to Modi and even went as far as meeting Modi before the latter left for India. Media reports were published to the effect that neither Wimal's residence nor Gammanpila's residence carried any black flags or Buddhist flags commemorating Wesak, for that matter. Political sources say that the reason for this change is instructions of former terrorist leader Karuna Amman who has dealings with Mahinda faction.

Karuna on a number of occasions pointed out that as Mahinda lost in 2015 because Tamil votes of North East and other zones were utilised against him and that if those votes are to be once more secured, power of the State would be secured. As such, a fresh programme has already been launched by him to secure Tamil votes to Mahinda in the form of organising people in the East to ensure that he cruises to victory. In these circumstances though protests against Modi and opposition against India, opposition against reconciliation and to promote Mahinda as leader of Sinhala nationality are good strategies for Wimal, what Karuna has informed is that Modi's arrival has brightened hearts of lakhs of Tamil nationals. This is further later confirmed by lakhs of people who attended Modi's meetings. He has added that hoisting black flags against Modi by breaking the hearts of Tamils would only result in moving towards a precipice going beyond Mahinda's defeat in 2015. It was after this talk that Mahinda changed. Nobody on stage hoisted black flags, giving the impression that Wimal and his confederates who acted for political gain had uttered anything negative. Mahinda who welcomed Modi at BMICH maintained cordial relationships with him the following day by even posing for cameras for the Tamil public to see.

Astrologer who axed his paramour and toddler as well ... trapped while hiding in Moratuwa

A 38 year old woman and her 6 month old toddler were found brutally hacked to death in their house at Boraluketiya area in Kosgoda, Balapitiya the night before last Wesak Poya Day. On police investigations about the assailant, suspicion was aroused about a certain Astrologer who used to frequent this home quite often, alleged to be a paramour who incidentally had disappeared after this tragedy.

Thommayahakuru Renuka (38) and her 6 month old child were the victims in this case. They were

murdered by being attacked with an axe. The dead bodies were found lying on a bed and this suspect, Porowagoda Tudor de Silva (68) had started an illicit affair with the woman concerned a short period before this. The deceased woman has 3 children from her marriage and after her husband has left her, she had started this affair.

The deceased woman has got married to one Sunil living in Boraluketiya 21 years before this and has children aged 20, 18 and 14 from him. Sunil had left the woman when she was pregnant with her last child, 14 years before. Later she had led a solitary life and when she had approached an Astrologer had met this assailant and after coming to know about the whereabouts of this woman he had got accustomed to visit her from time to time in her home. This person who was a resident of Katuwila, Ahungalla had made it a habit to associate the deceased by frequenting her home from some years back and had even spent the nights there. He also was a married man with 2 children and his marriage too had gone on the rocks. The woman concerned had become pregnant through him during the past period after which arguments had flared up between the two of them and it was regarding the topic of living together under one roof.

Subsequent to 14 years after the birth of her last child another boy child was born from her paramour 6 months before this incident and from the day that child was born, both this Astrologer Tudor and his paramour the deceased Renuka on various occasions had engaged in verbal attacks. One of her problems was that she was not able to look after the child all alone by herself and the point of asking the Astrologer to detach all previous connections and come and live with her had been constantly refused by him which led to fresh problems.

Police who conducted further investigations into this murder were able to get a clue that this Astrologer who had fled from his Ahungalla house was on his way towards Colombo and kept a track on the murderer who had a friend in Moratuwa and was then vigilant to observe as to whether he had gone there. As such, that house in Moratuwa was raided in which case it was possible to corner Tudor. He then admitted to the crime and begun to unravel the whole story in his confession. He had stated that he had visited the deceased as usual the day prior to Vesak and that a furious verbal communication had ensued between the two of them on which occasion the deceased Renuka had been chopping firewood and therefore has had an axe in her hand. He had abhorred this woman who relentlessly argued with him and he had dealt her a slap on the face in which instance she had fallen on the ground, he had mentioned. He further stated that she had kept on reprimanding him with a revengeful attitude and that his temper had exceeded its limits and not being able to control it had grabbed the axe which had fallen nearby and dealt a blow on her neck region. She had then darted towards the room and he too had run behind her and had dealt further blows when she was on the bed, he had finally said. At that moment since she began to writhe in pain and having thought that she would pass away had told her "sorry Renuka!" at which moment he had heard his 6 month old toddler crying and thinking that if she would die, there would be nobody to care for the child and therefore had hacked the child too to death, he had confessed in the end.

This person who committed this brutal and cruel murder had proceeded to his Ahungalla home with blood-soaked clothes on his body. Later he had bundled up the clothes and had taken the bundle to a shrub jungle near his house and had hidden it there. After that as he thought that there was a risk that he might get cornered for the murder, he had locked up the house and had fled, he had admitted. The suspect who was thus taken into custody was produced before Balapitiya Magistrate Court and remanded until 24th of this month.

Sahan -- Roshan who left Peiris sisters, enjoy together separately

Roshan and Sahan, husbands of previous marriages of Chathurika Peiris and Purnika Peiris who created sensational news sometime back because of romantic issues have now become bosom pals. Sahan's birthday was celebrated recently with friends being invited and on that occasion Roshan too joined in with the absence of Purnika and Chathurika while Sahan's child being present.

Pix By -Kaveeth Milindha

Some people try to create problems among us -- Chandralekha's daughter Shyami

Eldest daughter of distinguished singer Chandralekha Perera, Shyami Nadeesha from the first marriage presently resides in Australia. She has given an interview to a newspaper recently mentioning that rumours circulating that there are misunderstandings between her and her mother are false. In the same way she had spoken high about Rukantha in the following manner:

* You are married ... what can you say about your family?

I, my husband Susantha Kumarage and 3 children live in Melbourne. Eldest daughter Kavilekha

Kumarage is 10 years old; the second is Shenuli Kumarage aged 5 years and the third, my son, is just 3 months old.

* There's news that your mother (Chandralekha Perera) is coming to Melbourne next month.

Yes ... the whole crowd will be coming on June 10th for the "Re sanda" show in Melbourne.

* When your mother comes to Melbourne will Shyami be meeting her?

Ammi, uncle, younger sisters ... all of them stay at our home when they come to Melbourne.

* What do you Shyami feel about some incidents that took place in the past ... coming to a settlement like this?

Some people think that we are against each other ... that we don't even talk to each other. Nothing like that has happened. Ammi spoke to me at least over the phone even from that time. When we came to a foreign land ... connections began to develop even more. Ammi spoke even when she was in America. When we went to Sri Lanka, ammi and uncle (Rukantha Gunatilleka) both came to see us. Without fail there is a show of Ammi and Rukantha uncle once every 2 years in Melbourne. When they come like that, it is with me that they stay. But some people think that we don't speak to each other.

* That's true ... most people in the country don't know about this story that you are talking about.

That's why when I went to Sri Lanka in May last year and I made my younger sister (Rukantha and Chandralekha's daughter) to participate in the Rupavahini discussion to which I was invited. I wanted to show that members of our family have no misunderstanding and that we are closely-knit. Even if a song of mine or a photo of younger sister appears in a newspaper ... some people begin to make a 'comment' by reprimanding. They scold the younger sisters ... if not, they scold ammi. I then feel sad. I am not in those Facebooks. But when I see some 'comments' posted across my husband's Facebook I can't even make a comment. I, ammi, uncle and younger sisters ... we all feel sorry. A lot of people don't know the genuine situation about the peaceful life enjoyed by us as a family. Sometimes I publish a 'comment' in my husband's Facebook under my name that "no, there's no issue like that'. But most people in the country are thinking that big problems that we faced those days in our family are still there.

* What is the attachment you have with Rukantha uncle and your mother's daughters?

Younger sisters Raini and Vindy are attached to me from small days. That bond of brotherhood has not vanished as such even upto now. Though there were problems of parents those days, younger sisters were on speaking terms with me. It is to me that they would turn to whenever there's a problem. They would at least send me a message and keep me informed. I have a younger brother also. He's Yohan and is in Italy. Father also works in Italy.

* What kind of feeling do you get about the life ammi and Rukantha uncle is spending today?

I actually feel so happy. Both of them are at the apex in the Sri Lankan music field. I am of the standpoint that it is good that we live happily as human beings. Ammi and uncle are leading a good family life. The two of them love each other very much. They are on a firm footing. They come to Melbourne once every two years. On such occasions, whenever they come, however much there are shows ... tickets for uncle's show happens to be sold out.

* Why is it that you who possesses a voice similar to that of Chandralekha ... keep away from singing?

There's not many songs of mine. It was mostly ammi's songs that I sang at most shows in Sri Lanka. After that, I came to Melbourne. I studied for 3 years ... got children ... helped Susantha in his work. With a busy schedule like that I automatically kept away from singing. I have no regrets about it at all ... because I am not a singer as such.

* How do you view Rukantha uncle?

He's a human being who has a sensitive heart. So dedicated to his faith. Uncle has noble qualities of even pardoning people who harm him. It's that, popularity comes in search of him and I can't remember him doing something for the sake of his popularity any day. Uncle is striving for development of the art of music. Fans of his who are aware of that rock round him in thousands and thousands.

Anura Horatius, from Australia (courtesy -- Lakbima)

Five-storied building in Wellawatta ... collapses! -- 21 in hospital

A storied-building in Wellawatta collapsed this morning at about 11. Already 21 persons who were injured have been hospitalised and police suspect that a further larger number of people have been inside the building. By now showers are coming down in that area and there is also a traffic congestion.

It is a building with many stories down Charlemont Road close to the Savoy cinema that has come

down in this manner. 6 wounded persons have been dispatched to Colombo National Hospital and 15 to Kalubowila Teaching Hospital, in this connection.

The building that collapsed was a location which was a festival hall, it is reported and as there had been no festival occasion today, the number of victims who succumbed to this accident may have been less, it is presumed. The building which consisted 5 stories had been in the process of renovation during recent times, it was understood. A spokeswoman of Kalubowila said that the injured were employees of that work-site. In the meantime what the Colombo fire rescuer unit said was that 2 ambulances and 6 disaster vehicles were dispatched to that location.

Police say that this accident had taken place this morning at about 11. A big traffic congestion was seen in the surrounding area and because a section of the collapsed building is leaning onto another building there is an accident-prone risk in the environment. Therefore authorities have cautioned those coming to see this incident, to refrain from coming there.

http://www.gallery.gossiplankanews.com/news/wellawatte-building-collapse.html

Piliyandala Samadhi who became prey to a bullet most unexpectedly while awaiting father to bring Vesak decorations!

As a result of a shooting incident by an underworld gang a vehicle carrying police officers faced this attack near People's Bank in Piliyandala the day before Vesak recently. An 11 year old girl who was on her own closeby faced gunshot injuries in the process.

The underworld gang of Madush had duped police by directing a false spy and had misled them by making efficient police officer Rangajiwa and his comrades of narcotics unit and had shot at

their vehicle at Piliyandala when Samadhi, Sandeepa and Senuri of the same family had clung on to their mother's hand near the shop belonging to them with the hope of meeting their father who had gone to buy items necessary for Vesak decorations. They had stayed back at the shop until their father returned with the said required items because he had told them that he would go to Colombo and be back by three-wheeler. Exactly at the moment at 8 pm when the father returned these innocent children were unaware that death was on its way. The 3 of them not being patient enough till the three-wheeler carrying the father would stop near their shop then ran like a flock towards their father, it was reported. Just then a rain of bullets which nobody could believe flashed right round and the 3 children who ran to welcome the father fell down in a pool of blood in front of the eyes of the parents, it was learned. The driver of the three-wheeler which brought Samadhi's father too was struck by bullets. Because of the underworld shooting incident 3 vehicles faced the gunfire with 1 van being damaged in the process and 3 persons who came in a motor vehicle were struck by bullets.

The 3 children near the said shop were an elder brother and 2 of his younger sisters. Samadhi Pathirana the 11 year old girl who passed away today because of this shooting had been studying at Borella Rathnavali Balika Vidyalaya. 17 year old Sandeepa Rukshan who was studying at Colombo Thurstan College and 8 year old Senuri Pathirana who too faced injury were the deceased's brother and sister.

Police constable (4946) Mr. Abeywickrema too died in this incident. Three-wheel driver Mr. Nuwan Tharanga who too sustained injury is under treatment at Kalubowila Teaching Hospital. Inspector-of-Police Mr. Rangajiwa who was instrumental having a case filed to imprison Wele Suda had become a headache to narcotic dealers and he also sustained serious injuries and he is in a battle between life and death, hospital sources reveal.

Previous article ------------------------

Police narcotic raid which killed police officer in Piliyandala ... dead rope given by underworld Madush

Raigam Teles 2016 awards and nominated teledramas and programmes

Raigam Teles Award Ceremony which bestows awards for teledramas and media programmes is expected to be held on June 3rd 2017. The list of nominees deserving awards for Teledramas and programmes broadcast on Rupavahini during the course of the year 2016 was made public yesterday (19) and they are as follows:

http://www.gallery.gossiplankanews.com/event/raigam-telees-2016-nomination-evening.html

Dead body of youth discovered from Wellawatta building debris

4 pm - Update

Operations to rescue those missing and stuck in 'Excellence' building near Savoy Cinema in Wellawatta recently were in progress and the dead body of a youth was recovered in operations this afternoon, police report. The young man who died was 20 years old and was from Hatton, it is understood. As a result of this

understood. As a result of this incident it has been confirmed that by now 2 victims have died while 2 others are still missing.

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2 pm - Update

Protests in Hatton asking to rescue youth stuck in collapsed building in Wellawatta

The mother of the above-mentioned youth and labourers of Gregley Tea Estate, Pathana, Hatton where the youth concerned had been residing are engaged in a demonstration today (20) at about 8.30 in the morning demanding the rescue of this youth who still is missing after the incident where the 'Excellency' building situated close to Wellawatta Savoy Cinema collapsed most unexpectedly recently.

The crowd who assembled at a collection spot in the estate say that the 20 year old Raman Niroshan is still stuck somewhere in the building. As reported rescue operations were in progress even last night (19) in search of those who are missing in the said building which has collapsed and activities to manage the vehicles and security precautions around the area are in progress for search operations. Relatives and friends are rocking round till such time the missing youth is found.

Photos -- Gamini Bandara Ilangatilleke, Maskeliya

The injured and witnesses speak about the collapse of Wellawatta 'Excellency' building

As a result of the 7 storied 'Excellency' festival hall behind Savoy Cinema Hall collapsing at about 11 last morning, 22 persons have been hospitalised. Search operations are underway based on the clue that 3 persons are trapped there and the victim found last evening having suffered serious injuries towards the bottom part of the body succumbed to his injuries on being admitted to hospital. Most of those who sustained injury were employees of the festival hall and labourers who were engaged in construction activities. Among the wounded is a school-van driver who used to park

his vehicle as a matter of custom there.

A person engaged in construction activities there had this to say: "Our residence is Tanamalwila. We came to work here from 29th of last month. We were engaged in fixing some boards on the fifth floor of the building. There were 5 with us. At about 10.45 in the morning the rear part of the slab where we were suddenly tilted towards the ground. As soon as the rear side began tilting towards our side, we immediately made a dart and got down with the aid of a rope and thus managed to save our lives. The sir who was in charge of our work was in a room in the part which collapsed. He had been rescued and admitted to hospital. People were working in the section which came down. Can't say what happened to them".

The supervisor of the kitchen of the festival hall building has said: "I supervise activities of the kitchen of the festival hall. When we were engaged in work, about 10.45 in the morning all of a sudden there was a noise 'doong ... doong!' The hall got covered with smoke just then. The 'baas' people working near the building close to the hall cautioned us not to stay there and to go away swiftly. Only 3 people were in the kitchen section. There were 7 floors in the building. Right at the bottom there is a car-park. The festival hall is above it.The 2 floors at the top were under construction. About 12 people were inside. There were no festivals today. The undermost hall of the building was rented out for vehicles to park. It was cleaning activities that were being done today. We got news that 2 people are trapped inside. There was no explosion in the building".

An elder brother of an employee engaged in work in the festival hall had this to say: "Our houses are in Hatton. My younger brother Niroshan is working in this hotel from about a month back. He had been involved in cleaning activities. There had been a woman who had been working with him. There's no news about both of them. My brother's phone was always in his trouser pocket. Though I called him continuously today, it did not function.

The manager of Savoy Cinema adjoining which the collapsed building is had said: "2 vehicles of our Savoy and one cooling tower have suffered damages. The owner of this festival hall has not constructed it according to standards. There were several cracks on it. There wasn't a contractor. I saw various people coming and attending to constructing activities of the building. Attend to one part ... then stop again ... then make one section. Even cement used to fall on parked vehicles when constructions were taking place. When that happens those vehicles are directed to the service centre on the other side and are washed and given. It's under this building that vehicles coming to St. Peter's College are parked. We told those of this building not to erect buildings like this. During the course of construction of this building, the Savoy building too faced constant damage. But it was not built according to standards".

Security forces including the army engaged in a telephone dialogue with a trapped person from 11.oo till 7.oo in the night yesterday. The victim had said that the part below his waist has been covered by the debris and had pleaded therefore to rescue him as soon as possible, communicating with the security forces from his mobile phone. The army had ultimately managed to get this person out called Sampath last night around 7.35 and admit him to hospital; but because of the extensive injuries he had sustained, he had passed away.

As a result of this incident, the army state that according to information given by people engaged in work there, a woman including 2 others are still trapped inside the building. The building which has come down with some of its parts have inclined towards buildings on either side and those parts were found fallen into the waste-matter canal which flows close to the building concerned. The army added that they were engaged in search operations to find as to whether the people in the building have fallen into that canal.

After the building collapsed, officers of Building Research Institute and Geological and Mining Institute had come to this location and conducted investigations. What those engineers said was that constructions of this building had not been carried out with proper standards and plan and that the part which collapsed has been constructed for further stories without any proper plan or permission.

Attempt to arrest ... misfires -- Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera in fast opposite Malwatta Vihara this evening

Two incidents where an arrest of Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera on suspicion for having aided and abetted to make an attack on a Muslim Mosque day-before-yesterday by blocking the road close to Kurunegala for this purpose had misfired and the thera launching a fast in front of Malwatta Vihara is the second incident which is reported.

What was reported initially was the incident of an attempt by a chief police inspector including a team comprising 10 officers to arrest Gnanasara Thera when he was leaving Wellawa,

team comprising 10 officers to arrest Gnanasara Thera when he was leaving Wellawa, Pedduwa Sulugal Vihara premises. As a result of a certain attack on the building where educational teachings of the mosque in Kurunegala were conducted, some damage had taken place. However nobody has still been taken into custody. The police have been made aware that the thera concerned had gone to Kurunegala and incited the public and this action had taken place thereafter, it was reported.

Other theras of Bodhu Bala Sena Organisation led by Gnanasara Thera and a group of its members had been on their way back heading towards Kurunegala when around 11.oo in the night a vehicle was blocked across the road and the police had informed that it was necessary to take Gnanasara Thera into custody. This action of the police was thwarted saying that it was not possible to arrest the group who was travelling with the thera. At this point Gnanasara Thera had proceeded to react aggressively against the police and incriminated them, it was understood. As a large crowd rocked round favouring Gnanasara Thera against the action taken by police, the police had eventually abandoned their attempt.

Subsequently the thera had set off with his supporters, it was learned. Certain media have reported that neither the Minister of Law and Order or the Minister of Justice were not aware about this attempt to take the thera into custody. The thera had visited Malwatta Vihara in Kandy and explained matters after which he had taken steps to launch a fast in front of Malwatta Vihara. The reasons given on that occasion was that he is averse to all unjust actions taken against Buddhists.

Pictures before Wellawatta 'Excellency' festival hall collapsed

The Excellency festival hall building n Wellawatta which collapsed bringing death on 2 persons and injuring some 20 people had actually been operating on an active level even upto the day it suffered this tragedy. It was this festival hall that Shiek Sulaiman Mula patronised during his tour in the year 2015.

This location functioned offering catering services

to operate as a location for festivals. At the time the building collapsed, apart from the 3 stories available for service, 2 other stories were being constructed and it had been planned to utilise the location as a restaurant as well as a lodging-place after this new construction. 2 underground stories were used as a parking place of the hotel, it was said. Shown here are interior scenes of this exquisite festival hall prior to the collapse .

http://www.gallery.gossiplankanews.com/news/excellency-hall-wellawatte-before-collapse.html

Ravi displeased about Finance Minister portfolio being bestowed on Mangala!

The Prime Minister who summoned Cabinet members of the UNP last night to Temple Trees for a discussion in respect of transferring the position of Finance Minister to Mangala at the Cabinet reshuffle scheduled to be held this morning informed that according to the Cabinet reshuffle expected to take place on Monday morning said that the ministerial post of Finance would undergo a change and that Mr. Mangala Samaraweera is supposed to be bestowed with the portfolio of Finance

and Mass Communication and that his post of Foreign Affairs would instead be handed over to Ravi Karunanayaka.

On that occasion Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayaka was not immediately pleased with that decision, political sources say. "What will happen to things that I have planned all these days ... the other thing is, what can I do with a position of Minister of Foreign Affairs?" he had grieved. On that occasion the Prime Minister had explained matters to him. The reply the Prime Minister had given at that moment to console him was that if he is dreaming about becoming a leader of the country, it is important to get to know foreign leaders. After explaining these matters Ravi has settled down and calmed down as well, it was reported. Political sources reveal that whether bestowing the portfolio of Finance Minister and Mass Communication was carried out on the advice of former President Chandrika Cumaranatunga to Ranil and Maithree. Mangala was a staunch stalwart of Chandrika's regime holding the position of Mass Communication too before this.

Because Mangala Samaraweera has been transferred the Mass Communication aspect from Gayantha Karunatilleka, he has been given the Ministry of Lands.

Here are the Minister portfolios that came under change

9 Cabinet Ministers and 1 Minister of State were sworn-in before the President a short while ago. It is as follows:

Minister of Finance and Media -- Mangala Samaraweera

Minister of Foreign Affairs -- Ravi Karunanayaka

Minister of Lands and Parliamentary Affairs -- Gayantha Karunathillaka

Minister of Social Empowerment, Welfare and
Kandyan Heritage -- S.B. Dissanayaka

Minister of Labour Trade Union Relations and Sabaragamuwa Development -- W.D.J. Seneviratna

Minister of Ports and Shipping -- Mahinda Samarasingha

Minister of Petroleum Resources Development -- Arjuna Ranatunga

Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training -- Chandima Weerakkody

Minister of Development Assignments -- Thilak Marapona

Minister of Mahaweli Development and Fisheries -- Mahinda Amaraweera

Though Ravi was given Foreign Affairs portfolio ... several institutions like Sri Lankan, Mahapola, Lotteries Board on his shoulders

Though former Finance Minister is now known as Minister of Foreign Affairs according to the Cabinet reshuffle yesterday, some institutions not allocated within the scope of a Foreign Minister is to further remain under him, the government has decided. As such, Development Lotteries Board coming under Finance Ministry, Mahapola Scholarship Fund belonging to the Lotteries Board and Ministry of International Trade with all

institutions covering the field of the plantation sector belonging to the Ministry of State Entrepreneurs and Sri Lankan Airways and Bonds and Exchange Commission are supposed to come under the jurisdiction of the new Foreign Minister Ravi.

It is also reported that the new Foreign Minister is expected to carry forward Sri Lanka's Foreign Policy with an economic vision and for that purpose a National Secretariat and Fund would be instituted for that purpose. The gazette containing the new scope of activities is expected to be announced within 5 days.

Police complaint lodged that 'Derana Star City' presenter made to pose in the nude and photos taken!

Mirihana Police have received a complaint to the effect that a female presenter of Rupavahini programmes travelling in a motor vehicle was abducted and made to appear naked and photos clicked by the abductors after which she had been left halfway on the route.

The said incident had taken place last Friday at Rathmaldeniya, Pannipitiya in Maharagama. The

victim, alleged to be a presenter of "Derana Star City' contest had participated at the rehearsal on Friday, day before the Final of that programme which was held on Saturday after which she had been heading towards home in the company of a programme producer on which occasion this abduction had taken place.

She says that some persons who had come in a white van in Rathmaldeniya had shown firearms and scared them and subsequently had asked her and the said producer to get down from the motor vehicle and further had told the police that both of them were later made to get into the white van and was so taken away. Subsequently she went on to say that these strangers had made her undress at an unknown location and then had proceeded to take photos of her in various poses. She had also told the police that later they had looted gold articles in her possession and that though sparing her of physical harm they had then taken both of them back to somewhere near Kottawa Railway Station and were dropped there.

The said presenter had been stripped of her clothes and photos clicked in the presence of her companion the programme producer, it was revealed at police investigations. The producer's motor vehicle which was stopped on the road during the incident has still not been found and the police are conducting further inquiries in this connection.

Gossip Lanka Facebook hacked with 6 lakhs -- new Page introduced

An impact has been launched several times during the past on Gossip Lanka Facebook which incidentally is 8 years old and this situation has occured because of various reports made by certain elements. Since these reports were continuously carried out, Facebook Company has taken steps to block the Page concerned. This unanticipated issue has taken place at a moment when close upon ten

thousand lakhs have favoured the Page.

Gossip Lanka is quite familiar with obstructions and jolts during the past 9 years. Whatever happens, since we have absolute faith that 'Gossip Lanka' cannot be distanced from Sri Lankan internet viewers, we appeal that you join us with our new Page, as previously.

Do not be misled with false imitations.

Please do keep in mind that our new Page is introduced as gossiplanka.lk.

Be in touch with new information. 'Like' us on the new Page:

https://www.facebook.com/gossiplankadotlk/

Dead body of lady-doctor who committed suicide ... found at doctor's quarters!

The dead body of a 31 year old lady-doctor who had suspiciously passed away was found at a doctor's official hostel last afternoon (23) afternoon.

The said lady-doctor has served as an Anaesthesist at the hospital and had been living separated from her husband as a result of some conflict of opinion with him, it was learned. When her relatives mentioned that there was no response when contacted over her phone, the place where she was living

was checked; in which instance it was possible to find that she had committed suicide by injecting a high dose of an anesthetic drug.

This married lady, 31 year old Dinusha Hettiarachchi had not made any response to calls made to her mobile phone from previous night onwards and her parents had made a request from doctors in the hospital, in which instance 2 doctors had visited her official residence and made a check when they had found her dead body reclining on a bed. Some injection needles were discovered beside her body.

This lady-doctor was married to a Judicial Medical Officer of this same hospital and there had been disputes between the two after which a divorce case too had been filed in Colombo District Courts, Nuwara Eliya Police Headquarters say. Chief Police Inspector Mr. Indika Udayanga, Officer-in-Charge of of Nuwara Eliya Police Station says that she had injected a high dose of an anesthetic drug while inside her room at the hospital doctors' hostel. The Police OIC further mentions that there are 3 other doctors resident in that room with the deceased lady-doctor and that she had committed suicide at a time when they were not present in the room.

Nuwara Eliya Magistrate Mr. Ruwan de Silva conducted an inquiry last afternoon in this connection after which instructions were given for the dead body to be directed to the Judicial Medical Officer of Kandy Teaching Hospital for the autopsy.

After Sakvithi ... English class of Welikada Prison directed to Negombo Hospital doctor

Doctor Sudarshana Balage who was found guilty of an incident of homicide for having raped a sick girl and then pushing her from the window of Negombo Hospital about 10 years before this is presently undergoing a life sentence at Welikada Prisons and has become the leading teacher to conduct English tuition classes to Welikada prisoners, it is reported.

This rape incident of the doctor concerned was revealed and became sensational news in Sri Lanka in

the year 2007 because of evidence provided by a female attendant of the hospital itself. A certain attractive female garment worker who admitted herself as a patient to this hospital when this doctor had been operating in the year 2007 in the capacity of a resident trainee had raped the girl inside a room in Negombo Hospital which was empty after which he had pushed her down from a window fearing that the secret would be exposed. He was thus subjected to this allegation of homicide and rape and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by Negombo Courts in the year 2014.

Though a female worker of that hospital said that she had seen the deceased victim being dragged along the corridor of the 6th floor being kept on a thick cardboard strip in an unconscious state, what this doctor had consistently said was that he does not have any connection with the incident. With a flock of hair of the deceased being located from the floor on the right-hand side of the doctor's resident-room with the cardboard, handbag and blood stains found in the investigations, the attendant's evidence took on a serious turn.

"I didn't commit murder. Because of this accusation levelled against me my whole life will be destroyed", he had mentioned before final judgement was passed on him in 2014. I live in Maradankadawala. Mother is a retired teacher and father is a driver. I got through the 5th year scholarship and entered Dharmaraja College. Having entered Ragama Medical Faculty attached to Kelaniya University I secured my MBBS Degree. From 2006 I took over duties as a resident doctor at Negombo Hospital. I was married and was resident with my wife in a room on the 6th floor of Negombo Hospital. On the day of the incident a medical student happened to escort a girl named Sithara suffering from Hyperthyroid sickness to the clinic, for examination. I advised her to stay outside until a consultation was arranged with a specialist. After a short while she was not to be seen there. Only when I entered the theatre at about 2.30 that I came to know that she had jumped out of the window and died. I have never killed anyone. It's for a crime not committed that I am accused of. I am a doctor who saves people's lives. Aney .. don't let my life be destroyed", he had said at that time.

The evidence provided by Mrs. Beatrice of the cleaning section of Negombo Hospital to the effect that the accused, resident doctor Sudarshana Balage dragging Chamila along the cardboard strip was finally proved in courts. The case too was being dragged from 2007 until 2014 for a period of 7 years and during that time his marriage too came to a close.

The 45 year old doctor who is spending his time presently in Chapel Ward of Welikada Prisons has started conducting daily English tuition classes to 30 prisoners in Welikada with the idea of making use of his time, it was learned. His students are those who have been accused of homicide and sentenced to death and are waiting after having appealed against the verdict. 2 other teachers have joined this tuition class, it was said. Sakvithi Ranasingha who conducted English classes at Welikada Prisons prior to this has already acquired his freedom and left and on his behalf Dr. Sudarshana is acting as the main teacher, it is understood.

Full story of Dr. Balage's rape and murder, from here