Former Minister Johnston Fernando Was Arrested On Fraud Charges

Former Trade Minister Johnston Fernando was arrested by the Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division this evening on an allegation leveled against him when he was the Minister  on not paying Rs.5 million for the supplier for purchasing goods to Sathosa Limited.

The former minister was arrested after summoned him for 5 hours at the Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division headquarters.He is due to be produced before the Hulftsdorf Court this evening.

FROM WORDS OF WISDOM

Former Economic Develeopment Minister Basil Rajapakshe And Two Other Suspects Were Re Remanded For Fraud Allegations

Former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapakshe and two other suspects who were produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate Court this morning regarding the allegation on misusing state funds belonging to the Divi Naguma Programme have been re remanded until 07th of May by the Kaduwela Magistrate Dammika Hemapala .

The request made by the lawyers of  suspects to allow them to be admitted to the merchants ward of the Colombo National Hospital until 07th of May was turned down by the Magistrate.The magistrate had instructed the lawyers of the suspects to make a request regarding admitting to a ward to the medical officer in charge of the Prisons Hospital.

FROM INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

Imprisoned Former Economic Development Minister And Two Of His Officials Are To Be Produced Before The Courts Tomorrow(05)

The  former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapakshe and the  other two former officials who were attached to his Ministry who were imprisoned on 22nd of April  regarding the misusing of over Rs.700 million state funds belonging to the "Divi Naguma" Programme are scheduled to be produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate Court tomorrow(05) according to the sources.

The former minister and two of his officials namely former secretary to the Economic Development Ministry Dr.Nihal Jayathilake and the director general of Divi Naguma Programme R.A..K Ranawake were imprisoned until 05th of May by the Kaduwela Magistrate Court after the Police Crimes Investigations Division had arrested and produced them before the courts .However as three of them were complained on chest pain they were admitted at the Prison Hospital in Welikada and later transferred to the Merchant Ward of the Colombo National Hospital which they are currently in.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY -2 FROM WORDS OF WISDOM

Two Hundred Thirteen Alms Giving Centers Were Instructed To Rectify Their Lapses And Four Were Shut Down-PHI Union

During yesterday's  inspection of Wesak Alms Giving Centers(Dansal) established throughout the Country  the Public Health Inspectors(PHI'S) have instructed 213 Alms Giving Centers with lapses to rectify  them and shut down 4 centers which had prepared meals and drinks in an unhygienic  way according to the Government Public Health Inspectors Union.

Around 6361 registered Wesak Alms Giving Centers are functioning throughout the island both yesterday and today and  out of them 3893 Centers were inspected by the public health inspectors during yesterday(03) the union has said.