The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has rejected the bail applications of MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake and his private secretary in connection with a bribery case. Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama ordered the two suspects to be further remanded until 6 November, following submissions by Bribery Commission officials and lawyers representing the suspects.

MP Chamara Sampath and private secretary further remanded

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa and former Krrish Group Executive Director Janaki Siriwardena have been further remanded until 6 November by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court over an alleged bribery case. The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) arrested the two suspects over allegations involving the solicitation and acceptance of a Rs. 70 million bribe in connection with the affairs of the Krrish Group.

Namal Rajapaksa and Janaki Siriwardena further remanded

Almost all of Taiwan shut down on Friday ahead of the arrival of Typhoon ‌Champi, which is forecast to bring strong winds and torrential rain, though the storm is weakening and is not expected to make direct landfall on the island. At one point a super typhoon and one of the strongest storms in the Pacific this ​year, Champi was still packing gusts of around 191 kph (119 mph) near its centre, according to ​Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA). In the northeastern county of Yilan, where strong winds and heavy showers were ​intensifying and the typhoon was forecast to pass close by later on Friday, authorities distributed sandbags and put amphibious vehicles ‌and inflatable ⁠rescue boats on standby. "When necessary, the military will come in to help people, including using amphibious vehicles for evacuations or disaster relief," said Lee Ming-chen, head of the port town of Suao, which was badly flooded in previous typhoons. HUGE RADIUS Taiwan forecasters said the storm's radius was around 320 km (200 miles), large enough to cover most ​of Taiwan, and weather experts ​said its impact could ⁠last nearly two days. Taiwan's financial markets, also closed on Friday, while only the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands, which sit next to the Chinese coast, will open schools and ​offices as normal. The transport ministry said all 262 domestic flights were canceled for Friday, ​along with ⁠669 international ones. The north-south high-speed rail service was operating as usual. In the capital Taipei there were squally showers, but public transport including the subway was working, albeit with reduced service. Taiwan is generally very well prepared for typhoons, which keeps ⁠casualties ​low. Although more common in summer, the storms can strike in ​autumn too. The typhoon is forecast to first pass over Japan's westernmost inhabited island, Yonaguni, in Okinawa Prefecture.&nbsp;Source: Reuters

Taiwan shuts down ahead of Typhoon Champi, hundreds of flights cancelled

A retired decorator has become a millionaire after selling a collection of Pokémon cards at auction. The man, from Woking, said he had no idea the cards had any value until he read in his local newspaper about a single card fetching more than £6,000. His collection, which had been in an attic for 15 years, was auctioned off at Ewbank's on Wednesday for £1.56m. The Surrey auction house claimed it was the UK's most valuable trading cards auction ever and suggested it could be a European record. "I know people always talk about finding treasure in the attic, but in my case that is literally true," said the man, who asked not to be identified. "When my son was young, in the late 1990s, he started getting cards and swapping them at school. "I thought they looked nice and wondered whether they might be a good investment. “He had his own cards, but he never got to touch these, I'm glad to say.” Pokémon is a Japanese franchise best known for its trading cards, video games and animated television series. The man said he had bought some complete sets of the cards from someone in Malaysia on eBay. One set which cost him £300 at the time went for £75,000 at Wednesday's auction. The cards, all filed into bespoke Pokémon binders while still sealed, were stored in the attic after his son lost interest in the franchise. Global bidders Ewbank's said "jaws hit the floor" when the man presented his 42 sets of cards to them. "When we saw what he had – all in mint condition – we couldn't believe it," said James Spooner, its head of trading cards. The auction house added the sale had been their most successful in more than 30 years in business. Its top lot was the Legendary Collection Complete Master Set, including a Charizard card in near-mint condition. It had been pitched at £15,000-£20,000 but bagged £100,000. Andrew Ewbank, who runs Ewbank's and conducted the sale from the rostrum himself, told bidders he was "going for a lie down" afterwards. "The build-up to this... has been phenomenal, and on the day it did not disappoint," he added later. "We had bidders from all over the world. “The buzz was incredible, especially because the collectors could not believe how good this collection was – extensive, untouched, complete, and with just about every rarity you could hope for.” "It was a hell of a ride," he told the BBC. Ewbank added that Pokemon was "booming" at the moment. He said people who were young when the franchise first came out were now in their 30s and 40s and had a "bit of disposable income". "Nostalgia is a big of part of it," he added. “It's about bringing back those memories of childhood.” Ewbank urged anyone who thought they had something valuable in the attic to "get it down and looked at". "If you buy something for your son, as happened in this case, and they don't want it, well, maybe pop it away because you never know what value it might have in the future," he said. The record sum for the Pokemon collection beat the previous best, set only on 9 October in London, when a sale at Stanley Gibbons declared a sale total of £872,000, according to Ewbank's. &nbsp;Source: BBC

Retired decorator's Pokémon cards sell for £1.5m 

Litro Gas Lanka Limited has announced plans to release 350,000 gas cylinders to the market over the next three days. The company stated that the vessel CORINTHIAN, carrying 3,900 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), arrived in Sri Lanka on 22 October, with unloading beginning that evening. Litro noted that the shipment would support uninterrupted islandwide distribution and urged consumers to avoid unnecessary panic buying and hoarding.

Litro to distribute 350,000 gas cylinders within three days 

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that "illegitimate" protests would ​be banned in the coming days and blamed "seditious" ultra-left groups and vandals for last weekend's ‌riots and looting.&nbsp;Speaking after a meeting with intelligence chiefs and senior ministers, Macron said demonstrations organised by groups such as trade unions would be allowed to go ahead but could be diverted along alternative routes to protect businesses. "Last Saturday we had political and ​seditious acts by ultra-left groups whose aim is to bring down the Republic," Macron said. His comments ​came as authorities across France prepared for fresh protests following some of the country's worst ⁠urban unrest in years. All protests planned for Saturday in Lyon, France's second-largest city, have been banned, local authorities ​said. Yet fresh demonstrations are already taking shape ahead of what officials fear could be another volatile weekend. France's main ​student union, UNEF, has called for rallies on Saturday, while the Yellow Vest movement, the anti-establishment force that emerged in 2018, has filed plans for a march through central Paris. Businesses in central Paris have begun boarding up their shop windows in case of ​violence. Luxury goods group Hermes said it had stepped up security measures at its French stores. Elsewhere, authorities in the ​northern city of Orleans were bracing for potential unrest as the far-right National Rally was due to hold an annual meeting ‌and ⁠unions and left-wing groups planned demonstrations. A student protest called for Thursday in Paris was banned, though metro stations in central Paris were nonetheless shuttered by transit authorities in anticipation of unauthorised gatherings. France was rocked on October 17 by some of its worst urban unrest in years, on the fringes of nationwide protests, exposing the depth of public anger ​and raising questions about ​the security services' ability ⁠to keep order.&nbsp;Two people have been arrested over an arson attack on Limoges city hall, French officials and media said. A third consecutive night of local curfews passed without ​major incidents in areas affected by the violence, offering the government some respite ahead ​of the weekend.&nbsp;The ⁠unrest has laid bare a deeper malaise in France, where soaring energy costs, pressure on household budgets and concerns over deteriorating public services have fuelled growing frustration among workers and younger people.&nbsp;The French political class has also descended into ⁠a bitter ​blame game, with the government accusing far-left political groups of stoking the ​unrest.&nbsp;Highlighting investor unease, yields on France's 10-year government bonds rose above those on equivalent US Treasuries on Thursday for the first time since ​2013.&nbsp;Source: Reuters

France's Macron tightens curbs on protests, blaming hard left for unrest 

Fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 75 mm is likely in several parts of Sri Lanka today (23), as the effects of a low-pressure system near the island continue, according to the Department of Meteorology. Showers or thundershowers are expected at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Northern and North-Western Provinces, as well as Anuradhapura and Galle districts. Other areas may experience showers after 1.00 p.m. The public has been urged to take precautions against lightning and temporary strong winds during thundershowers. Misty conditions are also possible in parts of the Central and Uva Provinces during the early morning.

Heavy showers exceeding 75 mm expected in several areas today 

<ul><li>Sajith grills Govt on 2026 Budget progress</li><li>Questions how President is going to make ‘info-less’ 2027 Budget speech&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Finance Ministry following year-end performance, output budgeting&nbsp;</li></ul> The Government sought indefinite time to respond to a series of questions raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in Parliament yesterday (22) on the implementation of the 2026 Budget, with Premadasa questioning how the President, in his capacity as Finance Minister, would deliver the 2027 Budget speech without figures on Ministry-wise expenditure, project progress and foreign investment.Premadasa sought details on the progress of the 2026 Budget proposals, the funds spent and remaining under each Ministry as at 30 September, and the financial and physical progress against the allocations. He said the information was necessary to assess whether the Government had fulfilled its commitments before the 2027 Budget was presented on 12 November.He also asked how many Budget proposals had been presented for 2026, the allocation and expenditure for each proposal, and the financial and physical progress made by 30 September.Premadasa further sought details of special projects listed under 28 sectors in the Finance Ministry’s summary of major public investment projects issued on 7 November last year (2025). These included the domestic and foreign funds allocated to each project, progress by the end of September and targets expected to be achieved in the final quarter of 2026.The Government was also asked to provide a list of Budget proposals yet to be implemented or completed by the end of the year, together with the remaining allocations, expected expenditure, completion deadlines and the State institutions responsible.He also asked what would happen to funds left unspent at the end of the year and whether Ministry allocations had been revised or transferred to other purposes during 2026.The questions further covered development projects funded through foreign aid and loans, including their total approved costs, annual allocations, expenditure to date, progress and expected completion dates.Premadasa also sought details of measures taken to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2026, the Government’s FDI target for the year and the amount received by 30 September.Responding, Deputy Finance and Planning Minister Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando said annual performance was usually assessed at the end of the year, while Ministries provided periodic updates through online reporting systems and submitted reports to Parliament.He said the requested information was not readily available and would take considerable time to compile.“If the information is required, we can provide it, but, it will take a considerable amount of time to compile. We will not be able to provide the answers today,” he said.Fernando also said the Government did not follow a zero-based budgeting system, under which allocations were reassessed from the beginning of each financial year, but instead used a performance-based, output-oriented budgeting system.“Preparing a Budget involves more than looking at how much money was spent in the previous year. We have to consider the current situation, possible future developments, global trends and the strategies that we intend to pursue,” he said.Premadasa then pointed out that the information was directly relevant to the 2027 Budget, which the President would present to Parliament in about three weeks. He said the Government should already have the figures needed to explain its expenditure, revenue and progress.“These are the figures that must be used to explain the progress made on expenditure, revenue and implementation when the President presents the 2027 Budget. If the Ministry does not have these answers, how is the President going to deliver the Budget speech?” he asked.

Govt has no answers on Budget data

<ul><li>Police explain implementation process&nbsp;</li><li>48cc mobikes must be registered&nbsp;</li></ul> Drivers who accumulate 30 demerit points under the newly introduced traffic offence points system will generally face a one-year driving licence suspension, Deputy Inspector General of Police for Traffic Control and Road Safety W P J Senadeera said yesterday (22).Speaking on a television programme, he said drivers would receive SMS alerts as they approach the 30-point limit, informing them of the points deducted and the points remaining. Once they exceed the threshold, a further SMS will notify them that their driving licence has been suspended.Drivers must hand over their licences to the Police within seven days of receiving the notification. The Police will then forward the licences to the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT), together with a special form.Senadeera said discussions were underway on the implementation of the system, under which drivers reaching the maximum points limit would generally face a one-year suspension. Failure to surrender a licence within the stipulated seven days would mean that the suspension period would be calculated from the date the licence was eventually handed over, extending the effective period of suspension.However, drivers may be able to reduce the suspension period from one year to three months by completing a training course approved by the Motor Traffic Commissioner General.The system covers 47 traffic offences, with up to seven points assigned to serious offences such as dangerous and reckless driving. Where a driver commits several offences at the same time, points will be deducted only for the offence carrying the highest penalty.The system had not been implemented previously due to the absence of a proper mechanism to administer it. Under the new arrangement, only Police officers above the rank of Police Sergeant will be authorised to enter demerit points into the system.Meanwhile, the DMT has warned that motorcycles with an engine capacity of 48 cubic centimetres (cc) must be registered before being used on public roads, despite claims by some sellers that registration is unnecessary.DMT Director General Thushara Indunil Fernando said riders using unregistered motorcycles on public roads could be fined if caught by the Police.The warning follows reports that some sellers have been telling customers that 48 cc motorcycles are exempt from registration. Buyers have been advised to verify registration requirements before purchasing such motorcycles and ensure compliance with the law before using them on public roads.

MP Chamara Sampath and private secretary further remanded

Namal Rajapaksa and Janaki Siriwardena further remanded

Namal Rajapaksa and Janaki Sir ...

Taiwan shuts down ahead of Typhoon Champi, hundreds of flights cancell ...

Taiwan shuts down ahead of Typ ...

Retired decorator's Pokémon cards sell for £1.5m

Retired decorator's Pokémon ca ...

Litro to distribute 350,000 gas cylinders within three days

Litro to distribute 350,000 ga ...

France's Macron tightens curbs on protests, blaming hard left for unre ...

France's Macron tightens curbs ...

Heavy showers exceeding 75 mm expected in several areas today

Heavy showers exceeding 75 mm ...

Govt has no answers on Budget data

Govt has no answers on Budget ...

Road discipline: 30 demerit points system piloted for drivers

Road discipline: 30 demerit po ...

Namal Rajapaksa and Janaki Siriwardena further remanded

Namal Rajapaksa and Janaki Sir ...

Taiwan shuts down ahead of Typhoon Champi, hundreds of flights cancell ...

Taiwan shuts down ahead of Typ ...

Retired decorator's Pokémon cards sell for £1.5m

Retired decorator's Pokémon ca ...

Litro to distribute 350,000 gas cylinders within three days

Litro to distribute 350,000 ga ...

France's Macron tightens curbs on protests, blaming hard left for unre ...

France's Macron tightens curbs ...

Heavy showers exceeding 75 mm expected in several areas today

Heavy showers exceeding 75 mm ...

Govt has no answers on Budget data

Govt has no answers on Budget ...

Road discipline: 30 demerit points system piloted for drivers

Road discipline: 30 demerit po ...

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Namal Rajapaksa and Janaki Siriwardena further remanded

Namal Rajapaksa and Janaki Sir ...

Taiwan shuts down ahead of Typhoon Champi, hundreds of flights cancell ...

Taiwan shuts down ahead of Typ ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Retired decorator's Pokémon cards sell for £1.5m

Retired decorator's Pokémon ca ...

Litro to distribute 350,000 gas cylinders within three days

Litro to distribute 350,000 ga ...

France's Macron tightens curbs on protests, blaming hard left for unre ...

France's Macron tightens curbs ...

Heavy showers exceeding 75 mm expected in several areas today

Heavy showers exceeding 75 mm ...