Colombo (News 1st): Former Chairman of the Kalutara Pradeshiya Sabha Lakshman Vidanapathirana was sentenced to 5 years in Prison by the Colombo High Court over bribery charges.

He was arrested in 2012 for soliciting a bribe of Rs. 3 million to resolve a land issue in Kalutara. Colombo High Court Judge Gihan Kulatunga ordered to recover the Rs. 3 million he received as a bribe.

In addition, the court ordered Vidanapathirana to pay a sum of Rs. 2 million to the complainant and also imposed a fine of Rs. 5000 for each of the 4 charges against him.

• Suren Batagoda summoned to the PCoI
• NEC requests all parties to submit asset and liabilities declarations
• Rainy weather to continue
• Netanyahu’s main election rival, Gantz, says it appears prime minister lost
• Netanyahu in post-election speech makes no victory claim