The Colombo Chief Magistrate, Asanga S. Bodaragama, ordered that a timekeeper attached to the Gampaha Regional Office of the Road Passenger Transport Authority, who was arrested and produced before court for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs. 100 from a bus to record its departure time in a manner favourable to the bus, be remanded until the 27th.

The suspect, identified as Kolombage Wasantha Deepal Perera, was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and produced before court.

The Bribery Commission informed the court that the suspect had been arrested while accepting a bribe of Rs. 100 from a bus operating between Raddolugama and Colombo.

It also stated that Rs. 5,600 and a further sum of Rs. 5,000 had been recovered from a box in the room occupied by the suspect at the time of his arrest. As the investigation had not been completed, the Commission requested that the suspect be remanded.

No lawyer appeared in court on behalf of the suspect. The Magistrate asked him whether he had anything to say to the court.

In response, the suspect said he had nothing to say.

( Previous news 2026 October 21 – 07:24 a.m.)

Bus timekeeper arrested over alleged Rs. 100 bribe

A timekeeper attached to the Gampaha Regional Office of the Road Passenger Transport Authority has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over an alleged Rs. 100 bribe.

The suspect, identified as Deepal Perera, was arrested yesterday (20) inside the timekeeper’s booth at the Raddolugama Bus Stand.

According to CIABOC, he allegedly solicited the money from the operator of a bus operating on Route No. 188 between Raddolugama and Colombo.

The bribe was allegedly sought in exchange for allowing the bus to depart after its scheduled time recorded in the official logbook and permitting it to operate under favourable conditions.

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board has announced an eight-hour suspension of the water supply to several areas in Anuradhapura tomorrow (22), from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, due to essential maintenance work.

The suspension is necessary to carry out maintenance work at the Thuruwila Water Treatment Plant in Anuradhapura.

The water supply will be completely suspended in Wijepura, Paladikulama, Nelumkulama, Kawarakulama, Nachchaduwa, Hidogama, Thuruwila, Nellikulama, Thalawa, Srawasthipura and Deke Kanuwa.

Meanwhile, a low-pressure water supply is expected in Stages II and III of Anuradhapura town.

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board has urged the public to store sufficient water in advance and use it sparingly to minimise inconvenience caused by the suspension.

Chuuti, the cat belonging to a Sri Lankan passenger that went missing at Dubai International Airport on October 11, has been found after a week-long search.

The cat was located inside a baggage carousel tunnel by the Dubai Airports team, bringing relief to its owner after days of uncertainty.

According to reports, Chuuti went missing while being prepared for transport to Sri Lanka on a SriLankan Airlines flight from Dubai to Colombo.

The owner, who had completed the required documentation and payments for transporting the pet, reportedly refused to board the flight after being informed that the cat had disappeared from its carrier.

The owner reportedly spent around 28 hours at the airport searching for Chuuti and seeking assistance.

She later continued to follow up on the case while appealing for public help to locate her pet.

In an update shared after the search, the airport team said Chuuti had been found inside the baggage carousel tunnel following days of effort and cooperation among staff.

The discovery brings an end to a week-long search for the missing cat, whose disappearance had drawn public attention in Sri Lanka and among online communities.