COLOMBO

COLOMBO: SL authorities have arrested a former minister who allegedly recorded 100,000 phone calls, the sometimes lewd and compromising contents of which were leaked on social media. In what has become a major scandal, Ranjan Ramanayake is heard discussing court cases with judges, police, politicians and local celebrities in some of the recordings. Police, who seized hard drives from Ramanayake’s home, said they were investigating whether the recordings had been used for blackmail or other criminal activity. The

opposition lawmaker, 56, who was remanded in custody earlier this week, has said he is being targeted for speaking out against corruption. In some of the leaked audio tapes, Ramanayake is heard slating the leadership of his own opposition United National Party.