News

A public interest activist Kapila Gamage has filed a complaint at the Human Rights Commission this week against the implementation of Sri Lanka - Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA) as it violates human rights. 

In his petition, Mr Gamage has brought to the notice of the commission six key reasons to prove that the agreement has no legal basis according to findings of the Presidential Committee of Experts citing, five instances of intentional manipulations, ten irregularities and several other findings of the committee.

The  Presidential Committee of experts clearly indicated that the agreement has no legal basis and it has not approved by the cabinet of ministers, the petitioner claimed. Cabinet has only given conditional authorisation to sign SLSFTA.

Attorney General has given conditional approval to the secretary of the ministry of internal trade where the secretary has failed to adhere to those conditions, he revealed. 

He appealed to the commission to declare that SLSFTA has violated his fundamental rights guaranteed by Articles 12 (1), 12(2), 14(1b), (d), and (g) of the Constitution of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.   

Chairman of the Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya has threatened to resign from his post if the continuously delayed Provincials Council elections are not held before the Presidential election, this year. Deshapriya made this announcement at a press conference held in Colombo, today (28).
 
Despite not having any obstacle to hold the Presidential elections early, the Chairman said he would resign from his post as a mark of objection if the provincial council elections are not held before November 9. 
 
“I will remain within the elections commission, but not as the chairperson,” he said adding that the delay of elections has been personally upsetting.
 
The Chairman also said that he has been continuously involved in the discussions related to the elections and although leaders of all political parties say that the provincial elections must be held, some have been acting according to their own agenda.

Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri said no details regarding the names on the report of the Committee appointed to probe the unruly incidents in Parliament in November last year had been revealed nor have any political party been mentioned. Kumarasiri noted that the Speaker and himself would meet with the Secretary General of Parliament and discuss the procedure to forward the report to the Attorney General.

The Deputy Speaker noted that he was unaware as to how details of the report had leaked to the media, adding that it was of utmost importance to safeguard the secrecy in such matters.

“I have not revealed any names nor mentioned any party involved in the incident and I don’t know how certain media had got specific details of numbers of those implicated in the incident,” he said, referring to media reports stating that 59 MPs had been named in the report.

According to a news report published on the BBC Sinhala web site, 59 MPs had acted against the provisions of the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act.

It further stated that the Committee had implicated 54 UPFA MPs, four UNP, one JVP MP in the three days of clashes. Among the 59 members, UPFA MP Prasanna Ranaweera has been cited the most in the report, a copy of which has been seen by the BBC. MP Prasanna Ranaweera has been cited for 12 charges, followed by the UPFA MPS Johnston Fernando and Padma Udaya Shantha.

However, the Deputy Speaker said that he, as the Chairman of the Committee appointed to conduct the investigation, had not released such information, expressing disgruntlement over the report details being leaked to the media.

The committee report on the recent parliament clashes was handed over to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on January 22. The incident occurred on November 14, 15 and 16 last year and the report was handed over to the Speaker by the Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri, as the Chairman of the Committee.

The report submitted to the Speaker will be forwarded to the Attorney General for legal action to be initiated against those who had behaved in a violent manner within the chamber after it is discussed with the Speaker and the Secretary General of Parliament, according to Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Ananda Kumarasiri.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had appointed this Committee on 29 November. Deputy Speaker Kumarasiri was appointed as the Chairman of the committee while MPs Chamal Rajapaksa, Bimal Rathnayake, Mavai Senathirajah, Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Chandrasiri Gajadeera were appointed as the members.

The Committee members had reviewed the CCTV footage available on the relevant parliamentary dates separately and had then studied the CCTV footage together at several occasions prior to compiling the report.

Fist fights erupted while objects were thrown during the clashes in the Chamber on the said days when the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MPs tried to prevent the Speaker from taking his seat when a No-Confidence Motion against the unlawfully appointed Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Cabinet. Several MPs were injured during the clashes. (Daily News)

The passing out parade of 329 regular recruits belonging to the 234th intake of the Sri Lanka Navy was held yesterday (26th January) at the main parade ground of SLNS Nipuna in Boossa, marking the completion of their 6 month basic training course. The Commander Southern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Kapila Samaraweera graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and took the salute.
 
Venerable Maha Sanga and religious dignitaries of other faiths, the Commandant SLNS Nipuna and Deputy Area Commander of Southern Naval Area Commodore Ranjith Premarathna, Officers representing the Naval Headquarters and Southern Naval Command, officers and sailors of SLNS Nipuna, Senior officers of the sister services and Police, officials from the government/private institutions in the area and parents/relatives of the newly passed out recruits were also present on this occasion.
 
During the awards presentation held in recognition of the excellent performers, Recruit LPI Saminda was adjudged the Best Recruit and the highest aggregate in all subjects of the 234th intake. Further, Recruit PHPCS Lakpriya and Recruit GHSU De Silva were adjudged the Best Marksman and the Best Sportsman respectively. Suranimila Division became the Best Division of the 234th intake.
The ceremonial evening also saw an impressive drill display presented by the newly passed out recruits followed by a cultural show of the naval cultural troupe with their rhythmic beats and associated formalities.

Trincomalee and Galle harbours will operate 24/7 with night navigation before the end of this year, Ports, Shipping and Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayaka said. 

The Minister said the Trincomalee harbour, a natural resource with immense economic potential will have night navigation in April. The project is supported by a JPY 1 Billion grant by the Japan International Cooperation System (JICS). 

The Minister added speedy measures would be adopted to set up new radar systems and other necessary infrastructure to introduce night navigation to the Trincomalee harbour which will be transformed into a port that can handle more volume of activities, including more general cargo ships. 

"The government has earmarked the Trincomalee area as a potential export hub. Transformation of Trincomalee Harbour into a highly competitive port will be a key pillar of our export hub strategy," the Minister explained. 

Trincomalee Harbour is considered the second best Natural Harbor in the world and has up to 10 times the land area as the Colombo port. Its current dimensions are Water area up to 1630 Hectares, an entrance channel of 500 Meters and a land area of 5261 hectares.

"We also have plans to introduce night navigation to the Galle harbour before the end of the year. Apart from the economic and industrial aspects, we will also look at the tourism aspect when developing the Galle harbour," the Minister explained.

The Government on realizing the success of Enterprise Sri Lanka concessionary loan scheme is to introduce further concessionary loan to widen the schemes enabling the stakeholders to move towards next generation economic activities in their areas of activities stated the Ministry of Finance and Mass Media issuing a press release. 
 
Accordingly, migrant workers will be given up to Rs 10 million concessionary housing loans to be repaid in 15 years with two year grace period, stated the Ministry of Finance and Mass Media issuing a press release.
 
It has been perceived that the dream of many of the migrant workers is to have their own house. But due to the lack of proper guidelines and financial management, it has made it impossible for them. According to the new scheme proposed, those migrant workers who have registered under the Foreign Employment Bureau will have to save a considerable amount of their remittance in a local bank and the 75 % of the interest rate will be borne by the government through Treasury.
 
Another novel scheme introduced is to provide concessionary loan up to Two million rupees to three wheel owners to convert to a safer and comfortable mini taxi service with small cars. The government will bear 75 % of the interest rate and the three-wheel owners, who operate their own three-wheelers and who are above 35 years of age are entitled to this concessionary loan.
 
A proposal made by the Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala Samaraweera to expand the already approved loan schemes to cover more areas was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers last week.
 
The Enterprise Sri Lanka concessionary loan scheme introduced under Budget 2017 and 2018 has been a huge success. The self-employed, Women entrepreneurs, small and medium entrepreneurs have so far been registered for various loan schemes up to Rs 65 billion via state and private banks and the loan worth Rs 36 billion have been disbursed to over 34,500 personnel.  Self-employed, farmers and even the journalists are given interest-free from under this.
 
As Sri Lanka is fast reaching a country where its aging population is on the increase the Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera has proposed to introduce another loan scheme of providing Rs 10 million with 75 % interest concession to construct elderly care centers as the private sector investment.
 
The newly introduced loan schemes with the previous schemes will be continued in the year 2019 as well and on the proposal made Mangala Samaraweera the Cabinet approval has been granted to allocate Rs 700 million to pay the interest rates to the Bank through which these loans will be channeled. The Treasury has been authorized by the Cabinet to enter into agreements with State and private banks to extend the loan scheme in this year too.
 
The Enterprise Sri Lanka programme inaugurated on June 22, 2018, previously consisted of 16 schemes and the special feature is that the government on behalf of the loan recipient pays either the total interest or part of the interest to the relevant Bank.
 
The Enterprise Sri Lanka scheme offers attractive concessionary financing to stimulate investment and expansion by entrepreneurs, SMEs, and even large business. The loan amount ranges from Rs.50,000 to Rs.750 million. (Ada Derana)

A Joint Maritime Surveillance Training Exercise of the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF), Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force got underway in the sea area west of Hikkaduwa yesterday (27).

The training exercise was augmented by 02 P-C3 maritime surveillance aircraft belonging to the JMSDF, 02 Fast Attack Craft of the Navy and 01 Y-12 utility aircraft of the Air Force. Further, a group of Sri Lanka Navy officers who are well-versed in maritime surveillance exercises also joined this combined exercise. In recent times, Sri Lanka Navy, Air Force and foreign counterparts have practiced several training exercises and drills by means of their aircraft and vessels in the island, to hone their skills further in search and rescue operations at sea.

Through these exercises, it is expected to increase the interoperability, professionalism and camaraderie among friendly forces in the region.

Officers of the Jaffna Range Crimes Division arrested three Aava gang members today. The three suspects had been in hiding after attacking two individuals with sharp weapons on January 15 near the Naachchi Amman Kovil, Jaffna. 

Police were also able to recover two swords used in the attack. The suspects identified as Chandrabala Akila Suman (25) from Manipay, Nagaratnam Dilakshan alias Motta Siva (19) from Manipay and Yuvarasa Dilakshan (23) from Aarugalmadam have now been handed over to the Jaffna Police for further investigation.

The Sri Lanka Army has decided to make a formal appeal to the Manchester Magistrate’s Court to reverse the case against former Sri Lanka’s Minister Counsellor (Defence), Brigadier Priyanka Fernando for making an offensive gesture at a group of LTTE supporters in London.

According to Military Spokesman Brigadier Sumith Atapattu the appeal will be made through the Sri Lankan High Commission in London. “The Army will make this appeal seeking to drop the charges against the Brigadier who is a celebrated war hero,” he said.

It is reported that the case against Fernando will be recalled on February 1 and it is expected that the arrest warrant against him will be withdrawn on the day. However, there have also been reports that the arrest warrant has already been withdrawn without adherence to the proper procedure due to diplomatic pressure. 

According to Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Ariyasinghe, Sri Lankan officials had conveyed to the British High Commissioner James Dauris that this incident will set a bad precedent on diplomacy. “We also urged the UK government to ensure the diplomatic immunity Brigadier Priyanka Fernando as a diplomat is rightfully entitled to,” he said.

Earlier, the Foreign Secretary summoned the British High Commissioner James Dauris where the former had sought the intervention of the British Foreign Office to get the Sri Lankan diplomat cleared of the charges filed under the Public Order Act of 1986.

The arguments to absolve him from the case have been made on the grounds that he had diplomatic immunity at the time of the incident as a member of the staff of the Sri Lankan High Commission in London.

A spokesperson for the British High Commission (BHC) in Colombo, Neil Kavanagh said the UK will uphold the Vienna Convention as much as it upholds the rule of law and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is not a party to the legal proceedings against the ex-diplomat.

Cousin of Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Former Ambassador to the US Jaliya Chitran Wickramasuriya he is expected to surrender to US authorities at a US District Court on Tuesday (29). According to sources he will be arraigned on a five-count indictment for money laundering, wire fraud and visa fraud violations. 
 
Wickramasuriya is no longer a fugitive from justice in the US, the court documents state, indicating that the former Sri Lankan Ambassador’s lawyers have undertaken to produce him in court on Tuesday.
 
A US Grand Jury indicted Wickramasuriya in May 2018 and the former Sri Lankan ambassador has been a fugitive in the country where he holds permanent residency since October 18, 2018. He continues to evade arrest in Sri Lanka where he faces similar charges pertaining to the purchase of the same property in Washington DC during his tenure as Sri Lankan Ambassador to the US from 2008-2014. 
 
The case marks the first time that a foreign head of mission has been indicted by the US Government. It is also the first time a Sri Lankan Ambassador has been prosecuted in a foreign jurisdiction.
 
Wickramasuriya who was appointed Ambassador by his cousin, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was indicted by the US District Court in the District of Columbia (Washington DC) on five counts, specifically, on two counts of money-laundering and two counts of wire fraud and one count of visa fraud violation by making false declarations in official US Government documentation in May 2018.

Minister of Power and Energy Ravi Karunanayake says that the United National Party is unafraid to face elections. The Minister made this comment responding to questions of reporters when he visited the Sri Dharmapalaramaya Temple in Mount Lavinia today. 

“We are a party that is constantly with the people and therefore we cannot escape the public,” he said adding that despite having the upcoming Presidential elections to face, the UNP is also ready to face any other elections held.

Uttara Devi, the Intercity Express train that runs between Colombo and Jaffna Kankasanthurai in the North embarked on its maiden journey today from Colombo Fort with the newly imported Indian power set.
 
The Uttara Devi commenced operations from Colombo Fort station at 6:40 this morning today after President Maithripala Sirisena ceremonially vested the S-13 locomotive power set newly imported from India with the public.
 
Minister of Transport and civil Aviation Arjuna Ranatunga, High Commissioner of India Taranjit Sandhu Singh and Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake were also present at the occasion.
 
The power set has six compartments and can carry 724 passengers. One first class and one second class compartments are air-conditioned.
 
The special feature of the power set is the GPS-based passenger information LCD display indicating speed, location and announcement.
 
The train is scheduled to stop at Gampaha, Polgahawela, Kurunegala, Maho, Galgamuwa, Anuradhapura, Medawachchiya, Vavuniya, Mankulam, Kilinochchi, Palai, Kodikamam and the Jaffna railway stations and runs slow beyond up to Kankesanthurai. (Colombo Page)