News

Current Chairman of Sri Lanka Insurance, Vijitha Herath, was appointed as the Chairman of Litro Gas Lanka Limited.

Herath previously served as the chairman of Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) from 2019 to 2021.

His appointment comes shortly after former Chairman Theshara Jayasinghe resiogned from the post.

In a letter to the President, Jayasinghe attributed his resignation to several reasons, including inadequate support form the State.

Earlier this week, Litro Gas announced their decision to temporarily suspended the distribution of domestic gas cylinders until Monday (25) owing to a shortage of gas.

A spokesperson of the company said the consignment of gas that arrived in the country yesterday (20) would not be sufficient for domestic use distribution, and would instead be distributed to hospitals, crematoriums and industries.

Chairman of Litro Gas Theshara Jayasinghe has handed in his letter of resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, officials confirmed.

"During his tenure, Litro Gas faced several issues including production issues, a severe shortage of cylinders, and price hikes. Prices were expected to increase after the Awurudu season too. He overcame all these issues. However, Litro, as a company, will face further difficulties, and since the Government itself is not taking any concrete decisions pertaining to these issues, Theshara has decided to step down", the official said.

A communique on whether President Rajapaksa has accepted the letter is yet to be issued, however.

In his letter, Jayasinghe noted that although the President supported him, this was not the case with the Subject Minister and State Officials related to the sector.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) today (21) handed over the draft of a new Constitutional Amendment to the Speaker of Parliament.

It was initially submitted to SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, and was later handed over to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

The proposal includes several amendments, including the abolition of the Executive Presidency and the 20th Amendment.

Taking to Twitter, SJB MP Harsha de Silva said “We hope all 225 MPs will support this most progressive piece of legislation and approve it at the earliest”, attaching the following summary:

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Pradeshiya Sabha member Duminda Perera was arrested for allegedly assaulting Kelaniya university students while attempting to demolish a stage set up by a group of students during a protest in Kiribathgoda was today ordered to be remanded till April 22 by Mahara Magistrate's Court.

The suspect was arrested by the Kiribathgoda following a complaint that he had stormed a peaceful protest organized by a group of students of the Kelaniya University Students’ Union.

Senior Counsel Darshana Kuruppu appearing for the aggrieved party submitted to the court that the university students had engaged in a peaceful protest against the injustices faced by the general public in long queues.

However, defence counsel Sugath Thalwattegedara appearing for the suspect moved Court to release the suspect on bail. Taking into consideration the facts, Mahara Additional Magistrate ordered to remand the suspect till April 22.

Senior Counsel Darshana Kuruppu with Counsel Nithishya Rushanka Samaranayake, Biyanka Jayasuriya, Thamara Abeyratne, Geethani Weerasinghe, Chathura Gunaratne, Lanka Hettiarachchi, Tirosha Nilanthi, Lakmal Alankaragedara, Prasad Perera Pasan Galappaththi appeared for the aggrieved party.

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Former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Ajith Nivard Cabraal has been barred from leaving the country till 02 May.

The order was issued by the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court today(18), further requesting Cabraal to be present in court on 02 May.

The order was issued by Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela after Cabraal failed to appear in Court as per the order issued on 07 April.

Cabraal was previously barred from leaving Sri Lanka till 18 April.

Employees of Litro have been given leave from Wednesday (13) until next Monday due to the Sinhala & Tamil New Year.

Accordingly, the Keralawalapitiya Gas Distribution Center was deserted on Wednesday (13).

However, people can still be seen waiting in line at several places across the country to purchase cooking gas to light a stove on New Year’s Eve.

People in Nagoda, Galle were waiting in line despite heavy rain, as they await to welcome the new year on Thursday (14).

Heated exchanges were also reported from some distribution centers as people lost patience due to delays.

People also protested in Galle, Kandy, and several other locations due to the delay in cooking gas distribution.

A new Cabinet was sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa a short while ago.

Accordingly, the following appointments were made:

• Minister of Plantations, Minister of Education - Ramesh Pathirana

• Minister of Transport, Minister of Industries - Dilum Amunugama

• Minister of Tourism, Minister of Public Security - Prasanna Ranatunga

• Minister of Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government - Dinesh Gunawardena

• Minister of Health - Channa Jayasumana

• Minister of Fisheries - Douglas Devananda

• Minister of Highways - Kanaka Herath

• Minster of Labour - Vidura Wickramanayke

• Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Irrigation - Janaka Wakkumbura

• Minister of Trade, Minister of Samurdhi Development - Shehan Semasinghe

• Minister of Water Supply - Mohan Priyadarshana de Silva

• Minister of Ports and Shipping - Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon

• Minister of Forest and Wildlife Conservation - Wimalaweera Dissanayake

• Minister of Power, Minister of Energy - Kanchana Wijesekara

• Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports - Thenuka Vidanagamage

• Minister of Mass Media - Nalaka Godahewa
• Minister of Environment - Naseer Ahamed

The Asia Rugby Executive Committee (EXCO) has discussed at length the contrary positions of the Sri Lanka Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Sri Lanka National Olympic Committee in relation to the suspension of the Sri Lanka Rugby.

Sri Lanka Rugby was suspended by the Sri Lankan Minister of Youth and Sports as announced via an official Government Gazette dated 1 April 2022 whilst the National Olympic Committee via an official letter signed by the Secretary-General recognizes the Sri Lanka Rugby as the sole representative of the sport of rugby in Sri Lanka.

The Executive Committee concluded that, in accordance with Asia Rugby Regulation 3, the membership of the Sri Lanka Rugby will be temporarily suspended from the Regional Association with immediate effect until further notice on the basis that the Sri Lanka Rugby may no longer be considered as fully responsible for the organisation of rugby-related matters in its jurisdiction; or it is no longer in a position to perform its constitutional and regulatory duties in an appropriate manner.

The Executive Committee further concluded that a visiting delegation from the Regional Association together with the Olympic Council of Asia will travel to Sri Lanka on 20 April to meet with the relevant stakeholders in a committed and transparent efforts to attain an ideal resolution to the affair in the best interest of the Sri Lankan rugby athletes.

(Source: Asia Rugby)

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) notes with grave concern the attempts to disrupt a peaceful protest by the people.

Issuing a statement, President of the BASL Saliya Pieris PC said the association received credible information from its members of a number of Police trucks being moved to the vicinity of Galle Face Green where a public protest is underway.

The statement said the trucks have now been removed after the matter was highlighted on social media and brought to the notice of authorities.

The BASL President said any such attempts to disrupt peaceful protests will have grave repercussions for the country, democracy, economy, and rule of law.

The BASL called on the government to desist from taking any steps to disrupt the legitimate exercise of the freedom of dissent of the people.

MP Shantha Bandara, who was sworn in as the State Minister of Agriculture yesterday (11), has been removed from all positions he had been holding in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

Bandara accepting a State Ministerial portfolio at a time when the party decided not to accept any portfolios in the present administration is a betrayal to the party, the SLFP said.

General Secretary of the SLFP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said steps will also be taken to expel the State Minister from the SLFP Central Committee and from the Party.

Bandara was sworn in yesterday as the State Minister of Organic Fertilizer Production, Promotion and Supply Regulation and Promotion of Paddy and Cereals, Organic Food, Vegetables, Fruits, Chilies, Salt and Potato Cultivation, Seed Production and High Tech Agriculture following the resignation of Shasheendra Rajapaksa.

He said that he had accepted the post at the request of the President.

Sri Lanka’s former Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka in an open statement on Facebook has urged Defence Secretary General G.D.H. Kamal Gunaratne (Retd), and General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army to rethink the unlawful orders given by the corrupt rulers concerning the peaceful civil struggles that are taking place in the country.

“You led battalions in the humanitarian mission to defeat terrorism under my orders and directives. Therefore, I expect that you would think over and over on the unlawful orders that are given by the corrupt rulers to suppress the very peaceful civil struggles that have arisen in the country,” the Parliamentarian from the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) said addressing the Defence Secretary and the Army Commander.

He said that the pressure that has built upon the civil society due to the struggle to survive, which has arisen solely based on the corrupt, inefficient state administration, has converted to a peaceful and non-violent people’s protest.

The Former Army Commander also went on to note that any attempt made by the Rajapaksa Government to suppress the innocent civilians to maintain their power, will be condemned worldwide.

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka noted that he does not wish to see any war hero that he led in the humanitarian mission, fall into any state of disgrace or embarrassment.

He reiterated that the Defence Secretary and the Army Commander must rethink before enforcing the unlawful orders given by the corrupt rulers.

News 1st

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) requested power cuts were approved by the PUCSL for next week.

The schedule is as follows;

4 hours on 11th and 12th April No power cuts from 13th to 15th of April 2 hours and 15 minutes on 16th & 17th of April

On 11th and 12th

Groups ABCDEFGHIJKL

2 hours and 15 minutes from 8:30am to 5:30pm 1 hour and 45 minutes from 5:30pm to 10:45pm

Groups PQRSTUVW

2 hours and 15 minutes from 10:45am to 5:30pm 1 hour and 45 minutes from 5:30pm to 10:45pm

On 16th to 17th

Groups ABCDEFGHIJKLPQRSTUVW

2 hours and 15 minutes from 9am to 6pm.