News

Courts ordered Former Army Intelligence Chief Rtd. Major General Amal Karunasekara to be remanded once again till July 24. He is currently under arrest regarding the abduction of Journalist Keith Noyahr. 

While the case was called today, Prison officials informed the courts that the suspect cannot attend as he has been hospitalized.
As a result, the court ordered for him to be remanded once again.

The UN Security Council will hold a high-level open debate on children and armed conflict with the theme “Protecting Children Today Prevents Conflict Tomorrow” on Monday (09), aiming to bring world attention to the protection of children in armed conflict. 

Diplomatic sources said on Saturday that the meeting will be chaired by Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven. 

Sweden, the chair of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, circulated a concept note on June 21, which highlights three key areas: protecting children and upholding their rights; successful reintegration of former child soldiers; and peace processes as an entry point for protecting children. 

UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba will present the Secretary-General’s annual report on children and armed conflict.

The Council is expected to adopt a resolution during the meeting, informed sources said. There were at least 21,000 grave violations of children’s rights verified by the UN last year (6,000 by government forces and 15,000 by non-state armed groups), a 27 per cent increase over 2016, according to the Security Council report.

Deputy Minister J. C Alawathuwala and State Minister Lucky Jayawardena were sworn in as State Ministers before President Maithripala Sirisena today (10), the President's Media Division said.

Alawathuwala who was acting as the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs was appointed as the State Minister of Home Affairs.

Lucky Jayawardena was appointed as the State Minister of Urban Development and Water Supply. Prior to his new appointment, Jayawardena served as the State Minister of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development.

As part of the U.S. government’s support for a reconciled and unified Sri Lanka, the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) renovated two schools in the Eastern Province.  James L. Russo, the U.S. Embassy’s Counselor for Press, Academic, and Cultural Affairs, presided over the official ribbon cutting ceremonies on July 2 and 3, 2018. 
 
 Also participating were Deputy Minister of National Integration, Reconciliation, and Official Languages Ali Zahir Moulana; Coordinating Secretary for Deputy Health Minister Zarrjun Aboobucker; Zonal Director of Education M.L. Ahamed Junaid; and Captain Robert Holbrook of PACOM.
 
PACOM funded the renovation of the Kavathamunai al-Ameen school, which cost USD 308,292 (LKR 47,710,136).  This gift from the people of the United States of America to the people of Sri Lanka includes the renovation of a classroom building and the construction of an emergency kitchen, a 10,000 liter rainwater harvesting system, and a handicap-accessible bathroom.  PACOM also contributed USD 272,174 (LKR 43,003,492) for the renovation of the Abdul Cader school.  This project renovated a classroom building and constructed an emergency kitchen, a 10,000 liter rainwater harvesting system, and a handicap-accessible bathroom.  Both renovation projects will improve the learning environment of the students while providing the community with a designated safe haven during times of emergency.  PACOM selected these schools based on recommendations from the Sri Lankan Eastern Province Ministry of Education and the Disaster Management Center.
 
“It is an honor to be here in Batticaloa.  This year, we are celebrating 70 years of U.S.-Sri Lankan partnership and recall that on February 4, 1948 then-U.S. President Harry Truman was one of the first foreign leaders to recognize Sri Lankan independence.  Since then, U.S. cooperation has amounted to more than USD 2 billion (LKR 314 billion) in developmental assistance.  We are privileged to participate today with the Ministry of Education in the renovation of these important centers of learning.  As all the hardworking teachers in this room well know, education is the key that opens the golden door of opportunity,” Russo said.

A survey carried out by Dr. Nimali Wijewardena have revealed that one third of prison officials suffer burnout, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health said.

The survey also revealed that 38.8 percent of prison officials also suffer from a lack of self esteem. The percentage of prison officials who showed mental fatigue is 26.9. 

1803 prison and rehabilitation officials were surveyed.

The spokesperson however stated that mainly jailers had taken part in the survey, while officials from prison institutions including those at Welikada, Mahara, Dumbara, Galle, Boosa, Polonnaruwa, Badulla, Wariyapola, Kuruvita, Kalutara, Negombo, Kegalle, Kandewaththya, Weeravila, Kegalle, and Ambepussa had also taken part.


Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne handing over the survey report to Justice and Prison Reforms Minister Thalatha Athukorale. 


Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, speaking on the results of the survey, stated that it seems that prison officials are also imprisoned. 
Taking the survey as an example, he said decisions regarding any matter should be based on scientific findings. 
In this instance, remedies should be proposed for countering the burnout that prison officials experienced, as evidenced by the survey.​

Indian Railways plans to launch an express train connecting the cities associated with the epic tale of Ramayana.

Indian Railways' new 'Sri Ramayana Express' tourist train will take its maiden journey on November 14 from Ayodhya, the birthplace of Rama to Colombo in Sri Lanka where he fought Ravana, Hindustan Times reported.

The 16-day trip will cover places linked to the Ramayana, starting from Safdarjung station in Delhi and will have its first stop in Ayodhya's Hanuman Garhi, the Kanak Bhawan Temple, and Ramkot.

The Sri Ramayana Express will stop en route at Nandigram, Sitamarhi, Janakpur, Varanasi, Prayag, Shringverpur, Chitrakoot, Nasik, Hampi and Rameshwaram. Railways will even facilitate trips from the stations to the pilgrimage sites via road.

Those opting for the Sri Lanka leg will be flown to Colombo from Chennai, where they will visit Ramboda, Nuwara Eliya and Chilaw.

The Sri Ramayana Express will have 800 seats at INR 15,120 per person within India.

The trip will include onboard train meals, facilities for a night stay and wash and change in dharamshalas at the places of visit. It will also cover all transfers and sightseeing and IRCTC tour managers will travel along with the passengers for necessary assistance, according to an IRCTC official

Source : Colombo Page

The Ministry of Finance says that the Cabinet will take a decision regarding the fuel price revision, today (10). Fuel prices were increased with effect from midnight on July 05th, with regard to the new fuel price formula introduced by the Finance Ministry. 
 
However, the government later decided to halt the fuel price hike. Finance Ministry points out that, the new fuel price formula requires fuel prices to be revised every two months, in accordance with the prices of the world market.
 
As the fuel price formula introduced by the Finance Ministry has received the Cabinet approval, the implementation of the formula will be discussed at the Cabinet meeting today. Accordingly, a final decision regarding fuel price revision will be taken today, said government sources.

Former State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran who said “An LTTE rule must return to create a situation where our children and our women can come back home safe from school” is preparing to leave for London next week. Speaking to the Sinhala Daily Newspaper ‘Lankadeepa’ she claimed she was leaving for a private visit to the country. 

In a recent meeting, she had stated that during the time of the LTTE women and children in the North were not sexually abused going on to recall how they lived prior to 2009. She had claimed to see the current situation it is time to go back to an LTTE rule. 

While she was slammed in the south for the statement made, in the North, however, the reaction was different. Sources say in her speech she had raised valid issues regarding civilian life in the North going on to claim that the Yahapalana government are treating the people in the North similar to the previous regime.

If he is appointed as the SLFP General Secretary, MP Dayasiri Jayasekara claims he will work towards uplifting the party by going all over the island and conducting organizing activities. 

He made this statement in a live political show on television recently. According to him sitting in the opposition is not an obstacle to work towards the betterment of the party. 

He also went on to say he has not worked in order to get positions but if he is presented with one he will work accordingly. 

Accusations against those of the 16 who went to Pohottuwa 

He also slammed some of the 16 who joined the SLPP claiming they have lost their political identity. According to him, the intention of the 16 was to act with a particular political identity and form a united and powerful front. 

According to him, this chance was lost due to the actions of certain people.  He also affirmed that he is not willing to leave the party.

Members of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress are said to be planning a massive protest to demand an investigation into alleged financial mismanagement and irregularities amounting to billions of rupees within the organization. 

According to information received the protest is set to be held on Tuesday (10). 

Already as a result, the Congress has not been able to approve the audit reports of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress at their 98th and 99th-anniversary meetings. 

The main allegation is that a property located on Colombo 7 valued at Rs. 3 Billion and another property on Castle street valued at Rs. 175 Million has been sold to an outside party.  

A complaint has also been regarding this on April 12 to the Criminal Investigations Department by Former President of Propaganda of the Congress Jayantha Peiris.

The complaint also claims there are suspicions that more properties belonging to the Congress are set to be sold in the future. He has also alleged that despite the audit reports not being approved, President of the Congress Jagath Sumathipala are acting and continuing with their work as if it has been approved. 

In the complaint, he also alleges that foreign funds to the Congress were collected to a Sampath Bank Borella branch account under the names of Puthula Parami Mayakaduwa and Janaka Mayakaduwa which has been now closed and the cash withdrawn. Puthula Parami Mayakaduwa is the daughter of Jagath Sumathipala. 

While copies of the complaints had been sent to Minister of Buddha Sasana Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, however, no response has been received sources say. While a meeting is scheduled to be held with the Minister today, sources say the situation and damage done to the organization will be explained to the Minister.

A case filed against the Former Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa and eight others by the Bribery commission was postponed to October 30 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake. 

The decision was made after the lawyer representing the Commission informed the court that an interim order had been issued against hearing the case by the Court of Appeal. 

The allegation is that Gotabaya Rajapaksa and eight others allowed the Avant Garde Maritime Services to run a floating armoury in the Galle harbour thereby causing a loss of Rs. 11.4 Billion to the government. 

The respondents of the case include Chairman of the Avant-Garde Maritime Services Nissanka Yapa Senadhipathi, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Damayanthi Jayaratne, Former Chairman of Rakna Lanka Rtd. Major General PAlitha Fernando. Additionally, former Navy Commanders Somathilake Dissanayake, Jayantha Perera and Jayanath Colombage have been named in the case. 

Currently, respondent to the case Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Damayanthi Jayaratne is said to have fled abroad.

Sri Lanka's Army chief Mahesh Senanayake has accused certain politicians, retired officers and civil society activists of trying to sow seeds of war in the country by sabotaging the country's reconciliation efforts with the Tamil minority community.

Senanayake ordered his troops not to allow any individual to drive a wedge between the military and the civilian population in the former battle zones in the north and eastern provinces.

In a memo sent to Army battalions and released to the media, Lt General Senanayake accused "certain politicians, retired military officers and civil society activists" of being critical of the Army's reconciliation efforts, conducting lectures to make the civilians lose confidence in the state and the military. "

They are trying to sow seeds of war. The media has exposed their conduct," the memo says.The Army chief says such people should not be entertained at any military camp and the Army should not take party in any events organised by them and should not patronise such anti-reconciliation elements.

His remarks came after Sri Lanka's lone Tamil woman minister Vijeyakala Maheswaran resigned last week after her controversial remarks seeking revival of the separatist militant outfit led to an uproar in Parliament.

The LTTE had run an armed movement for a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation for nearly 30 years before its defeat in 2009 by the Sri Lankan army. (PTI)