News

Executive Director of Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) and Center for Human Rights and Research (CHR), Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon claims that Secretary to the National Police Commission (NPC) was removed as a result of him asking for a report on the Teldeniya - Digana clashes from the Inspector General of Police, Pujith Jayasundara.

Cooray who was working on contract basis said he was informed today by the commission that he was removed from the post with immediate effect. He claimed he was told the decision was taken to remove him as he was overage.

However, Tennekoon now claims the removal is a sign that the commission is being prevented from conducting an impartial investigation into the recent incidents. “It is openly known the clashes escalated due to Police inaction,” Tennekoon said adding that CaFFE and CHR have requested the commission to investigate into these allegations. According to him several other members of the commission are also set to resign from their posts due to the issues being faced by them due to constant political interference.

Addressing a public seminar on the new Inland Revenue Act that will be operational from 1st April 2018, Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that numerous ad-hoc tax concessions, over 200 of them, which were granted without any rationale according to the whims and fancies of the finance minister of the day, resulted in Sri Lanka being one of the lowest tax revenue countries in the world.

The Minister said that despite the continued rise in income levels, our tax revenue failed to record any improvements.

" Over two decades Sri Lanka recorded a downward tax revenue that reached just over 10% in 2014 as a share of the GDP. Sri Lanka was among the lowest tax revenue countries. Despite the continued rise in income levels, our tax revenue failed to record any improvements. Some experts opined that on one hand our tax system was complex and confusing, on the other hand there were numerous ad-hoc tax concessions, over 200 of them, which were granted without any rationale, according to the whims and fancies of the finance minister of the day."

Minister Samaraweera further said that the elimination of tax exemptions through this new Act would create a level playing field for everyone to do business, moving away from the culture of preferential treatments. He said that the government is setting the platform and working continuously on promoting the business climate by enhancing taxpayers’ protections and providing greater certainty on tax affairs .

Samaraweera emphasized that this new legislation will carve a clear strategic direction about taxation in the country where the government expects to increase their share of direct income tax against indirect taxes.

"The preferred ratio is 40% to 60% from the current level of 18% to 82%. That is one of the hallmarks of a fairer tax system. Yet, we are fully cognisant that this is an enormously challenging goal. The new Inland Revenue Act is a timely step in that direction. I hope we will have a smooth transition and a better system with the passage of time," the Minister added.

Secretary to the National Police Commission (NPC) Ariyadasa Cooray has been removed from his post with immediate effect. According to him, he was notified of his removal officially today by the commission.The reason for his removal, however, remains unclear.

Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court today issued warrants to arrest the National Freedom Front (NFF) leader parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa and MP Jayantha Samaraweera and present them before the court.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lal Ranasinghe Bandara today issued warrants against the two parliamentarians since they have failed to appear in Court when a case filed against them was taken up for hearing.

The case was filed against MP Wimal Weerawansa and 6 others over several charges including inconveniencing the public by protesting against the arrival of the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Prince Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein outside the UN complex in Thunmulla in 2016.

When the case was taken up today, MPs Wimal Weerawansa and Jayantha Samaraweera who have been named as suspects in the case did not appear in court.

The other suspects in the case, Parliamentarian Weerakumara Dissanayake, Piyasiri Wijenayake, Mohammed Muzammil and Roger Seneviratne appeared today in the court. They were ordered to appear before the court again on June 12.

The Magistrate also ordered the Cinnamon Gardens police to report the progress in the investigations on that day.

Source: Colombo Page

University non-academic staff trade unions say that the strike action will continue as discussions held with the Ministry of Higher Education have failed.

Chairman of the University Trade Union Joint Committee, Edward Malwattage, stated that the strike will enter day 21 today (20).

A discussion was held yesterday with the Secretary to the Higher Education Ministry and Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) regarding their issues. However, they had failed to reach an agreement, Mr Malwattage said.

The Higher Education Ministry, issuing a statement yesterday, said that a positive solution to the demands of university non-academic staff will be given within today.

Source : Ada Derana

Backbenchers of the UNP are pressurizing Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe to remove his close friend and associate Malik Samarawickrama as the President of the UNP ‘Sirikotha’ insiders claim.

Serious allegations were levelled against several Ministers appointed by the Prime Minister to posts in the party during discussions with UNP members regarding the upcoming no-confidence motion and restructuring of the party.

D.M Swaminathan, Tilak Marapana, Malik Samarawickrama are several such politicians that were accused by the MPs sources say.

They have also alleged that current General Secretary of the party Kabir Hashim has not done his duty to the party or its members after being appointed following the removal of the former General Secretary Kabir Hashim.

The backbenchers have asked the UNP leader to appoint two non-ministers for the posts of chairman and secretary of the party sources further added.

UPFA Gampaha district MP Prasanna Ranaweera was remanded today till March 22 by the Mahara magistrates court today. He was remanded in connection with a case filed against him for assaulting an individual.

The person assaulted by the MP is said to be a recent candidate who contested in the local government elections. The incident had occurred at a private gathering on February 26 where the duo is said to have got into a heated discussion.

According to the Police, the assault victim is still receiving treatment in hospital.

United National Party (UNP) is set to request of the President that any SLFP Minister who signs the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe should be immediately removed from the cabinet, political sources say.

According to reports, the UNP has taken the decision after it was revealed the Minister Susil Premajayantha will sign the no-confidence motion today.

Meanwhile, UNP backbenchers have suggested that if the SLFP decides to support the no-confidence motion, then the UNP should defeat it in parliament and take it as a show of support to form a fully UNP government sources said.

Not today but tomorrow!

A spokesperson for the Join Opposition said the no-confidence motion against the PM will be presented to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya tomorrow (20) or the day after (21).

According to him, around 30 had signed the motion by yesterday (18) while today and tomorrow a number of MPs from the SLFP and UNP are set to sign it as well. Around 30 SLFP members have agreed to sign and the motion will be presented after a group of UNPers sign it as well the source said.

Not today but tomorrow!

A spokesperson for the Join Opposition said the no-confidence motion against the PM will be presented to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya tomorrow (20) or the day after (21).

According to him, around 30 had signed the motion by yesterday (18) while today and tomorrow a number of MPs from the SLFP and UNP are set to sign it as well. Around 30 SLFP members have agreed to sign and the motion will be presented after a group of UNPers sign it as well the source said.

No UNPer has signed :

However as being reported to ‘ISIS news’ no UNP MP has signed this no-confidence motion document while State Minister Wasantha Senanayake who it was reported might sign the no-confidence motion has now assured he would not do so.

The owner of the BMW that was responsible for the recent accident in Thalawathugoda and took an eventual plunge into the Kimbula Ela has been remanded till March 27 by the Kaduwela Magistrates Court. He handed himself over to the Police yesterday after which he was arrested for causing an accident and making away prior to the arrival of law enforcement

According to the Police, the owner and individual who caused the accident has been identified as Fahim Mohamed Hussain, a resident of No.85, Sigera Road, Madiwela.

The Police say this fact has been confirmed adding that CCTV footage and other evidence has also gone on to prove that he was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Fahim is said to be a relative of Minister of Highways and Higher Education Kabir Hashim. Rumours were rampant that the vehicle was one belonging to Daham Sirisena. However, the Police has refuted these allegations.

Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has sought assistance from the Police and the Military to nab those who dump garbage haphazardly at public places.

“Legal action will be taken against those who engage in illegal garbage dumping while violating waste management regulations imposed by the CMC, Colombo Municipal Council Acting Municipal Commissioner Eng. Lalith Wickremeratne said.

Wickremeratne also said the CMC would refrain from collecting non-segregated waste from today onwards.

Wickremeratne, responding to the Daily News, pointed out that an attitudinal change in people is in demand for a successful waste management system in the CMC as well as in the country.

He also pointed out that there is no issue relating to the disposing of segregated garbage.

“The segregated garbage is sent to compost yards managed by the Megapolis and Western Development Ministry or the recycling projects,” he said.

“The problem is with the unseparated garbage. Even in the last few days, you may have noticed that garbage piled up in areas such as Maradana, Maligawatta, Borella, Dematagoda and Slave Island.

“Most of the people in these areas and the surroundings do not separate garbage before they dispose of them. It is not fair to say that separating garbage into degradable and non-degradable is a difficult task. Unfortunately, this matter rises not because of unawareness but because they don’t feel the need to execute these policies. The general public needs to realize that it is them who will have to endure the repercussions as well,” Wickramaratne further said.

Source : Daily News

Local Government Institutions will be incorporated today. Accordingly, Local Government Institutions will be incorporated within the course of a month, Provincial and Local Government Ministry sources said.

The Political parties and independent groups who won seats at the Local Government Elections held on February 10 will be entitled to establish their powers at the governing bodies.

However, an election will be held in Local Government institutions to determine the occupants of the governing bodies of Political parties or independent groups which could not obtain more than 50 percent votes.

The Provincial and Local Government Ministry sources said that the respective Commissioners of Local Government institutions have been vested powers to hold elections.

Of the 340 local government institutions, elections will be held in 169 institutions, the Elections Commission said.

Source : Daily News

As rumours run rampant as to the identity of the real owner of the BMW that took a plunge into the Kimbula Ela in Thalawathugoda recently, the Police today issued a communique revealing his name.

According to the release the owner and individual who caused the accident has been identified as Fahim Mohamed Hussain, a resident of No.85, Sigera Road, Madiwela.

The Police say this fact has been confirmed adding that CCTV footage and other evidence has also gone on to prove that he was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident. “Thalangama Police are on the search for the suspect in order to arrest him” the communique read.

The Police also refuted allegations that son of President Maithripala Sirisena was connected to the incident. “We officially claim this rumour has no truth to it,” it said.

Fahima Mohamed Hussain is said to be a relative of Minister Kabir Hashim. The Minister has so far extended his full support to the ongoing investigation in this regard.