News

PT Kalbe Farma, whose antacid drug Promag is a household name in Indonesia, is seeking a partner in Sri Lanka and eyeing the Middle East as a new market for its nutritional products, Bloomberg reported.

The pharmaceutical company, Southeast Asia’s biggest, will initially export its products to Sri Lanka before joining hands with a local company to manufacture its generic drugs, President Director Vidjongtius said in an interview in Jakarta on Tuesday. It’s also expanding to the Middle East after the positive response to test-marketing of its packaged coconut water, he said.

“Our focus has been Asean so far and we have been quite successful,” said Vidjongtius, who took over as the president director in June 2017. “Our ultimate mission is to develop a portfolio for the developed and more regulated countries like the U.S. and Europe. We are upgrading our quality standards to global level.”

A Committee appointed by the Prime Minister and Leader of the United National Party, Ranil Wickramasinghe has decided that MP Ravi Karunanayake should not exercise any duties as an Assistant Leader of the United National Party (UNP) till the Attorney General and the Bribery Commission decides if to file legal action against him. It has also decided that if such legal action is initiated the decision should be in place until the conclusion of the legal proceedings.

According to General Secretary of the UNP, Minister Kabir Hashim the Report of the Commission of Inquiry on the issuance of Treasury Bonds, there are no findings against any member of the United National Party including Ravi Karunanayake in regard to the issuance of Treasury Bonds. “However, the Commission of Inquiry has decided that the Attorney General and the Bribery Commission should determine whether action should be taken against Mr Ravi Karunanayake, MP, under the Bribery Act or other appropriate legislation in respect of their findings that he had derived a substantial benefit from the lease payments made by Walt and Row Associates (Pvt) Ltd., which is an associate company of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd., which is owned and controlled by the same persons who owned and controlled Perpetual Treasuries Ltd.” he said.

He also pointed out that the Commission has also stated that the Attorney General or other appropriate authorities could also consider whether the evidence given by Ravi Karunanayake is shown to have been incorrect and in that case whether there are grounds for prosecution under Section 179 and or under Section 188 of the Penal Code or other relevant provisions of the law, read with Section 9 the Commission of Inquiry Act No. 17 of 1948.

The Report will be presented to the Working Committee meeting to be held in mid-February he said.

A commemorative Rs. 1000 currency note has been printed to mark the country’s 70th anniversary of independence. It was handed over by Central Bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy to Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday.

The new note, which is dated February 4th, Independence Day, contains 3 key differences from the current Rs. 1000 note.

First, the butterfly in the bottom left-hand corner of the current note is replaced with a graphic of four children and the tagline, “70th Independence Celebration: Celebrating Diversity.”

Second, the image of the Ramboda Tunnel in the background of the current note is replaced by four structures: a church, a mosque, a kovil, and a pagoda.

Third, the number 70 now succeeds the “S” designation on the notes.

Five million of these commemorative notes were printed and will enter circulation.

This is only the fourth occasion in Sri Lanka’s history in which a commemorative currency note has been created.

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and the Countess will arrive in Sri Lanka to attend the country’s the 70th Independence Day celebrations.

The Prince and the Countess will participate in the celebrations on behalf of the Queen to mark the longstanding relationships between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.

The 70th Independence Day will be held at the Galle Face Green on February 4 on the theme ‘One Nation’.

Cabinet has approved the setting up of a special three-member High Court to hear cases of corruption and corruption.

The decision was taken yesterday (30) during the cabinet meeting headed by the President. Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorala is said to have submitted the relevant cabinet paper.

Accordingly, senior legal experts say that the Chief Justice will be entitled to appoint judges to these special high courts.

The government has taken this decision due to the continuous legal delays regarding several fraud and corruption cases source said.

Source: Resa

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to have indicated that it will be proper if UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake steps down from his post as the assistant leader of the party.

This was revealed by the Prime Minister when he presided over a meeting with the leaders of the parties aligned with the UNP.

Meanwhile, it was also revealed by UNP sources that the commission appointed to look into the action that had to be taken against any UNP member found to have been involved in the bond scam had also recommended that Mr Karunanayake should be removed from his post.

The committee headed by Minister Tilak Marapana was appointed to look into whether any UNPer is involved in the scam and to advise the party leadership on what action should be taken against those who are involved.

Bringing back chilling memories of a period when dissenting voices were shamed as traitors and hunted down, the president of Sri Lanka has accused rights activists of being 'supporters of Tamil Tigers', while admitting his involvement in delaying justice on criminal violations.

In a special meeting with media heads, President Maithripala Sirisena branded human rights organisations that expose details of ongoing violations in the country as LTTE sympathisers.

His anger was particularly levelled at activists who provided the UN rights body with documented evidence of ongoing torture, abductions, sexual violence and military intimidation.

“These people have gone to Geneva and told the human rights council that serious violations have been committed this year too,” said President Maithripala Sirisena.

“There are several non-governmental organisations (NGO) sympathetic to the LTTE, which make damaging statements in Geneva to the international. As far as I am aware our country does not have such a bad record.”

Myanmar and Sri Lanka

The president claimed that leaders from powerful states have hailed Sri Lanka alongside Myanmar as a model country that has restored democracy.

“When I met UN officials and state leaders in 2015-2016, they told me that only two countries that can be shown as prime examples to the world in restoring democracy, upholding freedom and human rights. They are Sri Lanka and Myanmar."

However, Myanmar has failed to maintain its good record.

“In 2017 September when I met them at the UN, they told me that only Sri Lanka has that status today.”

Therefore, in 2017 Sri Lanka was granted an extension of two years to fulfil its commitments on accountability and justice for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the final phase of its war against Tamil Tigers in 2009.

President Sirisena described such crimes as “things that happened earlier”.

“If there are issues about things that happened earlier, we have an opportunity to take the necessary steps.”

Activists who campaigned for accountability and upholding the rule of law, during the tenure of President Mahinda Rajapaksa ousted in 2015, were persecuted by the regime as Tamil Tiger supporters.

Many who managed to survive, including members of JDS had to leave the country.

Illegal interference

Addressing media heads, President Sirisena also admitted that he had intervened to delay justice in many cases implicating leaders of the former regime.

His advice to the police chief and the prime minister was not to file cases “that would be a waste” against former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and other alleged perpetrators including members of the military.

According to him several investigations have concluded by 2016.

“The attorney general sent all the files to the inspector general of police. I told them not to file cases that would be a waste, before getting them scrutinized by other senior lawyers.”

President Sirisena’s intervention has been heavily criticized as illegal by senior human rights lawyers who highlight that the president has no authority to overrule the attorney general (AG).

“The AG is the state prosecutor who has full authority on filing a case,” attorney at law Chandrapala Kumarage told JDS.

“There is no legal procedure that allows external lawyers to re-examine a recommendation by the AG to file a case on a crime investigation.”

Chandrapala Kumarage emphasized that the police chief was also wrong to hand over the files to the president.

“The president is not the prosecuting authority. This is serious.”

At home and abroad, Sri Lankan government leaders claim that the country’s judiciary is independent since it adopted the 19th amendment to the constitution in 2015, which aims to restrict powers of the executive president.

Source : JDS Sri Lanka

The debate on the Bond Commission report and the PRECIFAC Report would be held on February 6 from 10.30 a.m. based on a request made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Deputy Secretary of Parliament said.

Earlier today, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya had informed the Speaker in writing on the inappropriateness of having a debate on February 8 as proposed by the Prime Minister earlier.

The meeting was attended by Minister and House Leader Lakshman Kiriella together and MP Ravi Karunanayake on behalf of the UNP; Minister Samarasinghe on behalf of the SLFP; JO parliamentary group leader MP Dinesh Gunawardana, MP M. Sumanthiran of the TNA and the Opposition, MP Vijitha Herath on behalf of the JVP.

Parliament Secretary General Dammika Dissanayake assisted the Speaker at the discussions.

Source : Daily Mirror

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and the Countess of Wessex arrived in Sri Lanka today.

Their five-day visit will focus on the long-standing UK and Sri Lanka relationship, the Commonwealth, education and young people.

During the visit, Their Royal Highnesses will meet young people overcoming challenges from a variety of communities across Sri Lanka.

During their visit to the Schools for the Deaf and Blind in Ratmalana, they will meet differently-abled young people following the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme, and witness how the scheme helps the communication impaired integrate into society in meaningful ways.

The Royal couple will also meet with young athletes and para-athletes who will represent Sri Lanka at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka James Dauris said: We are delighted to have The Earl and Countess of Wessex in Sri Lanka to celebrate the strong links between our two countries, young people and the Commonwealth.

Their visit comes just two months before we host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London and allows us to celebrate our Commonwealth links and the important role young people will play in developing its potential.

His Royal Highness Prince Edward is the youngest child of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

Their Royal Highnesses will represent Her Majesty The Queen at the 70th-anniversary celebration of Sri Lanka’s independence on Sunday.

The Earl and Countess will also travel to Kandy where they will visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic and the Royal Botanical Gardens.

The inter-governmental Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has listed Sri Lanka among eleven ‘high risk and monitored jurisdictions’ that have taken insufficient measures to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other threats to the international financial system. The other countries are Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Korea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Vanuatu and Yemen. The list is published on the website of FATF.

The FATF sets standards and promotes implementation of legal, regulatory and operations measures for combating money laundering terrorist financing and related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. It monitors countries’ progress in implementing its recommendations; reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and counter-measures; and, promotes the adoption and implementation of the FATF Recommendations globally.

In October 2017, Sri Lanka made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) to strengthen the effectiveness of its anti money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism regime and to address any technical deficiencies. The Central Bank’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) aspires to implement some 40 recommendations encapsulated in an action plan by the end of 2018, an official source said. He said there had been a “lack of interest” in the past but that Sri Lanka is now invested in fulfilling its commitments. Other agencies of the Government must also play their part.

Among other things, Sri Lanka has promised to amend the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act to ensure cooperation may be provided on the basis of reciprocity; to issue a revised Trust Ordinance and demonstrate that implementation has begun; and to establish a Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions (TFS) regime to implement the relevant UN Security Council Regulations related to Iran and North Korea.

Civil Society activist Chandra Jayaratne this week wrote to Presidential Secretary, Austin Fernando warning that there was a risk of Sri Lanka being further downgraded from a ‘light grey’ area classification to ‘dark grey’ after the next FATF country review. He called for early action to ensure that serious violations of FATF recommendations and misuse of or engaging in irregular and unauthorised foreign exchange transactions were made a predicate offence under the money laundering legislation.

Mr Jayaratne has also recommended the creation by statue of a Serious Frauds Office and an Independent Public Prosecutor and the enactment of a standalone Proceeds of Crime Act, among other measures.

Source : Sunday Times

Probing the abduction of Tamil youth in the capital city of Colombo and its suburbs during the height of the war, Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested yet another Navy intelligence officer charging him of being in-charge of dumping dead bodies at sea as part of the well-organised abduction operation.

After evading arrest for several years, Muthuwhennadige Aruna Thushara Mendis attached to the Sri Lankan Navy's Special Intelligence Unit and its Special Boat Squadron (SBS) was arrested on January 23, 2018 by the CID team and produced before Colombo Fort Magistrate who ordered him to be kept in remand custody.

He is the ninth Navy officer to be arrested in connection with the enforced disappearance of the 11 people in and around Colombo in October 2008.

Gunsite underground camp

According to the CID, Mendis had been in charge of a boat which provided support to this special intelligence team, especially in disposing of bodies, while serving at the Parakrama Naval base in Colombo from 2008 to 2009.

Officers directly involved in this investigation said that these dead bodies were tied tightly to concrete pillars before being dumped into the deep sea. "This was to ensure that these dead bodies would never float at sea unlike in early 1990".

His arrest followed the arrest of another naval intelligence officer Kasthuriarachchige Gamini a week ago this month.

Mendis has functioned as the Chief Petty Officer of the Special Intelligence Unit headed by Lieutenant Commander Sumith Ranasinghe, who has also been arrested in connection with these abductions.

He had allegedly been part of the navy unit that took the eight abducted youths to the Gunsite underground camp at the Trincomalee Naval Base, from the Naval camp in Chaithya Road, Colombo Fort.

The CID is also probing his involvement with the abduction and the disappearance of navy intelligence operative, Ali Anwar at Katunayake.

President's intervention

Former Navy Spokesman Commodore D.K.P Dassanayake, who was the Overall Commanding Officer for the Navy's Special Intelligence Unit and the SBS during the peak of the war, and Chief Security Officer of former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Sampath Munasinghe were also arrested over the enforced disappearances. Both were released on bail after months of detention.

Granting of bail to these Naval officers came after President Maithripala Sirisena warned the judiciary and the law enforcement authorities not to press cases against the war heroes.

One more navy officer wanted in connection with this abduction ring Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi is absconding and an international arrest warrant has been issued on him.

Following is the details of the 11 people including five school boys who were abducted and made to disappear by the Navy's Special Intelligence Wing in 2008.

1. Kasthuri Araachchige John Reed alias John, 38/ 28, Ratnam Road, Kotahena Colombo 13.

2. Rajeev Naganathan alias Malli, 87, Shoe road, Kotahena, Colombo 13.

3. Pradeep Wishwanathan, 1/6, 220 Wasala Road, Colombo 13.

4. Thilakeshwaran Ramalingam, A/ 3F/ 12, Bloemendhal Flats, Colombo 13.

5. Mohamed Saajith, 40 Clifton Road, Dematagoda, Colombo 10.

6. Mohamed Jamaldeen Dilan, 75/12 Maligakanda Road, Maradana, Colombo 10.

7. Amalean Lyon, Arippu East, Arippu.

8. Roshan Lyon, Arippu East, Arippu.

9. Anthony Kasthuriarachchi, 38/ 28, Ratnam Road, Kotahena Colombo 13.

10. Thiyagaraja Jegan, 42, Linganaagar, Trincomalee.

11. Mohammed Ali Anver alias Hajjiar, 27/ 40, Fernando Road, Karagampitya, Dehiwala.

Source : JDS Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is expecting to wrap up the leasing of the Mattala Airport, a rarely used facility, which was built with loans from China by August a recent local media report said.

Quoting the Minister of International Trade and Development Malik Samarawickrema the report said that a joint venture will be set up between Indian and Sri Lankan authorities.

Mattala is expected to be leased to India for 40 years.