News

Several new luxury vehicles have been granted to high ranking officers of the Attorney General’s department, Source claim.

Accordingly, a Hybrid Mercedes Benz has been provided to Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya while his previously used vehicle has been given to Additional Solicitor General Dappula De Livera.

Meanwhile, Additional Solicitor General Yasantha Kodagoda has been given a new Freelander vehicle sources report. Additionally, the AG’s department is set to receive further facilities in the near future.

The lack of facilities in the AG’s department was informed to the President and government officials and action is now being taken to provide the necessary facilities. Junior State Counsels do not even have seats in the Department while they have to fund their official outstation travel visits sources claim.

A distillery closed down due to being unable to pay taxes to the government is set to be sold to an Indian businessman. According to sources of the Department of Excise, discussions are currently being held in this regard.

The distillery located in Wennappuwa was forced to shut down four years ago for not paying the necessary taxes to the government.

A high ranking officer of the department set to retire soon is said to have initiated the sale of the distillery sources further added.

Meanwhile producing toddy artificially is banned in the country a two-member committee consisting of two deputy commissioners of excise has been set up to grant permission to produce artificial toddy.

Due to the ban, the department had raided a distillery in 2002 which produced artificial toddy while slapping a fine Rs. 5 Million on the business for violating the ban. Artificial toddy is produced with sugar, yeast, ammonia and urea which can be hazardous to the human body.

Source : Divaina

The Election Commission intervened to postpone a forum on the Constitutional Assembly Interim Report at the Jaffna University yesterday.

The Election Commission, acting on a complaint it received has written to the University authorities to stop the discussion on the basis that it is likely to benefit certain parties and disadvantageous to others at the upcoming Local Government polls.

The discussion on a new Constitution, organized by the ‘Thamil Makkal Peravai’ (Tamil People’s Forum), a civil organisation backed by Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Vigneswaran, was to be held yesterday with the participation of the Chief Minister and Jaffna University lecturers.

The Election Commission writing to the Vice Chancellor pointed out it was not appropriate to hold that programme during the period of elections. Following the letter, the Arts Faculty Dean has been asked to cancel the programme and arrange it somewhere else outside the University.

Source : Daily News

Latest figures released by Sri Lankan authorities reveal that more than forty thousand war displaced from the north and east are forced to live away from their homes despite the conclusion of the armed conflict almost nine years ago.

During its three year period in office, the government has resettled only 3,996 people. The ministry of resettlement and rehabilitation says that 40, 938 members of 12, 674 internally displaced families have not been resettled by the end of October 2017.

An overwhelming majority of them have been living earlier in the heavily militarized Jaffna district. Over 70% of them are from Tellippalai where the military has established a massive base.

Others are from Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Trincomalee and Batticaloa.

'No more land release' - SL Army

At the end of April 2015, the total number of IDP in the north and east have been 44, 934.

Tamils who have been dispossessed of their land by the military in the north are continuing an ongoing protest for more than ten months.

However, the military had announced that it has no intention of releasing further land in the north to their original owners.

Source : JDS Sri Lanka

The cabinet meeting held yesterday (16) led by President Maithripala Sirisena is said to have become heated resulting in the President leaving the meeting in a huff.

The President is said to have made a statement regarding Ministers and parliamentarians of the UNP criticising him while how some Ministers are making decisions without informing him before leaving the cabinet meeting in a huff.

Sources say the President had left prior to cabinet papers even being discussed.

A Minister who wished to remain anonymous said the Premier and several other Ministers had then gone after the President and managed to convince him to return to the cabinet meeting.

Proceedings of the cabinet meeting are said to have halted for around 30 minutes due to this incident.

The President is said to have stated that the Bond Commission was not formed to destroy the UNP while slamming the comments being made regarding him by certain UNP parliamentarians.

Sirisena is a "Pickpocket President" - UNP MP S. M Marikkar

 The President is said to have named and shamed MP’s Harin Fernando, Sujeewa Senasinghe, Chaminda Wijesiri and S.M Marikkar while slamming the statements being made by them.

Statements against the President were made by these parliamentarians at public rallies and was given wide media publicity in recent times.

S.M Marikkar had even gone on to call the President a pickpocket ‘President’.

However, one MP criticised by the President said they have the right to criticize the President when the SLFP is continuously slamming the Prime Minister.

President objects to revoke of alcohol-related ban on women

He also slammed the decisions being taken without his consultation which are socially harmful. The President was referring to the recently revoked alcohol-related ban on women.

The cabinet has now decided to rescind that decision.

Source : BBC

The Government of India has come forward to rehabilitate and upgrade the Kankesanthurai (KKS) Harbour as a commercial port at a cost of USD 45.27 million. This will help to further strengthen the country’s effort to become a regional maritime hub in the near future.

The financing for this project comes as a line of credit from the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) and the Secretary to Treasury Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga signed the agreement recently in New Delhi with David Rasquinha, Managing Director, Export-Import Bank of India to finance this project.

The Government of India is the major development partner of Sri Lanka in South Asian region over 40 years since 1973. During the last few years Indian foreign direct investment in Sri Lanka has expanded exponentially. Presently Indian development assistance mainly focusing on improvement of economic infrastructural facilities, livelihood development, education, healthcare, capacity building and economic renewal of Sri Lanka. In this persistence, both governments have inked a fresh Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 318 million for the development of railway sector in Sri Lanka in June 2017.

The Ministry of Ports and Shipping has identified that the Rehabilitation of Kankesanthurai (KKS) Harbour would contribute to promote traditional commercial linkages, both domestic and regional and give an incentive to economic activities by encouraging trade in northern Sri Lanka. Kankesanthurai will be the nearest port for all eastern ports in India, as well as for Myanmar and Bangladesh.

The Government, taking into account the above facts has decided to rehabilitate the KKS Harbour. Preliminary Hydrographic survey geotechnical investigation, preparation of Detail Project Report and Wreck removal and disposal dredging work have already been completed under grant assistance from the Government of India.

The fresh assistance of $45.27 million would be used for the remaining two phases involving works relating to the rehabilitation of the breakwater and existing pier. Construction of a new pier for commercial cargo handling, installation of port infrastructure facilities will also be undertaken under this credit line facility from India. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority under the supervision of the Ministry of Ports and Shipping will implement this Project.

Only between 50 - 60 applications have been submitted to receive certificates for the disappeared during the war and postwar periods confirming that they are most likely will not be found sources said.

According to Governor of the Northern Province, Reginald Cooray, this shows that many relations of the disappeared believe they are being held somewhere and will return.

The government had prepared to issue certificates to parents, spouses, children and relations of the disappeared.

However due to receiving only a small number of applications the necessary related work has not been done the governor said. While public living in the North and all districts were able to apply, the President’s commission to look into disappearances led by Supreme Court Judge Maxwell Paranagama was formed during the Rajapaksa regime.

The commission has been active since the appointment of President Maithripala Sirisena and has received over 60 000 complaints up to date.

Source: Resa

A haul of over 900 Kilograms of cocaine seized by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) was publicly destroyed a short while ago under the supervision of the Colombo Chief Magistrate.

 Video

According to the police records, the PNB has seized 220kg and 650g of cocaine worth over Rs. 4.4 million during 2017, while 29 arrests have been made in connection to these cases.

Sri Lanka participated at the Ferien - Messe Wien 2018, Austria’s largest holiday and travel show held from 11-14 January 2018 in Vienna. Sri Lanka’s participation at this event was coordinated by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and the Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Vienna, Austria.

The Ferien-Messe Wien is held at the beginning of the holiday season for holiday, travel and variety seekers, attracting more than 800 national and international exhibitors from over 70 countries and approximately 150,000 visitors each year.

Six companies from the hospitality, travel and wellness industry participated under the Sri Lanka Pavilion, namely: Siddhalepa Ayurvedha Health Resort, Araliya Green Hills Hotel (Pvt) Ltd, Ayubowan Tours and Travels (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka Express, World Travel Centre (Pvt) Ltd and Exotic (Pvt) Ltd.

A presentation titled “Sri Lanka Perle des Indischen Ozeans” (Sri Lanka Pearl of the Indian Ocean) was also made at the Travel Cinema on Thursday 11 and Sunday 14 January, which highlighted the country as an ideal tourist destination.

Promotion of tea from the Sri Lanka Tea Board was also conducted with tea tasting and handing out of samples of tea over the four days.

Several thousands of prospective travelers to Sri Lanka, media personnel, journalists and tour operators visited the Sri Lanka pavilion to obtain information on tourist attractions, ayurvedha and to taste Sri Lankan tea.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has sought the support of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to make the much needed legal and structural changes in the Central Bank to combat fraud and corruption, National Policies and Economic Affairs Deputy Minister Dr. Harsha De Silva said.

According to the Deputy Minister, a meeting was held on Saturday in this regard where Prime Minister Wickremesinghe requested for assistance from IMF Country Representative Dr. Eteri Kvintradze given the close working relationship between the IMF and the Sri Lanka Central Bank.

“Giving a summary of the Bond Commission report, President Maithripala Sirisena too noted that the Commission had recommended for reforms in the Central Bank,” the Deputy Minister said adding that accordingly, the government is looking to reform the Monetary Law Act and the Registered Stocks and Securities Ordinance.

“These laws should be drastically amended or new laws to replace them should be introduced,” De Silva added.

According to him, specific areas of the Monetary Law Act, namely the mandate, governance, autonomy and accountability of the Central Bank needs to be reformed.

“The IMF has already prepared certain drafts in this regard following past discussions with the government,” he said, assuring that the government will accordingly work towards making changes in the structure, management and legal aspects of the Central Bank expeditiously,” he said.

At a time where the Central Bank has announced its decision to move towards a flexible inflation targeting regime, the Deputy Minister pointed out that these reforms in laws are paramount to achieve this target.

He also claimed that continuous misuse of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) occurred due to these reforms not being introduced to the system.

The Deputy Minister also alleged that the Central Bank’s Code of Conduct was ignored in the past with former Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal only presenting himself at the Public Accounts Committee 13 years after a governor had last appeared before the committee.

While the Bond Commision report is set to be presented to Parliament on January 17, the report will, thereafter, be made available online to the public according to the instructions of President Maithripala Sirisena.

Commending the move, Deputy Minister Harsha De Silva said the Prime Minister has instructed the Attorney General to take the necessary legal action based on the COPE report, the Bond Commission report and the others submitted to him.

“Action must be taken against all those who have been mentioned as wrongdoers in these reports,” he stressed adding that the government is pushing for legal action in this regard.

“We hope the necessary action will be taken by the Attorney General promptly,” he said adding that those who have broken the law must be dealt with.

The Deputy Minister confirmed that the government will work to introduce the much-needed reforms immediately with the assistance of the IMF.

Source : Daily News

Australian businessman Brian Shaddick, 74, a key witness in the alleged financial fraud case filed against Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader MP Udaya Gammanpila yesterday informed Colombo High Court that he or his company had never given a power of attorney to Gammanpila to carry out a share transaction.

Shaddick was yesterday present before Colombo High Judge A.A.R. Heiyanthuduwa in connection with an indictment filed against Udaya Gammanpila and another accused of allegedly misappropriating Rs. 21 million following their alleged fraudulent share transaction that took place in 2000.

Witness Shaddick said that he never signed a document executing the power of attorney to Gammanpila and therefore his signature had been fraudulently used as an authentic one in order to carry out this transaction.

In reply to a question raised by defence counsel Shavindra Fernando, Shaddick affirmed that the document presented to him by the defence was a fake one and further said his signature had been fraudulently used on it.

Shaddick is to be further cross-examined today (17) as well.

Two accused Udaya Gammanpila and Sydney Jayasinghe are currently out on bail.

The Attorney General (AG) alleged that MP Udaya Gammanpila has cheated Rs. 20 million and misappropriated another Rs. 21 million along with Sydney Jayasinghe, the second accused when selling shares of Digital Nominees to a businessman called Dhammika Perera.

The AG further charged that the alleged business transaction had taken place using a fraudulent power of attorney to sell shares belonging to Australian businessman Brian Shaddick.

The AG has listed 20 persons as the witnesses in the case and named 16 documents as production items of the case. MP Gammanpila was arrested in this regard on June 18, 2016.

Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris with Senior State Counsel Nayana Seneviratne appeared for the Attorney General.

President’s Counsel Shavindra Fernando with Jayantha Weerasinghe, Senior Counsel Nalinda Indatissa appeared for MP Gammanpila.

Source : Daily News

Supreme Court has informed President Maithripala Sirisena that the duration of his term of office is five years, President’s Media Division said.

Last week, President sought determination from the Supreme Court on the duration of his term of office.

As per the 18th amendment to the constitution, a President was elected for a term of six years but it has been restricted to five years after the enactment of the 19th amendment.

Sri Lanka’s Bar Association, Attorney General’s Department among others made their submissions in the Supreme Court in this regard.

Supreme Court listed the case for January 11 and its determination communicated to the President on January 14.

(LBO)