News

Former president Maithripala Sirisena cannot use his official residence at Paget Road (Mahagama Sekara Mawatha) in Colombo temporarily following an order issued by the Supreme Court.

The court today (29) issued an injunction against his use of the place for a four-week period.

A three-member judges panel considered a fundamental rights petition filed by the Centre for Policy Alternatives and its executive director Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu.

The petition says the cabinet's allocation of this residence that is of great financial value for the personal use of a former president is irrational, arbitrary, and illegal.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) today filed two fundamental rights (FR) applications with the Supreme Court on the ongoing economic crisis.

The FR applications, filed by BASL President Saliya Peiris PC, Deputy President Anura Meddegoda PC, Secretary Rajeev Amarasuriya, Treasurer Rajindh Perera and Assistant Secretary Pasindu Silva, seek a court order directing the Cabinet of Ministers to provide solutions for the current economic situation in the country.

The Attorney General, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Central Bank Governor, Secretary to the Treasury, secretaries to several ministries, the Ceylon Electricity Board, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the State Pharmaceutical Corporation have been named as the respondents.

The petitioners claimed that their fundamental rights under Articles 11, 12(1), 13(4), 14(1)(g), 14(1)(h) and 14A of the Constitution are being violated or are in imminent danger of infringement by the actions and/or inaction of the state including the respondents.

They also stated that the country is at present witnessing long queues for the purchase of essential supplies, mass protests and public unrest due to acute shortages and the sharp increase in the cost of goods and services including food, fuel and travel costs.

The petitioners complain that Sri Lanka is currently facing an unprecedented economic and financial crisis, resulting in acute shortages of fuel, electricity, LP gas, food, milk power and medicines.

They went on to note that they are compelled to come into court due to severe shortages in essential goods and services, that are considered vital for the survival and existence of the citizens of the country in whom is guaranteed the fundamental right to equality, equal protection of the law and the right to life under the constitution.

They stated that, in view of the growing unrest and public protests witnessed across the island, they fear that there is a substantial, real and grave threat of a breakdown in the law-and-order situation of the country and a substantial threat to the Rule of Law, which should be addressed through timely and proportionate measures within the legal framework of the country.

India’s external affairs minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Colombo today (28).

At the meeting, the president expressed his gratitude for the one billion US dollar line of credit granted by India to import food, medicines and other essentials.

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar had talks with finance minister Basil Rajapaksa on Sri Lanka’s economic situation and Indian assistance in several spheres.

“Let’s work together to build the country,” President Gotabaya Rajapaksa told the Tamil National Alliance today (March 25).

President Rajapaksa says that as the leader of the entire nation, he will pay his attention to all the citizens equally.

The President made these remarks at a discussion held with the Tamil National Alliance at the Presidential Secretariat.

He further said that the government is working on a number of issues, including the release of suspects held in long-term detention, taking further actions regarding suspects who have not been charged or prosecuted, the launch of a truth-finding mechanism, the amendment of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the resolving of issues related to missing persons.

President Rajapaksa pointed out that the country can move towards development by further working together to achieve the objectives of the people of the country, including those living in the North and the East.

TNA Leader R. Sampanthan said that he hopes to see the country moving towards prosperity with a political solution in a united Sri Lanka. We must unite as a country. Mr. Sampanthan said that it is the responsibility of everyone to work together to overcome the current challenges as one country and one nation. Mr. Sampanthan said he would like to see Sri Lanka becoming the Switzerland of the East.

Attention was paid on further steps to be taken with regard to those who are held in long-term detention, release of lands that have been previously used for cultivation, investigation of missing persons, discussion of amendments to the new Constitution after transating into Tamil and Sinhala, and the establishment of a North-East Development Fund.

lkPrime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Ministers Prof. G.L. Peiris, Chamal Rajapaksa and Ali Sabry, Secretary to the President Gamini Senarath, Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga, TNA MPS Dharmalingam Sitharthan, Sivagnanam Sridharan, M.A. Sumanthiran, Charles Nirmalanathan, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran and Thavaraja Kalai Arasan, also Mavai Senathirasa were also present on the occasion.

The tax imposed on dates has abruptly been slashed, making the Rs. 200 tax per 01 kg of imported dates down to Rs. 01.

The decision has been made by the Finance Ministry as a relief to the Muslim Community in Sri Lanka in the upcoming Ramadan festive season.

Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen of Kurunegala Teaching Hospital will be paid his salary and allowances arrears for the duration he had been sent on compulsory leave, the attorney general informed the court of appeal.

He was sent on compulsory leave from 24 May 2019 over allegations of having performed illegal sterilization operations.

Police arrested and investigated Dr. Shafi and found no evidence to prove the allegations against him.

He was subsequently released on bail.

When the court took up a writ application filed by Dr. Shafi today (23), a letter was submitted from the director-general of the Public Service Commission with regard to the payment of the arrears due to him.

The case will be taken up again on 31 May.

Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has requested an immediate debate on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) report on Sri Lanka in Parliament.

He stated that it is of utmost importance the Government presents their plan in regards to the IMF report and that Parliament discusses it as the Government has chosen to engage the IMF for financial assistance.

The IMF on Friday (25) recommended a number of measures for macroeconomic stability in Sri Lanka and also to mitigate adverse impacts on the vulnerable and the poor.

The IMF made the recommendations in its staff report made for the global lender’s Executive Board following the conclusion of its Article IV consultations with Sri Lanka.

It noted that the country faces mounting challenges, including public debt that has risen to unsustainable levels, low foreign currency reserves, and persistently large financing needs in the coming years.

The report also recommended implementing a credible and coherent strategy to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability while protecting vulnerable groups and reducing poverty through strengthened, well-targeted social safety nets.

US ambassador Julie Chung had a meeting with UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today (21).

They discussed ways the US and Sri Lanka can work together to find sustainable solutions to today’s urgent economic challenges, Chung tweeted later.

A vibrant political opposition is vital in any healthy democracy, she added.

The Colombo international airport at Ratmalana today (27) resumed international flight operations after a lapse of almost 54 years.

The occasion was marked when a Maldivian Airline flight from Male touched down to a celebratory water cannon salute.

Its passengers were welcomed by a traditional Kandyan dance performance.

The national carrier of the Maldives will operate flights to Ratmalana three times per week.

As Sri Lanka’s oldest airport established in 1938, Ratmalana served as the principal point of entry for over 30 years until the larger Katunayake airport came into being.

Canteen owners are raising the price of milk tea to Rs. 100 per cup with effect from midnight today (20).

President of their association Asela Sampath said they would maintain this price for one-year duration without going for another increase.

If the price can be reduced, that will be done, he said.

Lanka IOC has announced that it will increase the price of a litre of petrol by Rs. 49/- with effect from midnight on Friday (25).

The Sri Lanka Tea Board says that the export of tea to Ukraine has come to a complete halt.

Its Director General, Anura Siriwardena stated that the country will not be able to export tea again until the Ukraine-Russia crisis comes to an end.

The amount of tea exported to Ukraine annually is about 4 million kilograms.

He noted that tea exports to Russia have also declined slightly due to the current situation.

Accordingly, alternative ways of exporting tea to Russia are being studied, Siriwardena added.