News

Ukraine is claiming it has killed 5,840 Russian troops.

Its armed forces say the preliminary figures represent all losses inflicted on Russian forces since the beginning of the invasion.

The BBC cannot independently verify these claims, but the UK defence ministry believes that Moscow's forces have suffered heavy losses during its invasion of Ukraine.

The total Russian losses being claimed by Ukraine so far include:

5,840 troops

30 aircraft

31 helicopters

Up to 211 tanks

862 armoured patrol vehicles (APVs)

85 artillery systems

9 anti-aircraft systems

60 fuel tanks

355 vehicles

40 MLRS rocket launchers (captured)

(BBC)

The Radical Centre, an apolitical movement launched by the late Minister Mangala Samaraweera has demanded the government find the perpetrators of the deadly 2019 Easter Sunday attacks instead of persecuting investigators who have taken part in the investigations related to terror attacks.

Issuing a press release today (25), they urged the Government to cease the persecution of Shani Abeysekera and for the relevant authorities to direct their resources into apprehending the real conspirators of the Easter Sunday attack.

Shani Abeysekara, a former Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), has sought an interim injunction restraining any attempt to arrest or detain him under a Detention Order in connection with a B report filed in the Kuliyapitiya Magistrate’s Court on charges including failure to properly investigate Mohamed Qasim Mohamed Saharan Hashim, who led the Easter Sunday terror attack on 21 April 2019.

Accordingly, the former CID chief filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) application with the Supreme Court on Friday (18) seeking an order to prevent his arrest

According to Abeysekera, members of the intelligence services were aware of the imminent threat and failed to assist the CID in their investigations into Zahran Hashim and his associates in the lead up to the deadly terror attacks.

Despite a lapse of three years since the attack on that fateful Easter Sunday, victims and their loved ones are yet to witness a fair investigation into the incident, Radical Centre said, pointing out that reasonable suspicion on the attack and ensuing events has now arisen among the public.

Stressing that politicians are not the owners of this country but merely her trustees, they noted that the persecution of a diligent state official is a violation of that sacred trust.

The statement further said:

"In this background, for nearly three years, the victims of the Easter Sunday attack continue to call out for justice they rightly deserve, not only for themselves, but for their families and loved ones while remaining hopeful that it will be delivered in due course.

However, due to the recent actions of the current Rajapaksa Government, it is doubtful there is any intention on the part of the authorities to ensure that justice is served for the pain and suffering endured by the victims of the terrorist attack.

This is due to the inexcusable delay in bringing to justice or exposing to the public the real culprits of the Easter attack and the terrorists who either directly or indirectly aided and abetted it.

Meanwhile, it also must be noted that there is no reasonable evidence to suggest that the Government's continued failures on the issue of justice for victims of the Easter attack and instead its interest in arresting and/or imprisoning law enforcement officers and investigators who carried out the investigations to uncover those responsible for the Easter attack is not a self-serving political decision.

Therefore, the persecution of investigators that were in search of the perpetrators instead of delivering justice to the victims is a far greater act of terror than the Easter Sunday attack itself. As such, we urge the authorities to immediately put an end to these politically motivated witch hunts.

Stop the witch hunt against Shani Abeysekara!

Shani Abeysekara was a state employee who did his job by the book, according to the information available to us.

However, Shani was more than that: he was an excellent investigator who produced results from challenging cases that he was assigned. He did his duty under different governments and under different superior officers.

The Leader of the Opposition has also stated that given the Government’s programme targeting a former CID official, a doubt arises as to whether the Government is trying to "kill him naturally, in a planned manner.”

This is a very serious and dangerous situation. He does not deserve to be imprisoned; subjected to vindictive prison transfers; denied proper medical treatment. He should not have to fear for his life but has moved the Supreme Court for protection.

A Fundamental Rights (FR) petition, filed last week by Shani Abeysekara, has alleged that State and MIlitary intelligence agencies had diverted investigations into the suspects who were linked to the Easter Sunday attacks.

Meanwhile, the Government has buckled under pressure and made public the entirety of the report of the Presidential Commission on the Easter attack. The full record will show that Shani Abeysekara was the best officer on the job, who would have produced even better results if not for documented obstructions.

Those who obstructed his investigations are the ones who should be held accountable under the normal procedures that apply to police officers and the military.

If Shani Abeysekara’s persecution continues, it is a powerful signal to all law-abiding officers of the state. If by this persecution, the government succeeds in browbeating and making all Government servants servile, that would mean that Sri Lanka would cease to be a country with the rule of law; it would mean that we will all be made servile and dependent on the favors and permissions of powerful politicians.

That is why it is in our interest to stand with Shani Abeysekera at this critical moment.

Politicians are not the owners of this country; they are merely the trustees. By persecuting a diligent state official, they are violating that sacred trust. They are desecrating our inheritance.

We demand they stop. We demand that the persecution of Shani Abeysekera cease and for the authorities to direct their resources into apprehending the real conspirators of the Easter Sunday attack.

Jayani Abeysekara (Convenor), Harendran Krishnasamy, Keshal Jayasinghe, C.S. Kodikara and Firo Farook had issued the statement today on behalf of 'Radical Centre'.

Sri Lanka has reiterated its opposition at the UN Human Rights Council to the evidence gathering mechanism it has established for the country.

It is unhelpful to the people, will polarize Sri Lankan society and adversely affect economic development, peace and harmony at a challenging time, foreign minister Prof. G.L. Peiris told the 49th session of the UNHRC in Geneva today (01).

It is also an unproductive drain on member state resources, he said.

The minister said Sri Lanka has participated actively and constructively in aspects of the UNHRC’s work that have been productive and beneficial and helped to ensure Sri Lankans live safer, longer and more dignified lives.

“We reject those that are punitive, politicized, divisive, unhelpful and initiated due to extraneous reasons,” he said.

Reproduced below is the full statement by Minister Peiris:

Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Harin Fernando states that he is ready for any inquiry into the incident that took place in Parliament. He was addressing Parliament today.

Harin Fernando was accused in Parliament yesterday of bringing a suspicious parcel into Parliament and obstructing the duties of the protesting police officers.

At the commencement of parliamentary sittings today, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya stated that the IGP has been instructed to conduct a speedy investigation into the incident.

Making a special statement with the permission of the Speaker, Fernando stated that he had brought only his bag and a torch to Parliament. He added that his bag was checked by a searching machine and it was confirmed that there was nothing dangerous in it.

Fernando points out that he did not interfere in the affairs of the police in any way and says that he is ready to face any investigation in this regard.

The Public Utilities Commission states that there will be a 5-hour power cut during the day and two and a half hours at night tomorrow (02).

” PUCSL is reluctantly compelled to approve CEB request (due to nonavailability of fuel ) for 7 and half hours long power cut island-wide for tomorrow (2/3/22). Power shedding for all areas will be 5 hours between 8 am to 6 pm. And further 2 and half hours between 6 pm to 11 pm.”, said the Chairman of the PUCSL.

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa is scheduled to leave for India today (25) on an official visit.

According to the agreements reached during his previous visit to India, further concessions on the US $ 1 billion loan to be provided by India to Sri Lanka will be taken up during his visit.

Former President MP Maithripala Sirisena addressing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) District Convention in Polonnaruwa stated that he had handed over a beautiful country with no problems.

Pointing out that blaming the government for the situation befallen the country at the moment provides no solution, the former President suggested that all those who are involved and not involved in governance must be getting up on one stage for the country.

“Following my term end I handed over a beautiful country with no problems. People had their meals, farmers cultivated well. I am not saying there were no problems in my time, but the daily life of the citizens and the people of this country was not as it is today. This problems will not be solved by blaming the government. This is a moment where all those who are involved or not involved in governance must be getting up on one stage. It is time for all the political parties and leaders of the country to come together on one platform and come round to one table to save the country, stop the country from falling apart and lift it up. Although rocks are thrown at our direction, our characters are being defamed and I am being called a thief and insulted, we will not fall. In the 54 years of party politics in my life, I am well adapted to defamation, insults and slander. There are many problems in our country today. The farming community lives in tears. I have been talking about the sorrows of the farming community for about a year in Parliament. Other than me, there are three government ministers and MPs in Polonnaruwa who have been elected by the people of Polonnaruwa. Have you ever asked even one of them whether they have spoken about the suffering of these farmers on or off Parliament? No. They say, “Yes Sir, No Sir” to everything. That’s all,” Sirisena added.

LNW

Former President Maithripala Sirisena has extended an invitation to the constituent parties of the ruling coalition, it is learnt.

Accordingly, the former President will host the leaders of the constituent parties including Minister Wimal Weerawansa for tea at his official residence this evening (23).

SLFP sources meanwhile said that today's discussion may focus on the special proposal prepared by the constituent parties outlining measures that need to be taken to build the country.

Russian forces captured the southeastern Ukrainian city of Melitopol on Saturday, Russia’s Interfax news agency reported, as Moscow launched coordinated cruise missile and artillery strikes on several cities, including the capital Kyiv.

Ukrainian officials were not immediately available for comment on the fate of Melitopol, a city of about 150,000 people. If the Interfax report citing the Russian defence ministry is confirmed, it would be the first significant population centre the Russians have seized since their invasion began on Thursday.

Earlier, Ukrainian officials said Russian forces fired cruise missiles from the Black Sea at Mariupol, also in the southeast, as well as Sumy in the northeast and Poltava in the east.

Kyiv authorities said a missile hit a residential building, and a Reuters witness said another hit an area near the airport. There was no immediate word on casualties. Gunfire erupted near city-centre government buildings at around dawn, a Reuters witness said. The cause was not clear.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, speaking in a video message from outside his Kyiv office, was defiant.

“We will not put down weapons, we will defend our state,” he said.

After weeks of warnings from Western leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded from the north, east and south, an attack that threatens to upend Europe’s post-Cold War order.

Putin said he had to eliminate what he called a serious threat to his country from its smaller neighbour and he cited the need to “denazify” Ukraine’s leadership, accusing it of genocide against Russian-speakers in eastern Ukraine.

Kyiv and its Western allies dismiss the accusations as baseless propaganda.

In a televised meeting with Russia’s Security Council on Friday, Putin appealed to Ukraine’s military to overthrow their “neo-Nazi” leaders.

“Take power into your own hands,” he said.

‘UNDER CONTROL’

Western countries have announced a barrage of sanctions on Russia, including blacklisting its banks and banning technology exports. But they have stopped short of forcing it out of the SWIFT system for international bank payments.

At the United Nations, Russia vetoed a draft Security Council resolution deploring its invasion, while China abstained, which Western countries took as proof of Russia’s isolation. The United Arab Emirates and India also abstained while the remaining 11 members voted in favour.

The White House asked Congress for $6.4 billion in security and humanitarian aid for the crisis, officials said, and Biden instructed the U.S. State Department to release $350 million in military aid.

Russia’s defence ministry said their forces used air- and ship-based cruise missiles to carry out overnight strikes on military targets in Ukraine, Interfax said.

It said Russian troops had hit hundreds of military infrastructure targets and destroyed several aircraft and dozens of tanks and armoured and artillery vehicles.

Ukraine’s air force command earlier said one of its fighters had shot down a Russian transport plane. Reuters could not independently verify the claim.

Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the president’s office, said the situation in Kyiv and its outskirts was under control.

“There are cases of sabotage and reconnaissance groups working in the city, police and self-defence forces are working efficiently against them,” Podolyak said.

Ukrainian authorities have urged citizens to help defend Kyiv from the advancing Russians. Some families took cover in shelters and hundreds of thousands have left their homes to find safety, according to a U.N. aid official.

Ukraine said more than 1,000 Russian soldiers had been killed. Russia did not release casualty figures. Zelenskiy said late on Thursday that 137 soldiers and civilians been killed with hundreds wounded.

Ukrainians voted overwhelmingly for independence at the fall of the Soviet Union and Kyiv hopes to join NATO and the EU - aspirations that infuriate Moscow.

Putin says Ukraine, a democratic nation of 44 million people, is an illegitimate state carved out of Russia, a view Ukrainians see as aimed at erasing their more than thousand-year history.

‘READY TO TALK’

The United States imposed sanctions on Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov. The European Union and Britain earlier froze any assets Putin and Lavrov held in their territory. Canada took similar steps.

The invasion triggered a flurry of credit rating moves on Friday, with S&P lowering Russia’s rating to “junk” status, Moody’s putting it on review for a downgrade to junk, and S&P and Fitch cutting Ukraine on default worries.

But even as the fighting grew more intense, the Russian and Ukrainian governments signalled an openness to negotiations, offering the first glimmer of hope for diplomacy since Putin launched the invasion.

A spokesman for Zelenskiy said Ukraine and Russia would consult in coming hours on a time and place for talks.

The Kremlin said earlier it offered to meet in the Belarusian capital Minsk after Ukraine expressed a willingness to discuss declaring itself a neutral country, while Ukraine had proposed Warsaw as the venue. That, according to Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov, resulted in a “pause” in contacts.

“Ukraine was and remains ready to talk about a ceasefire and peace,” Zelenskiy spokesman Sergii Nykyforov said in a Facebook post. “We agreed to the proposal of the President of the Russian Federation.”

But U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Russia’s offer was an attempt to conduct diplomacy “at the barrel of a gun” and Putin’s military must stop bombing Ukraine if it was serious about negotiations.

Source: Reuters -Agencies

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has approved the request made by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for rotational load shedding tomorrow (Feb. 25).

PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake stated that interruptions to the electricity supply of 04 hours and 40 minutes will be imposed in the areas mentioned under groups A, B, and C in the power interruptions schedule (see schedule attached below).

In the meantime, power cuts of 05 hours and 15 minutes will be imposed in the other areas.

As per the schedule, power cuts of 4 hours and 40 minutes are imposed between 8.30 a.m. and 10.30 p.m. in groups A, B and C. It is divided into two slots as 02 hours and 40 minutes in the morning and 02 hours in the night.

Meanwhile, for the other groups, the power cuts of 05 hours and 15 minutes are imposed between 8.30 a.m. and 11.45 p.m. This is split into two slots as 02 hours and 45 minutes in the morning, and 02 and 30 minutes in the night.

Speculations have arisen whether the bus fare will increase in the near future?

The Secretary of the All Ceylon Private Bus Owners Association, Anjana Priyanjith demanded for a special subsidy from the Government for buses with the increase in the price of diesel.

Priyanjith further stated that if such a subsidy is not granted, there will be no other option remaining than to increase bus fares.

Veteran journalist Bandula Padmakumara has passed away today.

The veteran journalist had passed away while receiving treatment at a private hospital.

Padmakumara who was the former chairman of Lake House was 71-years-old at the time of his demise.

He was renowned for introducing the discussion of newspapers on live television.

Meanwhile, Senior Newspaper Journalist Sunil Madhava Premathilaka passed away yesterday (23).

Premathilaka was a journalist as well as an author who revolutionized the traditional journalism of the country.

One of his most popular works was the Diary of a Truth-Seeker, while he was recently awarded the ‘Kalabhushana’ State Award.