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Sri Lanka’s loss-making state-run retail store chain Lanka Sathosa is defaulting its suppliers of essential commodities,.

A group of leading commodity suppliers has already informed in writing to the President and the Prime Minister that Lanka Sathosa is delaying their payments running up to millions of rupees accumulated in the past couple of years.

They are also contemplating legal action against Sathosa management for breaching supplier’s contracts.

The state-run retailer is now trying to sell more high-margin grocery items in order to be profitable without paying dues to its suppliers, they alleged.

It has to sell essential food items at cost which account for 60 percent of revenue an official of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce said.

There was  a mismatch that’s preventing us from becoming profitable, with high-margin goods accounting for around 40 percent of total revenue, he added.

Lanka Sathosa reported a 23 percent growth in revenue to 17 billion rupees during the first six months of 2018 from a year earlier, with un-audited profits somewhere around 45 million rupees, official data showed.

But even with some profits, the state-run retailer has defaulted commodity suppliers sending them from post to pillars.

Critics, including Sri Lanka’s Auditor General, have revealed that there is more to LakSathosa’s losses than simply selling goods below cost at tax-payer expense.

LakSathosa and the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment before that, had made chronic losses amid mismanagement and gone through repeated ‘restructuring’ and bailouts at people’s expense.

A Finance Ministry report in 2018 said there were stock losses of 2,331 billion rupees in 2016, and 1,845 billion rupees in 2017.

Leader of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa has expressed displeasure over the probe carried out by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on the allegations surrounding the new Sri Lankan passport obtained by SLPP presidential hopeful, Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

He claims that the CID was focusing its attention on Gotabaya Rajapaksa more than the Easter attacks.

Rajapaksa said at an event yesterday (4) that the CID is investigating false allegations over Gotabaya’s passport.

He noted that the CID is not focused on the investigations over the deadly attacks on Easter Sunday.

Rajapaksa charged that the government is determined on taking revenge on members of the former government.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa was also present at the event.

Probe

It is learnt that a team of CID officers had also visited Hambantota as part of the probe to inquire into the inclusion of Gotabaya’s name in the 2005 voter registry of the Mulkirigala electorate when he had become a US citizen in 2003.

The Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) received several complaints by civil society on the alleged “criminal activity” that had taken place when obtaining a new Sri Lankan passport by Gotabaya.

The Acting IGP first directed the CID to handle the probe but later assigned it to the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD). However, following findings of the CCD, the probe was redirected to the CID.

The probe has found that files relating to Gotabaya’s dual citizenship do not exist at the Immigration Department and that computer records were made only in January 2014. Gotabaya was also registered to vote in 2005 despite being ineligible as an American citizen, and in May this year obtained a passport on a new National Identity Card (NIC) that is not tied in immigration records to his previous passports and court-ordered travel restrictions.

Gotabaya acquired US citizenship on January 31, 2003, according to a document published on Twitter by his spokesman Milinda Rajapaksha. He therefore ceased to be a Sri Lankan citizen on this date. Section 20 (5) of the Citizenship Act states that “a person who is a citizen of Sri Lanka by descent shall cease to be a citizen of Sri Lanka if he voluntarily becomes a citizen of any other country.”

Official records indicate that Gotabaya returned to Sri Lanka as a US citizen on an American passport on July 3, 2005 using a tourist visa. In an affidavit he filed with the Supreme Court in May 2015 to support an application to prevent his arrest in several criminal cases including the MiG Deal, Avant Garde floating armoury scam and financial crimes at Mihin Lanka, Rajapaksa declared under penalty of perjury that he returned to Sri Lanka to “assist” his brother “in the election campaign” for the presidency.

The conditions of Rajapaksa’s on-arrival visit visa permit only “bona fide tourist” activity and forbid “visit for purposes other than holiday.”

The day Mahinda Rajapaksa took oaths as President on November 18, 2005, Gotabaya apparently lodged a dual citizenship application that was fast-tracked, and approved on November 21.

However, according to the few records that exist of this event in Immigration Department systems, Gotabaya’s purported dual citizenship only became effective on 30 November 2005.

He was appointed Defence Secretary on November 24, 2005.

(TheLeader.lk)

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Controversy over Gota's new passport

The Attorney General (AG) has indicted former United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Sajin de Vass Gunawardena over money laundering charges yesterday (5).

He was granted bail by the Colombo High Court after being indicted by the Attorney General.

The former MP was indicted by the Attorney General on the charge of money laundering amounting to over Rs 306.26 million, under Section 3 [1] [a] of Money Laundering Act No 05 of 2006 as amended by Act No 40 of 2011.

After indictment papers were served, the Colombo High Court has ordered the defendant be released on a cash bail of Rs 500,000 and two personal bails of Rs 5 million each. The judge has also called for a report after obtaining the defendant’s fingerprints.

The court has also issued a travel ban on Gunawardena and has directed him to hand over his passport to the court.

The case is to be taken up again on October 1.

Gunawardena was the Monitoring MP of the External Affairs Ministry during the previous Rajapaksa regime.

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United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP representing the “joint opposition” (JO), Dullas Alahapperuma says the draft Constitution for the establishment of the proposed Sri Lanka Podujana Alliance (SLPA) by parties in the “JO” was approved by all political parties in the alliance.

The MP made this observation at a Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) press conference.

Alahapperuma said the “joint opposition” on Tuesday (3) resolved the main issue there was to form an alliance.

“At the party leaders’ meeting, all parties in the “joint opposition” had agreed to the drafted new constitution,” Alahapperuma added.

It will soon join political history of this country under the name Sri Lanka Podujana Alliance, the MP further said.

The MP observed that the alliance would be officially formed by the end of the month.

Despite much discussion on the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s (SLFP) stance at the next presidential election, SLFP Spokesperson, United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Weerakumara Dissanayake said the party is to field a candidate at the forthcoming presidential election.

Dissanayake observed that the SLFP General Secretary, MP Dayasiri Jayasekara has informed the Elections Commission of the party decision to field a candidate at the presidential election.

The decision was made amidst negotiations between the SLFP and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) to form an alliance for upcoming elections.

SLFP MPs have requested President Maithripala Sirisena to contest as the party’s candidate at the next presidential election. Sirisena however has remained silent on the matter.

General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said five national list MPs who had left the party have been sent letters to show cause within seven days.

Accordingly letters have been sent to MPs Lakshman Seneviratne, Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa, A.H.M. Fowziev Dilan Perera and S. B. Dissanayake.

On the 4th of August, the SLFP Central Committee decided to take disciplinary action against party members who violate the party’s code of conduct.

It is in this backdrop that the SLFP has sent show cause letters to the five MPs. While three MPs have joined the United National Front (UNF) government, two others have joined the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

General Secretary of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), MP Mahinda Amaraweera says President Maithripala Sirisena has consented to appear before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter Sunday attacks.

Amaraweera has told parliament that the PSC had informed the President to appear before the Committee.

“As the President, he could have refused the notice. But as a person who respected democracy, he gave his consent to appear before the PSC,” the MP has observed.

He has further stated that steps would be taken to prevent similar attacks in the future under the leadership of President Sirisena.

Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the Singapore Government would consider the extradition request for former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Arjuna Mahendran, once the necessary documents were received, the Singaporean media has reported.

The Straits Times has stated the information and documents had been requested since January 18th this year, and the Sri Lankan High Commission has also confirmed that these documents have not yet been conveyed to the Singapore Government

“When we receive them, we will consider the extradition request further in accordance with Singapore law,” Singapore’s Foreign Ministry has said.

Mahendran, a Singapore national of Sri Lankan origin, was accused in 2015 of passing sensitive information to his bond-dealer son-in-law of Perpetual Treasuries, Arjun Aloysius to make millions in undue profits.

On Monday (2) the Attorney General’s Department handed over documents amounting to 21,000 pages to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka to be lodged with Singapore.

Mahendran was indicted in June for causing losses of over US$11 million to the state.

In March, President Maithripala Sirisena said Singapore had not responded to his call in January to return Mahendran.

Mahendran and his son-in-law are accused of manipulating bond auctions in 2015 and 2016. He was named a key suspect in the scam in February last year and fled.

A damning presidential report into the scandal also accused Mahendran of insider trading and recommended the state recover its losses from the pair.

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United National Party (UNP) Deputy Leader, Minister Sajith Premadasa said he will contest the next Presidential elections with the support
of UNP leader, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.

This statement was made by Premadasa at a massive public rally held in Kurunegala last evening. The event was attended by many government ministers, MPs, party organizers and the party’s representatives in provincial
as well as local government bodies.

The UNP Deputy Leader further noted that his hands were clean as he was not involved in corruption or any criminal activity.

“I don’t have blood in my hands. I don’t have any corrupt or criminal activities in my hands,” Premadasa charged.

He said that false allegations are being made against him and yet he was not shaken.

Premadasa further added that the more allegations are made against him the more determined he becomes to do more for the people.

The Kurunegala rally is the third such event organised by the UNP to support Premadasa’s candidacy at the next presidential election. Rallies were earlier held in Badulla and
Matara.

However, the UNP is yet to decide on its Presidential candidate and both Wickremesinghe and Jayasuriya are among the contenders apart from Premadasa.

What the survey says!

While speculation is still rife about the presidential candidate selection of UNP, the Party is silent on a survey they have conducted which says it all.

It has become clear why we see strong support within the Party for its Minister Sajith Premadasa to be nominated as the Presidential candidate for the 2019 Election. Per the survey, if there is one candidate who can take UNP to victory against the strong Rajapaksa base, it is its Deputy Leader, Minister Sajith Premadasa.

The survey indicates around 43% of the votes for UNP, if Sajith Premadasa is nominated as its Presidential candidate as opposed to only 17% of the votes if PM Ranil Wickremesinghe is nominated and a paltry 13% of the votes if Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is nominated as the candidate.

While nobody from the Party was available to comment, the survey is a clear indication that, with only few months left for the election, the only way UNP stands any chance to win this election is by nominating Sajith.

The survey also indicates that the feet on street approach of Sajith Premadasa on development activities has made him popular not just amongst the lower middle class but also amongst the youth and women who are fed up of the scams and corruption in the country. Per the survey, neither Rajapaksa or Ranil Wickremesinghe have scored well on any of these fronts. On the index of corruption alone, Sajith Premadasa’s clean image has helped him score 56%.

If the UNP does not act fast on its decision, it may very well give the victory in a platter to its opponent.

The Supreme Court was informed on Tuesday (3) that the State Intelligence Service (SIS) had sent 97 warning notices to the office of the Defence Secretary and the Police Chief during a period of three years on possible attacks from the terrorist group headed by Zahran Hashim.

The revelation was made by President’s Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena when the fundamental rights petitions filed against Police Chief Pujith Jayasundera and former defence secretary Hemasiri Fernando were taken up for hearing.

The Counsel had said the evidence of such communications were evident from the affidavits and other documents of State Intelligence Services Chief Nilantha Jayawardena spanning years 2017 to 2019.

Jayawardena appeared for the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) a Petitioner, among 12 other Petitioners in the fundamental rights petitions.
The petitions were filed citing for failure to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks.

The matter was taken up for hearing before a seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare, Justice Sisira de Abrew, Justice Priyantha Jayawardena, Justice Prasanna Jayawardena, Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya and Justice Murdu Fernando.

A black day was noted in parliament by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MP Bimal Ratnayake yesterday (5) due to the absence of all ministers from whom oral questions were raised during yesterday’s session.

“This is a black day in Parliament as none of the Ministers are present to answer all 15 oral questions raised from them,” Ratnayake has said.

“It’s been one year since we handed over some oral questions and none of them are answered by the ministers. What is the use of holding Parliamentary sessions if the Ministers cannot come and answer the questions that are raised by the MPs,” the MP has added.

Joining in, United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Ananda Aluthgamage has said it is better to dissolve the House and go for a snap general election as the function of the present Parliament had almost come to a standstill.

“Millions of rupees are being spent for sessions and all these go waste as Ministers are absent,” he has said.

Meanwhile, several back bench MPs of the governing party have also supported the views expressed by the opposition MPs.

United National Front (UNF) MP S. M. Marikkar has said parliamentary privileges of MPs have been violated by the Ministers by not being present in the House to answer the questions.

Leader of the House, Minister Lakshman Kiriella has also said he would agree with the matter raised by the MPs.

“Ministers fail to attend sessions despite the advice given to them by the Prime Minister to give priority to Parliament,” he has said

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa is now trying to fool women in the run up to the presidential election by putting forward his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa as Pohottuwa party (SLPP) presidential candidate.

But he cannot fool all the women of Sri Lanka all the time by uttering lies and distorting facts, several leading women rights activists said adding that women have no worries about his 2015 defeat as they are very well aware the attitude towards them by his siblings and close supporters including mass rapists.

Addressing the first convention of Sri Lanka Podujana Women’s Front held at past Saturday (31), the former President said the microfinance loans have made rural women debt-ridden without mentioning the present government’s relief scheme initiated by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera to write off most of those loans.

The Government has absorbed more than Rs 1.25 billion worth of unpaid microfinance debt incurred by 45,139 women in the North, East and North Central Provinces.

According to the Ministry of Finance,lending companies have written-off Rs 141.41 million worth of interest payments on these loans.

At the women’s convention, Mahinda Rajapaksa also spoke about the present government’s budget proposal to provide financial assistance for the redemption of the jewelry pawned in banks by rural women high lighting it as a broken promise.

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Mr. Rajapaksa has conveniently forgotten that all the details of the government’s relief for women in the North and the East who borrowed money from finance companies and pawned their jewelry were presented by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera in parliament on 5 April 2019.

This revelation was made by him in response to a question raised by the opposition leader and it is a pity that Mahinda Rajapksa is now trying to fool women who have already benefited by the government's relief schemes, leading women rights activists said.

Last year, the Government introduced a scheme to write off non-consumption loans up to Rs 100,000 given to women by all registered finance companies in the drought-affected districts of Trincomalee, Ampara, Batticaloa, Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Mannar, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.

According to 2015 budget proposal, 36,000 women were paid Rs.94 million to redeem their mortgaged jewellery. We waived off loans amounting to Rs.736 million obtained by 57,000 farmers while 115,000 drought-affected people were paid Rs.1.2 billion in 12 districts," minister told parliament.

But all those things have fallen onto deaf ears of Mahinda Rajapksa who is now hell bent on fooling the masses.