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Minister of Finance and Media Mangala Samaraweera said that the United National Party should immediately announce UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa as the party’s candidate for the post of Prime Minister at the next presidential election.

Samaraweera called for this at the UNP politburo meeting held yesterday (15). The Minister emphasised the importance of announcing Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa as the UNP candidates for the post of President and Prime Minister respectively and stressed on the need to launch a major promotional campaign across the island.

While noting that he has severely criticised Sajith Premadasa in the past over discrepancies with regard to policy, Samaraweera underscored the need to capitalise on Sajith’s immense popularity among the rural population to help secure UNP’s victory.

To further the defence cooperation between the 2 countries and discuss issues of bilateral relevance, Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army, General Bipin Rawat arrived in Sri Lanka Sunday (13) afternoon on a seven-day long official visit at the invitation of his Sri Lankan counterpart, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake.

Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army, together with Mrs Chandrika Senanayake, President, Army Seva Vanitha Unit (ASVU) were at the venue to extend a warm welcome to the visiting India’s Army Chief, General Bipin Rawat and his spouse, Mrs Madhulika Rawat.

General Bipin Rawat began his first-day itinerary by saluting memories of fallen Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) War Heroes at the Battaramulla IPKF monument this morning (14).

At the IPKF memorial premises, Major General Ajith Kariyakarawana, Deputy Chief of Staff received the visiting Indian Army Chief as the troops of the Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police, remained vigil to kick off the proceedings after inviting the day’s chief guest to the special dais.
 
Amid honours presented by troops of the Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police, General Bipin Rawat walked to the memorial and solemnly placed a floral wreath and saluted his fellow-Indian soldiers who had laid their lives in Sri Lanka’s fight against terrorism.

Source : Sri Lanka Army

Former Parliamentarian Anuruddha Polgampola was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) over his alleged involvement in the fraud of LKR 8 million. The CID said that he was arrested yesterday (15) based on a warrant issued for failure to present himself for a case filed over financial fraud.

Anuruddha Polgampola was recently appointed as the Chairman of the State Timber Corporation (STC) by President Maithripala Sirisena but his appointment was suspended due to allegations of corruption.

President Maithripala Sirisena who is on a two day state visit to Iran met with President Hassan Rouhani yesterday (13), in Tehran. During bilateral discussions, Presidents Rouhani and Sirisena reviewed long standing bilateral relations in political, trade, economic and socio-cultural spheres.

President Sirisena expressing his views said that Sri Lanka expects the Iranian government's assistance in the development of Sri Lanka and agreed to enhance mutual cooperation in the fields of oil, tea and tourism.

“Sri Lanka welcomes and supports the presence of Iranian investors,” he said, adding that Tehran and Colombo can boost ties in various fields including energy, tourism, transportation, banking, power transfer and construction of oil refineries. 

Iranian President stated that under the Joint Commission for Economic and Technical Cooperation, bilateral trade between the two countries will continue in the future in a stronger manner.

Both leaders also agreed to continue with the agreement signed in 2004 with the objective of further enhancing economic and trade ties.

5 MoUs signed

Following bilateral discussions, President Sirisena and his Iranian counterpart witnessed the signing of five MoUs with a view to enhancing bilateral cooperation.
1. Health, Medical Science, Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment: 
2. Metrology, and Training.
3. Combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs. 
4. Cinema and Television
5. Culture, Science and Technology

Sri Lankan and U.S. surgeons conducted the first ever robot-assisted surgery aboard the USNS Mercy, The US Embassy in Sri Lanka said.  The joint team of multinational surgeons and medical professionals successfully completed a cholecystectomy, or gall bladder removal, on a Sri Lankan citizen using a Da Vinci XI Robot Surgical System.

“This landmark surgery advances the boundaries of what is possible through collaboration, skill, and technology,” said U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Atul Keshap.  “We are proud to partner with Sri Lankan medical professionals on this ground-breaking achievement for the international medical field.”

“This was the first time I have ever operated aboard a ship,” said Dr. Vyramuthu Varanitharan, a general surgeon at Base Hospital Mutur.  “It is very stable and doesn’t move around.  It felt as if I was doing surgery in an operating room in a hospital.  It was a fantastic experience to have been able to do surgery on a hospital ship and it is something my team and I will never forget.”



Cmdr. Tamara Worlton (right), a surgeon assigned to Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy and Dr. Vyramuthu Varanitharan (left), a Sri Lankan general surgeon at Base Hospital Mutur, discuss robotic surgery techniques during the first robot-assisted surgery.

Intensive planning and preparation resulted in a smooth and routine surgery.  After the successful completion of the surgery, the patient transferred to the Mercy’s post-anesthesia care unit to recover and was later discharged from the ship in excellent condition for routine post-operative follow up care by Dr. Varanitharan. 

Surgical staff assigned to Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy and the Sri Lankan surgical team from Base Hospital Mutur perform the first robot-assisted surgery on a patient while aboard the Mercy using the Da Vinci XI Robot Surgical System. 

Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multilateral disaster response preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific.  This year’s mission includes military and civilian personnel from Sri Lanka, the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Peru, and Japan.  Pacific Partnership 2018 consists of more than 800 U.S. and partner nation military and civilian personnel working side-by-side with host nation counterparts to better prepare for potential humanitarian aid and disaster response situations.

Chairman of the Rupavahini corporation Ravi Jayawardena has resigned from his post after handing over his letter of resignation to Minister of Mass Media, Mangala Samaraweera.

According to sources he cited personal reasons for the resignation while claiming he felt it was time to resign after holding the post for three years. 

He added that he was able to transform the channel into a profit-making institution and gain popularity among the people once again and therefore is happily resigning from his post at Rupavahini. 

According to political sources, Jayawardene now intends to intensify the activism of the National Movement for a Just Society created by the late Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera in which Jayawardene was actively involved in. 

He had mentioned to his close associates that time is now in the way to achieve the intended aims of the organization and therefore he will work to win these demands to ensure democracy in the next 18 months as if it is not done, it would be unfair on the part of the late Sobitha Thera as well as the People's mandate of January 8, 2015.  
 
ITN Chairman also may follow suit! 
 
Meanwhile, Chairman of ITN Saman Athaudahetti too has been informed of his resignation.
 
According to reports says his resignation letter will be handed over to the heads of government within the next few days. His decision to step down was one made personally sources say.
 
Further reports claim he will now contribute more towards the Prime Ministers political activities.

Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Cheng Xueyuan met Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe yesterday to inform that the Chinese Government has approved USD 1 billion for phase I of the Central Expressway construction. Ambassador Cheng said that instructions have been given to Chinese EXIM bank to process the loan and requested the Sri Lankan side to expedite administrative and legal formalities. 

The Chinese ambassador also discussed Hambantota port project and Colombo Port City project. With regard to Hambantota Port, Chinese ambassador mentioned that they encourage investors to set up factories for producing high end products. The ambassador said once started the two projects will become the engine of growth for Sri Lanka.

The Chinese ambassador also requested to expedite the negotiations for signing of Chinese free trade agreement.

Various hints as to the possible candidates of the main political parties for the 2020 Presidential elections are now making rounds in the political arena.  

Speaking at a event recently in Ratnapura, member of the SLFP 16, W.D.J Seneviratne was quoted as saying that in any upcoming election he would work under the leadership of Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Also attending an event in Godakawela, which was also graced by Former Secretary of Defence, Gotabaya Rajapaksa he said Gotabaya is the only suitable leader for the country’s future.

Meanwhile Minister Lakshman Kiriella, speaking to the media at an event held in Kandy yesterday, said that the United National Party (UNP) has chosen PM Ranil Wickramasinghe as their Presidential candidate for 2020.

Recently Minister Mangala Samaraweera was also quoted as naming Wickramasinghe as the most suitable politician to contest for the position at the next Presidential election.

Meanwhile, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera addressing a function in Beliatta yesterday confirmed that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) will field current President Maithripala Sirisena at the next presidential election.

Minister Mahinda Samaraweera taking over as the new Minister of Agriculture has appointed new chairmen to three government agencies operating under the Ministry. 

Accordingly, Attorney at Law Upali Mohotti has been appointed as the chairman of the National Food Promotion Board (NFPB). He was the former Chairman of the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA).  

Meanwhile a former Ministry Secretary, Amaranath Abeygunasekara has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Ceylon Fertilizer Company. 

Also, the former Chairman of Ceynor, of the Department of Fisheries Jagath Perera has been now appointed as the Chairman of the Colombo Commercial Fertilizer Company.

Buddhist monk Sigiriya Dhamminda Thera, a member of Udaya Gammanpila’s Pivithuru Hela Urumaya who is currently in remand custody for allegedly sexually abusing a woman who visited the temple with alms is said to have been at the time out on bail for sexually abusing another woman previously after admitting to the fact. 

The incident is said to have happened in 2016 when he had forcefully entered a house in Nagalawewa using his political influence as a supporter of Mahinda Rajapaksa and sexually abused the woman. 

Sources say the monk then had repeatedly visited the house to abuse the woman while also threatening her husband. 

In fear of his political abilities : 

The family suffering from acute poverty had refrained from complaining due to the abuser being a Buddhist monk and also in fear of his political influence. However unable to take the continuous abuse, the victim had then complained to the Sigiriya Police in this regard. 

Apparently, they had merely requested the Police to kindly ask the monk to refrain from harassing them further. 

On further questioning, the Police were able to find out details regarding the continuous abuse there after going on to arrest him and present him to the Dambulla magistrates court. 

While he had admitted his fault at the time, the court had released him on bail after a severe admonishment.

It was during such a circumstance that he had yet again sexually abused a 46-year-old woman who visited the temple to present the monk with alms. 

He was once again arrested by the Police based on a complaint by the woman and considering his previous wrongs was remanded till May 16. 
(lankatruth)

Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala Samaraweera today appointed new heads for three new state media institutions.

Accordingly Film Director, Inoka Sathyangani has been appointed as chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation while Ministry additional secretary Thilaka Jayasundara has been appointed as the Chairman of the Independent Television Network. 

Meanwhile, Uma Rajamanthri has been appointed as chairman of the Selacine Television Institute. 

However, Mohamed Farook will continue to be chairman of the SLBC with no change in the post imminent.

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said the savings of Rs. 55.89 billion by the removal of the fuel subsidy throughout the year, will be utilized on a special rural development program titled Gamperaliya to boost the rural economy under the regional development program of the government.

“We would be able to save over Rs. 55 billion from the fuel price revision that was inevitable given the loss incurred by the CPC. We had to increase prices of fuel in line with the global oil prices which as we speak stand at US$ 77 a barrel,” the Minister said while addressing the media on the new pricing structure for fuel approved by the Cabinet last week. The pricing structure of the price of fuel will be revised every two months and the price revision will be announced on the fifth after the lapse of the second month. “The overall price increase is less compared to price increases under the former regime under Mahinda Rajapaksa who jacked up prices when oil prices in the global market were around US$ 48 per barrel. We have not done that but rather made adjustments in a fair manner,” Samaraweera said.

He said the good governance government gave the maximum benefit to people in 2015 by reducing fuel prices considerably compared to 2014 by bringing down Octane 92 from Rs. 157 to Rs. 117 and Octane 95 to Rs. 128 from Rs. 158 under the Rajapaksa regime.

“Our fuel prices are low compared to the prices in many of the regional countries. The price of Octane 92 in India is around Rs. 160 and much higher in Bangladesh and Nepal.

To ease the burden on Samurdhi beneficiaries and low income segments such as the small boat users of the fishery community using kerosene, the old price for kerosene oil will be offered,” the minister said.

“We will have provisions for downward revision as well, when global oil prices come down. As forecasted, we expect global oil prices to come down by the second quarter next year,” the minister said.

Accordingly a litre of petrol (92 Octane) has been increased to Rs. 137, 95 Octane to Rs. 148 and auto diesel Rs.109.

The minister attributed the new situation with regard to sanctions on Iran where Sri Lanka will have to import via another country which will not be Iranian oil.

The price of a barrel of crude oil could go up to US$ 80 due to the situation in Iran.

Source : Sunday Observer