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The decision to remove Ariyadasa Cooray as the Secretary of the National Police Commission (NPC) was made by the commission itself says Minister of Law and Order Ranjith Madduma Bandara. The Minister denied that any political reason or interference was behind the removal. “It is an independent commission and the government has nothing to do with its decisions,” he said at the cabinet press briefing today.

Certain civil society organizations have levelled allegations claiming that the removal was due to the Secretary requesting a report into the Teldeniya - Digana incident. However, the Minister vehemently denied this.

Meanwhile, sources say the new secretary to the commission will be appointed tomorrow.

Secretary to the National Police Commission (NPC) Ariyadasa Cooray has been removed from his post with immediate effect. According to him, he was notified of his removal officially today by the commission.The reason for his removal, however, remains unclear.

Several MPs' from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) have signed the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

State Minister of Lands T.B Ekanayake, Deputy Minister of Public Administration and Management Susantha Punchinilame, Deputy Minister of Ports and Shipping Affairs Nishantha Muthuhettigamage and Vanni district MP Kader Musthan have also signed the motion.

The no-confidence motion with the signatures of 55 MPs' was handed over by the Joint Opposition today to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.

University non-academic staff trade unions say that the strike action will continue as discussions held with the Ministry of Higher Education have failed.

Chairman of the University Trade Union Joint Committee, Edward Malwattage, stated that the strike will enter day 21 today (20).

A discussion was held yesterday with the Secretary to the Higher Education Ministry and Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) regarding their issues. However, they had failed to reach an agreement, Mr Malwattage said.

The Higher Education Ministry, issuing a statement yesterday, said that a positive solution to the demands of university non-academic staff will be given within today.

Source : Ada Derana

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that Sri Lanka’s post war economic growth was dominated by a debt funded, state driven construction boom that was unsustainable. He made these remarks at a networking event organised the Board of Investment (BOI), yesterday.

Addressing an audience that comprised of key players in Sri Lanka’s economic development, the Minister said that The focus of this government since coming to power has been to improve the investment climate to encourage further expansion of the existing investments and attract new investors.

“As a part of this economic reform agenda, a number of measures are being implemented to facilitate private investment. These reforms include the elimination of para- tariffs, opening of a “Single Window” for investment approvals, promotion of identified sectors for investment, the establishment of new export-processing investment zones, and digitization of public services”, the Minister said.

Minister Samaraweera said that the government is in the process of entering into new strategic trade agreements with a significant focus on investment. Along with EU GSP + facility, Sri Lanka will have duty free market access to India, China, Pakistan, Singapore and Europe.

“As the FTAs come into effect, investors will have opportunities to link into regional and global value chains, with Sri Lanka as a fulcrum of activity”, Samaraweera said.

He also said that the government is keen to maintain investor confidence as Sri Lanka’s track record in policy stability has not been perfect and underscored the government’s resolve to consolidate a set of rules based, predictable and consistent policy framework.

"Open ended tax holidays have been replaced by targeted capital allowances which directly reward the investment in capital. There are also benefits for investment in R&D and the IT sector, and for investments in the Northern Province. Strategic sectors such as exports, tourism, and IT are taxed at a concessional corporate tax rate of 14%. These incentives are expected to be superior to previous regimes of open ended tax holidays", Samaraweera added.

UPFA Gampaha district MP Prasanna Ranaweera was remanded today till March 22 by the Mahara magistrates court today. He was remanded in connection with a case filed against him for assaulting an individual.

The person assaulted by the MP is said to be a recent candidate who contested in the local government elections. The incident had occurred at a private gathering on February 26 where the duo is said to have got into a heated discussion.

According to the Police, the assault victim is still receiving treatment in hospital.

Joint Opposition says that the No Confidence Motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will be handed over to the Speaker today.

Since last week, the party has been gathering signatures for the motion claiming that it is widely supported by the SLFP and certain UNP MPs.

The JVP has said it will also support the motion if it is factual and shows good cause.

The owner of the BMW that was responsible for the recent accident in Thalawathugoda and took an eventual plunge into the Kimbula Ela has been remanded till March 27 by the Kaduwela Magistrates Court. He handed himself over to the Police yesterday after which he was arrested for causing an accident and making away prior to the arrival of law enforcement

According to the Police, the owner and individual who caused the accident has been identified as Fahim Mohamed Hussain, a resident of No.85, Sigera Road, Madiwela.

The Police say this fact has been confirmed adding that CCTV footage and other evidence has also gone on to prove that he was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Fahim is said to be a relative of Minister of Highways and Higher Education Kabir Hashim. Rumours were rampant that the vehicle was one belonging to Daham Sirisena. However, the Police has refuted these allegations.

President Maithripala Sirisena is claimed to have given the green light for SLFP members to sign the no confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe says ‘Lanka C News’ a website run by National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa.

According to the website President had given him permission to the SLFP group during a discussion held between him and SLFP Ministers.

The website has also claimed the discussions to gain the support of members representing minority parties who have won their seats through the UNP ticket are proving to be successful.

“No confidence motion an attempt to create discord between the PM and President and destroy the consensus government” - Minister Duminda Dissanayake

However General Secretary of the SLFP, Minister of Agriculture Duminda Dissanayake says he is vehemently against the no confidence motion the Joint Opposition is set to bring against the PM.

While stressing that this is his personal view, he said it is not the position of the SLFP. The Minister claimed the party has no made decision regarding the matter. He also claimed the group organizing the motion has not officially invited or informed the SLFP to join them. The Minister said he is against the no-confidence motion as one person cannot be faulted for the recent performance of the government at the local government polls.

Local Government Institutions will be incorporated today. Accordingly, Local Government Institutions will be incorporated within the course of a month, Provincial and Local Government Ministry sources said.

The Political parties and independent groups who won seats at the Local Government Elections held on February 10 will be entitled to establish their powers at the governing bodies.

However, an election will be held in Local Government institutions to determine the occupants of the governing bodies of Political parties or independent groups which could not obtain more than 50 percent votes.

The Provincial and Local Government Ministry sources said that the respective Commissioners of Local Government institutions have been vested powers to hold elections.

Of the 340 local government institutions, elections will be held in 169 institutions, the Elections Commission said.

Source : Daily News

Executive Director of Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) and Center for Human Rights and Research (CHR), Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon claims that Secretary to the National Police Commission (NPC) was removed as a result of him asking for a report on the Teldeniya - Digana clashes from the Inspector General of Police, Pujith Jayasundara.

Cooray who was working on contract basis said he was informed today by the commission that he was removed from the post with immediate effect. He claimed he was told the decision was taken to remove him as he was overage.

However, Tennekoon now claims the removal is a sign that the commission is being prevented from conducting an impartial investigation into the recent incidents. “It is openly known the clashes escalated due to Police inaction,” Tennekoon said adding that CaFFE and CHR have requested the commission to investigate into these allegations. According to him several other members of the commission are also set to resign from their posts due to the issues being faced by them due to constant political interference.

Addressing a public seminar on the new Inland Revenue Act that will be operational from 1st April 2018, Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that numerous ad-hoc tax concessions, over 200 of them, which were granted without any rationale according to the whims and fancies of the finance minister of the day, resulted in Sri Lanka being one of the lowest tax revenue countries in the world.

The Minister said that despite the continued rise in income levels, our tax revenue failed to record any improvements.

" Over two decades Sri Lanka recorded a downward tax revenue that reached just over 10% in 2014 as a share of the GDP. Sri Lanka was among the lowest tax revenue countries. Despite the continued rise in income levels, our tax revenue failed to record any improvements. Some experts opined that on one hand our tax system was complex and confusing, on the other hand there were numerous ad-hoc tax concessions, over 200 of them, which were granted without any rationale, according to the whims and fancies of the finance minister of the day."

Minister Samaraweera further said that the elimination of tax exemptions through this new Act would create a level playing field for everyone to do business, moving away from the culture of preferential treatments. He said that the government is setting the platform and working continuously on promoting the business climate by enhancing taxpayers’ protections and providing greater certainty on tax affairs .

Samaraweera emphasized that this new legislation will carve a clear strategic direction about taxation in the country where the government expects to increase their share of direct income tax against indirect taxes.

"The preferred ratio is 40% to 60% from the current level of 18% to 82%. That is one of the hallmarks of a fairer tax system. Yet, we are fully cognisant that this is an enormously challenging goal. The new Inland Revenue Act is a timely step in that direction. I hope we will have a smooth transition and a better system with the passage of time," the Minister added.