News

A Police curfew has been imposed in the Teldeniya and Pallekela police divisions with immediate effect until 6 pm today, Sri Lanka Police said.

Police spokesperson Ruwan Gunesekera said that curfew was imposed to diffuse a tense situation that arose in Pallekele and Theldeniya areas.

He further said that a special team from the Criminal Investigation department has been sent to Theldeniya under the instructions of IGP Pujith Jayasundera.

Police curfew imposed in the administrative district of Kandy after a tense situation arose when two groups of people clashed over the death of 41 year old man, Sri Lanka Police said a short while ago. 

Earlier, Police used teargas to disperse the two groups while Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said that a group of people had attacked several shops in Digana alleging that a man was assaulted to death.

 

President Maithripala Sirisena has directed the security divisions and the IGP to conduct an impartial and independent investigation into the incidents which occurred in Digana, Kandy yesterday.

The President has also directed the Police and Army to implement a special programme in the area to ensure the security of all residents.

He also asked the Security Forces to work together with all parties to avoid further escalation of the situation and to take all necessary steps to establish peace in the area.

The Judiciary Organizations (Amendment) Bill for the Establishment of Permanent Three-Trial High Court will be presented to Parliament tomorrow (6th).

The Act will amend section 12 of the Judicial Service Act No. 2 of 1978 with three more new clauses.

The Permanent Three-member High Court to be incorporated under the relevant amendment will consist of three judges nominated by the Judicial Service Commission of the Republic of Sri Lanka. One Judge will be nominated by the Judicial Service Commission to act as its Chairman.

A few decisive orders !

The Act also states that a lawsuit before a newly established three-member High Court is to be conducted on the charge of the Attorney General or the Director General of the Bribery Commission for the prevention of bribery and corruption and the cases should be speedily concluded.

The law also states that these cases should be examined on a daily basis and that a particular lawyer should be present in a different court or tribunal on a date of the day of trial or for failing to appear before the Permanent Three-Trial High Court can not postpone the date of the commencement of the hearing.

The Permanent three-member High Court has to appeal to a Supreme Court judgment within a period of 28 days from the date of the judgment.

A clause that the trials should be concluded soon

The Act says that it is legitimate for the Chief Justice to nominate himself to the faculty of Judges in the Judicial Academy with no fewer than five judges of the Supreme Court nominated by the Chief Justice. A clause has also been included in the Act to speedily hear the appeals.

Here are some serious issues :

The Act contains a provision that a permanent three-member high court should have jurisdiction in respect of any offense committed by a citizen of Sri Lanka on a non-exclusive place of origin in a ship or aircraft of any vessel or aircraft of any type.

The new courts will have jurisdiction to rule over 68 offences from 57 clauses sources said.

Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday said that inciting racial violence must be made a non-bailable offence.

Minister Samaraweera in a Twitter message following the unfortunate incident that took place in Digana said that politicians who give leadership to such racial violence should be deprived of their civic rights.

“Enough is enough. Inciting racial violence must be made a non bailable offence and politicians who give leadership to such violence should be deprived of their civic rights,” he message said.

Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne has decided to publish the gazette notification to ban sale of cigarettes within 100 meters of school grounds on April 7 on the occasion of the World Health Day.

Although it had previously decided to ban the sale of cigarettes within a 500 meters radius near schools, it has been reduced to 100 meters now.

The Minister has further decided to raise the minimum age to purchase cigarettes. Earlier sale of cigarettes was prohibited for anyone below the age of 18 years and it will be raised to 21 years of age.

Cabinet approval is to be obtained for the revisions in the near future

All Army personnel have been restricted from posting any content in their Social Media accounts that carry information on national security or insulting remarks on politicians or public officials.

A series of restrictions on using Social Media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin have been issued to all Army personnel by Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake.

Accordingly, all Army personnel are barred from posting, uploading, forwarding or sharing any content that relates to national security, military affairs or political affairs. They are also not allowed to post or share insulting remarks on politicians or public officials, or anything that create racial or religious disharmony. Commenting on such posts is also not allowed.

Army Spokesman Brigadier Sumith Atapatthu, confirming to the Daily News that a set of restrictions on using Social Media is in operation, said its objective is to maintain the good name and image of the Sri Lanka Army and avoid leaking of military information.

He said the restrictions were imposed about eight months ago and a reminder letter was issued last Thursday by the Army Commander asking all army personnel to strictly abide by the newly imposed regulations.

Army personnel have been asked not to reveal their military ranks or identity information in their Social Media accounts and not to post any photos in uniform. Posting photos with military armaments in the background is also not allowed.

The Army Commander in the reminder letter has emphasised that disciplinary action would be initiated against anybody who does not follow the above mentioned guidelines. The Army Spokesman said the IT division of the Army is receiving various observations on those who contravene the guidelines.

“These restrictions apply to all army personnel in general. Military officers cannot reveal anything and everything as they desire and they are expected to maintain certain standards.

“Lately, some ex-Army officers, who retired from the service a long time ago, could be seen using their pictures in uniform abundantly in the polls campaigns to market themselves. Some of the restrictions came in to being due to such misuses,” the Brigadier added.

Source : Daily News

The staff of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) are to stage a protest in front of the Colombo Town Hall tomorrow against the removal of Commissioner V. K. Anura by the Western Province Governor.

Anura was removed on Friday following the recommendation of the Presidential Commission appointed to look into the Meethotamulla tragedy.

The staff claimed his removal was unfair as the Meethotamulla issue had flared up before Anura was appointed as Commissioner while claiming it was the fault of several former members of the CMC.

Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has announced the closure of all provincial and national schools in the Kandy administrative district today in the wake of a Police curfew being imposed.

 Curfew was imposed after violence was reported in the Digana and Teldeniya areas in Kandy after a personal dispute escalated into racial tensions incited by several groups led by Buddhist monks.

The report of the committee appointed to come up with recommendations to restructure the United National Party (UNP) is to be handed over to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today, party sources said.

A member of this committee said that the report is ready and will be handed over to Prime Minister today, March 5.

A committee headed by State Minister of Defense Ruwan Wijewardene and comprising of state Ministers Ajith P. Perera, Harin Fernando and Akila Viraj Kariyawasam was appointed by the party leadership in the aftermath of the defeat which the UNP suffered at the recent local government election.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe who was on an official tour to Singapore returned to the country yesterday.

Several senior members of the party had called for vast reforms of the party while Mr. Wickremesinghe himself had assured that the party would be handed over to a new leadership group soon.

Source : Daily Mirror

The Government while condemning the recent incidents of violence and misinformation campaign targeting the Muslim community and others, yesterday urged every citizen of the country to desist from falling prey to such hate campaigns.

President Maithripala Sirisena has ordered the Security Forces and the Police to enforce Law and Order and to take immediate action to counter any acts of violence affecting any community in liaison with District and Divisional Secretaries and other administrative officials, a statement issued by the Government Information Department under the hand of Director General of Information Department Sudharshana Gunawardhana said.

The full statement:

“The Government of Sri Lanka strongly and unequivocally condemns the recent sporadic incidents of violence that had sparked” off in Ampara and Digana, creating communal disharmony, where some places of worship, residences and businesses have been damaged.

The Government also condemns the hate and mischievous misinformation campaigns carried out by some, especially via social media targeting the Muslim community in particular and others as well, with the clear objective of creating disharmony among communities and inciting violence.

“The Government urges every citizen of Sri Lanka to desist from falling prey to such hate and misinformation campaigns. As a country that had suffered by acts of violence for nearly three decades, we as a nation should desist from repetition of such.

“At the National Security Council Meeting held today His Excellency the President has ordered the Security Forces and the Police to enforce Law and Order and to take immediate action to counter any acts of violence affecting any community, in liaison with the Government Agents / Divisional Secretaries and other District Administrative Authorities. Already they are working to ensure the full and impartial enforcement of law to protect all communities against any attacks that create communal/religious disharmony.

“The Government will not hesitate to take firm and stern action against the perpetrators of crimes,and those who violate law and order. The Government urges for total co-operation from all citizens irrespective of any communal, religious differences to build a Nation that is stable, peaceful and progressive, where diversity is respected; and, -- where every individual has the opportunity to enjoy ail freedoms that are the rights of equal citizenship.

“Every Sri Lankan citizen inclusive of the clergy, politicians, social leaders, civil societies and media should and must deplore any violence and must co-operate to bring peace and harmony to achieve reconciliation,” the statement added.

Source : Daily News

Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), the electricity sector regulator, is to establish an accepted professional status for electricians in the country through accrediting their qualifications and experience, the Sri Lankan government announced yesterday.

The proposed mechanism was developed by PUCSL in collaboration with the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL), Tertiary, Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) and Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA), Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Lanka Electricity Company (PVT) Limited (LECO).

Explaining the reasons behind the initiative taken, Director General of Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, Damitha Kumarasinghe said, “Sri Lanka has reported 106 electrocutions in the year 2017. 55 percent of the electrocutions have occurred due to the issues of wiring, maintenance and non-standards. With the system is in place, the professional status of the electricians will be uplifted as well as the safety & quality of the electrical installation will be assured.”

PUCSL launched a public consultation on accrediting and licensing of electricians with a view of receiving the public, expertise and other stakeholder comments on the proposed mechanism. The comments will be accommodated to improve the proposed system.

Sri Lanka has about 21000 electricians and data shows that only a few of them are qualified in National Vocational Qualification (NVQ). Most of the wiring and maintenance of the households and other premises are carried out by electricians who have no recognized qualifications but have experience through practice.

With the introduction of the mechanism, all the electricians will be issued a temporary license to continue their work and that license will only be valid for three (03) years.

For those who are qualified with National Vocational Qualification 3 (NVQ 3) and above can obtain a permanent license from CIDA within a day, after proving their knowledge at the evaluation facilitated by the Evaluation Panel.

For those who are not professionally qualified, but have hands-on experience, are given the opportunity to prove the competency and to qualify for NVQ levels through a process facilitated by CIDA, so that they can apply for the permanent license.

With the permanent license, electricians can design, wire, test, the installation of domestic wiring (30 amps Signal phase) and issue a certificate to get the electrical connection which is accepted by CEB and LECO.