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Ajith P. Perera who was sworn in as the Minister of State Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation and Drug Prevention during yesterday's cabinet reshuffle is said to have met Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe to express his displeasure regarding the ministerial portfolio presented to him.

According to political sources, Minister Ajith P. Perera had visited Temple Trees to convey his displeasure to the Prime Minister and claimed he would resign if a change in the ministerial portfolio is not done within the next 24 hours.

Prior to the Cabinet reshuffle, Perera served as Deputy Minister of Power and Energy and Renewable Energy. Political sources say he has now requested for the same ministerial portfolio he previously held.

However, after a lengthy discussion is it said that parties had agreed to appoint Perera as the State Minister of Power and Energy.

Meanwhile, sources at the Presidential Secretariat say that another swearing-in ceremony will be held today to revise certain positions of the cabinet reshuffle held yesterday (25) based on the demand of the UNP leadership.

Accordingly, political sources confirm that Ajith P. Perera will be sworn in as the State Minister of power and renewable energy today (26).

Following today's cabinet reshuffle of UNP ministers, and the impending reshuffle of the UPFA ministerial posts the government will be strengthened to better serve the people Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe said.

While several key changes were made today, especially with the Prime Minister taking oaths as the new minister of law and order, President Sirisena said the UPFA ministers reshuffle will happen in two weeks time.

According to him, changes will also be made in state institutions and corporations in the near future to enhance their efficiency.

A master plan for Sri Lanka’s Colombo Airport Ratmalana developed and approved by Cabinet last week has envisioned the positioning of the airport as the ‘Exclusive Gateway to Colombo, Sri Lanka’ by year 2030, the Sunday Observer learns.

According to the plan which lays out a comprehensive implementation program to achieve this goal, capacities and capabilities at the airport are to be developed under five key strategic areas, namely, corporate jet operations, domestic aviation hub, regional aviation training hub, regional airport operations and Fixed Base Operations (FBOs) and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) investments.

“The Airport has great potential to attract the niche market of corporate jet traffic and cater to the exclusive passenger profile it serves. Further, significant interest has been shown by foreign investors to establish aviation related operational bases for FBOs and MRO operations at the Airport,” Executive Director, Airport and Aviation Services Ltd (AASL), Johann Jayaratne said. According to informed sources, 136 international corporate jet movements were entertained at the airport last year showcasing its potential as the international gateway for corporate jets carrying high profile tourists, businessmen, and other high net worth individuals.

“We are particularly looking for a world class corporate jet FBO to establish itself at the Airport, thereby, adding considerable value to this niche market,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jayaratne pointed out that the Colombo Port City development will benefit greatly by the Ratmalana Airport’s advancement by facilitating corporate jets, as this will holistically blend with the domestic aviation hub located at the airport.

“The close proximity of the Airport to the Port City and access to any part of the country through the domestic aviation network are all pluses to the international businessmen visiting the Port City,” the AASL Executive Director highlighted, noting that the combination of international corporate jet operations linked to the domestic aviation network further strengthens the tourism industry.

Jayaratne outlined that in addition to the corporate jet operation, there is also a growing demand by new domestic airline operators to establish themselves at the Airport. According to him, some of these operators will be, establishing training facilities for Pilots and Aeronautical Engineers.

Colombo Airport Ratmalana is the domestic aviation hub in Sri Lanka facilitating all 15 registered domestic airlines in the country. The Airport also provides hangar facilities to 10 operators and handles approximately 70 aircraft movements per day.

Source : Sunday Observer

The much hyped cabinet reshuffle of the current government is underway, according to the Presidential Media division.

Prime MInister RAnil Wickremesingh was sworn in as the Minister of Law and Order a short while ago.

Ranil Wickemesinghe - Cabinet Minister of Law and Order.

Lakshman Kirielle - Cabinet Minister of State Enterprise and Kandy Development.

Kabir Hashim - Cabinet Minister of Higher Education and Highways.

Piyasena Gamage - State Minister Youth Affairs and Southern Development.

Ravindra Samarawickrama - Cabinet Minister of Wildlife & Sustainable Development.

Harin Fernando - Cabinet Minister of Digital Infrastructure & Foreign Employment.

Sagala Ratnayake - Cabinet Minister of Youth Affairs

Dr. Harsha De Silva - State Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs

Ajith P. Perera - State Minister of Prisons and Rehabilitation

J. C. Alawathuwala - Deputy Minister of Home Affairs

Some United National Party (UNP) Ministers today slammed the cabinet reshuffle of UNP Ministers saying it was a joke.

State Minister Vasantha Senanayake said that the swap of some cabinet portfolios held by UNP Ministers was the first part of a television comedy episode.

Senanayake said that the second part of the episode will be seen soon.

The State Minister said that he was not sure if the public will cry, laugh or throw stones at what took place today. He said that the public expected real change in the cabinet reshuffle and that was not seen today.

Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake said that some UNP members were not happy with the portfolios they received. Ranjan Ramanayake said that he would have been happy with a better Ministry post yet he has had to continue as the Deputy Minister of Social Empowerment and Welfare.

He also said that Ajith P Perera, who was appointed State Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation and Drug Prevention did not seem happy.

Source : Colombo Gazette

Cabinet Ministers have arrived at the President's Secretariat for the cabinet reshuffle which was scheduled to be held today. This is the second cabinet reshuffle of this government.

The Ministry of Law and Order has been assigned to the Prime Minister on a temporary basis and it is to be assigned to another minister within the next 2-3 weeks, sources from the Prime Minister's Office said.

The sources further say that the prime minister temporarily assumed the responsibility because of the objections raised by the SLFP to hand over the Ministry to Ministry Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka as proposed by the UNP.

It is also expected that a final decision will be made following a discussion with the SLFP members and Minister Fonseka.

Although reports stated that a broad cabinet reshuffle was afoot after the local government elections, the cabinet reshuffle that was held today (25) was limited to only a few ministries.

However, UNP sources say that there is an internal opposition to the changes that took place including the transfer of the Ministry of Law and Order to the Prime Minister.

A versatile actor, Sridevi made her debut as a child actor in Thunaivan in 1969. Veteran actor Sridevi, who had an illustrious career spanning over four decades, passed away in Dubai. She was 55.

According to the family sources, the actor, wife of producer Boney Kapoor, reportedly died due to a cardiac arrest late in the night in Dubai, where she had gone along with her family to attend her nephew Mohit Marwah’s wedding.

While some of the family members returned from Dubai after the wedding, Sridevi, Boney and Khushi stayed back.

A versatile actor, Sridevi made her debut as a child actor in Thunaivan in 1969. Her first leading role as an adult came in 1976 with two of India’s biggest actors — Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth — in the K. Balachander film Moondru Mudichu. She followed that up Gayathri, Kavikkuyil and 16 Vayathinilie, with the last one being a critically acclaimed hit.

Bollywood debut in 1978 with Solva Sawan.

But it was only after five years with Jeetendra-starer Himmatwala that she gained commercial success. Her beguiling eyes, scintillating screen presence and acting prowess soon made her one of the most sought-after artists in the Hindi film industry.

She went on a hiatus for 15 years after starring in home production — Judaai — co-starring her brother-in-law Anil Kapoor and Urmila Matondkar. It was director Gauri Shinde’s English Vinglish in 2012 that marked Sridevi’s comeback.

Her nuanced performance as a middle-class woman, learning to speak English to feel accepted by her family, won accolades, and the film was also a commercial success.

Last year, she was seen in revenge-drama — Mom — opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Akshaye Khanna. She shot for a special appearance in superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film — Zero — which releases in December. Her last film in Tamil was the Vijay-starer Puli.

Besides Boney and Khushi, she is survived by older daughter Janhvi Kapoor, who is currently working towards making her entry into the Hindi cinema. Sridevi was step-mother to actor Arjun Kapoor and his sister Anshula, who Boney had from late first wife Mona.

Source : PTI

In a rare acknowledgement of failure in its screening process, the United Nations has stopped a Sri Lankan military commander from going for a peacekeeping mission in the middle east.

Up until several rights watchdogs and Tamil organisations wrote to the head of UN peacekeeping urging to stop Lieutenant Colonel Rathnappuli Wasantha Kumara Hewage, he was scheduled for deployment to Lebanon on 18 February 2018.

Detailing the commander’s wartime record in a period when extensive violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law perpetrated by the Sri Lankan security forces, the letter condemned the UN for failing to screen Lieutenant Colonel Hewage.

On Monday, the UN confirmed that the officer’s deployment to lead the 12th Force Protection Company (FPC) for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been put on hold “pending a review of the matter”.

“A decision regarding deployment of this officer will be made once the review is complete,” said a spokesman for the UN Secretary-General Farhan Haq in New York, responding to a question by investigative journalist Matthew Russell Lee.

The UN had gone back to the Sri Lanka government for a background check on Wasantha Hewage.

“We are in communication with the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka regarding the officer’s background and Sri Lanka is cooperating fully with our inquiries. The United Nations takes reports of potential human rights violations very seriously. As a matter of policy, we are committed to ensuring that all personnel serving with the UN meet the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, including respect for and commitment to human rights."

Sri Lanka’s own human rights commission had been responsible for screening potential peacekeepers.

Bloody military attack

The letter to UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) protesting the deployment of Lt. Col. Hewage highlights that he was present as a major in the Puthukkudiyiruppu frontline after taking over duties “as the Commanding Officer of the 14th Battalion on 20th February 2009”.

This was after his active participation in the bloody military assault on Kilinochchi as the Acting Commander of 4 Sinha Regiment, which functioned under the 57 Division led by Major General Jagath Dias.

Acknowledging receipt of the protest letter, UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric last week told Matthew Russell Lee in New York that DPKO was considering “available information from within and outside of the UN system” in reviewing the background of personnel to be deployed.

“Member States that provide UN personnel to peacekeeping operations also have the responsibility to certify that the personnel they nominate have not been involved, by act or omission, in violations of international humanitarian or human rights law or have been repatriated on disciplinary grounds from any UN operation,” he added.

Sri Lanka military says that two batches of the Lebanon-bound Sri Lanka Army's 12th Force Protection Company (FPC) for UNIFIL left the island this weekend.

The final group from the contingent of 150 Army personnel is to leave on 6 March.

Source : JDP

A nationwide special police operation was conducted yesterday with the Police making 2564 arrests while 4735 traffic offences were recorded, according to Police headquarters.

Out of these, 504 were arrests of drunk drivers, 720 were arrests of warranted individuals, 741 were arrested under suspicion, 524 arrests were made on the grounds of heroin, drugs and illegal liquor, 71 were arrested for illegal sand mining and 04 individuals were arrested for possessing illegal firearms.

The special operation was conducted from 2 am to 6 am yesterday with the participation of 16256 police officers according to the Police.

“The police will conduct nationwide special operations on regular basis, to aid in crime prevention and reduce motor traffic accidents, as instructed by Inspector General of Police, Pujith Jayasundara,” said Police Spokesperson, SP Ruwan Gunasekera.

A spike in post-election violence has been recorded around the country, with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), a party backed by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa that performed well at the recently concluded local government elections largely responsible for the violations, election monitors said. Of the 47 violence-related complaints received by the Centre For Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) in the post-election period up to date, 26 are against the SLPP while 12 were against the United National Party (UNP).

According to statistics gathered by the CMEV majority of the violence perpetrated against women were also by SLPP members. While 20 violence-related incidents instigated against women were reported, 18 of the complaints were against the SLPP.

According to the National Coordinator of the CMEV, Manjula Gajanayake, while the Police did a commendable job during the pre-election period and on the election day to contain violent incidents, however, the monitors have now observed a certain reluctance on their part in taking action against the wrongdoers.

“We must give them credit for their role in ensuring a peaceful election,” he said adding that however Police inactivity has increased in the post-election period. “We cannot see the actual involvement of the Police in taking action against these offenders,” he said.

According to him, Police appear to be reluctant to take action particularly in local government areas won by the SLPP. He also says people have not reported many incidents to the Police as they believed no action will be taken but opted to report these incidents to election monitors instead.

According to Gajanayake compared to the last two elections held in Sri Lanka, there appears to be a moderate increase in post-election violence incidents.

However, speaking to the Sunday Observer, Police Spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara said the Police have continued to take action against any wrongdoers and have commenced investigations into these incidents.

“Some investigations have concluded and perpetrators were arrested,” he said.

However, according to SP Gunasekara, the Police only considers the day following the election, that is February 11 as the post-election period according to the election laws.

“Incidents which have taken place thereafter will be dealt according to the normal laws such as the penal code,” he said.

Source : Sunday Observer

Sri Lankan Secretariat for Coordinating the Reconciliation Mechanisms (SCRM) and IOM, the UN Migration Agency, organised a two day international conference (22-23) on reparations for conflict victims in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This is the first such conference to be held in Sri Lanka since the end of the country’s long-drawn-out conflict in 2009.

Mano Tittawella, Secretary General, Secretariat for Coordinating Reconciliation Mechanisms, Sri Lanka, noted that “reparations are essential in leading to a process of reconciliation and is should be done in parallel to a process on truth, justice, and non-recurrence.”

The conference follows a UN Human Rights Council Resolution on the need to promote “reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka” and a government decision, following national consultations in 2016, to actively promote reconciliation, including a system of victim reparations, that will contribute to a lasting peace.

The conference brought together some 150 participants from the government and non-government sectors, development partners, UN, local and international NGOs, civil society organizations, victim groups, academics, experts and other relevant stakeholders. It aims to provide a platform for mutual dialogue and consultation based on international best practices and lessons learnt from other reconciliation processes.