Archives for August 2018

The CID states they are having evidence that during the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime between 2008 – 2009 period that former Navy officer Lieutenant Commander Hettiarachchige Chandana Prasad Sampath Hettiarachchi alias ‘Navy Sampath’ had been given Rs. 500,000 from a Sri Lanka Navy bank account for him to flee to Malaysia. The CID revealed this to Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne yesterday (16th).
The CID informed Court that they are yet to uncover the particulars of the account and why the funds were transferred to the suspect in this manner. As the money had been traced to an account of the Sri Lankan Navy in Bank of Ceylon, the Magistrate issued an order to the manager of the Bank of Ceylon HQ to cooperate with the CID to enable further investigations.
‘Navy Sampath’, who is a suspect behind the abduction and disappearance of 11 persons in 2008 and 2009, was further remanded until 29th August.

The Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (Amendment) Bill and Apartment Ownership (Special Provisions) Bill which were passed in Parliament last week were signed by the Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday (15th).
The Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (Amendment) Bill was passed in Parliament with amendments on the 9th with 95 Members voting for it and 31 voting against it.

The relevant institutions should immediately commence investigations regarding the accumulation of hazardous chemical waste in the ocean region surrounding Sri Lanka states the National Organizer for All Ceylon Fishermen’s Federation Rathna Gamage.
Speaking at a press conference held in Galle yesterday (15th) Mr Gamage said the Marine Pollution Prevention Authority has been already made aware of the harm the waste discarded to the ocean has done and added that immediate investigations should be carried out regarding the harmful effects such waste discarding could cause to the marine fauna and flora.
Speaking further Mr Gamage said, “We have observed that various kinds of chemical waster matter have accumulated especially in the western coastal areas such as Puttalam, Udappuwa, Mannar etc. and according to our observations the waste matter had been discarded from India.
We have already discussed regarding this matter with the Marine Pollution Prevention Authority. The situation is very harmful to plants, animals and other organisms that live in the ocean. There have been such harmful occurrences in the past. At the moment we are studying the situation. However, the government should intervene as the culprit is another country. Hence, we expect the government to make an intervention at a diplomatic level.”

The female prison inmates who had got onto the roof of Welikada prison and staged a protest from Tuesday morning demanding to protect their fundamental rights decided to call off their protest action yesterday (14th) night.
The decision was taken following a discussion they had with the Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms Ms. Thalatha Athukorale.
The female inmates decided to call off the protest action after they were promised that solutions would be found for their grievances.

The CID has summoned former President Mahinda Rajapakse to be present at their office on 17th August to record a statement in connection with the abduction and assaults made on journalist Keith Noyahr.
Noyahr, the former Deputy Editor of ‘Nation’ an English weekly newspaper, was abducted on 22nd May 2008. He was dropped off near his residence a day later badly beaten up and bruised.
The summons signed by the Senior DIG of the CID Ravi Senevirathne had been handed over at the official residence of the Former President Mahinda Rajapakse in Wijerama Mawatha Colombo 7 by the OIC of the Organized Crime Investigation Unit, Police Inspector Nishantha Silva on the 12th.
Statements have been already recorded from former Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya with regard to the incident.
Several army personnel including officers attached to the Army Intelligence Directorate and an Army Major were previously arrested and remanded in connection with the case.

The All Ceylon Private Bus Workers Association (ACPBWA) has announced that it would launch a strike from midnight today (15th) against new fines imposed by the government for violating road rules. According to ACPBWA the drivers of private  bowser and container services, as well as three-wheeler drivers, will join the protest.
Stating the sudden increase of new traffic fines was not reasonable ACPBWA has urged the government not to implement the spot fines until the relevant technical equipment was fixed to the road network.
However, several other private bus associations have not expressed their willingness to join the strike action stating such action would disrupt the ongoing A/L examination.

The government is making use of the fuel formula to increase the prices of fuel says the General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva.
He said this at a meeting held at Morakatiya held as a part of the ‘Ten Thousand Meetings’ programme of the JVP held throughout the country under the theme “People’s Administration to Develop & Protect Country.” The series of meetings are held to apprise the people regarding the programme to build the country being compiled by teams of experts, intellectuals, professionals and progressives and would be presented to the people in January next year.
Speaking further Mr Tilvin Silva said the loans obtained to settle the debt the country has been pushed to by previous administrators as well as the present rulers are being used for uncompleted projects driving the country further towards an economic abyss.

Sri Lankan voters should have the patience and foresight to vote the best-suited and most-qualified persons into public office and then have the patience as positive social and economic change will not be achieved overnight says Kumar Sangakkara.
Mr Sangakkara has stated this in his ‘Facebook’ account responding to rumours that were spread that he intended contesting the presidential election. He states, “I would like to put to rest speculation and rumour once and for all, confirming that I do not harbour any ambitions for political office. I never have, and, with enormous certainty, I can say I never will.”
Full Statement: