News

The Kegalle Magistrate has ordered the Inspector General of Police to arrest the Senior Superintendent of Police for Kegalle who ordered to open fire at protestors in Rambukkana recently, as well as the police officers who were involved in it.

Kegalle Magistrate Wasana Nawaratne made the order when the case related to the incident was taken up on Wednesday (27).

It was revealed in court that the man who died when police opened fire at protestors, had infact died due to gun shot injuries.

THE INCIDENT:

The Rambukkana protests erupted over delayed petrol deliveries and sharp new price increases in petrol and diesel announced on Monday (18).

On Tuesday, the 19th of April 2022, demonstrators blocked main roads and a railway line.

Police began directing tear gas at thousands of protesters in the afternoon and then suddenly, without warning, opened fire with live rounds.

Chaminda Lakshan, a 40-year-old father of two from Naranbedda, a village near Rambukkana, was shot. He died soon after being admitted to Kegalle hospital.

Earlier, Sri Lanka’s Public Security Minister told Parliament on Friday (22) that preliminary investigations have revealed that Assistant Superintendent of Police C. W. C. Dharmaratne & Senior Superintendent of Police K. B. Keerthiratne had instructed to open fire to control the situation in Rambukkana on the 19th of April 2022.

He said the investigations are in their preliminary stages, and following a comprehensive investigation, the report will be tabled in Parliament.

POLICE OFFICERS TRANSFERRED :

The Senior Superintendent of Police for the Kegalle Division, Superintendent of Police for the Rambukkana area, and the OIC of the Rambukkana Police, were transferred to the Police Field Force Headquarters in Colombo.

At the same time, the investigations that were carried out by the SSP in charge of the Seethawakapura Division was taken over by the Criminal Investigations Department.

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION:

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has appointed a four-member team to investigate the Rambukkana shooting, that left one person dead and dozens injured.

On the direction of the the Chairman at HRCSL, a special team was appointed to hold an inquiry as to determine who is responsible for issuing the orders to shoot, and the circumstances under which the shooting with live bullets took place.

The team comprises of Sulari Liyanagama, Menaka Herath, Lal Weerasinghe, and A.S. Nilantha, and they have left for Rambukkana for the inquiry.

Further, the HRC noted that based on the report of the findings, the commission will make the necessary recommendation.

News 1st

The Government has rejected the price revision announced by Litro Gas for a 12.5kg domestic gas cylinder.

The company announced a short while ago that the price of a 12.5kg gas cylinder would be increased to Rs. 5,175, with effect from midnight today (22).

However, the price revision did not receive approval and the aforementioned gas cylinder will continue to be sold at its previous price of Rs. 2,675.

Secretary to the Ministry of Trade J. M. B. Jayawardana has been removed from office with immediate effect.

The decision has been reportedly taken by the President.

In addition to being the Secretary to the Trade Ministry, Jayawardana has been the Chairman of a number of institutions as well as a member of the Board of Directors of several other institutions.

It is reported that former Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena has repeatedly called for Jayawardana’s removal as the secretary.

Subsequently, Neel Bandara Hapuhinna has been appointed as the new Secretary to the Ministry.

Current Chairman of Sri Lanka Insurance, Vijitha Herath, was appointed as the Chairman of Litro Gas Lanka Limited.

Herath previously served as the chairman of Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) from 2019 to 2021.

His appointment comes shortly after former Chairman Theshara Jayasinghe resiogned from the post.

In a letter to the President, Jayasinghe attributed his resignation to several reasons, including inadequate support form the State.

Earlier this week, Litro Gas announced their decision to temporarily suspended the distribution of domestic gas cylinders until Monday (25) owing to a shortage of gas.

A spokesperson of the company said the consignment of gas that arrived in the country yesterday (20) would not be sufficient for domestic use distribution, and would instead be distributed to hospitals, crematoriums and industries.

The sell price of a US Dollar has surged up to Rs. 354 in many commercial banks of the country.

Its buy price is at Rs. 330 – 335.

Meanwhile, Standard Charted, an international bank operating in Sri Lanka, today revealed in its exchange that the value of the US Dollar is Rs. 355.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) today (21) handed over the draft of a new Constitutional Amendment to the Speaker of Parliament.

It was initially submitted to SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, and was later handed over to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

The proposal includes several amendments, including the abolition of the Executive Presidency and the 20th Amendment.

Taking to Twitter, SJB MP Harsha de Silva said “We hope all 225 MPs will support this most progressive piece of legislation and approve it at the earliest”, attaching the following summary:

In a letter to the Chief Prelates of the three Buddhist Chapters, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has stated that he agrees to form an interim government, the Registrar of the Asgiri Chapter, Ven. Medagama Dhammananda Thero said.

He stated that the President has also assured that he will take immediate steps to resolve the economic crisis in the country.

The President, in his letter to the chief prelates, has also said that any constitutional reforms should be carried out through the Parliament.

Ven. Medagama Dhammananda Thero said the President has emphasized that the economic problems and the crisis situation in the country would be eliminated and the welfare of the people would be ensured as requested by the Mahanayaka Theros.

He said the letter also mentions the ongoing discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in particular.

“The President has also expressed his willingness to establish an interim government. At the same time, he has informed that the constitutional amendment should be discussed in Parliament and carried out,” the Thero said.

He said the President has also expressed that the Mahanayake Theros will be informed if there are any further issues in this regard.

It was previously reported that the President had sent a letter to the Chief Prelates of the three Buddhist Chapters regarding the current situation in the country and the future course of action to be taken in that regard.

It was reported that the Secretary of the Ministry of Buddha Sasana Prof. Kapila Gunawardena had handed over the relevant letter to the Mahanayaka Theros on the instructions of the President.

The letter was handed over to the Chief Prelates of Malwathu and Asgiriya chapters yesterday (24), said Prof. Kapila Gunawardena.

On the 4th of April, the Chief Prelates of the three chapters had sent a letter to President regarding the current situation in the country which also included several proposals to be implemented.

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Ajith Nivard Cabraal has been barred from leaving the country till 02 May.

The order was issued by the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court today(18), further requesting Cabraal to be present in court on 02 May.

The order was issued by Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela after Cabraal failed to appear in Court as per the order issued on 07 April.

Cabraal was previously barred from leaving Sri Lanka till 18 April.

The government had set up roadblocks to prevent the march organised by the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) from Colombo Fort to Galleface today (24), in the event that an attempt by the security forces to obtain a court order barring the march was denied.

The IUSF march, however, continued and the protesters arrived at and staged their demonstration in front of the residence of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in Wijerama.

A new Cabinet was sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa a short while ago.

Accordingly, the following appointments were made:

• Minister of Plantations, Minister of Education - Ramesh Pathirana

• Minister of Transport, Minister of Industries - Dilum Amunugama

• Minister of Tourism, Minister of Public Security - Prasanna Ranatunga

• Minister of Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government - Dinesh Gunawardena

• Minister of Health - Channa Jayasumana

• Minister of Fisheries - Douglas Devananda

• Minister of Highways - Kanaka Herath

• Minster of Labour - Vidura Wickramanayke

• Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Irrigation - Janaka Wakkumbura

• Minister of Trade, Minister of Samurdhi Development - Shehan Semasinghe

• Minister of Water Supply - Mohan Priyadarshana de Silva

• Minister of Ports and Shipping - Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon

• Minister of Forest and Wildlife Conservation - Wimalaweera Dissanayake

• Minister of Power, Minister of Energy - Kanchana Wijesekara

• Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports - Thenuka Vidanagamage

• Minister of Mass Media - Nalaka Godahewa
• Minister of Environment - Naseer Ahamed

Teachers will report sick by 25th April, and will go on strike by 28th April, and will push into a continuous strike if a solution to the current problems in the education sector are not presented, says the Chairman of the Ceylon Teachers Union, Priyantha Fernando.

The Chairman of the CTU pointed out that the attendance of children in rural schools as well as in urban schools has come down to a very low level, due to increased fares in public transport and the subsequent lack of fuel, which disrupted bus services.

Moreover, he stated that school transport services have also been disrupted, while this has a direct impact on children, and on teachers who report to work in schools.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) notes with grave concern the attempts to disrupt a peaceful protest by the people.

Issuing a statement, President of the BASL Saliya Pieris PC said the association received credible information from its members of a number of Police trucks being moved to the vicinity of Galle Face Green where a public protest is underway.

The statement said the trucks have now been removed after the matter was highlighted on social media and brought to the notice of authorities.

The BASL President said any such attempts to disrupt peaceful protests will have grave repercussions for the country, democracy, economy, and rule of law.

The BASL called on the government to desist from taking any steps to disrupt the legitimate exercise of the freedom of dissent of the people.