News

Fulfilling a promise from the 2017 Budget, 18 trailer bikes and four beach rovers were handed over to the Sri Lanka Police by Minister of Law & Order and Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayake today (26). Addressing the gathering the Minister said that Sri Lanka is at the forefront in ensuring the security of foreign visitors to the country.

The Minister added the decision was made to provide these bikes to the division as the government is currently engaged in a large scale tourism promotion project for the country.

The trailer bikes and beach rovers were handed over to the Tourist Police Division, and the Police posts at Arugam Bay, Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Narigama, Negombo, Moragalla, Polonnaruwa, Pasikuda and Kandy.

UNP backbenchers have requested that the Greek bond scam which took places during the past Rajapaksa regime should also be probed by the Presidential Commission that is to be appointed.

This request was made following the announcement and promise by President Maithripala Sirisena to SLFP party organizers that a commission will be appointed to look into the corruptions committed within the Mihin Air and Sri Lankan Airlines.

According to UNP MP’s the Greek bond scam made the Sri Lankan government incur a loss of Rs. 3.3 Billion compared to the loss of Rs. 898 Million Central Bank bond scam under the current government.

 Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe making a statement on October 15 said the past government refused to even commence an investigation into the Greek bond scam.

In related news: Presidential Commission to look into Rajapaksa corruptions!

Minister of Labour, Trade Union Relations and Sabaragamuwa Development, W.D.J Seneviratne has said that the final decision regarding the SLFP National government will be taken after the upcoming local government elections.

According to the Minister once the mini polls are completed a meeting led by President SIrisena will be held to decide if the SLFP will continue to be part of the current National government.

While a decision was to be arrived at before December 31 however as the party is currently on the LG polls the meeting has been postponed he further added.

The President had earlier informed the SLFP MP’s and Ministers to continue working in the National government till December 31.

UNP government after LG polls!

Meanwhile, Minister Harin Fernando has announced that the United National party will form a government by itself next year.

The Minister had made the announcement at a rally held in Badulla.

In order to gain control of the parliament the Minister had claimed the UNP needs to make significant wins in the upcoming LG polls.

However, in a recent rally Minister Mahinda Amaraweera was quoted as saying that no one will be allowed to form governments as they wish.

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) Chairman has saved his job by offering an additional bonus of Rs. 25 000 and a 6% pay hike to unions. SLT union were to demand the resignation of Kumarasinghe Sirisena which was averted by his two cronies Kiththi Perera and Priyantha Fernandez by cutting a deal with the unions by offering a Rs . 25 000 additional bonus and 6% pay hike without obtaining the necessary board approval. Earlier the board approved a maximum bonus of 2.25 months salary for 2016 amidst falling profitability due to high depreciation, a result of out of scale investments made pre 2015.

 Mobitel employees have informed that SLT Chairman that a non executive officer has been violating the Articles of association of Mobitel by forcibly signing various approvals and changing approval process of appointments and promotions. There were allegations to the effect that he has been changing board minutes to suit his agenda. Staff at Mobitel has suggested a detailed audit to be carried out independently to check these violations and to find if the Chairman has violated management practices. Sources say the current chairman has no previous experience in the field unlike past Chairman Nimal Welgama.

A group of prominent UNP activists in the Kelaniya electorate met President Maithripala Sirisena today (26) at the President’s Official Residence and joined the SLFP, the President's Media division reported.

Former members of Kelaniya local government Mr. Kanishka Samarasinghe, Mr. Norbert Perera and a former member of the Peliyagoda Urban Council Mr. Lakshman Perera were among the group of activists who joined the SLFP today.

After President Maithripala Sirisena’s announcement on December 22 to appoint a commision to look into the massive frauds and corruptions carried out in the Mihin Lanka and Sri Lankan Airlines during the Rajapaksa regime, former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa is said to be in shock having heard the news according to sources from the President's Office.

According to sources, the former first lady has been sending continuous messages to the President’s party after the announcement was made in the hope of reconciling with him.

While Nishantha Wickramasinghe, brother of Shiranthi Rajapaksa was appointed as the Chairman of Srilankan Airlines during the former regime’s rule, reports say the company was actually controlled by the former first lady during his tenure.

At the time the media reported a large number of large frauds and irregularities committed within the SriLankan Airlines.

Political analysts point out that the President has now selected the best political strategy to tame the wayward Rajapaksa family.

The central committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party has decided to hand over the power of taking action against anyone working against the constitution of the SLFP by promoting another political party and cancelling that individuals party membership to President Maithripala Sirisena.

According to section 26 - 1, 26 - 2 and 26 - 3 of the party constitution disciplinary inquiries can be held against members on information received regarding discipline related issues, for shirking party responsibilities.

The central committee has also decided to send reminders in this regard by registered post to all parliamentarians and Ministers of the party.

Meanwhile General Secretary of the party, Duminda Dissanayake said disciplinary action will be taken against any member promoting another political party in violation of the SLFP constitution.

 Party principles are more important than the person…

 When questioned if action will be taken against SLFP members taking part in the election campaigns of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna from January 2 led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, General Secretary of the party Duminda Dissanayake said party principles are more important no matter who the person is.

He stressed that action will be taken against anyone going against party principles and its constitution.

 Ignores opposition : Mahinda takes the ‘flower bud in hand’

 Meanwhile, despite the central committee meeting the JO has decided to commence its campaign led by Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Jo political campaign is set to commence on January 2 at the Sugathadasa indoor stadium.

 According to MP of the JO, Dinesh Gunawardena it will be revealed as to why people should vote for the JO in the upcoming polls and all party leaders of the JO will attend the rally he said.

 All those contesting is also set to take a special oath to protect the country on the day he further added.

The National Police Commission (NPC) has recommended promoting Policeman-turned-politician Palitha Range Bandara to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).

A Spokesman of the Commission said the recommendation letter of the retired SI Palitha Range Bandara had been forwarded to the Law and Order and Southern Development Ministry.

The Minister would receive a pension and possibly a commuted amount too for the period he did not get paid.

This follows his appeal to the Commission that he had been victimized politically when he was in the Police Service.

The Commission recommended that he be reinstated in the Police Service from 24 August 2000 and promoted to the ASP rank on the 27th of the same month and sent him on retirement.

While the NPC has thought it important to resolve this issue, however, promotions of currently serving officers who were victimized politically in various ways continue to be delayed due to the inaction of the NPC and the Sri Lanka Police Department.

An official delegation from the Sri Lanka Tea Board met with the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) today (25) to discuss the temporary restrictions imposed by the Russian Federation on imports of plant-origin products from Sri Lanka on December 18, 2017.

 The Sri Lankan delegation comprised of Rohan Pethiyagoda Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tea Board, Dr Saman Weerasinghe, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, while the Russian counterpart was headed by the Head of the Rosselkhoznadzor Sergei Dankvert.

 Following the negotiations, the Russian side announced its decision to lift the restrictions with the effect from December 30, 2017.

 State authorities of both countries pointed out the importance of the presence of Ceylon tea on the Russian market, taking into account the fact that Russia is one of the largest export destinations for Sri Lanka, whereas Ceylon tea becomes gains more and more popularity with Russian consumers every year.

After winning The DSC Prize for South Asian Literature Sri Lankan writer Anuk Arudpragasam has won the Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize 2017 for his novel "The Story of a Brief Marriage".

From 47 titles submitted for consideration, Author and translator Arshia Sattar and poet and novelist Jeet Thayil chose the shortlist for this year's Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize. The final decision was made by judges Kamila Shamsie, Rohini Mohan and Margaret Mascarenhas who were unanimous in their decision.

"A native of Colombo his work presents the civil war in Sri Lanka like never before. Writing from within the debris of Tamil lives in prose that can pierce your heart, Arudpragasam's protagonists find dignity as they piece together strategies of survival. The story is about the human spirit in the most desperate of times. It sings not as testament of glory but as a dirge of despair," Sattar said.

"Anuk Arudpragasam has written an extraordinary novel that is timely, timeless and universal in its depiction of the possibility of tenderness and love blossoming in the midst of the mind-numbing carnage, suffering and horror that is war. 'The Story of a Brief Marriage' is mesmerizing from the first paragraph, and remains delicately poised between life and death from beginning to end," Mascarenhas stated.

Shamsie added that it is an exceptional accomplishment for any writer, especially a miraculous achievement for one who had just made a debut.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has advised the general public to exchange mutilated currency notes in their possession from the nearest branch of Licensed Commercial Banks on or before December 31. This notice has been released with mutilated currency notes becoming invalid from Jan 1.

The CBSL in a statement said that it had drawn the attention of the general public for implementation of its Clean Note Policy and regulation on the willful mutilation, alteration or defacement of Sri Lanka currency notes.

It said that the Clean Note Policy had been introduced by CBSL aiming at maintaining the quality standards of the currency notes and thereby helping to distinguish between genuine notes and counterfeits.

“It is also expected through this policy to enhance the image of the country and promote the efficiency of processing currency notes,” it said.

It said that willfully mutilation, alteration or defacement of Sri Lanka currency notes is an offence under the Monetary Law Act No. 58 of 1949 and is punishable by imprisonment or fine or both.

Under the Regulation E of the Monetary Law Act, no claim in respect of the willfully mutilated or altered notes shall be entertained and such notes shall be retained by CBSL. The holder of these currency notes will have to suffer the loss of face value of such notes.

However, CBSL informed the people that that currency notes that are not willfully mutilated, altered or defaced but damaged due to normal wear and tear during circulation can continue to be exchanged at CBSL and Licensed Commercial Banks as is the current practice.

Assets evaluation of around 2/3 of government agencies has stalled due to no Service Minutes and sufficient state valuers.

Therefore inaccurate evaluations the government has lost around Rs. 6000 million annually sources claim.

 Meanwhile, due to the lack of government valuers, the valuation process has not been revised for over 20 years in local government authorities, sources from the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils revealed.

When questioned regarding the issues President of the Government Valuers Association Nilantha Ekanayake said current plans are being made to hand over government valuations to the private sector due to the arsonous actions of the present value of the Government.

He also said corruption is rampant as a result and the current number state valuers should be increased to at least 800 soon as if not the state valuation process will take a serious hit.