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A British tourist has been found dead in suspicious circumstances in Sri Lanka, according to local media reports.

The body is said to have been discovered this morning in a suburb of the country’s capital Colombo.

A Brit has reportedly been found dead in Colombo, Sri Lanka (Getty)

 The victim, who was found in Araliya Uyana in Maligawatta, has not yet been named.

But police are investigating the death, which is described as “suspicious”, according to Sri Lanka’s Sunday Times.

The 37-year-old was found with a wound on their face, according to a police spokesperson quoted by Ada Derana.

SP Ruwan Gunasekara reportedly said the Brit had arrived in the country on November 25 and had been due to leave yesterday but extended their visa until January 25.

Forensic officers and a canine unit are said to have been sent to the scene to hunt for clues.

And the local magistrate has begun an official inquiry into the mysterious death, it was reported.

Sri Lanka has been ranked as first in the South Asian region in the recently published Global Food Security Index 2017, and 66th in the Global Index.

The country was named first after being compared with another 113 countries.

Bangladesh and Nepal ranked 80th and Myanmar has been reported as 81st in the index. Pakistan is at 77th, and India secured the 74th position.

The Ministerial Committee on SriLankan Airlines is set to meet today with the resign offer of six members of the SriLankan Board likely to be taken up with expectations of a new board being appointed to make way for the restructuring of the troubled business entity, a top official confirmed.

The Committee headed by the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will also carry forward the restructuring discussion on the cash-strapped national airline.

British consultant Nyras Consulting Company, specialising in the global aviation sector, was appointed to lead the restructuring of the carrier. The consultants, who have been tasked with restructuring and finding an investor for the airline, presented their first report to both committees last month.

The preliminary report by the consultants outlined a restructuring program under five broad areas - managing the right size and type of aircraft fleet, debt restructuring, tax concessions, network rationalising and fuel price - to restructure and improve its financial position. The consultants had expressed confidence in finding a suitable investor once the restructuring was complete.

The SriLankan Airlines Board of Management’s offer to resign from their posts came two days after this preliminary meeting. A letter detailing a board decision by six of the seven board members to offer to resign was submitted to the Prime Minister’s office on 22 December 2017, Sri Lankan Chairman Ajit Dias confirmed to the media later.

However, no decision has been taken on the offer since then. Public Enterprise Development Minister Kabir Hashim and ministry secretary Ravindra Hewavitharana both told the Daily FT that they were not officially informed about the offer made by the board.

However, it was speculated that the offer to resign may have stemmed from an earlier discussion within the official's committee suggesting that it would be more appropriate to appoint a new board to carry out the changes.

Source : Daily FT

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Inquire and Investigate into Serious Acts of Fraud and Corruption (PRECIFAC), delegated with the responsibility to investigate fraud and corruption that took place during the previous Rajapaksa regime will present its final report to President Maithripala Sirisena today.

The 1000 page report will highlight the Commission’s findings related to various cases and present recommendations on how to prevent and handle large-scale fraud and corruption in the future.

PRECIFAC Chairman, Court of Appeal Judge Preethi Padman Surasena will hand over the report to the President.

The other members, High Court judge Vikum Kaluarachchi, Piyasena Ranasinghe, Gihan Kulathunga and retired Auditor General P. A. Premathilake too will attend, Commission sources said.

The PRECIFAC during its tenure had investigated 34 major cases related to large-scale fraud and corruption at state institutions during the former regimes period. Earlier the Commission handed over 17 final reports on large-scale fraud and corruption to the President for further legal action.

The 17 reports include investigations into alleged fraud and corruption in connection to the distribution of water filters in the North Central Province, “Deyata Kirula” programme organised by the Ampara Urban Council, Port Authority- Mahapola Ship, report in connection with the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institution, State Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Disaster Management Centre, Polgolla Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre, Health Ministry-Kidney Disease related equipment, report in connection with the Kandy District Hospital Director’s Office, KKS cement factory, Rupavahini Corporation, National Housing Development Authority, National Transport Board Commission, Sathosa report, National Youth Services Council, Health Services Supplier Division and Archeology Department- Deegawapi Chethiya.

The government by a Gazette Notification on March 10, 2015, established the PRECIFAC.

It was delegated the responsibility to investigate fraud and corruption that took place during the period from January 10, 2010, to January 10, 2015.

The house belonging to the Assistant Excise Commissioner of the North-Western Province, Leslie Jayantha Ranwaweera, was attacked with a hand grenade.

The attack had taken place while the Assistant Commissioner was in the house at around 1.00 am, today (02).

Police sources reported that three vehicles parked at the house have been damaged. Pannala Police have started conducting further investigations.

The website of Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS) which was not in operation for over two months has now been restored.

The website had crashed due to a technical fault but now has been up since January 1 the organization spokesperson Rohitha Bashana said. .

However, he added that the Sinhala website will need several more days to be restored to its original form.

Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe ratified the media guidelines imposed by the Elections Commission, to be followed by Electronic and Print Media during an election, today (02) at the Temple Trees. The document is due to be tabled in Parliament later today.

The Elections Commission issued the guidelines following the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, to ensure rightful exercise of franchise and a free and fair election, to be followed by all electronic and print media institutions and personnel involved.

The guideline states all telecasting, broadcasting and print media shall be neutral and impartial in their reporting of election related matters and shall not discriminate any contesting political party, independent group or a candidate, in allocating airtime and allotting space in the newspapers.

Photo: Lankadeepa

It is reported that the President is preparing to make a special statement to the media regarding the controversial report on the bond scam handed over to him on Saturday by the special Presidential Commission.

The statement is due to be issued on Wednesday (03). The president has also confirmed the news on his Twitter account.

Strict legal action will be taken against local government elections candidates in Sri Lanka who distribute monetary or material subsidies funded personally or from public money as a part of their election campaign, the Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said.

Issuing a press release, Chairman Deshapriya pointed out that according to the Elections Ordinance distributing subsidies during the election campaigning is entirely illegal and considered a case of bribing. If any public officer or government institute is to violate election laws and directives issued by the Elections Commission, action will be taken against them by the Commission, the statement said.

Public officers and politicians involved in such actions should be held responsible for the misuse of public funds, Deshapriya pointed out. “The officers of the Elections Commission will take direct action against public officers and the Commission together with the police will also make submissions for court inquiries on breach of election law and politicians could pursue election petitions against such actions,” the statement said.

The Elections Commission observes that the political parties and candidates should refrain from acts such as distributing education materials, gifts, and contributing to religious institutes. The Commission states that complaints have been lodged against such activities, stating that they are also parts of election campaigning.

The Commission has directed Divisional Secretariats and other government bodies to refrain from distributing public funded aids among people until after 15th February, 2018, as it is a prolonged habit to use these programs as a part of the election campaign. “The divisional secretariats are advised to distribute only items such as livestock, plants, seeds and similar items which are difficult to be stored. Other items, which can be stored for several days, should remain in stores until 15th February,” the statement said.

The public is also advised not to accept public funded aids as a bondage to vote a particular political party, Chairman of the Elections Commission noted. “People must understand that by right they are entitled to receive these aids from the government. They will be made aware that these aids are provided by public money.” the statement said.

The Commission also observes that any statements justifying the distribution of financial and material aid to be groundless.

The UNP claims Maithripala Sirisena was handed a double-edged sword when he was appointed as the country’s President on January 8, 2015.

According to UNP MP Thushara Indunil, this sword was handed to Sirisena to destroy all corrupted individuals. However, as of today one side of the sword has become blunt he said requesting that the President use the figurative sword to strike down crooks.

The MP made these comments while addressing a public gathering held aiming at the upcoming local government polls.

Video

Fraud and Corruption Commission Report Hidden Away!

The MP accused the President of hiding away the reports submitted by the fraud and corruption commission.

While the report by the Serious Fraud and Corruption Commission has also been handed over to the President that particular report has not been publicized as yet with authorities remaining silent in this regard.The Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the fraud and corruption was chaired by Court of Appeal Judge Padman Surasena and consisted of five judges.According to inquiries carried out by this commission, it has been recommended that the civic rights of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa be abolished under one charge.Investigations reports on 17 complaints handed over to President

After the commission was established, more than 2000 complaints were received, of which 400 were investigated.

Investigations have been completed regarding 17 of the complaints which have now been sent to the President.

The commision is said to have looked into various frauds committed including the Avante Garde transaction, the fraud at the Hambantota port opening ceremony, irregularities that took place at Sri Lanka Airline as well as the Irrigation and Water Supply Projects of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board.

Accordingly, the President’s office has instructed the Police Financial Crimes Division (FCID), Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption to investigate 120 complaints received.

These instructions were issued as the relevant institutions have already commenced investigations into these complaints.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General's Department has received six reports into the large-scale frauds committed to commence legal proceedings in this regard.

Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya has told the media that the charges will be framed in the near future.

‘The Sunday Times’ quoting sources said that the report of the Presidential Commission which enquired in to the controversial Central Bank bond issue has named several key figures, including a number of politicians, and has recommended that stern action is taken against them.

However, according to the paper, these are unconfirmed reports.

Meanwhile, it is reported that the President is preparing to make a special statement to the media regarding the controversial report on the bond scam handed over to him on Saturday by the special Presidential Commission.

The statement is due to be issued on Wednesday (03). The president has also confirmed the news on his Twitter account despite sources claiming that the contents of the report will not be published prior to the local government polls.

"The content of the report should be immediately revealed to the public"

 Speaking regarding the issue leader of the JVP, Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the Bond report should be publicized.

 According to the MP the President along with the SLFP ministers recently made a pledge but it is a pointless exercise and should have been made at the Presidential election. “The President must act against corruption” he stressed.

Hitting out strongly at former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his allies, Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka said Rajapaksa was a man who had no qualms about betraying the country to serve his family.

The Minister said his sole intention behind betraying the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and forming the flower-bud party was to find a way to bring his son, Namal Rajapaksa, to power.

"Such a man will not be reluctant to betray the country for his own benefit," Ratnayaka said, addressing a meeting in Morawaka, on Sunday (31).

The Minister added that President Maithripala Sirisena was elected the President democratically and became the Chairman of the SLFP. "Then the President took measures to rebuild the party. That was when Rajapaksa decided to divide the SLFP camp. The flower-bud party was formed not for an election, but to ensure a future for the former President's son. It will never bloom."

"Even the ones who genuinely respected Rajapaksa for the military triumph over the LTTE now find it hard to vote for the flower-bud party. They have now joined us and work for the UNP's victory," Ratnayaka said.

He said under the Rajapaksa administration, two roads were built in the Morawaka area - one for the public and one for a private property belonging to the brother in law of the former President.

"The road built for the public was washed away after a couple of rains. But the road built for the former President's brother in law remained intact. It shows the reality of their so-called development," the Minister explained, adding that the road constructed for the public was a mere eyewash aimed at hoodwinking the people before the election.

"Laying concrete or carpet on village roads is not the sole objective of development. We should empower the public - especially the less-privileged sections of the society and bridge the income gaps. That's what our government is working on," Ratnayaka added.