News

Parliamentary proceedings were suspended for 10 minutes this afternoon (06), after a heated argument broke out over Police firing tear gas and water cannons at the Horu Go Gama protest in Diyatha Uyana, Battaramulla.

Members of the Samagi Jana Balawewa (SJB) staged a protest within Parliament, with MP Harin Fernando and several other SJB MPs visiting Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena’s room, demanding his arrival.

Fernando threatened that in the event the Speaker refuses to arrive, he will be detained inside Parliament.

Moreover, the group of SJB MPs urged that the Speaker take up the No Confidence Motion immediately, adding that if a day is not set for the NCM to be presented in Parliament, the public will be brought to Parliament to resolve the matter.

Responding to their requests, Abeywardena stated that a discussion pertaining to the matter will be held with all Party Leaders on Monday (09).

Parliament was later adjourned till 17 May by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

The Sri Lanka Petroleum Private Tanker Owners’ Association has decided to withdraw from fuel transport services with effect from midnight today (April 30).

The joint secretary of the association, D.V. Shantha Silva said, through their trade union action, they want to urge the authorities to increase their transport charges, in line with the increase in fuel prices.

Speaking further, he said the association has sought the revision of their transport charges following the fuel price hike. However, a positive response was not received for this request during the meeting held with the energy minister last evening.

As the authorities dismissed their requests, the executive committee of the association, which convened a meeting last night, has decided to withdraw from fuel transport duties, effective from midnight today.

Meanwhile, deploying Sri Lanka Army personnel to monitor the fuel distribution commenced today.

The army stated that it would observe whether the fuel bowsers are reaching the filling stations on time after leaving their respective terminals.

After the fuel bower departs the terminal, the army camp in charge of the area where the fuel consignment is transported will be notified and a team of officers will be dispatched to the relevant locations.

In addition to the main fuel storage complexes in  Kolonnawa and Muthurajawela, a total of 12 fuel distribution centres are in operation across the country.

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MP Ranjith Siyambalapitiya was re-elected as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

Siyambalapitiya garnered 148 votes, including those of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), while Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) nominee MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar had a total of 65 votes.

He previously served as the Deputy Speaker, and later stepped down from the post after the SLFP withdrew from the Government to remain independent.

The Kegalle District MP’s nam, however, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya’s name was nominated by SLFP MP Nimal Siripala de Silva and seconded by Susil Premajayantha.

Health Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana has issued an Extraordinary Gazette notification allowing a 40% price increase on a total of 60 medicinal drugs.

The Gazette, dated 29 April, says “every trader, distributor, pharmacist, medical practitioner, dentist, veterinary surgeon, medical institution including a private medical institution, pharmacy or person who or which is in possession of the Scheduled Medicines for the purpose of sale shall maintain the price of the Scheduled Medicines at the maximum retail price or revised retail price whichever is less.”

The full list is available below:

The travel ban imposed on former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal was extended to the 23rd of May by Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekenawela on Thursday (5).

Summons were re-sent to the Former Central Bank Governor to be present in court on that day.

Earlier, the summons was issued on Cabraal to appear in court on the 2nd of May.

However, as the 2nd of May was declared a government holiday court issued a summons for the Ex-Governor to appear in court on the 23rd of May.

Summons were issued on the Ex-Governor following submissions made to court over a complaint filed by Former Provincial Governor Keerthi Tennakoon.

Keerthi Tennakoon filed a complaint citing 6 charges on the misappropriation of funds by Ajith Nivard Cabraal during his tenure as the Central Bank Governor.

The 02nd of May (Monday) will be declared a public holiday, the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, J.J. Ratnasiri announced today.

The decision was taken in view of the Labour Day falling on Sunday, the 01st of May.

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has announced maximum retail prices for three local varieties of rice.

However, the new maximum retail prices are not applied to rice stocks released to the market at concessionary prices by the Paddy Marketing Board, a special gazette notification published by CAA Chairman Shantha Dissanayake noted.

According to the communiqué, the directive comes into effect from today (May 02).

New maximum retail prices imposed on three local rice varieties are as follows:

White/Red Nadu (steamed/boiled) – Rs. 220 per kilogram White/Read Samba (steamed/boiled) – Rs. 230 per kilogram Keeri Samba – Rs. 260 per kilogram

Parliamentarian Jayantha Samaraweera said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had positively responded to the proposals put forward for the creation of a All-Party Government which will be named as the “National Consensus Government”.

He said as per the proposal the leaders of the political parties that agree to form the “National Consensus Government” would establish a National Council, and National Council would name the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers of the “National Consensus Government”.

He made these comments following a meeting between the President and the leaders of political parties that decided to remain independent from the government.

“The National Council would decide on the number of ministers required to build back the nation and public trust, and the National Council would also decide on the secretaries that will be appointed,” he told reporters.

The Indian Supreme Court has ruled out that no individual can be forced to get vaccinated, reports The Indian Express.

While stating that the Centre’s current vaccination policy is not arbitrary, the Indian Court observed that “On the basis of substantial material filed before this court reflecting the near unanimous views of experts on the benefits of vaccination in addressing severe disease from the infection…mortality and stopping new variants from emerging, this court is satisfied that the current vaccination policy of the union of India…cannot be said to be unreasonable or manifestly arbitrary,” .

While disapproving mandates, it said: “No data placed on record by Union or states controverting data by petitioner in the form of emerging scientific opinion which appears to indicate that the risk of transmission of virus from unvaccinated individuals is almost at par with the vaccinated persons and that in light of this, restrictions on unvaccinated individuals imposed through various vaccine mandates by the states governments/union territories cannot be said to be proportionate.”

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

Minister of Energy and Power Kanchana Wijesekera says the Ministry will use government bowsers and bowsers of fuel stations, in the event private transporters decide to go on strike.

The Minister noted that prices for private fuel transportation services have been revised five times since July 2021, an increase of 84% using a formula agreed by all.

He added that if private fuel transporters go on strike, the government will use the other two sectors to continuously deliver fuel.

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.