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Daughter of slain Sri Lankan journalist takes her father’s case to UN

Daughter of  slain Sri Lankan journalist Lasnatha Wickrematunge  filed a complaint Friday with the United Nations Human Rights Committee over alleged Government involvement in her father’s death 12 years ago, the Associated Press reported.

The San Francisco-based Center for Justice and Accountability filed the complaint on behalf of Ahimsa Wickrematunge, the daughter of Lasantha Wickrematunge, who was allegedly killed by a military-linked hit squad while driving to work on Jan. 8, 2009.

Wickrematunge, editor of the now-defunct Sunday Leader newspaper, was a strong critic of current President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was a powerful defense official at the time. Rajapaksa’s older brother, current Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, was president at the time.

Wickrematunge’s assassination came to symbolize alleged Government abuses and impunity during the country’s civil war. It featured prominently in an investigation conducted by the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in 2015.

The complaint says Wickrematunge was killed a few days before he was to testify in a defamation case filed by Gotabaya Rajapaksa over an article implicating him in a corruption scandal involving the purchase of fighter planes.

At the time Sri Lankan forces were fighting the final months of the decades-long civil war with ethnic Tamil rebels.

Both Government forces and the defeated rebels have been accused of grave human rights abuses.

Foreign Ministry Secretary Admiral Jayanath Colambage said he had not seen the complaint, and given its sensitive nature was unable to comment without ascertaining the view of the political leadership.

On the day of his killing, Wickrematunge was followed by men on motorbikes, and when he stopped at a busy intersection they smashed his car window and punched a hole in his head with a sharp instrument.

The complaint says law enforcement agencies either failed to conduct a credible investigation or actively interfered with attempts to conduct one.

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Autopsy confirms that all 11 inmates at Mahara died of gunshot wounds

Despite repeated denials by the state authorities regarding the deaths of 11 prison inmates, autopsy reports have revealed that all eleven of them who were killed in the Mahara Prison riot in November 2020 had died from gunshot injuries.

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Sri Lanka Development Lottery creates two multi-millionaires in the New Year  

Sri Lanka Development Lottery has created two new multi-millionaires in super lottery draws at the  dawn of the New Year 2021.
 
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksha has handed over cheques to two super winners on Thursday (07), who bagged the Development Lotteries Board's (DLB) 'Kotipathi Kapruka' and 'Jayoda', at the beginning of the New Year.
 
At this event, Kumara Pathirannehelage Sunil from Ambanpola, who won Rs. 87,991,625 as the super jackpot of the 652nd draw of 'Kotipathi Kapruka', received the cheque from the PrimeMinister.
 
Dinesh Kumara is the Sales Agent of Ambanpola, who has sold this winning ticket.
 
Further,A.G.B.G.Kodithuwakkufrom Galgamuwa , who won Rs. 57,138,276 as the super jackpot of the 1717th draw of Jayoda, also received the cheque from the Prime Minister. T.M.S.B.Menikeis the Sales Agent of Galgamua, who has sold this winning ticket.
 
Officers of Development Lotteries Board including  Amitha Gamage, Chairman have also participated in this event.
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Arundika reveals businessmen who have exploited migrant workers

Although President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has taken steps to repatriate migrant workers and Sri Lankans who were stranded abroad safely, certain individuals are attempting to exploit the situation and make quick profits, State Minister Arundika Fernando said.
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Horrifying account of a shootout involving Prisons Minister and SJB MP !

Prisons Minister Lohan Ratwatte has been involved in a shooting incident over the new year that has been covered up by the government, the 'Colombo Telegraph' reported.
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18-member Deregulation Commission appointed by President to simplify existing laws

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed an 18-member Deregulation Commission for the simplification of the existing laws and regulations, the President's Media Unit said.

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Journalist who covered protest against 'Airtel' intimidated

Intimidation of journalists in the north and east of Sri Lanka continues, be it the coverage of a national issue in main cities or local social issues in small towns in the country.

The MTV network’s Batticaloa district correspondent has lodged a complaint with the Karadiyanaru police after being threatened by a landlord who has leased out his land for the construction of Telecom mast.

Kuhadasan Subojan was video graphing a protest by locals in the Eravur town in the Batticaloa district who were protesting against the erection of a mast by Indian Telecom giant ‘AirTel’.

The protesters say they are worried about the environment and health concerns.

The journalist who was acting in public interest in the dissemination of local news, was forced to stop filming and attempts were made to seize his camera and threaten him with dire consequences if the recordings were not erased.

 A police complaint has been registered by the journalist and an investigation has been initiated according to sources from there.

 Freedom of Press has been under severe pressure in Sri Lanka and the nation ranks low at 127 in the RSF World Press Freedom Index.

Attacks on journalists have largely gone underreported in Sri Lanka. The Diplomat magazine noted that the future for the country’s media looks bleak. They further stated that Sri Lanka is one of the world’s most difficult countries for journalists.

xczx

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29 development plans revoked by the UDA

At least 29 development plans have been repealed by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) issuing a controversial gazette notification recently under the signature of subject minister and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, a group of professionals alleged.
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Toddy duty slashed as operating hours are extended

 Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed to slash the duty on bottled toddy by half while extending the opening hours of toddy taverns.

The duty on bottled toddy that stood at Rs 50 a litre will be reduced to Rs 25 from Friday (08), according to a written directive issued by Rajapaksa, who is also finance minister.

The Prime Minister has also allowed extending the opening duration of toddy taverns by two hours with effect from Friday, News First reported.

Taverns can now remain open from 10 am to 2 pm, and 5 pm to 9 pm. The previous times were from 11 am to 2 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm.

Premier Rajapaksa has also increased the amount of toddy permitted to be sold to a person, from 1.5 to three litres, amending a law dating back to 1985.

Accordingly, a pass would be required when transporting more than three litres of toddy in the country.

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India will be a dependable partner and friend: Indian External Affairs Minister

India has reiterated its commitment to be a dependable partner and reliable friend and will be open to strengthening its relationship with Sri Lanka.

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No luxury vehicle tax for Sri Lankan lawmakers

The luxury tax imposed on vehicles imported by lawmakers who served in parliament between 2015 and 2020 has been waived off by the government.

The directive had been issued by prime minister and finance minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on December 31 last year, state documents showed

Earlier, the waiver had been granted to vehicles less than 1800 cc, diesel vehicles less than 2300 cc, and electric vehicles less than 200 kW.

Rates of the luxury tax, imposed in 2019, range between 60 and 120% if the vehicle cost exceeds the tax-free threshold.

Sri Lanka has temporarily suspended vehicle imports, according to its COVID-19 economic revival plan, citing it as a move to curb foreign currency outflows.

Colombo District SLPP (Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna) MP Madura Vithanage said that he wouldn’t take the duty free vehicle permit he was entitled to.

The former Kotte Mayor said that he had informed the relevant ministry of his decision.

He admitted that it wouldn’t be fair on their part to receive such a privilege as the country was struggling on the economic front.

Attorney-at-law Nagananda Kodituwakku asked whether members of parliament were entitled to such generous grants.

Kodituwakku noted that it would be a massive challenge for the new government to scrap the duty-free vehicle permit scheme.

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"Sir's curse": Harin names five people responsible for President Rajapaksa's downfall

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentarian, Harin Fernanado said in Parliament yesterday (06), that there were five people who were responsible for the Sir's curse.
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