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The Church of Ceylon (Anglican Church) on Monday said it was against the death penalty and instead called on the government to vigorously combat drug smuggling and distribution at all levels in the society.

Issuing a statement, the Church of Ceylon said it cannot in any way agree with the move to resume the execution of those sentenced to death for drug related crimes and are yet continuing to be involved in the drug trade while in prison.

“As Christians, we believe that all people are made in the image of God and are therefore imbued with the spark of the divine within them, however obscured and hidden it may be. This is why the taking of human life is expressly condemned by the Church, whether by man or by the State. We believe the move has been rushed into without proper reflection in the backdrop of criticism and public disquiet about the spate of gang related murders and shootings in the recent days,” it said.

The statement said the engagement in criminal activities outside prison by convicted persons cannot take place without the connivance of prison authorities.

“The government cannot absolve itself from its duty to devise ways of minimizing such occurrences. It must take quick but well designed steps to put into place strong security measures in prisons. Obtaining the services of experts here and even abroad, if required. It cannot resort to hanging people to escape its own obligations,” it said.

The Church said their opposition to death penalty does not mean that it is unconcerned about the drug menace.

“We are indeed very deeply concerned by this widespread and very dangerous threat especially to the young people of our country and its consequences on wider society. We encourage our clergy and organizations to carry out awareness programmes and join with others in doing whatever we can to protect children. The church is willing to join and offer our assistance to the government in this regard in the educational sector,” it said.

“It is widely spoken including in government circles, that it is the ‘sprats’ who are being caught and punished while the ‘sharks’ are allowed to remain free to carry on their business, profitable to many, even politicians it is said. The law ought and must be applied in full force equally to all involved in this destructive trade,” the Church of Ceylon said.

(Daily Mirror)

The debate regarding the allegations against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa by the New York Times newspaper claiming that he received Rs. 7.6 as campaign funds from a Chinese company will be held this week. 

According to parliamentary sources, the debate is set to be held on July 19. The debate proposition is to be made by the United National Party (UNP).

‘No Kunu’– a massive citizens’ campaign is set to be launched to clean up Colombo’s Beira Lake located at the centre of the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. There have been numerous complaints over the years that the Beira Lake – built by the Portuguese during the 16th Century is at the centre of Colombo’s environmental and health problems. Calls for a comprehensive initiative by the state to clean up the lake and its surrounding areas fell on deaf ears for several years.

It is in this context that the ‘No Kunu’ campaign has been launched by Sumi Moonesinghe, a prominent business leader, with the support of various private business establishments situated along the canal banks and surrounding the Beira Lake; and the relevant government authorities namely the Presidential Secretariat, Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), Urban Development Authority (UDA), Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLRDC), the Sri Lanka Navy, Ports Authority and the Police.

The first clean-up programme under the ‘No Kunu’ initiative will take place on Saturday, July 21 in Colombo. Under this programme, volunteers will clean the designated parts of the canal banks in their vicinity, with the support of designated CMC officials, ‘NO KUNU’ team members, Navy and Environment Police officers. In addition to that, the water surface of the canals and the lake will be cleaned by the Navy and the SLDRC while CMC and Abans workers will support these teams.

The wind dried waste would be sent to the Kerawalapitiya garbage collection point with the guidance of the Urban Development Authority (UDA). Plans are afoot for dredging and deeper cleaning of the Beira Lake and canals, after the superficial cleaning of the Beira lake on Saturday (21).

The Delegation of the European Union, the Missions of the EU Member States in Sri Lanka as well as the diplomatic missions of the Governments of Canada and Norway in Sri Lanka have written to President Maithripala Sirisena to verify the worrying information in the public domain about the intention of the Sri Lankan government to resume implementing the death penalty after a moratorium of more than 40 years.

In a letter sent to President Sirisena, the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka together with the British and the Canadian High Commissions, Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Romania and Norway said that they strongly and unequivocally opposed capital punishment in all circumstances and in all cases. 

"The mentioned diplomatic missions have made known in their letter that they strongly and unequivocally oppose capital punishment in all circumstances and in all cases.  The death penalty is incompatible with human dignity, does not have any proven deterrent effect, and allows judicial errors to become fatal and irreversible", the EU's delegation to Sri Lanka said.  

The diplomatic missions have requested the President to maintain the moratorium on the implementation of the death penalty and to uphold Sri Lanka's tradition of opposition to capital punishment.

It was reported that when the Cabinet took the topic of capital punishment for discussion last week, it was only Minister of Finance and Media Mangala Samaraweera who opposed it on principle.

"I have always been against the Death Penalty and my stance has not changed. Even within the Cabinet, I voiced by opinion but the majority was for it", Samaraweera said. 

The Minister was of the opinion that life imprisonment for drug dealers was a greater punishment than death stating that “it would kill him a little every day instead of putting him out of his misery".

Anyone who has a telephone or computer with internet facilities can now use the SLTB Express app from home to buy a ticket for a long-distance bus starting from the Pettah Central Bus Stand. Commuters can also use this facility to reserve a seat of their choice, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said.

The Minister said this at a ceremony at the Pettah Central Bus Station to introduce the SLTB Express app yesterday. He also said that this new app would streamline the booking process in SLTB long-distance buses without any hassle to the commuters. 

The Minister said the SLTB had decided to introduce this technology to help commuters to save their time. This system would also help the SLTB to minimise administrative expenses involved in maintaining ticket counters. He said the SLTB had prepared this data network in collaboration with Express 418, a private company. 

A commuter who has made the booking could obtain his or her seat by showing the reservation on the mobile phone to the conductor. The commuter would also be issued an e-ticket.

Under the second stage of this programme, the e-ticketing facility would be available for long-distance buses operating between main outstation towns too. A commuter using this facility would be required to pay an additional sum of LKR 80 apart from the usual fare.

Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera in a press release today (17) apologised from the Lions and Rotaract clubs for inadvertently mentioning them when he said that certain individuals connected to the drug trade try to cover their sins by being benefactors of society, holding high positions in various organizations or as philanthropists in religious organizations. 

"In response to a question on the restoration of Capital Punishment for drug dealers at a press conference last week, while reiterating my opposition to Capital Punishment, I said that certain individuals connected to the drug trade try to cover their sins by being benefactors of society, holding high positions in various organizations or as philanthropists in religious organizations. Inadvertently, I also mentioned Rotarians and Lions Clubs, which I deeply regret", Samaraweera said.

"There may be some individuals in society that join various organizations for such reasons. However, I fully recognize and acknowledge that this does not, in any way, diminish the noble charitable work which has been, and continues to be done by these organisations throughout the country, especially for the poor, needy, destitute and the vulnerable. I understand that my comments would have resulted in causing pain of mind to many. To all of them, I express my sincere apologies", he added.

Chairman of the Embilipitiya Pradeshiya Sabha M.K. Amila was sentenced to 3 months imprisonment by the Embilipitiya Magistrate’s Court for assaulting a police officer. He was also ordered to pay Rs 30,000 as compensation to the policeman. 

M.K. Amil was sentenced for assaulting and obstructing the duties of a police officer at Panamure, Embilipitiya in 2013 when he had assaulted a traffic cop who had stopped him as the suspect was riding a motorcycle without a helmet at the time.

They will reveal all details on the funds received by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa from China by next week, says the JVP. 

JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated this at a seminar held in Maharagama on Saturday. Despite the allegations, Rajapaksa has failed to deny the accusations. “Instead he is going around saying other things,” Dissanayake said adding that it shows the country’s leaders can be bought by other nations. “What kind of leaders are these” he questioned. 
 
He says that they will present all the information to the Parliament next week, with substantial proof.

An investigation has been sought on a Malaysian politician’s alleged links with the LTTE.

Pas, a Malaysian political party called on the police to investigate Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy’s possible links with the LTTE, the New Straits Times reported.

Its information chief Nasrudin Hassan said the Police needed to step in and check on the matter following the circulation of a picture which showed Ramasamy allegedly paying his respects to a Kalashnikov rifle – which is a symbol of the armed group.

He said it was also reported that Ramasamy had recently hosted a pro-LTTE politician from India.

Nasrudin was referring to a recent visit to Penang by V Gopalasamy, better known as Vaiko, who leads Tamil Nadu-based party Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), to attend the wedding of Ramasamy’s son.

He said a picture of Ramasamy and Vaiko had been uploaded on Facebook on July 14, with the caption that the latter was attending Dr Vijaya Bharath’s wedding reception.

Nasruddin said Vaiko had previously been barred from entering Malaysia and was even detained at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on June 9, 2017, and this had been confirmed by Immigration director-general Datuk Mustafar Ali.

“A thorough investigation must be made on him and other individuals. This is because it could affect the political stability and peace in Malaysia.

“Furthermore, he is a DAP member who holds a senior position in Penang and his position could have an influence on crucial matters,” Nasrudin said.

Ramasamy has come under the spotlight after he questioned the government’s decision not to deport controversial Muslim cleric Dr Zakir Naik back to India.

Ramasamy in responding to the allegations denied any links to the LTTE.

He also denied promoting violence by “worshipping” the Kalashnikov or AK-47 assault rifle, saying that the picture was taken at a memorial to victims of genocide.

“It was a ceremony I attended about two or three years ago, organised by several NGOs… a memorial service for those who died in the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict or victims of genocide,” he was reported to have said. (Colombo Gazette)

The Q branch Police in Tamil Nadu have detained three Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, including a couple, involved in several thefts and chain snatching cases when they attempted to flee to Sri Lanka in a boat from Rameswaram.

Acting on specific information, a Q branch team, led by N. Rajeshawari, Inspector of Police detained the trio – Rajan alias Kettiyan Pandi, 34, his wife Roopa alias Anu, 23, and Y. Nishanthan, 26, on Friday evening when they were waiting at the Ayyanarkoil seashore for boarding a boat to flee, The Hindu newspaper reported.

Pandi and his wife, who were staying at the Mettupatti refugee camp in Namakkal district and Nishanthan at Sivagnanapuram here after registering at the Mandapam refugee camp had decided to escape to their native villages in Jaffna after police launched a hunt for them in connection with chain snatching and criminal cases.

Police said Pandi, who had arrived as refugee in 2002, was involved in around 25 theft and chain snatching cases and was facing trial in about five cases. Nishanthan, who arrived as refugee in 1996, was also involved in several criminal cases, including two attempts to murder cases, police said. Roopa had pledged stolen jewellery and helped her husband, the police said.

After getting in touch with Nishanthan, Pandi arrived in Ramanathapuram with his wife, a couple of days ago to flee to Sri Lanka, police said.
Kenikarai police have arrested the trio.

The police have also arrested K Karnan, 42, a Sri Lankan Tamil living at Melavalasai on charges of pledging a stolen gold chain and mobilising money to the trio.

Police said Pandi after consuming liquor with Nishanthan on Friday night, had entered into a house at Madakottan, near here and snatched 7 sovereign of gold chain from an aged woman. Karnan pledged the chain for ₹1.10 lakh and arranged for their clandestine trip, police added.

Pandi, who was initially into bike lifting, switched over to chain snatching and had been operating on his own, police said. The couple had left their two children with Roopa’s mother in Mettupatti camp, police added. 

(Colombo Gazette)

Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera has issued a sincere apology for the recent comments he had made with regard to drug dealers and those connected to the drug trade holding high positions in various organizations or as philanthropists in religious organizations.

In response to a question on the restoration of Capital Punishment for drug dealers at a press conference last week, while reiterating his opposition to Capital Punishment, Samaraweera said that certain individuals connected to the drug trade try to cover their sins by being benefactors of society, holding high positions in various organizations or as philanthropists in religious organizations. 

“Inadvertently, I also mentioned Rotarians and Lions Clubs, which I deeply regret.”

He stated that there may be some individuals in society that join various organizations for such reasons. “However, I fully recognize and acknowledge that this does not, in any way, diminish the noble charitable work which has been, and continues to be done by these Organizations throughout the country, especially for the poor, needy, destitute and the vulnerable.”

“I understand that my comments would have resulted in causing pain of mind to many. To all of them, I express my sincere apologies,” he said in a statement

Source : Derana

Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala Samaraweera says law will be strictly enforced against errant traders who are raising prices of essential items arbitrarily.

He said the government has decided to strictly enforce the law against traders who use the revision of fuel prices as a justification to raise prices of essential items and services.

Accordingly, the government will take steps to introduce a strong new bill to overcome the shortcomings in the existing Consumer Affairs Authority Act to protect consumer rights, said the Finance Minister addressing a media briefing recently.

According to the fuel pricing formula introduced by the government on 11th May, the fuel prices will be revised in line with the market price on the midnight of the 10th of every month.

When asked whether the government has a plan to protect the consumer if the traders decide to raise the prices of other goods and services related to fuel prices, the Minister said that fuel prices alone cannot be used to raise prices of goods and services.

"In our country not only fuel prices, if the prices of all goods and services are increased, the prices in the market will be increased immediately but if the prices are reduced the benefits are not passed on to the consumers," he pointed out.

"Therefore we need to create moral qualities in traders. We need to train them to do the same when the prices are reduced as when they are raised," he added.

Minister Samaraweera said the Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen is taking measures to draft the new laws required to protect the consumers from unscrupulous traders.

The Minister explained that a number of factors decide the price hikes on goods and services, and the prices cannot be raised based on fuel prices.

He said the price of goods and services should be increased carefully and fairly and the government is carrying out this responsibility with great care.

Source : Colombo Page