News

Former President Maithripala Sirisena has claimed he knows who really carried out the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks and that he was prepared to disclose the information to the judiciary.

Speaking to the media in Kandy today, the former President said if the court makes a request or issues an order in this regard, the information will be revealed.

Stating that no one has revealed the true mastermind of the Easter attacks yet, Sirisena said he was willing to disclose the details, but it was the responsibility of the judges to keep the information strictly confidential.

The World Bank has recognized Sri Lanka's 1990 Suwa Seriya Ambulance Service for strengthening Sri Lanka’s primary healthcare system and giving a second chance at life to the millions who are critically injured.

Martin Raiser, the Vice President for the South Asia Region of the World Bank Group recognizing the 1990 Suwa Seriya noted that the ambulance service has tapped into this potential by leading digital innovation in health and emergency services.

Its trademark speed and efficiency come from digital integration into its processes and operations—from using specific algorithms to identify the fastest ambulance that can be deployed to an emergency, to tracking callers’ locations through an app, to digitally tracking fuel levels in its vehicles.

The World Bank says Suwa Seriya’s success is an example of how technology can help revolutionize service delivery in developing countries.

Since its launch in 2016, 1.8 million Sri Lankan citizens in distress have dialed 1990 , and a Suwa Seriya ambulance has rushed them to the nearest hospital or primary care facility within 12 minutes of their call, one of the fastest response rates in the world for an ambulance service.

In these seven years, Suwa Seriya has saved countless lives—providing citizens the highest level of pre-hospital care, reducing complications caused by delayed care, and enabling them to get back into the workforce in record time—making a positive contribution to the country’s economy.

Initially funded by a grant from India, 1990 Suwa Seriya has since been supported by the Sri Lankan government.

However, it deliberately seeks private donors and sponsors to fund its digital innovations so as to not rely solely on public funding in a resource-constrained environment.

In its largest fundraiser yet, Suwa Seriya raised an impressive LKR 750 million in private funding via its “adopt an ambulance” campaign.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe today (22) released as many as 234 acres of land, previously held by the Jaffna Security Forces Headquarters, to farmers in the area.

These plots of land were released to farmers across five Grama Niladhari Divisions in Jaffna for cultivation purposes, the President’s Media Division said.

Under the Urumaya national program, aimed at distributing 2 million freehold deeds to the deserving public, President Ranil Wickremesinghe symbolically presented the deeds, benefiting a total of 408 individuals at a ceremony held in Oddakapulam, Jaffna.

MPs Prof. Charitha Herath and S.M. Marikkar have also decided to resign from the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), bringing the total number of opposition members to quit the parliamentary committee thus far to four.

In a post on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), former COPE chairman Prof. Herath said he has officially communicated his decision to the Speaker of Parliament today (19).

SJB parliamentarian Marikkar also announced his decision to step down today.

Their resignation comes after SJB parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne and MP Dayasiri Jayasekara also decided to quit the committee.

Wickramaratne announced his decision to resign yesterday and in his letter of resignation explained that no credible action had been taken on those who were found to have been complicit in corrupt practices or mismanagement despite the COPE reports submitted to the parliament time and time again.

He also took issue with the appointment of Rohitha Abeygunawardena, a ruling party MP, as the COPE chairman despite the previous government adopting a practice of appointing an Opposition member to chair the committee to strengthen the principle that the legislature must be a check and balance on the executive arm of government.

In addition, Wickramaratne highlighted that it is dissatisfying that members who have been appointed to COPE have allegations against their personal conduct, particularly on financial transactions and that this also contributes to the citizen’s loss of confidence in Parliament.

(adaderana.lk)

Prof. Chandrasiri Palliyaguru, retired Senior Professor and Head of the Sinhala Department at the Sri Kelaniya University has passed away.

He was 80 years old.

Prof. Palliyaguru, entered the Vidyalankara University in 1961, studied Sinhala, Pali, and Hindi and graduated in 1965 by offering Sinhala as his major and Hindi as his subsidiary.

He earned his Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology in 1976 for his thesis titled 'A Proposed Classification of Contemporary Sinhalese Rituals with Specific Reference to the Southern Province of Sri Lanka'.

In 2013 (Hon.) he was conferred with the title of Professor Emeritus by the University of Kelaniya as well.

He is the author of several books.

(sundaytimes.lk)

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Eran Wickramaratne has resigned from the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) with effect from today (Mar 18).

The opposition MP has served on COPE in previous Parliaments and was reappointed a member of COPE after the recent prorogation of Parliament.

“COPE has been established to ensure the observance of financial discipline in Public Corporations and other semi-governmental bodies in which the Government has a financial stake. By appointing a ruling party member as its Chairman, the committee fails to meet its objectives of keeping a check on the executive arm of the government,” he said in a statement.

MP Wickramaratne pointed out that to this end, the 2015-2019 government followed a best practice of appointing the Chairmen for the two key Committees COPE and COPA from the opposition.

“The duty of the Committee is to report to Parliament on accounts examined, budgets and estimates, financial procedures, performance and management of Corporations and other Government Business Undertakings. 45 years since its establishment, COPE has come to be a redundant committee. Mismanagement and corruption have largely gone unchecked due to limitations in Standing Orders. Standing Order should be widened, where irregularities and fraud when in light, should reach the Attorney General directly and Bribery Commission proceeding to act. The government blocks the process by limiting Standing Orders, thereby the effectiveness of COPE is now in question,” he said.

Stating that appointees to COPE as part of its 31-member team or Chairperson, must not be associated with allegations and/or convictions, the SJB MP said a committee that has an overview of checks and balances must have clearly outlined qualifications and disqualifications for its members.

MP Eran Wickramaratne said he is of the view that it is high time to revisit the scope of COPE and expand Standing Orders enabling the committee to do impactful work and embrace good governance practices moving forward.

“It is evident that the present government that lacks legitimacy compounds the fact by appearing to cover up and defend mismanagement and corruption by the more recent appointments,” he added.

The vote on the no-confidence motion against Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, was defeated in the Parliament today (21), following a three-day debate.

The Speaker survived the no-confidence motion, moved by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), by a majority of 42 votes.

A total of 117 lawmakers had voted against the motion while 75 voted in favour.

Accordingly, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena will continue to function as the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

The third day of the parliamentary debate on the no-confidence motion against the Speaker commenced at 09.30 a.m. this morning.

The parliamentary debate on the no-confidence motion tabled by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) was initially slated to be held for two days, however the Committee on Parliamentary Business later decided for it to be debated for three consecutive days.

The debate commenced in the Parliament on Tuesday (March 19).

The motion brought forth by the opposition against the Speaker was officially handed over to the Deputy General Secretary of Parliament on March 05.

It had been signed by 44 parliamentarians including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella and MPs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Rohini Kumari Wijeratne, Hesha Vithanage, Mano Ganesan, Rishad Bathiudeen, M.A. Sumanthiran, S.M. Marikkar, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Thalatha Atukorale, Vijitha Herath and Chandima Weerakkody.

The no-confidence motion alleges that the Speaker had ignored the Supreme Court’s recommendations pertaining to Sections 13, 17, 20, 33 (6), 34 (1), 35 (1), 21, 22 and 33 of the Online Safety Bill.

The Speaker is also accused of allowing the third Reading of the Online Safety Bill to be passed without a vote and disregarding the Chief Opposition Whip’s call for a division at the Committee Stage.

Further, the opposition MPs claim that the Speaker had ‘unconstitutionally and unlawfully’ used his decisive vote to affirm the appointment of IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon when the other members of the Constitutional Council were divided on a tie on the matter. It was reported that four members had voted in favour of the appointment while 2 voted against and 2 others abstained. However, considering the 2 abstentions as votes cast against, the Speaker had used his vote as the deciding vote to go ahead with the appointment, they allege.

(adaderana.lk)

Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha says that school principals will be informed through a circular to organise the inter-house sports meets and sports events of their respective schools after the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays.

The minister pointed out that it has been observed that many schools have organised inter-house sports meets regardless of the prevailing hot weather conditions across the island.

Minister Susil Premajayantha said that since the first school term will continue even after the New Year holidays, it is possible to hold sports meets and other outdoor sporting events during that period.

Meanwhile, the Department of Meteorology says the heat index, the temperature felt on the human body, is expected to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in North-western, North-central, Eastern, Western provinces and Monaragala, Mannar, Rathnapura and Vavuniya districts tomorrow (18).

MP Dilan Perera has also decided to resign from the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), becoming the 11th member to do so.

Earlier, Eran Wickramaratne, Gamini Waleboda, Prof. Charitha Herath, Dayasiri Jayasekara, S. M. Marikkar, Hesha Withanage, Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Wasantha Yapa Bandara, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Duminda Dissanayake had quit the committee membership, to remonstrate the appointment of new COPE chairman.

At the first COPE meeting of the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament convened on March 07, Rohitha Abeygunawardena was elected by majority votes to serve as the new chairman. His name had been nominated by MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage and seconded by MP Sanjeewa Edirimanna.

Meanwhile, the first COPE meeting under the chairmanship of Abeygunawardana was convened at the parliament complex on Tuesday (March 19) despite the string of member resignations.

(adaderana.lk)

A meeting was convened at the Presidential Secretariat, yesterday (15) chaired by Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayaka, to discuss the launch of a new mobile application “Beach Clean-up Coordination APP” aimed at enhancing the cleanliness and waste management on beaches.

The introduction of this mobile application is facilitated through the intervention of the Coastal Conservation Protection Authority. It aims to formalize coordination among institutions and organizations engaged in the sustainable development of coastal and marine environments.

Mr. Sagala Ratnayaka emphasized the importance of commitment from all institutions responsible for ensuring the sustainability of ocean and coastal areas in maintaining cleanliness. He highlighted that the new mobile application will serve as a tool to facilitate these activities effectively.

Emphasized the necessity of expanding current education and awareness programs concerning coastal cleanliness and preservation Mr. Sagala Ratnayaka noted that such efforts would significantly contribute to the government’s initiative to promote tourism in coastal regions.

The Coastal Conservation and Protection Authority highlighted the severe pollution of coastal and marine resources caused by waste flowing from rivers and canals, sewage discharge, and waste dumped near fishing ports and other marine areas. They emphasized the importance of clean-up efforts involving public and private institutions, as well as non-governmental organizations. The introduction of the mobile application is expected to enhance the coordination of these activities for more effective waste management.

In attendance at the discussion were Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Prabhath Chandrakeerthi, Secretary of the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, W.S. Satyananda, along with other government officials, the Navy Commander, Inspector General of Police, Heads of Security Division and representatives of non-governmental organizations.

The leader of the National People’s Power (NPP) Anura Kumara Dissanayake left for Canada today (21) for a visit.

Dissanayake is scheduled to participate in two major rallies organized by the Canadian Committee of the NPP on March 23 in Toronto and on March 24 in Vancouver.

He will also participate in several friendly meetings with the Sri Lankan Tamil and Muslim communities in Canada.

An emergency hotline, ‘107’, dedicated primarily to the Tamil-speaking public in Vavuniya has been launched by Sri Lanka Police.

According to Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa the emergency hotline has been introduced under the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

He further said that the emergency hotline was declared open by Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon.

the Police Media Unit said the emergency hotline will be operated in all three common languages of Sinhala, Tamil and English, but is dedicated primarily to the Tamil-speaking people of the area.

The Media Unit further said that the public in Vavuniya has been encouraged to contact the new hotline in case of any form of emergency.