News

A new Cabinet was sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa a short while ago.

Accordingly, the following appointments were made:

• Minister of Plantations, Minister of Education - Ramesh Pathirana

• Minister of Transport, Minister of Industries - Dilum Amunugama

• Minister of Tourism, Minister of Public Security - Prasanna Ranatunga

• Minister of Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government - Dinesh Gunawardena

• Minister of Health - Channa Jayasumana

• Minister of Fisheries - Douglas Devananda

• Minister of Highways - Kanaka Herath

• Minster of Labour - Vidura Wickramanayke

• Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Irrigation - Janaka Wakkumbura

• Minister of Trade, Minister of Samurdhi Development - Shehan Semasinghe

• Minister of Water Supply - Mohan Priyadarshana de Silva

• Minister of Ports and Shipping - Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon

• Minister of Forest and Wildlife Conservation - Wimalaweera Dissanayake

• Minister of Power, Minister of Energy - Kanchana Wijesekara

• Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports - Thenuka Vidanagamage

• Minister of Mass Media - Nalaka Godahewa
• Minister of Environment - Naseer Ahamed

The Asia Rugby Executive Committee (EXCO) has discussed at length the contrary positions of the Sri Lanka Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Sri Lanka National Olympic Committee in relation to the suspension of the Sri Lanka Rugby.

Sri Lanka Rugby was suspended by the Sri Lankan Minister of Youth and Sports as announced via an official Government Gazette dated 1 April 2022 whilst the National Olympic Committee via an official letter signed by the Secretary-General recognizes the Sri Lanka Rugby as the sole representative of the sport of rugby in Sri Lanka.

The Executive Committee concluded that, in accordance with Asia Rugby Regulation 3, the membership of the Sri Lanka Rugby will be temporarily suspended from the Regional Association with immediate effect until further notice on the basis that the Sri Lanka Rugby may no longer be considered as fully responsible for the organisation of rugby-related matters in its jurisdiction; or it is no longer in a position to perform its constitutional and regulatory duties in an appropriate manner.

The Executive Committee further concluded that a visiting delegation from the Regional Association together with the Olympic Council of Asia will travel to Sri Lanka on 20 April to meet with the relevant stakeholders in a committed and transparent efforts to attain an ideal resolution to the affair in the best interest of the Sri Lankan rugby athletes.

(Source: Asia Rugby)

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) notes with grave concern the attempts to disrupt a peaceful protest by the people.

Issuing a statement, President of the BASL Saliya Pieris PC said the association received credible information from its members of a number of Police trucks being moved to the vicinity of Galle Face Green where a public protest is underway.

The statement said the trucks have now been removed after the matter was highlighted on social media and brought to the notice of authorities.

The BASL President said any such attempts to disrupt peaceful protests will have grave repercussions for the country, democracy, economy, and rule of law.

The BASL called on the government to desist from taking any steps to disrupt the legitimate exercise of the freedom of dissent of the people.

MP Shantha Bandara, who was sworn in as the State Minister of Agriculture yesterday (11), has been removed from all positions he had been holding in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

Bandara accepting a State Ministerial portfolio at a time when the party decided not to accept any portfolios in the present administration is a betrayal to the party, the SLFP said.

General Secretary of the SLFP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said steps will also be taken to expel the State Minister from the SLFP Central Committee and from the Party.

Bandara was sworn in yesterday as the State Minister of Organic Fertilizer Production, Promotion and Supply Regulation and Promotion of Paddy and Cereals, Organic Food, Vegetables, Fruits, Chilies, Salt and Potato Cultivation, Seed Production and High Tech Agriculture following the resignation of Shasheendra Rajapaksa.

He said that he had accepted the post at the request of the President.

Sri Lanka’s former Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka in an open statement on Facebook has urged Defence Secretary General G.D.H. Kamal Gunaratne (Retd), and General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army to rethink the unlawful orders given by the corrupt rulers concerning the peaceful civil struggles that are taking place in the country.

“You led battalions in the humanitarian mission to defeat terrorism under my orders and directives. Therefore, I expect that you would think over and over on the unlawful orders that are given by the corrupt rulers to suppress the very peaceful civil struggles that have arisen in the country,” the Parliamentarian from the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) said addressing the Defence Secretary and the Army Commander.

He said that the pressure that has built upon the civil society due to the struggle to survive, which has arisen solely based on the corrupt, inefficient state administration, has converted to a peaceful and non-violent people’s protest.

The Former Army Commander also went on to note that any attempt made by the Rajapaksa Government to suppress the innocent civilians to maintain their power, will be condemned worldwide.

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka noted that he does not wish to see any war hero that he led in the humanitarian mission, fall into any state of disgrace or embarrassment.

He reiterated that the Defence Secretary and the Army Commander must rethink before enforcing the unlawful orders given by the corrupt rulers.

News 1st

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) requested power cuts were approved by the PUCSL for next week.

The schedule is as follows;

4 hours on 11th and 12th April No power cuts from 13th to 15th of April 2 hours and 15 minutes on 16th & 17th of April

On 11th and 12th

Groups ABCDEFGHIJKL

2 hours and 15 minutes from 8:30am to 5:30pm 1 hour and 45 minutes from 5:30pm to 10:45pm

Groups PQRSTUVW

2 hours and 15 minutes from 10:45am to 5:30pm 1 hour and 45 minutes from 5:30pm to 10:45pm

On 16th to 17th

Groups ABCDEFGHIJKLPQRSTUVW

2 hours and 15 minutes from 9am to 6pm.

Chairman of Litro Gas Theshara Jayasinghe has handed in his letter of resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, officials confirmed.

"During his tenure, Litro Gas faced several issues including production issues, a severe shortage of cylinders, and price hikes. Prices were expected to increase after the Awurudu season too. He overcame all these issues. However, Litro, as a company, will face further difficulties, and since the Government itself is not taking any concrete decisions pertaining to these issues, Theshara has decided to step down", the official said.

A communique on whether President Rajapaksa has accepted the letter is yet to be issued, however.

In his letter, Jayasinghe noted that although the President supported him, this was not the case with the Subject Minister and State Officials related to the sector.

Colombo Magistrate’s Court issued an order preventing Ex-Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal from traveling overseas.

Ajith Nivard Cabraal was also issued summons to appear in Court on the 18th of April.

The order was issued by Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunuwela upon considering an application filed by former governor Keerthi Tennakooon.

The application charged Cabraal for abusing public funds during his tenure as the governor of the central bank.

President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne and Attorney-at-Law Gunaratne Wanninayake appeared on behalf of the plaintiff.

The additional magistrate has also ordered Ajith Nivard Cabraal to appear in court on the 18th of this month.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Pradeshiya Sabha member Duminda Perera was arrested for allegedly assaulting Kelaniya university students while attempting to demolish a stage set up by a group of students during a protest in Kiribathgoda was today ordered to be remanded till April 22 by Mahara Magistrate's Court.

The suspect was arrested by the Kiribathgoda following a complaint that he had stormed a peaceful protest organized by a group of students of the Kelaniya University Students’ Union.

Senior Counsel Darshana Kuruppu appearing for the aggrieved party submitted to the court that the university students had engaged in a peaceful protest against the injustices faced by the general public in long queues.

However, defence counsel Sugath Thalwattegedara appearing for the suspect moved Court to release the suspect on bail. Taking into consideration the facts, Mahara Additional Magistrate ordered to remand the suspect till April 22.

Senior Counsel Darshana Kuruppu with Counsel Nithishya Rushanka Samaranayake, Biyanka Jayasuriya, Thamara Abeyratne, Geethani Weerasinghe, Chathura Gunaratne, Lanka Hettiarachchi, Tirosha Nilanthi, Lakmal Alankaragedara, Prasad Perera Pasan Galappaththi appeared for the aggrieved party.

dailymirror

The Ministry of Education has decided to extend school hours by an hour from the next term, commencing 18 April.

Secretary to the Ministry of Education Prof. Kapila Perera said the decision was taken owing to the limited time available to complete this year’s syllabus and to cover missed lessons.

Employees of Litro have been given leave from Wednesday (13) until next Monday due to the Sinhala & Tamil New Year.

Accordingly, the Keralawalapitiya Gas Distribution Center was deserted on Wednesday (13).

However, people can still be seen waiting in line at several places across the country to purchase cooking gas to light a stove on New Year’s Eve.

People in Nagoda, Galle were waiting in line despite heavy rain, as they await to welcome the new year on Thursday (14).

Heated exchanges were also reported from some distribution centers as people lost patience due to delays.

People also protested in Galle, Kandy, and several other locations due to the delay in cooking gas distribution.

The Government Medical Officers’ Association stated that the health sector will face several issues in the next few weeks due to the shortage of medicine.

North Western Province Coordinator of the Government Medical Officers Association, Dr. Indika Ratnayake said that with the present situation in the country and negative financial system allocations to the health sector have been reduced.

Further, he said that the main reason they could not import medicine was because of the shortage of dollars.

According to the situation arising in the country importing medicine will be difficult and there will be a high demand for medicines, he said.