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The Sri Lankan government has decided to reinstate the death penalty for drug traffickers including those who have already been sentenced to death, Minister of Buddha Sasana, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said yesterday.President Maithripala Sirisena too had recently stated that he was under pressure to reintroduce capital punishment as a deterrent to serious crimes, the Minister said adding that it received approval from the Cabinet as well.

"The Cabinet in unison agreed to it. We cannot allow inmates in prison to destroy the country by directing crimes and engaging in the drug trade while still in prison", Perera said. 

As most of the people approve President Sirisena’s move to reactivate capital punishment, civil society and anti-drug addiction groups say death penalty alone is insufficient to deter crimes or curb the smuggling of drugs into the country.

While many argued that punitive punishment would act as a caution to would-be offenders, others said it would only net small-scale drug dealers while major dealers would escape with the help of powerful politicians.

Executive Director of the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre, Pubudu Sumanasekera said there was no scientifically-based evidence that capital punishment acted as a deterrent to crime. 

“This is not an option. We believe in prevention, treatment and rehabilitation,” he said.

Although capital punishment is in the statute, Sri Lanka had stopped hangings since 1976. Death row prisoners spend life terms in jail.

Executions have not been carried out as successive presidents in office since 1978 have refused to issue death warrants.

Deputy Minister J. C Alawathuwala and State Minister Lucky Jayawardena were sworn in as State Ministers before President Maithripala Sirisena today (10), the President's Media Division said.

Alawathuwala who was acting as the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs was appointed as the State Minister of Home Affairs.

Lucky Jayawardena was appointed as the State Minister of Urban Development and Water Supply. Prior to his new appointment, Jayawardena served as the State Minister of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development.

The Attorney General has instructed the Inspector General of Police to conduct investigations into the statement made by former State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran regarding the LTTE.

Speaking during a state event held in Jaffna on July 2, she had said that the LTTE should be reformed for the freedom of the Tamil people.
 
The AG has also requested the IGP to soon submit a report following the investigations. The Speaker had informed the Attorney General to investigate whether MP Vijayakala Maheswaran’s controversial statement has violated the Constitution or any laws and to take necessary legal action.

A survey carried out by Dr. Nimali Wijewardena have revealed that one third of prison officials suffer burnout, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health said.

The survey also revealed that 38.8 percent of prison officials also suffer from a lack of self esteem. The percentage of prison officials who showed mental fatigue is 26.9. 

1803 prison and rehabilitation officials were surveyed.

The spokesperson however stated that mainly jailers had taken part in the survey, while officials from prison institutions including those at Welikada, Mahara, Dumbara, Galle, Boosa, Polonnaruwa, Badulla, Wariyapola, Kuruvita, Kalutara, Negombo, Kegalle, Kandewaththya, Weeravila, Kegalle, and Ambepussa had also taken part.


Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne handing over the survey report to Justice and Prison Reforms Minister Thalatha Athukorale. 


Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, speaking on the results of the survey, stated that it seems that prison officials are also imprisoned. 
Taking the survey as an example, he said decisions regarding any matter should be based on scientific findings. 
In this instance, remedies should be proposed for countering the burnout that prison officials experienced, as evidenced by the survey.​

The trial against MP Namal Rajapaksa and six others over the alleged purchase of stocks using misappropriated money has been postponed until July 31, on the orders of the Colombo High Court.

The case was slated to be taken up before the Colombo High Court Judge Sampath Abeykoon, yesterday. As the prosecution informed the court of the absentia of a witness due to health reasons, the case was postponed to July 31, and the Magistrate Abeykoon ordered the prosecution’s witness to appear at the next hearing.

The case was filed by the Attorney General under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act over the alleged invest of Rs. 30 million in the stocks of Gowers Corporate (Pvt) Limited, supposedly misappropriated by MP Namal Rajapaksa while working as a Member of the Parliament.

The second defendant of the case, Indika Prabath Karunajeewa, has fled the country and is currently absconding the court. The High Court has ordered to proceed with the trial in his absentia.

Source: Ada Derana

The Ministry of Finance says that the Cabinet will take a decision regarding the fuel price revision, today (10). Fuel prices were increased with effect from midnight on July 05th, with regard to the new fuel price formula introduced by the Finance Ministry. 
 
However, the government later decided to halt the fuel price hike. Finance Ministry points out that, the new fuel price formula requires fuel prices to be revised every two months, in accordance with the prices of the world market.
 
As the fuel price formula introduced by the Finance Ministry has received the Cabinet approval, the implementation of the formula will be discussed at the Cabinet meeting today. Accordingly, a final decision regarding fuel price revision will be taken today, said government sources.

A decision was made to increase the fuel prices of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation following a meeting with the President yesterday according to Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Rajitha Senaratne.

The price hike will go into effect from midnight today.

Accordingly, the new fuel price revision has increased Petrol 92 Octane by Rs 8, Petrol 95 Octane by Rs 7, Diesel by Rs 9 and Super Diesel by Rs 10.

If he is appointed as the SLFP General Secretary, MP Dayasiri Jayasekara claims he will work towards uplifting the party by going all over the island and conducting organizing activities. 

He made this statement in a live political show on television recently. According to him sitting in the opposition is not an obstacle to work towards the betterment of the party. 

He also went on to say he has not worked in order to get positions but if he is presented with one he will work accordingly. 

Accusations against those of the 16 who went to Pohottuwa 

He also slammed some of the 16 who joined the SLPP claiming they have lost their political identity. According to him, the intention of the 16 was to act with a particular political identity and form a united and powerful front. 

According to him, this chance was lost due to the actions of certain people.  He also affirmed that he is not willing to leave the party.

A Policeman has been killed by a Buddhist monk today at a temple in the Ratnapura Weralupe Galande area. According to sources the Policeman, a sergeant attached to the Ratnapura Police had visited the temple around 9.30am today to execute a warrant regarding a case being heard against the monk when he was fatally attacked.

A resident in the area had called 119 to inform of the incident. However responding officers were also attacked by the monk who had tried to hurl a hand grenade at them. The Police were able to prevent the attack, going on to arrest the monk instead. 

The killed Policeman has been identified as Police Seargent 44101 Samarawickrama attached to the MO Branch of the Ratnapura Police. He was a resident of Embilipitiya and father of two.

A case filed against the Former Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa and eight others by the Bribery commission was postponed to October 30 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake. 

The decision was made after the lawyer representing the Commission informed the court that an interim order had been issued against hearing the case by the Court of Appeal. 

The allegation is that Gotabaya Rajapaksa and eight others allowed the Avant Garde Maritime Services to run a floating armoury in the Galle harbour thereby causing a loss of Rs. 11.4 Billion to the government. 

The respondents of the case include Chairman of the Avant-Garde Maritime Services Nissanka Yapa Senadhipathi, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Damayanthi Jayaratne, Former Chairman of Rakna Lanka Rtd. Major General PAlitha Fernando. Additionally, former Navy Commanders Somathilake Dissanayake, Jayantha Perera and Jayanath Colombage have been named in the case. 

Currently, respondent to the case Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Damayanthi Jayaratne is said to have fled abroad.

Courts ordered Former Army Intelligence Chief Rtd. Major General Amal Karunasekara to be remanded once again till July 24. He is currently under arrest regarding the abduction of Journalist Keith Noyahr. 

While the case was called today, Prison officials informed the courts that the suspect cannot attend as he has been hospitalized.
As a result, the court ordered for him to be remanded once again.

The UN Security Council will hold a high-level open debate on children and armed conflict with the theme “Protecting Children Today Prevents Conflict Tomorrow” on Monday (09), aiming to bring world attention to the protection of children in armed conflict. 

Diplomatic sources said on Saturday that the meeting will be chaired by Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven. 

Sweden, the chair of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, circulated a concept note on June 21, which highlights three key areas: protecting children and upholding their rights; successful reintegration of former child soldiers; and peace processes as an entry point for protecting children. 

UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba will present the Secretary-General’s annual report on children and armed conflict.

The Council is expected to adopt a resolution during the meeting, informed sources said. There were at least 21,000 grave violations of children’s rights verified by the UN last year (6,000 by government forces and 15,000 by non-state armed groups), a 27 per cent increase over 2016, according to the Security Council report.