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President Sirisena's Chief of Staff caught taking a bribe

Sri Lankan police caught a top aide of President Maithripala Sirisena in the act of allegedly accepting a bribe from a foreign investor on Thursday, an anti-corruption official said.

Sirisena’s Chief of Staff, I.H.K. Mahanama, was arrested with LKR 20 million he apparently received to release state land for a private sugar company, anti-graft commissioner Neville Guruge said.

Guruge said the Indian investor in the sugar firm had complained to the authorities that Mahanama and the Chairman of the State Timber Corporation, Piyadasa Dissanayake, had demanded the bribe.

“We caught them accepting the money at a hotel in Colombo,” Guruge said. “They were accepting a fifth of the (total) amount when they were apprehended.”

A police investigator said the duo had LKR 20 million in marked bills that were meant as the first installment of a LKR 100 million bribe.

President Sirisena ordered the immediate suspension of the two senior officers and noted that the arrests had been carried out by the independent anti-graft commission established after he came to power in January 2015.

“I am pleased that we have created an environment in which law enforcement authorities can carry out their duties without any fear,” Sirisena said in a statement.

Mahanama is the highest ranking public official to be arrested from Sirisena’s administration which had promised to end a culture of corruption.

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Lester’s award stolen from funeral : Citizens outraged

Citizens have been expressing their outrage over the recent theft of the ‘Golden Peacock Award’ won by the late Dr Lester James Peiris in 1965 from his residence during his last rites.

Many voicing their anger on social media said it is an insult to the film veteran while others questioned the current depraved state of the country. 

The medal has been missing since last afternoon. 
 
However, according to public figure and close family friend of Lester James Peiris, Kumar de Silva has revealed that the stolen medal is a replica of the original as the original was lost years ago.  “But that is robbery too,” he said posting on social media. 
 
Dr Lester James Peiris had received the medal when “Gamperaliya” ( Village Upheaval ) won the Golden Peacock Award for the best feature film at the third New Delhi film festival in 1965. This was the first time a Sinhala film had won an international award. 
 
Police investigations are continuing in this regard.

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Sri Lanka now a smuggling hotspot; 32 KG of gold worth LKR 240 million seized in Chennai

Officers attached to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 32.249kg of gold worth over LKR 240 million in Chennai. The gold was being smuggled from Sri Lanka through coastal Tamil Nadu into India.

The previous year itself saw DRI Chennai Zonal Unit seizing more than 105 kg of gold smuggled via Sri Lanka through the Tamil Nadu coast. Apart from the enforcement measures, the DRI has also taken up the issues of smuggling and other customs related matters at the policy level during the 28th Indo-Sri Lanka high level talks at New Delhi in February this year. 

As a result, both administrations had firmly resolved to combat smuggling. The Sri Lanka Customs and the Sri Lankan Navy have also stepped up efforts to curb smuggling of gold, narcotics, and other contraband. 

The Ministry of Finance imposed a 15% tax on its value on gold in Sri Lanka last month due to rising concerns of gold being smuggled out of the country after detecting a rapid spike in duty-free gold imports in recent months.

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Protesters rally for Sri Lankan asylum seeker family facing deportation

Demonstrators have protested outside a federal court in Melbourne in support of a Sri Lankan family facing deportation.

In a morning raid in March, Border Force officers seized Tamil Nadesalingam and his family from their home in the central Queensland town of Biloela and put them in immigration detention in Melbourne.

Many residents from Biloela made the journey to take part in Wednesday's protest.

family 1Nadesalingam, Priya, Dharuniga and Gopiga. 

Biloela social worker Angela Fredericks said the family had been contributing greatly to the community.

"They are just the most beautiful, gentle souls. They are just so warm and compassionate. They're so grateful, so thankful for anything, the slightest little thing you do for them," she said.

"This family is always going to be part of Biloela. So we will be with them, 100 per cent, no matter what happens."

Their immediate deportation was thwarted by last-minute legal action, and, now, the case has gone to the Federal Court.

Supporter Simone Cameron said the family's right to a fair hearing had been denied.

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Placards at the protest. Image via SBS news.

"I just think that it's heinous that we could be doing that to people who have committed no crime whatsoever. There was no need for them to be detained all this time," she said.

"They could have been released into the community, pending their court case today."

But the government said their case has been comprehensively assessed and does not meet Australia's asylum-protection obligations.

Refugee activists fear the early-morning raid and subsequent attempt to swiftly deport the family to Sri Lanka is being used to send a tough message to others seeking asylum in Australia.

The Tamil Refugee Council's Aran Mylvaganam said fewer than one in 10 cases for asylum are accepted.

He disputes the Australian and Sri Lankan governments' position that it is now safe for Tamils to return to the once war-torn country.

"If Tamils are deported back to Sri Lanka, they are being harassed, they are being tortured, some are being forcibly disappeared. What we know is that nothing has changed for Tamils in Sri Lanka."

The court has reserved its decision.

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ADB Director assures Mangala to accelerate projects worth USD 3.6 billion

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who is currently in the Philippines to take part in the 51st Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Board of Governors, met with In-Chang Song, Director of the ADB, today at the ADB HQ in Manila.

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At the meeting, Director Song had agreed to accelerate ongoing bilateral projects valued at over USD 3.6 billion, the Ministry of Finance said.
Samaraweera is also scheduled to address the meeting on May 5 (Saturday) during the ‘Governors’ Plenary: ADB Strategy 2030’ session.

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Discussion on May 8: Party leader meeting today

A party leaders meeting is set to be held today (03) led by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.

The meeting will be held at the Parliament complex where the leaders will focus on the new parliamentary session which is to be held on May 8 and preparation of the order book, political sources said. 

An MP of the Joint opposition also claimed they will be mindful about the post of opposition leader and the main opposition whip during the meeting. 

Meanwhile, appointments to several subcommittees including the COPE committee is set to be made and the MP said they will ensure the JO is represented in these.

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 Importers plan to stop milk powder imports as prices rise in world market 

Milk powder companies have stopped importing milk powder stocks since they have not been given permission to increase milk powder prices, a local media report said citing sources at the milk powder companies.

The sources say that since the new orders for milk powder have been stopped from the last week, there is a possibility of a shortage of milk powder in the market at the end of this month.

The companies say they face difficulties and problems to provide milk powder at the government stipulated prices because of the price increase in world market and the appreciation of the dollar.

As such the companies have requested permission to from the Cost of Living Committee and the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) to increase the price of a kilogram of milk powder by a hundred rupees.

Milk powder companies point out that the current stocks are sufficient for next two to three weeks. The companies say they have informed the Prime Minister of their decision to stop imports of milk powder.

The importers pointing out that currently, the price of a metric ton of milk powder is USD 3250-3350 and by June it is expected to rise to $ 3400-3500, say it the government allows to increase the price at least by 75 rupees they can minimize the losses.

Source : Colombo Page

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Roadshow in New Delhi to promote Sri Lanka Investment and Business Conclave 2018

The Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi organized a Roadshow followed by a business interactive session for the members of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry under the theme “SRI LANKA PARTNERING WITH INDIA FOR PROSPERITY”, at the High Commission premises on 25 April 2018. The main focus of the Roadshow was to promote the Sri Lanka Investment and Business Conclave 2018 which is to be held from 19 to 21 June 2018, at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo.  
 
At the business interactive session on 25 April, High Commissioner Chitranganee Wagiswara welcomed the members of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry and highlighted the recent economic developments in the country and outlined the initiatives of the Sri Lanka government to create an economy, firmly based on foreign and domestic private investment.

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Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to India Chitranganee Wagiswara speaking at the event. 

She emphasized on the New Trade Policy, which was approved by the Cabinet in July 2017, and made reference to the progressive steps taken by the government to facilitate, protect and promote the trade and liberal investment climate in Sri Lanka, by enacting the Inland Revenue Act, the Foreign Exchange Act and moving forward on the Anti-Dumping Bill.
 
While referring to the strategic location of the island as a gateway to the Indian sub-continent, the High Commissioner stated that through trading agreements, Sri Lanka could integrate deeper with the regional and global economy, particularly through cross-regional global value chains. She encouraged the Indian industry members to take advantage of these untapped trade and investment opportunities in the island.
 
It was  pointed out that, against the backdrop of the long standing trade and economic relations between Sri Lanka and India, the direct engagement between the business partners of the two countries offers a significant opportunity to facilitate the long-term business collaboration. The High Commissioner invited a delegation from the BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry to participate in the Sri Lanka Investment and Business Conclave to be held from 19-21 June 2018 in Colombo and to engage directly with future business or investment partners to explore opportunities in Sri Lanka.

Speaking on behalf of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Secretary General Dr B.B.L. Madhukar reiterated the importance of exploring business potential in Sri Lanka due to its unparalleled strategic location underpinned with conducive business climate and the fast developing infrastructure. He invited the Chamber members to explore the vast business potential under the Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement.   

Minister Commercial of the High Commission made a presentation on investment potential in key target sectors, market access tools and factor cost. In addition, she elaborated on the incentives offered by granting  reduced tax rates (for specific sectors) and enhanced capital allowances based on capital investments made by the investors under the Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017.

Over 50 participants representing the industry and media attended the business interactive session. Corporate leaders from prominent companies such as Gazprombank, Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality (Pvt) Ltd and Fine Jewellery (Pvt.) Ltd. were among the participants.

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CTU condemns reappointment of Uva CM as Education Minister

The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has condemned the reappointment of Uva Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake as the Provincial Education Minister.
 
General Secretary of CTU, Joseph Stalin states that the President should pay thorough attention to this matter.
 
The Chief Minister has been accused of summoning the principal of Tamil Girls’ Maha Vidyalaya, Badulla to his residence and forcing her to kneel on the floor because she had refused to enroll a student recommended by him.  
Two months ago, the Chief Minister was temporarily suspended from his duties as the Provincial Education Minister due the incident and was reinstated to the position recently.
 
However, reinstating the Minister to the position while investigations regarding the incident are still ongoing is not commendable, said the CTU General Secretary.
 
When inquired about the status of the investigations, the Chairperson of Human Rights Commission Dr. Deepika Udugama stated that the report on the incident has currently reached its final phase.
 
The report will be issued next week, according to Dr. Udugama.
 
Source : Ada Derana

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CBSL annual report reveals CPC’s massive losses

Although fuel prices have shown large fluctuations in global markets in recent times, domestic retail prices have not been adjusted since 2015.
The latest report from the Central Bank reveals, by end 2017 the accumulated losses of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) amounted to Rs. 217.3 billion.

The Central Bank’s annual report reveals that the Brend Crude Oil price on a barrel in 2017 had increased by 21.6% in turn, the CPC which spent USD 46.30 to import a barrel of crude oil in 2016 and had to spend USD 57.79 for the same in 2017, which is an increase of 24.8%.

Accordingly, the total cost per litre of 92 Octane Petrol was Rs. 126.41, however, the sale revenue per litre of the same was only Rs. 113. The subsidy per litre was Rs. 13.41 and the total annual subsidy is calculated to be Rs. 16.234 billion.

Similarly, the total annual subsidy from 95 Octane Petrol was Rs. 2.366 billion, while the total annual subsidy from Diesel was Rs. 7.961 billion. Kerosene recieves an annual subsidy of Rs. 5.454 billion, and total loss from all products amounts to Rs. 32.015 billion.

Speaking on ‘Face The Nation’ programme on TV1, Senior Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, said delaying an automatic pricing formula for fuel will make the debt management of loss-making Ceylon Petroleum Corporation difficult in the wake of rising global oil prices.

(Newsfirst)

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Wild animals fleeing with the appointment of new Minister: MR slights Fonseka

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa taking a swipe at Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said that in the reshuffle of the Cabinet, the only Ministry that underwent a scientific transformation was the Wildlife Ministry.

He said further that the Wildlife Ministry had undergone a biological transformation with which and sensing the arrival of the new Minister the wildlife in jungles have started to flee.

The subject of Wildlife was given to Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka along with the subjects of Sustainable development and Regional Development at the Yesterday's Cabinet reshuffle. 

Inserts from : Daily Mirror

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Mahendran goes to INTERPOL against red notice! 

Arjun Mahendran is said to have lodged an appeal with the INTERPOL claiming that the SL government’s attempts to arrest him in connection to the bond scam is politically motivated according to a report by the ‘Divaina’ paper.

He is said to have stated attempts to arrest him are completely political in his appeal to the organization which issued a red notice against him on the request of the Sri Lankan government. 
 
INTERPOL investigation!

Meanwhile ‘Lanka News Tube’ claims that the INTERPOL has commenced investigations in to the appeal made by Mahendran. 

According to the website Mahendran has requested that the red notice against him should be withdrawn. 

INTERPOL has the sole discretion to withdraw a red notice issued by them.

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