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The President’s Media Division (PMD) has refuted the news circulating in certain media outlets, especially social media claiming that more than a hundred delegates accompanied President Maithripala Sirisena in his recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) tour.
 
Issuing a media release the PMD said that various false information is being reported regarding the official delegation accompanying President Maithripala Sirisena. 
 
According to the PMD the President was accompanied by the President’s spouse, his official doctor, Minister Tilak Marapana and his spouse, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, a Language Interpreter and two officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Moreover, print and electronic media personnel of the President’s Media Division and journalists representing private media institutions and few officers of President’s Security Division, who do not belong to the official delegation participated in this tour, the PMD added.

“Despite that, no person was included in the delegation under the expense of the Presidential Secretariat or attended the CHOGM or any meeting held simultaneously,” the PMD said.

The Road Development Authority (RDA) has taken steps to temporarily close the road which goes through the famous Kadugannawa tunnel as cracks have appeared on the surface of the tunnel, Chairman of the RDA, Nihal Sooriyarachchi told the Sunday Observer. “Following several reports we have sent a team to inspect the tunnel. Upon preliminary inspection we have decided to temporarily close the route and rectify the situation,” Sooriyarachchi said.
 
The tunnel will be anchored to ensure that cracks will not continue and also to ensure the safety of the passengers who take the route. 
source : sunday observer

Minister of Disaster Management Ranjith Siyambalapitiya announced that the government has provided Rs. 485 million worth relief to the 167,000 families affected by the drought in the Puttalam district.
 
According to the Minister instructions have been given to provide relief to those who have not received assistance through a cabinet paper at a special meeting held in the Puttalam District Secretariat recently.
 
The special meeting had been  called to discuss the issues of the people affected by the drought prevailing in the district.
 
At the meeting the minister also said that measures will be taken to provide drinking water to 25,000 families.

UNP Assistant Leader and former Minister Ravi Karunanayake said today he could build up the economy in 100 days if he was given the responsibility.

Addressing a meeting held at UNP office in Thotalanga, MP Karunanayake said state officials who go behind politicians do not change with the change of government.

“It is they who mess up the country's economy. The action of a few people attached to the government had put the economy in a mess,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said it is a common fact that the tusker with sacred relics usually walks in front of a perahera.

“However, those who walk in front of the government are political henchmen and stilt walkers. It is they who sabotage the efforts of the President and the Prime Minister to build the economy. Both leaders are aware of this situation,” he said.

Referring to the new tax on gold imports, he said the tax was not necessary.

Source : Daily Mirror

The customs officials at Bandaranaike International Airport arrested a Sri Lankan couple today, when they were trying to smuggle out 2.35 kg of gold worth over LKR 9.1 million.The customs officials at Bandaranaike International Airport arrested a Sri Lankan couple today, when they were trying to smuggle out 2.35 kg of gold worth over LKR 9.1 million.

Assistant Customs Media Spokesman Vipula Minuwanpitiya said that the suspects were identified as traders hailing from Maradana. They were scheduled to board a flight to Mumbai this morning.

The Ministry of Finance recently imposed a 15% tax on its value on gold 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.

The Sri Lankan Navy apprehended three Sri Lankans who possessed gold worth over LKR 170 million at the Talaimannar coast on April 12. The suspects were attempting to smuggle 242 gold biscuits weighing 100 grams each to India by a boat.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe commissioned the second Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel of Sri Lanka Navy at the Colombo Port on Thursday. This vessel built at the Goa Shipyard Limited will be manned by 18 officers and 100 sailors. The Prime Minister being briefed on the advanced technological instruments of the vessel by a Naval officer. Ministers Duminda Dissanayake and Mahinda Amaraweera,State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe and senior defence officials were present.

Source : Daily News

The US State Department's human rights report for 2017 said Sri Lanka's military and police harassed civilians with impunity although civilian authorities generally maintained control over the security forces.
 
The US State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor published its Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017 and Acting US Secretary of State John J. Sullivan on Friday released the report to the public.
 
The report said that according to civil society, military intelligence operatives conducted domestic surveillance operations and harassed or intimidated members of civil society in conjunction with, or independent of, police.
 
"Impunity for conflict-era abuses also persisted, including military, paramilitary, police, and other security-sector officials implicated in cases involving the alleged targeted killing of parliamentarians, abductions, and suspected killings of journalists and private citizens," it said.
 
According to the report, civil society organizations asserted the government and the courts are largely reluctant to take action against security forces, although this situation improved compared with 2016.
 
The government, however, took steps to investigate, prosecute, and punish some officials who committed human rights abuses, it said.
 
Prosecutions for abuses committed by the security forces and police are rare but increasing, as are prosecutions for government corruption and malfeasance. The police said authorities prosecuted 26 officers for criminal offences during the year.
The government also implemented human rights training in the defence academy to increase respect for human rights and sponsored in-house training by the ICRC.
 
Source : Colombo Page

The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Ali Larijani, called on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, yesterday (19), at the Temple Trees.

While noting the warm and cordial relationship between the two countries, Larijani stated that Iran should look into increasing the bilateral trade relations.

Speaker Larijani, accompanied by a 36 member delegation, is on an official visit to Sri Lanka in response to an invitation extended by the Speaker of the Sri Lankan parliament,Karu Jayasuriya.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera said he would not allow the posts of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) be given to members of other parties. Amaraweera also stated that however he is ready to withdraw from his post any time.
 
The government has fallen in disfavour due to the failure of not properly conveying the services done by them to the public, Amaraweera further added.

The Commonwealth Centre for Digital Health will be launched in London, today (20), with President Maithripala Sirisena attending as a special guest, the President's Media Division said.

The launch will be a part of a special side event to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018, on ‘Global Health Security and the Digital Health Society 2030 – Innovation and Investment for One Planetary Health & Universal Health Coverage’.

The Centre was proposed by Prof. Vajira Dissanayake of the University of Colombo in 2016 and incorporated into a Commonwealth Policy Brief on Digital Systems for One health approved by the Commonwealth Health Ministers in Geneva in May 2017. The keynote speaker at the event is Dr. Christopher Fearne, Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister of Malta.

Issuing a special message on the occasion, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, of the World Health Organization (WHO), stated “As you know, Universal Health Coverage is WHO’s top priority. Our aim is a world in which all people receive the high-quality health services they need without suffering financial hardship.”

One person was killed and four sustained injuries during a shooting incident reported near Attanagalla temple last night (21) the Police Media Office said.
 
An unidentified gunman has opened fire on the crowd during a musical show held following an Avurudu Uthsawaya in Attanagalla, Nittambuwa police reported.
 
The victim was identified as a 37-year-old businessman residing in Heiyanthuduwa, Devamiththa area. He had taken part in lighting the oil lamp at the opening ceremony of the musical show, reports claim.
 
The injured including a woman have been admitted to Wathupitiwala Hospital. The reason for the shooting is yet to be ascertained.
 
Nittambuwa Police is conducting investigations to apprehend the suspect
 
Source : Ada Derana

The public and bank holiday which had been assigned to May 1, 2018 has been cancelled while May 7 (Monday) has been declared a public and bank holiday instead.

The Government Information Department, issuing a statement today, said that the public and bank holiday which was designated for May 1 (Tuesday) to mark International Workers’ Day was cancelled in view of the National Vesak Week from April 26 to May 2.

The relevant Gazette notification was issued by Minister of Home Affairs Vajira Abeywardena on April 6.

The gazette states that by virtue of the powers vested in him by Sections 10(1)(B) and 11(1)(B) of the Holidays Act, No. 29 of 1971, the Minister of Home Affairs, do by this Order, declare that, the Public and Bank Holiday fallen on Tuesday, the 1st of May 2018 for International Labour Day is cancelled due to the Vesak Week scheduled from 26th April 2018 to 02nd May 2018 and Monday, 07th of May shall be a Public and Bank Holiday to celebrate International Labour Day.