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Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake has ordered to take disciplinary action against 14 officers over the massive explosion of Salawa army ammunition storage in Kosgama.

The disciplinary action will be taken against 14 Army officers including a brigadier, who was the Deputy Commander of the camp at the time of the explosion and subsequent fire on 5 June 2016.

Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake has taken this decision based on the report of the internal investigation into the incident.

While the brigadier and the other officers were in the camp at the time of the incident, they have not acted to contain the fire and the massive destruction that followed.

The main charges against the 14 officers are their failure to prevent the explosion and spread of the fire and failure to deploy sufficient army cadre to prevent the spread of the inferno that destroyed the surrounding area homes and businesses.

According to the report prepared by the Army Commander the blast has caused over Rs. 1.28 billion in damage to the camp , vehicles and other state property. The damages to the private property including homes and businesses were estimated at Rs. 11.5 million.

The Government Analyst's report on the incident is expected to reveal the cause of the explosion. However it has not been released yet.

In addition to the Government Analyst's report on the explosion and fire, a team of officers appointed to investigate the explosion had conducted their own investigation.

The Army Commander has prepared his final report based on the report submitted to the court by the investigation team. Army's legal division will take disciplinary action against the 14 officers based on the final report.

In addition, the Army Commander has decided to conduct a separate investigation into the death of Corporal Janaka Chaminda, who died during the fire.

The fire erupted following the explosion and the subsequent explosion of ammunition shells showered several square kilometers surrounding the camp and destroyed homes, vehicles and businesses as well as public buildings. The army camp including vehicles, buildings, valuable assets and records was completely destroyed.

In the aftermath of the disaster, military deployed 3,000 soldiers to rebuild the houses and other buildings destroyed by the catastrophe at government's expense and the government paid compensation to the victims to the tune of Rs. 1.3 billion.

The reconstruction work of the Kosgama Army camp is still undergoing.

Source : Colombo Page

The Church of Ceylon (Anglican Church) on Monday said it was against the death penalty and instead called on the government to vigorously combat drug smuggling and distribution at all levels in the society.

Issuing a statement, the Church of Ceylon said it cannot in any way agree with the move to resume the execution of those sentenced to death for drug related crimes and are yet continuing to be involved in the drug trade while in prison.

“As Christians, we believe that all people are made in the image of God and are therefore imbued with the spark of the divine within them, however obscured and hidden it may be. This is why the taking of human life is expressly condemned by the Church, whether by man or by the State. We believe the move has been rushed into without proper reflection in the backdrop of criticism and public disquiet about the spate of gang related murders and shootings in the recent days,” it said.

The statement said the engagement in criminal activities outside prison by convicted persons cannot take place without the connivance of prison authorities.

“The government cannot absolve itself from its duty to devise ways of minimizing such occurrences. It must take quick but well designed steps to put into place strong security measures in prisons. Obtaining the services of experts here and even abroad, if required. It cannot resort to hanging people to escape its own obligations,” it said.

The Church said their opposition to death penalty does not mean that it is unconcerned about the drug menace.

“We are indeed very deeply concerned by this widespread and very dangerous threat especially to the young people of our country and its consequences on wider society. We encourage our clergy and organizations to carry out awareness programmes and join with others in doing whatever we can to protect children. The church is willing to join and offer our assistance to the government in this regard in the educational sector,” it said.

“It is widely spoken including in government circles, that it is the ‘sprats’ who are being caught and punished while the ‘sharks’ are allowed to remain free to carry on their business, profitable to many, even politicians it is said. The law ought and must be applied in full force equally to all involved in this destructive trade,” the Church of Ceylon said.

(Daily Mirror)

Cardiologist Surgeon Dr Namal Gamage says heart surgeries at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital can commence from today after the issues in the central air conditioning of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has been rectified. 

The doctor stayed away from surgeries on Monday and Tuesday after requesting that the issues with the air conditioning are fixed. Accordingly, the Ministry of Health has granted the tender to replace the current AC system and instructed them to expedite the process. 

As a result, the surgeon has been able to commence surgeries he said.

‘No Kunu’– a massive citizens’ campaign is set to be launched to clean up Colombo’s Beira Lake located at the centre of the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. There have been numerous complaints over the years that the Beira Lake – built by the Portuguese during the 16th Century is at the centre of Colombo’s environmental and health problems. Calls for a comprehensive initiative by the state to clean up the lake and its surrounding areas fell on deaf ears for several years.

It is in this context that the ‘No Kunu’ campaign has been launched by Sumi Moonesinghe, a prominent business leader, with the support of various private business establishments situated along the canal banks and surrounding the Beira Lake; and the relevant government authorities namely the Presidential Secretariat, Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), Urban Development Authority (UDA), Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLRDC), the Sri Lanka Navy, Ports Authority and the Police.

The first clean-up programme under the ‘No Kunu’ initiative will take place on Saturday, July 21 in Colombo. Under this programme, volunteers will clean the designated parts of the canal banks in their vicinity, with the support of designated CMC officials, ‘NO KUNU’ team members, Navy and Environment Police officers. In addition to that, the water surface of the canals and the lake will be cleaned by the Navy and the SLDRC while CMC and Abans workers will support these teams.

The wind dried waste would be sent to the Kerawalapitiya garbage collection point with the guidance of the Urban Development Authority (UDA). Plans are afoot for dredging and deeper cleaning of the Beira Lake and canals, after the superficial cleaning of the Beira lake on Saturday (21).

The chief incumbent of the Naagasella Sri Vivekaaraama Temple, Venerable Aparakkey Pagngnanada thera was arrested for allegedly abusing an under aged boy.

The 63 year old monk, a former Jathika Hela Urumaya MP, was arrested and produced before the Attanagalla Magistrate Court. The monk was remanded till the 26th of July.

The thera was arrested after Police received a complaint regarding an alleged abuse of a 9 year old boy.

Anyone who has a telephone or computer with internet facilities can now use the SLTB Express app from home to buy a ticket for a long-distance bus starting from the Pettah Central Bus Stand. Commuters can also use this facility to reserve a seat of their choice, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said.

The Minister said this at a ceremony at the Pettah Central Bus Station to introduce the SLTB Express app yesterday. He also said that this new app would streamline the booking process in SLTB long-distance buses without any hassle to the commuters. 

The Minister said the SLTB had decided to introduce this technology to help commuters to save their time. This system would also help the SLTB to minimise administrative expenses involved in maintaining ticket counters. He said the SLTB had prepared this data network in collaboration with Express 418, a private company. 

A commuter who has made the booking could obtain his or her seat by showing the reservation on the mobile phone to the conductor. The commuter would also be issued an e-ticket.

Under the second stage of this programme, the e-ticketing facility would be available for long-distance buses operating between main outstation towns too. A commuter using this facility would be required to pay an additional sum of LKR 80 apart from the usual fare.

The Kaluganga Development Project is currently being implemented by the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment with the financial assistance of Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) and OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID). Kaluganga Reservoir has a capacity of 265 million cubic meters (MCM) of water and will divert 100 MCM annually to Moragahakanda Reservoir. Under this project, it is expected to develop new irrigable lands of nearly 3,000 ha in the Kaluganga Basin.
 
Unforeseen geological conditions in the foundations and necessary design revisions have led to price increase and it is noted that the funds available from the above donors is not sufficient to complete the balance work of the project.
 
SFD has agreed to provide an additional loan of SAR 60 million (USD 16 million, LKR 2,560 million) to finance a part of the shortfall. The Government of Sri Lanka has already entered into agreements with KFAED and OFID to finance a part of the balance of the shortfall.
 
Accordingly, the Loan Agreement was signed today, 18th July 2018 at the Ministry of Finance and Media by Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunge, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and Mass Media on behalf of the Government of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and H.E. Eng. Yousef Ibrahim Al Abdulrahman Al Bassam, Vice Chairman and Managing Director on behalf of the Saudi Fund for Development.

Chairman of the Embilipitiya Pradeshiya Sabha M.K. Amila was sentenced to 3 months imprisonment by the Embilipitiya Magistrate’s Court for assaulting a police officer. He was also ordered to pay Rs 30,000 as compensation to the policeman. 

M.K. Amil was sentenced for assaulting and obstructing the duties of a police officer at Panamure, Embilipitiya in 2013 when he had assaulted a traffic cop who had stopped him as the suspect was riding a motorcycle without a helmet at the time.

The government will provide a comprehensive trade adjustment package to those who are likely to be affected by Free Trade Agreements, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama said yesterday. The trade adjustment package will cover new machinery as well as technology and skills retraining, he explained. 

Minister Samarawickrama made these observations joining the adjournment debate on the Sri Lanka Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA) yesterday in Parliament.

Samarawickrama observed that the only way to increase people’s income to enable them to achieve a better quality of life is to integrate more with the global market. 

He also stated that the government will strengthen local industries to compete in the global market. 

“Our government is committed to assisting and improving local industries. However, assistance does not mean protectionism. We will assist the local industries to increase efficiency and productivity and help them to be more competitive so that they can compete in the world market.

Already we have launched loan schemes and exporter upgrading grant schemes to help SMEs.” Minister Samarawickrama said.

An investigation has been sought on a Malaysian politician’s alleged links with the LTTE.

Pas, a Malaysian political party called on the police to investigate Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy’s possible links with the LTTE, the New Straits Times reported.

Its information chief Nasrudin Hassan said the Police needed to step in and check on the matter following the circulation of a picture which showed Ramasamy allegedly paying his respects to a Kalashnikov rifle – which is a symbol of the armed group.

He said it was also reported that Ramasamy had recently hosted a pro-LTTE politician from India.

Nasrudin was referring to a recent visit to Penang by V Gopalasamy, better known as Vaiko, who leads Tamil Nadu-based party Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), to attend the wedding of Ramasamy’s son.

He said a picture of Ramasamy and Vaiko had been uploaded on Facebook on July 14, with the caption that the latter was attending Dr Vijaya Bharath’s wedding reception.

Nasruddin said Vaiko had previously been barred from entering Malaysia and was even detained at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on June 9, 2017, and this had been confirmed by Immigration director-general Datuk Mustafar Ali.

“A thorough investigation must be made on him and other individuals. This is because it could affect the political stability and peace in Malaysia.

“Furthermore, he is a DAP member who holds a senior position in Penang and his position could have an influence on crucial matters,” Nasrudin said.

Ramasamy has come under the spotlight after he questioned the government’s decision not to deport controversial Muslim cleric Dr Zakir Naik back to India.

Ramasamy in responding to the allegations denied any links to the LTTE.

He also denied promoting violence by “worshipping” the Kalashnikov or AK-47 assault rifle, saying that the picture was taken at a memorial to victims of genocide.

“It was a ceremony I attended about two or three years ago, organised by several NGOs… a memorial service for those who died in the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict or victims of genocide,” he was reported to have said. (Colombo Gazette)

Gotabaya is a man who abandoned the county leaving other war heroes to fight in the war, former Minister Mervin Silva has said when questioned by the media recently regarding Gotabaya Rajapaksa emerging as a possible Presidential candidate in 2020. “How is such a man suitable to become President of this county?” he said adding that there are more credible war heroes than him. 

“This is a madness even to suggest him as a President” Silva said. According to him, he makes a better President than Gotabaya. “I am asking you, isn’t Mervin Silva better than him?” he asked.

Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera has issued a sincere apology for the recent comments he had made with regard to drug dealers and those connected to the drug trade holding high positions in various organizations or as philanthropists in religious organizations.

In response to a question on the restoration of Capital Punishment for drug dealers at a press conference last week, while reiterating his opposition to Capital Punishment, Samaraweera said that certain individuals connected to the drug trade try to cover their sins by being benefactors of society, holding high positions in various organizations or as philanthropists in religious organizations. 

“Inadvertently, I also mentioned Rotarians and Lions Clubs, which I deeply regret.”

He stated that there may be some individuals in society that join various organizations for such reasons. “However, I fully recognize and acknowledge that this does not, in any way, diminish the noble charitable work which has been, and continues to be done by these Organizations throughout the country, especially for the poor, needy, destitute and the vulnerable.”

“I understand that my comments would have resulted in causing pain of mind to many. To all of them, I express my sincere apologies,” he said in a statement

Source : Derana