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A fundamental rights petition was filed in the Supreme Court demanding the cancellation of the gazette notifications from the Ministry of Finance that reinstated the ban on women to work in bars and purchase alcohol.

 In what many see as a discriminatory move towards women, President Maithripala Sirisena reversed a decision by his finance minister, Mangala Samaraweera, to allow women to buy alcohol for the first time since 1955.

The petition has been filed by Nishanthi Bandaranayake, M. Fernando, Samanalee Fonseka, Chandima Ravini Jinadasa, Deepanjalie Abeywardena, Sabrina Esufally, Sharanya Sekaram, Randhula de Silva, Menaka Galgamuwa, Sujatha Gamage and Visakha Perera Tilakaratne.

11 Petitioners, all female citizens of Sri Lanka and above the age of 21, have called this prohibition “a draconian measure that was arbitrary, irrational, unreasonable and discriminatory to female citizens of the country.”

 Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera, Secretary to the Treasury Dr. R. Samaratunga and the Attorney General as respondents.

 The Petitioners state that the promulgation of the said Excise Notification 02/2018 resulted in the revocation of an arbitrary, unreasonable and discriminatory prohibition imposed against female citizens of the Republic.

The Petitioners argue that it “gives rise to a reasonable apprehension regarding an imminent infringement of the Petitioners’ right to equality and equal protection of the law guaranteed to them by Article 12 (1) of the Constitution, in as much as-

(a) Any revocation of the said Excise Notification marked “P3” would be unreasonable.

(b) Any such measure would deprive the members of the female gender who have attained the requisite age specified by Law from being lawfully employed at places of production and sale of liquor.

(c) Any such measure would deprive the members of the female gender who has attained the requisite age specified by Law from lawfully purchasing liquor which is a legal product that can only be manufactured, distributed and sold with the express regulation and control of the State.

(d) An imposition of a prohibition applicable to members of only one gender would tantamount to an unequal treatment of the members of such gender.

The cabinet meeting held yesterday (16) led by President Maithripala Sirisena is said to have become heated resulting in the President leaving the meeting in a huff.

The President is said to have made a statement regarding Ministers and parliamentarians of the UNP criticising him while how some Ministers are making decisions without informing him before leaving the cabinet meeting in a huff.

Sources say the President had left prior to cabinet papers even being discussed.

A Minister who wished to remain anonymous said the Premier and several other Ministers had then gone after the President and managed to convince him to return to the cabinet meeting.

Proceedings of the cabinet meeting are said to have halted for around 30 minutes due to this incident.

The President is said to have stated that the Bond Commission was not formed to destroy the UNP while slamming the comments being made regarding him by certain UNP parliamentarians.

Sirisena is a "Pickpocket President" - UNP MP S. M Marikkar

 The President is said to have named and shamed MP’s Harin Fernando, Sujeewa Senasinghe, Chaminda Wijesiri and S.M Marikkar while slamming the statements being made by them.

Statements against the President were made by these parliamentarians at public rallies and was given wide media publicity in recent times.

S.M Marikkar had even gone on to call the President a pickpocket ‘President’.

However, one MP criticised by the President said they have the right to criticize the President when the SLFP is continuously slamming the Prime Minister.

President objects to revoke of alcohol-related ban on women

He also slammed the decisions being taken without his consultation which are socially harmful. The President was referring to the recently revoked alcohol-related ban on women.

The cabinet has now decided to rescind that decision.

Source : BBC

The report of the Presidential Commission which investigated the treasury bond scam and the report on the commission which investigated large scale fraud, were presented to Parliament today.

It is reported that former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has not been implicated in the controversial bond transaction that was investigated by the Presidential Commission.

 According to reliable sources, the commission has put forward only two recommendations pertaining to former Minister Ravi Karunanayake.

Charges of Bribery?

The Presidential Commission recommends the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption to investigate further whether the former minister derived certain benefits from the lease payments made by a company owned by Perpetual Treasuries.

"As stated in earlier in Chapter 24, we recommend that the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption should consider whether Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, MP, while he was Minister of Finance, derived a substantial benefit from the lease payments made by Walt and Row Associates (Pvt) Ltd (which is an Associate Company of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd and which is owned and controlled by the same persons who own and control Perpetual Treasuries Ltd) for the lease of apartment occupied by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, MP and his family and, if so, determine whether appropriate action should be taken against Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, MP, under the Bribery Act."

Allegations of perjury?

The Presidential Commission also recommended that the Attorney General inquire into the veracity of the statements given by the former MP to the Bond Commission and if found to be guilty, to prosecute the former minister under Section 179 and or Section 188 of the Penal Code.

"As stated earlier in Chapter 24, we also recommend that, the Hon. Attorney General and other appropriate authorities consider whether some of the evidence given by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, MP before us is shown to have been incorrect and, if that is the case, whether Mr. Karunananayake should be prosecuted under Section 179 and/or Section 188 of the Penal Code or other relevant provision of the Law, read with Section 9 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act No. 17 of 1948."

Former Minister Karunanayake, during his questioning at the Bond Commission, denied any intimate knowledge of Arjun Aloysius and said he had met him "once or twice at family gatherings".

However, evidence unearthed during the proceedings of the Bond Commission revealed that former Minister and his family had spoken to Arjun Aloysius over 750 times in total during the period February 5, 2015 to June 20, 2017.

Section 179 of the Penal Code

Section 188 of the Penal Code relating to 'perjury'

Only between 50 - 60 applications have been submitted to receive certificates for the disappeared during the war and postwar periods confirming that they are most likely will not be found sources said.

According to Governor of the Northern Province, Reginald Cooray, this shows that many relations of the disappeared believe they are being held somewhere and will return.

The government had prepared to issue certificates to parents, spouses, children and relations of the disappeared.

However due to receiving only a small number of applications the necessary related work has not been done the governor said. While public living in the North and all districts were able to apply, the President’s commission to look into disappearances led by Supreme Court Judge Maxwell Paranagama was formed during the Rajapaksa regime.

The commission has been active since the appointment of President Maithripala Sirisena and has received over 60 000 complaints up to date.

Source: Resa

Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera has labelled the reinstatement of the ban on women purchasing alcohol and working in liquor shops as a ‘tribal decision’. However, the Gazette which revoked the ban is to be cancelled respecting the need for unity within the cabinet the Minister said.

The Minister is said to have made these comments during the cabinet meeting held yesterday (16) as a response to the decision taken by the cabinet to cancel the two gazette notifications revoking the ban.

Reports claim that Ministers Rajitha Senaratne, Patali Champika Ranawaka and Dayasiri Jayasekara had highly criticized the gazettes claiming that it undermines the drugs prevention programs launched by the Yahapalana government while being unsuitable for the country’s culture.

However, responding to them Minister Samaraweera had stressed that these archaic laws regarding women were revoked through the gazette according to the policies of the yahapalana government and the constitution of the country while not with the intention to promote alcoholism.

Don't the people in the JHU eat and drink? - Deepthi

Meanwhile recently speaking to ISIS news Deepthi Kumara Gunaratne of the Sri Lanka Frontline Socialist party said the mania to look at alcohol and other related issues in a moral angle was introduced to Sri Lanka in the 90’s by the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) bringing in to question if the party members are those who do not eat and drink.

“The JHU leaders eat, drink and enjoy themselves while presenting themselves for these things in the thinking that villagers are uneducated,” he said adding that as new rulers come into power in the 21st century these ideas will be made redundant.

Is the 2017-2021 National Action plan for Human Rights a joke?

Meanwhile also sharing their views several human rights activists said the incident has brought to light many contradictions that exist within the current government. While presenting examples they especially pointed out the ‘2017-2021 National Action plan for Human Rights’ presented by President Sirisena.

The third chapter of the plan and in its pages ranging from 39 - 65 speaks of Women’s issues while promising that ‘Laws will be imposed to ensure that in all workplaces including private firms the right to work in spite of one's sex, race, sexual orientation’. However, they pointed out that the cabinet has now worked against its own policies.

Has the President forgotten?

While the President issuing a statement in this regard had promised to enforce the action plan in the Sri Lankan society to secure and develop rights of all Sri Lankans while bringing it in to force in the next five years it appears he has forgotten this the activists pointed out.

PM has also forgotten!

The PM too had said to ensure the action plans success all ministries and connected organizations should work in a timely manner and do everything possible to support the cause. However, the activists now question if the support needed by a Ministry to ensure this action plan has been supported by him.

 All talk and no action

According to these activists, the government has given people verbal and written promises through such measures but has now proved that they are incapable of carrying these out.

Sri Lanka participated at the Ferien - Messe Wien 2018, Austria’s largest holiday and travel show held from 11-14 January 2018 in Vienna. Sri Lanka’s participation at this event was coordinated by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and the Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Vienna, Austria.

The Ferien-Messe Wien is held at the beginning of the holiday season for holiday, travel and variety seekers, attracting more than 800 national and international exhibitors from over 70 countries and approximately 150,000 visitors each year.

Six companies from the hospitality, travel and wellness industry participated under the Sri Lanka Pavilion, namely: Siddhalepa Ayurvedha Health Resort, Araliya Green Hills Hotel (Pvt) Ltd, Ayubowan Tours and Travels (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka Express, World Travel Centre (Pvt) Ltd and Exotic (Pvt) Ltd.

A presentation titled “Sri Lanka Perle des Indischen Ozeans” (Sri Lanka Pearl of the Indian Ocean) was also made at the Travel Cinema on Thursday 11 and Sunday 14 January, which highlighted the country as an ideal tourist destination.

Promotion of tea from the Sri Lanka Tea Board was also conducted with tea tasting and handing out of samples of tea over the four days.

Several thousands of prospective travelers to Sri Lanka, media personnel, journalists and tour operators visited the Sri Lanka pavilion to obtain information on tourist attractions, ayurvedha and to taste Sri Lankan tea.

Polonnaruwa district MP and former Deputy Minister Siripala Gamlath’s eldest daughter Ranjala Gamlath Illeperuma passed away yesterday (16) morning. She was said to have contracted Dengue. She was a mother of two and 35 years of age at the time of her death.

She had passed away while receiving treatment for Dengue at the National Hospital in Colombo. Ranjala is a graduate of Monash University specializing in Interior Design.

She mortal remains now lie at her residence in Polonnaruwa.

Australian businessman Brian Shaddick, 74, a key witness in the alleged financial fraud case filed against Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader MP Udaya Gammanpila yesterday informed Colombo High Court that he or his company had never given a power of attorney to Gammanpila to carry out a share transaction.

Shaddick was yesterday present before Colombo High Judge A.A.R. Heiyanthuduwa in connection with an indictment filed against Udaya Gammanpila and another accused of allegedly misappropriating Rs. 21 million following their alleged fraudulent share transaction that took place in 2000.

Witness Shaddick said that he never signed a document executing the power of attorney to Gammanpila and therefore his signature had been fraudulently used as an authentic one in order to carry out this transaction.

In reply to a question raised by defence counsel Shavindra Fernando, Shaddick affirmed that the document presented to him by the defence was a fake one and further said his signature had been fraudulently used on it.

Shaddick is to be further cross-examined today (17) as well.

Two accused Udaya Gammanpila and Sydney Jayasinghe are currently out on bail.

The Attorney General (AG) alleged that MP Udaya Gammanpila has cheated Rs. 20 million and misappropriated another Rs. 21 million along with Sydney Jayasinghe, the second accused when selling shares of Digital Nominees to a businessman called Dhammika Perera.

The AG further charged that the alleged business transaction had taken place using a fraudulent power of attorney to sell shares belonging to Australian businessman Brian Shaddick.

The AG has listed 20 persons as the witnesses in the case and named 16 documents as production items of the case. MP Gammanpila was arrested in this regard on June 18, 2016.

Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris with Senior State Counsel Nayana Seneviratne appeared for the Attorney General.

President’s Counsel Shavindra Fernando with Jayantha Weerasinghe, Senior Counsel Nalinda Indatissa appeared for MP Gammanpila.

Source : Daily News

Several new luxury vehicles have been granted to high ranking officers of the Attorney General’s department, Source claim.

Accordingly, a Hybrid Mercedes Benz has been provided to Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya while his previously used vehicle has been given to Additional Solicitor General Dappula De Livera.

Meanwhile, Additional Solicitor General Yasantha Kodagoda has been given a new Freelander vehicle sources report. Additionally, the AG’s department is set to receive further facilities in the near future.

The lack of facilities in the AG’s department was informed to the President and government officials and action is now being taken to provide the necessary facilities. Junior State Counsels do not even have seats in the Department while they have to fund their official outstation travel visits sources claim.

A distillery closed down due to being unable to pay taxes to the government is set to be sold to an Indian businessman. According to sources of the Department of Excise, discussions are currently being held in this regard.

The distillery located in Wennappuwa was forced to shut down four years ago for not paying the necessary taxes to the government.

A high ranking officer of the department set to retire soon is said to have initiated the sale of the distillery sources further added.

Meanwhile producing toddy artificially is banned in the country a two-member committee consisting of two deputy commissioners of excise has been set up to grant permission to produce artificial toddy.

Due to the ban, the department had raided a distillery in 2002 which produced artificial toddy while slapping a fine Rs. 5 Million on the business for violating the ban. Artificial toddy is produced with sugar, yeast, ammonia and urea which can be hazardous to the human body.

Source : Divaina

The Election Commission intervened to postpone a forum on the Constitutional Assembly Interim Report at the Jaffna University yesterday.

The Election Commission, acting on a complaint it received has written to the University authorities to stop the discussion on the basis that it is likely to benefit certain parties and disadvantageous to others at the upcoming Local Government polls.

The discussion on a new Constitution, organized by the ‘Thamil Makkal Peravai’ (Tamil People’s Forum), a civil organisation backed by Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Vigneswaran, was to be held yesterday with the participation of the Chief Minister and Jaffna University lecturers.

The Election Commission writing to the Vice Chancellor pointed out it was not appropriate to hold that programme during the period of elections. Following the letter, the Arts Faculty Dean has been asked to cancel the programme and arrange it somewhere else outside the University.

Source : Daily News

Latest figures released by Sri Lankan authorities reveal that more than forty thousand war displaced from the north and east are forced to live away from their homes despite the conclusion of the armed conflict almost nine years ago.

During its three year period in office, the government has resettled only 3,996 people. The ministry of resettlement and rehabilitation says that 40, 938 members of 12, 674 internally displaced families have not been resettled by the end of October 2017.

An overwhelming majority of them have been living earlier in the heavily militarized Jaffna district. Over 70% of them are from Tellippalai where the military has established a massive base.

Others are from Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Trincomalee and Batticaloa.

'No more land release' - SL Army

At the end of April 2015, the total number of IDP in the north and east have been 44, 934.

Tamils who have been dispossessed of their land by the military in the north are continuing an ongoing protest for more than ten months.

However, the military had announced that it has no intention of releasing further land in the north to their original owners.

Source : JDS Sri Lanka