News

CID to question Maithri on Easter Sunday massacre

Published

2 months ago

March 24, 2024

nipuni

Former President Maithripala Sirisena will be questioned by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) over his statement that he was aware of who was responsible for the Easter Sunday terrorist attack that claimed 263 lives five years ago.

A senior police officer said that since they had already received a complaint regarding a statement made by the former president, they would record his statement next week.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Gampaha district Parliamentarian Dr. Kawinda Jayawardena lodged the complaint at the CID Headquarters last morning.

Dr. Jayawardena said his complaint was based on the grounds that the former president had failed to disclose information related to the crime, even though it had been five years since the massacre.

He failed to disclose information to the commissions he appeared before, and the public could be provoked by his latest statement. The MP said he had called for a full investigation from the CID about Mr. Sirisiena’s fresh claim.

That besides the complaint to the CID, representations have also been made to Public Security Minister Tiran Alles to inquire into Mr. Sirisena’s statement.

Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini, spokesman for the Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, said that church lawyers were studying the statement before initiating action.

Meanwhile, former President Sirisena told the media yesterday that he had received the fresh information only three weeks ago.

However, on Friday, when he made the initial comment, he did not disclose when he received the information.

Mr. Sirisena made the comments after the opening of the ‘Dharma Mandiriya’ at the Gedige Vihare (Adahana Maluwa) in Kandy.

Mr. Sirisena said he was willing to make a confidential statement to the judges about those responsible for the Easter Sunday attack and that it was the responsibility of the judges to keep such revelations confidential.

The former president said the suspects in custody for the attack were the persons he had named earlier and that he could name the real culprits on an order from the judiciary.

Source –thesundaytimes.com

News

Fire breaks out in workers’ living quarters near Colombo Port

Published

15 hours ago

May 19, 2024

editor

A fire has reportedly broken out in the living quarters of highway access road workers near the Colombo Port.

The Colombo Fire Brigade said it has dispatched four fire trucks to assist in extinguishing the flames.

News

President Wickremesinghe meets Elon Musk to discuss starlink implementation in Sri Lanka

Published

15 hours ago

May 19, 2024

editor

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has met with billionaire and investor Elon Musk on the sidelines of the 10th World Water Forum High-Level Meeting being held in Indonesia.

During the meeting, Wickremesinghe and Musk discussed the implementation of ‘Starlink’ in Sri Lanka.

It was emphasized that Sri Lanka is committed to expediting the application process to connect the country to the global Starlink network, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).

Minister Jeevan Thondaman, accompanying the President on his two-day visit to Indonesia, tweeted: “President and Elon discussed Sri Lanka’s recovery, economic potential, and new opportunities for investment. Great to have two visionary leaders come together for Sri Lanka.”

Elon Musk arrived in Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on Sunday to launch Starlink satellite internet service in the world’s largest archipelago nation.

The billionaire head of Tesla and SpaceX, and owner of social platform X, arrived by private jet on the idyllic “island of the gods,” renowned for its tropical beaches, terraced rice paddies, mystical temples, and colorful spiritual offerings.

Musk is slated to launch the service alongside Indonesian President Joko Widodo in a ceremony later Sunday at a public health clinic in Denpasar, the provincial capital of Bali.

Musk will also sign an agreement to enhance connectivity in the country’s health and education sectors.

During his first in-person visit to Bali, Musk is also scheduled to participate in the 10th World Water Forum, which seeks to address global water and sanitation challenges.

–With agencies inputs

News

Senior diplomat to oversee Sri Lankan embassy in Russia

Published

1 day ago

May 19, 2024

nipuni

It is reported that the government has planned to send a senior officer of the foreign service to the Sri Lankan embassy in Russia until a new ambassador is appointed due to the lack of an ambassador.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Taraka Balasuriya has told the media that the absence of an ambassador is just a gap in the work procedure, and based on the current situation in Russia, a senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be directed to supervise its affairs.

He emphasized that a retired foreign service senior is being sent and the lack of an ambassador is not a major problem.

The Minister further stated that there is already a senior Foreign Service officer there, and given the urgent need, a very senior Foreign Service officer is being sent not because the officer currently in Russia is inadequate.

Mr. Balasuriya has stressed that this is being done to strengthen the operation and that the work will be done according to the normal protocol.

However, even though an ambassador has been appointed to Russia, Mr. Balasuriya has made arrangements not to reveal who it is to the media.

The former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, Prof. Janitha A. Liyanage, was given three extensions, and she ended her service at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Moscow on April 29.

At present, Counsellor Ruvini K. Munidasa serves as the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy.