News

FR petition filed over Presidential Election dismissed with costs

Published

11 months ago

July 15, 2024

editor

The Supreme Court has dismissed the Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed seeking an order to prevent holding of the Presidential Election as the 19th Amendment to the Constitution has not been properly passed in Parliament, subject to costs.

This verdict was issued when the relevant petition filed by Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri was taken up for consideration today (15) before a Supreme Court judge bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justices Arjuna Obeysekara and Priyantha Fernando.

Accordingly, the court ordered the petition dismissed with costs of Rs 500,000 to be paid by the petitioner before July 31, 2024.

The petition argued that the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was not properly passed in Parliament and therefore called for a referendum to ensure its proper passage.

The Election Commission and its members, the General Secretary of Parliament and the Attorney General had been named as respondents of this petition.

The petitioner claimed that through the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, Article 70 of the Constitution has been amended to deprive the President of the power to dissolve an elected Parliament after one year has passed.

The petitioner asserted that the amendment has not been approved by a referendum, even though a Supreme Court bench ruled that the amendment should be referred to a referendum.

The petitioner pointed out that the amendment cannot be considered as a law because it has not been approved by a referendum and signed by the President.

Therefore, the petitioner had argued that it is wrong to continue to accept the 19th Amendment as a law.

(adaderana.lk)

News

Upuldeniya further remanded (Update)

Published

2 hours ago

June 11, 2025

editor

Suspended Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya, who was produced before courts today, has been further remanded until June 25.

(Previous news 2025 June 11 – 12.26.p.m.)

Suspended Prisons Chief before courts today as well

Suspended Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya, who was arrested by the CID on June 09, has been transferred to the Welikada Prison Hospital under special security measures.

The move follows a court order calling for special security measures during his custody.

He was initially taken to the Colombo Remand Prison yesterday (June 10) afternoon and was held there until about 5:00pm before being transferred to a secure ward at Welikada Prison Hospital, where he remains under tight security.

He is to be produced before court today (June 11).

Meanwhile, the Superintendent of Anuradhapura Prison, who is currently in remand custody and held at a secure location in Dumbara Prison, is expected to be produced before the Anuradhapura Court today.

Separately, Prisons Commissioner for Operations, Intelligence and Security – Gamini Dissanayake, has been summoned to the CID today for questioning regarding the recent release of an inmate under the Presidential Pardon, which had sparked controversy.

He was questioned for about six hours on June 09 as well.

News

PUCSL approves 15% electricity tariff hike

Published

2 hours ago

June 11, 2025

editor

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has granted approval to increase electricity tariffs by 15%.

Speaking at a media briefing held in Colombo, Chairman of the PUCSL – Prof. K. P. L. Chandralal said the revision for the second half of 2025 will be in effect from midnight today (June 11).

The proposed amendments are as follows :