The IGP has ordered the Director of the Police Special Investigations Unit to conduct a special probe regarding the conduct of the Chief Inspector of Panadura South Police.
The probe is in regard with yesterday’s (12) incident where 2 female Police officers were manhandled by a male officer and how several female protestors were arrested in Panadura.
Police Media Spokesperson SSP Nihal Talduwa pointed out that the Police respects the rights enshrined in the Constitution, which ensures the right to freedom of assembly and the right to freedom of expression.
Moreover, he stressed that the Police continuously emphasize on protecting the rights of women, and the special probe will also focus on whether the female Police officer was wronged in this regard.
Future action will be taken in accordance with the recommendations made by the Director of the Special Investigations Unit, SSP Thalduwa added.
Video circulating on social media over the manhandling of female protesters and female police officers, sparked severe widespread criticism and condemnation.
Women in public life r often subjected to discrimination & personal attacks, when they put themselves on the line 2 of duty. They should be shown respect, & their efforts should be recognised and appreciated.https://t.co/cmKDys13Rf
The sacred duty of our police is to protect the citizens of Sri Lanka. Manhandling women, including female officers, should never be allowed. We will take this up with the IGP to ensure that any officer mistreating the people will be brought before the law and dealt with.
In a separate incident, well known PR professional – Anusha David says her assistant who was feeding stray dogs on the road last night (12), was arrested by the Thalangama police for failing to produce his NIC.
He had not been released despite Ms. David producing her assistant’s ID within minutes. According to Ms. David, the police refused to speak to her legal representative as well as MP Harsha de Silva. After contacting both the IGP and BASL Chairman – Saliya Peries P.C., and herself giving a statement, the assistant was later released.
2/2: I tried to speak to the OIC to clarify situation but they refused to speak. Anusha says they kill dogs but don’t even have the courtesy to speak to a people’s representative on the subject. I made a complaint to the Office of the IGP. We will take this forward.
In a Facebook post, President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) – Saliya Peries P.C. has said “Police brutality continues because of the failure and the lethargic attitude of those who have the power and authority to deal with them. What a shame.”
The 9th China-South Asia Expo, which opened on June 19 in Kunming, China, will conclude tomorrow (June 24).
This year’s event held under the theme “Solidarity and Coordination for Common Development, has attracted over 1,400 companies from 54 countries and regions, with Sri Lanka as the Guest of Honour country and Thailand as the special partner nation.
China-Sri Lanka bilateral trade reached a record high of USD 5.36 billion in 2024, representing a 13.4% year-on-year increase. This makes Sri Lanka China’s fastest-growing trade partner in South Asia.
The Sri Lankan pavilion was officially declared open by Sri Lanka’s Minister of Trade and Commerce – Wasantha Samarasinghe and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment – Arun Hemachandra, who jointly led the country’s high-level delegation to the prestigious regional event.
CGTN’s Ms. Li Qiuyuan spoke with Mr. Kusal Perera, a political analyst and writer for ‘Sri Lanka Mirror’, about his expectations for the expo.
Speaking, Mr. Perera said that Sri Lanka needs to see how the ‘export basket’ can be diversified from the traditional export goods such as tea, in order to make the most of this platform to boost bilateral trade and engagement with China.
When asked which emerging areas such as energy transformation, digital economy and low carbon development seem to be the most promising for the island nation, Mr. Perera highlighted the importance of a combination of energy, technology and environment. “But in the process, we also have to have our national economy planned to accommodate all that,” he emphasised, adding that it will be a long process for Sri Lanka.
He further commented : “I see China opening up instead of getting into protectionism like Europe. It’s basically the second largest economy in the world… still expanding… still improving… still developing…”
China’s economic openness for all South Asian countries is a huge opportunity in a global economy that now retreats with regulated and protected markets. Protectionism would not be a catalyst for economic growth. We in South Asia have to be open too. China is already open and its economy is growing on global trade. It’s their openness that has taken them everywhere” he adds.
Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs – Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala has informed Parliament that a renewed investigation is underway into a fraudulent bank account allegedly maintained by Shiranthi Rajapaksa, wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
He stated that a fake account titled ‘Siriliya Saviya’ had been opened in her name and that the mandate form related to the ‘Siriliya’ Organization’s bank accounts had been fraudulently removed from the bank.
The Minister further revealed :
The account, now suspended, was opened on November 14, 2006, at the People’s Bank, Suduwella Branch, Darley Road, Colombo 10, under account number 143/1/001/4/6235069. Shiranthi Rajapaksa is listed as the chairperson of the account, with Kalyani Dissanayake as secretary and Nirosha Jeevani as treasurer.
The account currently holds a balance of Rs.43 million. Records indicate that Rs. 82,900,088 had been deposited on 88 occasions, while Rs.39,015,656 had been withdrawn on 129 occasions. Additionally, a fixed deposit of Rs.10 million had been opened under the name ‘Siriliya’.
The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) has resumed investigations into the matter.
Deputy Minister also mentioned several other questionable financial transactions involving the Rajapaksa family, such as ;
Rs.152 million allegedly obtained by CSN (Carlton Sports Network) from the Treasury.
Rs.35 million obtained by Gotabaya Rajapaksa from the Urban Development Authority to build a memorial for his parents.
Rs.208 million used by Basil Rajapaksa to purchase a house in Malwana.
