News

AG’s decision to release 3 suspects based on sound advice – Legal officers

Published

4 weeks ago

February 13, 2025

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The Legal Officers’ Association of the Attorney General’s Department yesterday (Feb. 12) has expressed concerns over the recent statements in the media related to the Attorney General’s advice dated Jan. 27.
A statement signed by the Association’s Acting Secretary – Tashya Gajanayake said the relevant officers concerned had considered all the material facts and the law and had duly made their recommendations to discharge the three suspects who were the subject matter of the said advice.

“The Hon. Attorney General, after considering the same, had agreed with the recommendations and thereafter proceeded to issue the relevant advice”, the statement added.

Stressing their commitment to independent professional judgment, the association also warned that it would oppose any efforts to remove the Attorney General from office.

News

Misuse of plantation funds and lands exposed in parliament

Published

2 hours ago

March 15, 2025

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Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure, Samantha Vidyarathna, addressed Parliament, alleging that numerous associates and officials, including former ministers, have recently received substantial sums of money and government lands under the pretext of various cultivation projects, which were subsequently not implemented. He announced that investigations will be initiated into these matters.

Minister Vidyarathna accused former Minister Salinda Dissanayake of acquiring 76 acres of fertile land from the Kurunegala Plantation Company through a company he personally established.

Additionally, he claimed that a friend of former Minister Arundika Fernando was allocated 21 acres of fertile land belonging to the same company, misrepresented as barren land, with the transaction allegedly authorized by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Minister further alleged that Anoma Gamage, wife of former Primary Industries Minister Daya Gamage, received 140 million rupees purportedly for an agricultural project, which was never executed.

These allegations were presented during the debate on the expenditure head of the Ministry of Plantations and Community Infrastructure.

He also stated that former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda was granted 180 million rupees for a cultivation project, and that 82 million rupees were given to the son of former Ministry Secretary Bandula Wickramarachchi for a similar initiative.