News

Another 7-yr jail term for Aung San Suu Kyi

Published

5 months ago

December 30, 2022

editor

A Myanmar military court has sentenced Aung San Suu Kyi to a further seven years in prison, taking her overall jail time to 33 years.
The country’s former democratically-elected leader has been under house arrest since a military ousted her government in a coup in February 2021.

Since then she’s faced 18 months of trials on 19 charges – which rights groups say are a sham.

The UN Security Council called for her release last week.

On Friday she was sentenced on the final five charges she faced. A court found her guilty of corruption because she had not followed regulations in renting a helicopter for a government minister.

She had already been convicted of 14 different crimes including breaching Covid public safety rules, importing walkie-talkies and violating the official secrets act.

Her trials this year have been set behind closed-doors where the public and media are barred access and her lawyers are also banned from speaking to journalists. She has denied all the charges against her.

The 77-year-old Nobel laureate has spent most of her time in detention under house arrest in the capital Nay Pyi Taw.

Ms Suu Kyi and many members of her party are among more than 16,600 people who have been arrested by the junta since they seized power – 13,000 remain in prison, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma).

Last week the UN Security Council called for an end to violence in Myanmar and the release of all political prisoners. China and Russia abstained from the vote and did not use their veto power following amendments to the resolution’s wording.

Amnesty International has previously said the “relentless legal assault” on Ms Suu Kyi shows how the military has “weaponised the courts to bring politically motivated or farcical charges against opponents”.

The military’s violent seizure of power last February triggered widespread demonstrations, prompting Myanmar’s military to crack down on pro-democracy protesters and activists.

It also triggered renewed internal fighting between separate ethnic rebel groups, a civilian force resisting the military and the junta rulers.

The junta has been accused of extrajudicial killings and launching airstrikes on civilian villages. It’s estimated more than 2,600 people have been killed in the military’s crackdown on dissent so far.

(BBC News)

News

Laka’s family goes to CID (VIDEO)

Published

33 mins ago

May 31, 2023

editor

Lakmal Weerasuriya and Sahan Arosha, the creators of popular YouTube channel ‘Lakai Sikai’, who are currently in Australia had said that they have been receiving death threats through social media platforms.

Weerasuraya’s wife has complained to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in this regard.

They said that some elements are engaged in this campaign against them in an organized manner for attending the concert conducted by Natasha Edirisooriya.

News

CID complaint claims Manju’s funding sources aren’t clear

Published

11 hours ago

May 30, 2023

editor

A complaint filed with the Criminal Investigation Department claims that the overseas funding sources of Manju Nishshanka, are not clear.

The complaint, filed by Oshala Herath, Attorney-at-Law Namal Rajapaksa and Sepala Amarasinghe alleges that Manju Nishshanka, who is said to be the leader of the political movement – Global Sri Lankan Congress, has violated the Election Expenses Regulation Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

They have also revealed that Manju Nishshanka holds citizenship in the UK and the US in addition to that in Sri Lanka.

Noting that the Global Sri Lankan Congress is an unregistered political movement in the country, the complaint states that the movement has backed a political party called “Arunalu Janatha Party” in 05 LG bodies in Gampaha district and 01 LG body in the Southern Province.

Noting that Mr. Nishshanka has spent around Rs. 30 million for the election campaign of MP Mr. Nalaka Godaheva during the last General Election, the complaint also points out that he was later given a ministerial advisor position as well as a directorship falling under the State Ministry of Urban Development while Godahewa held the position of its state minister.

The complaint claims that he has been occupying the 6th floor of the Access Building in Colombo for more than a year now as his business and political headquarters, paying Rs. 05 or more as rent.

In addition, he also owns apartments at the ‘On 320 Residencies’ and Shangri-La apartments, the complaint further says.

Noting that Manju has a house in New York, USA for which he owes over USD 600,000, the complaint alleges that the sources from which he receives foreign funding for his expenses in Sri Lanka raises doubts.

The complainants urge authorities to look into this.

News

2022 A/L results to be released in August

Published

12 hours ago

May 30, 2023

editor

The Commissioner General of Examinations Amith Jayasundara says that they are expecting to release the results of the 2022 G.C.E Advanced Level examination in August.

Joining a press briefing held today (May 30), Mr. Jayasundara stated that provisions required to release the relevant results without delays are already underway.