News

Arrest warrant issued for Putin

Published

2 years ago

March 17, 2023

editor

Arrest warrants have been issued by judges at the International Criminal Court for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Commissioner for Children’s Rights.

In a statement, the ICC says they are suspected of the war crime of unlawfully deporting children, from Ukraine to Russia.

There are reasonable grounds to believe President Putin bears individual criminal responsibility for such deportations, the statement says, adding it is alleged to have taken place since he launched the full- scale invasion of Ukraine last February.

It says the same thing of his children’s rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova.

Ukraine has responded, with presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak saying: “This is just the beginning.”

And Ukraine’s prosecutor general has called it a “historic” decision.

However, Russia has repeatedly denied accusations of atrocities during its invasion of Ukraine and has also said it does not recognise the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and says it bears no obligations under it.

“The decisions of the International Criminal Court have no meaning for our country, including from a legal point of view,” spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on her Telegram channel.

“Russia is not a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and bears no obligations under it. Russia does not cooperate with this body, and possible ‘recipes’ for arrest coming from the International Court will be legally null and void for us.”

(BBC News)

News

PNB seize over Rs. 280 mn. in biggest drug money bust

Published

9 hours ago

January 17, 2025

editor

The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) has seized a stash of currency notes amounting Rs. 283 million.

It is said that this is the largest amount of cash ever confiscated from a drug trafficker in Sri Lanka.

The banknotes were recovered from a residence in Kurunegala during a search operation. 18 grams of ‘Ice’ (Crystal Methamphetamine), a double-cab, and a van were also seized during the raid.
According to police, the money allegedly belongs to a suspect who is currently in prison.

The suspect was presented before the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court and the Magistrate has granted permission for authorities to detain and further interrogate him.

News

Energy Ministry differs on electricity tariffs (Update)

Published

9 hours ago

January 17, 2025

editor

Hours after the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) announced a 20% average reduction in electricity tariffs effective from midnight today (Jan. 17), the Energy Ministry has stated that the tariff revision would be implemented only upon receiving approval from the Finance Ministry.

In a media release, the Ministry has said that the proposals should be first officially received and thereafter they would need Finance Ministry advice.

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(Previous News : January 17, 2025 3.05pm)

Electricity tariffs slashed by 20%

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has decided to slash electricity tariffs by an overall average of 20 percent.

The tariff reduction will affect all consumer categories and will come into effect from midnight today (Jan. 17).

The PUCSL’s proposed reductions are as follows;

Domestic tariff – reduced by 20%
Places of worship – reduce by 21%
Hotels – reduced by 31%
Industries – reduced by 30%
Government Institutions – reduced by 11%

Electricity tariffs reduction (Domestic)

0-30 units reduced by 29%
31-60 by 28%
61-90 by 19%
91-180 by 18%
More than 180 by 19%

BIZ

SL – China currency swap agreement, renewed

Published

10 hours ago

January 17, 2025

editor

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the People’s Bank of China, in December 2024, successfully renewed the Bilateral Currency Swap Agreement signed in 2021, for a period of another three (03) years, under the terms and conditions stipulated in the original agreement.

The CNY 10 billion (approximately USD 1.4 billion) currency swap facility reflects the financial cooperation between China and Sri Lanka.

Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, signed the agreement on behalf of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, while Mr. Pan Gongsheng, Governor of the People’s Bank of China, signed on behalf of the People’s Bank of China.

(CBSL)