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CIABOC DG gives undertaking to resign

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The Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations against Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) Kanishka Wijeratne today (Oct. 07) gave undertaking to the Supreme Court to resign from office.

This was after the court granted leave to proceed with three Fundamental Rights (FR) applications filed challenging his appointment as the Director General of the CIABOC.

When the cases were taken up for hearing today before a three-judge bench, the current DG of the state’s anti-corruption agency Kanishka Wijerathne gave an undertaking to the Court that he will vacate the post by this afternoon. 

Since the undertaking of the current AG was given to the Court, no further interim orders were sought by the petitioners. 

Earlier, three FR petitions were filed challenging the appointment of the present DG on the basis that the appointment of Mr Wijerathne is contrary to the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023 and has not been made following due process as required and contemplated by the law. 

Three petitions- Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) and its Chairman Pulasthi Hewamanna,  civil activist Vidhura Ralapanawe and  journalist Ruwani Niwanthika Fonseka-were filed arguing the manner in which the appointment was made “constitutes undue circumvention of the law and very intention of Parliament in enacting the Anti-Corruption Act”. 

The petitioners claimed that “an opaque, ambiguous and circuitous method” has been followed in making the said appointment without due consideration of the need to follow due reasonable process and/or in a manner that entails due transparency amongst other relevant requirements.

Mr Wijerathne was appointed by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council (CC). Mr Wijerathne was the CIABOC’s DG at the time of the enactment of the Anti-Corruption Act.

Viran Corea PC appeared for TISL while Saliya Pieris PC appeared for Vidhura Ralapanawe, and Venuka Cooray represented Ruwani Niwanthika Fonseka. 

Senior Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne PC appeared on behalf of the Attorney General department. 

The three member bench of the Supreme Court consists of Justice Padman Surasena, Justice Kumudine Wickremesinghe and Justice Janak de Silva. 

(Excerpts : sundaytimes.lk)

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Distribution of polling cards for general election continues today

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The Department of Posts has designated today as a special day for distributing polling cards for the upcoming 2024 general election. 

Senior Deputy Postmaster General Rajitha Ranasinghe announced that 2,090 distribution offices will be open, with 8,000 staff assigned to the task.

Polling cards will be distributed from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and the public is urged to cooperate throughout the process.

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Landslide warning issued for eight districts

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The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued early landslide warnings for eight districts due to the ongoing heavy rainfall.

The warnings have been issued, effective from 05 pm today (02) to 05 pm tomorrow (03).

Accordingly, the warning notices under Level 02 have been issued to the Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara and Ratnapura districts.

Early landslide warnings have been issued to Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara district, Udapalatha and Yatinuwara in the Kandy district, Bulathkohupitiya, Mawanella, Dehiowita and Kegalle in the Kegalle district, Pasgoda in the Matara district and Ratnapura, Eheliyagoda, Elapatha, Kuruwita, Kahawatta, Godakawela and Pelmadulla in the Ratnapura district.

Meanwhile, Level 01 early landslide warnings have been issued to Welimada and Haldummulla in the Badulla district, Elpitiya in Galle district and Polgahawela in Kurunegala district.

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Government Quarters Handovers Delayed for Five Former Ministers

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The Ministry of Public Administration has announced that the takeover of government quarters occupied by five former ministers has not yet been completed due to several ongoing issues with the quarters.

The ministry has urged the former ministers to resolve these problems promptly.

Action will be taken to conduct inspections of the government quarters if they are not handed over by next week.

Additionally, the ministry stated that legal action will be pursued if it is found that a former minister or their close relatives are still residing in the properties in question.

(News1st)

(This story, originally published by News1st has not been edited by SLM staff)

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