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COPE calls to appoint committee to probe irregularities of CCF

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In order to investigate the matters raised by the special audit report on the functioning of the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) and to examine the progress of the implementation of recommendations given by COPE, a committee meeting was held yesterday (07) under the chairmanship of (Prof.) Ranjith Bandara.

The Internal Inquiry Committee appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry to investigate the matters raised in the said Special Audit Report for the purpose of reporting to COPE was discussed at length.

Furthermore, in the last meeting, there was a discussion at length about holding the meetings of the governing council of the Central Cultural Fund and whether the funds have been properly spent, and the committee members had agreed to discuss the validity of the 209th meeting of the governing council in this meeting.

Accordingly, the Auditor General pointed out that only 07 of the 11 members have agreed to the decisions of the 209th meeting and 04 including the former Prime Minister have not signed. Stating that there is a discrepancy between the signatures used by the 07 signatories on the signature list of this meeting and the signatures used by them in the previous governing board meetings, the Auditor General pointed out that the decisions of the 209th governing board meeting have not been adopted in the 210th meeting.

The Auditor General also stated that the then Prime Minister’s Secretary and the current President’s Secretary, who were members of the relevant governing body, confirmed that he was not a party to such a meeting.

Accordingly, followed by extensive discussion, the COPE Chair gave the following recommendations to the Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.
Appointment of a committee headed by a retired court judge to investigate the issues raised by the special audit report of the Central Cultural Fund for the period 2015 – 2019.

Dissolution of the singular internal investigation committee for the purpose of reporting to COPE appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry to investigate the matters raised in the said Special Audit Report.

To check the validity of the signature list of the 209th meeting, to refer the list to the Criminal Investigation Department and the Government Inspector.

Recall the Central Cultural Fund before the Committee to review the progress of the recommendations made by COPE on the matters raised by the Special Audit Report on the functioning of the Fund.

To make the report of the new committee proposed which is to be appointed to investigate the functioning of the Central Cultural Fund and present it before COPE within 03 months.

In addition to this, the committee members focused on the future plans of  COPE, and the institutions that should be prioritized. The Chair mentioned that he had already discussed it with the Auditor General. Accordingly, the chair mentioned that investigations will be carried out by sub-committees through a cluster committee system and a system of calling only the institutions with essential and current importance to the main committee will be facilitated.

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Kahawatta murder : 2 suspects remanded

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Two individuals arrested yesterday (July 16) over the abduction and murder of a youth in Kahawatta have been remanded until July 28.

They were remanded after being produced before the Pelmadulla Magistrate’s Court.

Four suspects were arrested in this regard yesterday and the Homagama Magistrate had granted permission to police to detain two suspects for 07 days for questioning while remanding the remaining 02 suspects until they were produced before the Pelmadulla courts today.

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Newborn found abandoned in paddy field in Paragahadeniya

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A newborn has been found abandoned in a paddy field in Paragahadeniya, Mawathagama earlier today (July 17), police stated.

A local resident passing through the paddy field had noticed the newborn lying under a tree in the field and subsequently informed the Mawathagama Police.

The baby was subsequently admitted to the Mawathagama Divisional Hospital.

A doctor who examined the infant had stated that the baby appeared to be one or two days old and following initial examinations, the baby was transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital.

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SC annuls injunction over compulsory retirement age of nurses

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The Supreme Court today invalidated the interim injunction previously issued by the Court of Appeal preventing the enforcement of the former government’s decision to compulsorily retire nurses in four grades at the age of 60.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court also issued another order to the Court of Appeal to re-examine the petition filed before the court regarding this matter. 

The Supreme Court issued this order when an appeal filed by the Attorney General, seeking to declare the relevant interim injunction issued by the Appellate Court as unlawful and invalid, was taken up for hearing today.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Janak de Silva and A. H.M.D. Nawaz issued the order.

During the previous government, the Cabinet of Ministers had taken a decision to make government employees compulsorily retire at the age of 60 years.

The Court of Appeal, which heard writ petitions filed by the Public Service United Nurses’ Association and its President, Venerable Murutthettuwe Ananda Thero, had issued this interim injunction, preventing the implementation of the relevant decision.

The Attorney General had later filed an appeal petition in the Supreme Court, stating that the manner in which this interim injunction was issued is contrary to the law and that the Court of Appeal does not have the power to issue such an order.

After hearing the petition, the three-judge Supreme Court bench issued this order nullifying the interim injunction.

(adaderana.lk)

(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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