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COPE chair criticizes Mahaweli Authority

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The Committee on Public Enterprise evaluates the current performance of the Mahaweli Authority following the Auditor General’s Report of 2020 & 2021.

Professor Ranjith Bandara, Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprise took exception at the outdated ‘Vision’ statement and Key Performance Indicators of the Authority following consistent failure to deliver its services with integrity and quality.
The Chairman began proceedings with a stern look at the inability of the body to ‘raise the living standards of the citizens’ – a mantra clearly highlighted in the body’s vision statement. He directed the Director-General of the Mahaweli Authority to examine its policy and practices and re-invent the fundamentals of the body itself to reflect the modern world better. On this note, the Committee further queried the lack of digital infrastructure in the land reservation process and directed the Authority to take measures to strengthen it.

Regarding the conveyance of lands, the Committee directed the Authority to submit the following:
• Report on existing land conveyance procedure to be submitted within 02 weeks.
• Report on how lands conveyed for investment purposes was completed including details of the investor, purpose of investments, etc. to be submitted within 02 weeks.
• Report on illegal constructions taking place within the purview of the body to be submitted within 01 month.

Following an incongruence between the annual report submitted to parliament and the data sought out by the Auditor General’s office, an urgent report of all lands released in 2022 was requested. This comes on the heels of the President’s directive where a stay order was made on the issuance of lands.

The Recruitment Process Management was scrutinized, and it was found that there were vacancies that had not been filled up owing to suspected reservations for promotions to the existing staff internally. The Chairman of COPE immediately directed that the vacancies be filled within the next 60 days.
The Committee directed that all issues be revisited for review and accountability on 21-07-2023.

(Prof.) Ranjith Bandara, M.P., (Chair), Hon. Jagath Pushpakumara, Hon. Janaka Wakkumbura M.P., M.P, Hon. Shantha Bandara, Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage M.P., Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekera M.P., Hon. Eran Wickremaratne M.P., Hon. Jayantha Samaraweera M.P., Hon. Sanjeeva Edirimanna M.P., Hon. Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi, M.P., Hon. (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya, M.P., Hon. Premnath Dolawatte, Attorney-at-Law M.P., Hon. M Rameshwaran, M.P., Hon. (Mrs.) Rajika Wickramasinghe, M.P., Hon. Madhura Withanage, M.P., Prof. Charitha Herath M.P. were present

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Halloluwa ordered to surrender phone

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The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered Tusitha Halloluwa, the former Director of the National Lotteries Board, to hand over his mobile phone to investigators.

The directive was issued following a request by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), which is probing a recent shooting incident involving Halloluwa.

The case relates to an attack that occurred while Halloluwa was travelling in a vehicle.

According to police reports, unidentified gunmen opened fire on the vehicle and allegedly stole several important documents in his possession.

The court is scheduled to reconvene this afternoon to further hear the case.

Three suspects currently in remand custody in connection with the shooting are expected to be produced before the court.

Additionally, three other individuals who were detained for 24 hours for questioning are also due to appear in court today.

(News1st)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by (News1st) has not been edited by SLM staff)

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SL – US hold 2nd round of tariff talks

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The second round of discussions on US-imposed tariffs on Sri Lanka was held yesterday (May 28) at the Office of the United States Trade Representative in Washington, D.C.

A high-level Sri Lankan delegation is participating in the talks, which mark a continuation of several earlier virtual meetings between the two sides.

The talks are expected to pave the way for new opportunities in trade cooperation, while aiming to secure favorable outcomes for Sri Lanka in line with its current economic priorities.

Officials anticipate that the dialogue will contribute to enhancing long-term trade relations and foster deeper economic engagement between the two nations.

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Motorcycle squad to arrest fleeing suspects

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The police have deployed a rapid-response motorcycle squad to swiftly apprehend fleeing suspects.

Recognizing the urgent need, armed police teams have been deployed in the Southern Province to ensure swift response to crimes and promptly apprehend fleeing suspects, thereby maintaining public order.

Accordingly, a specially organized motorcycle squad has been deployed under the leadership of Senior DIG of the Southern Province – Kithsiri Jayalath.

It includes 08 combat motorcycles,15 highway motorcycles, and around 46 officers from the Tangalle and Matara Police Divisions.

A briefing was held in this regard at the Matara District Secretariat Hall under the patronage of SDIG Kithsiri Jayalath.

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