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EC to meet today to set another date for polls

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The Election Commission is scheduled to meet today (24) to discuss the local government election including its postponement.

According to the Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act, the election must be postponed for a period of not less than 21 days.

The Election Commission last week decided to postpone the postal voting of the local government elections indefinitely.

The Supreme Court yesterday (23) decided to postpone the hearing of the petition filed requesting to postpone the election until May 11.

Meanwhile, in response to President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s statement that there was no decision to hold an election, Election Commission Chairman Nimal Punchiheva said that the local government election was called legally according to the Constitution and the Election laws.

He said that the process was done with the consent of all the members of the Election Commission.

The Chairman also said that the Election Commission will meet tomorrow to make a final decision on the local government elections.

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Hasitha Jayawardena appointed as Melstacorp Chairman

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Hasitha Jayawardena, son of late business tycoon Harry Jayawardena, has been redesignated as the Executive Chairman of Melstacorp and Distillaries Company effective 6 February. 

“Jayawardena has over 12 years of experience in the management of companies under the guidance of his late father Deshamanya D H S Jayawardena, in various diversified fields in the Group. 

“He has been managing and providing strategic direction to the plantation sector and leisure sector of Melstacorp Group. He also functions as the Managing Director of Stassen Group of Companies, ” a filing to the Colombo Stock Exchange said.

(dailymirror.lk)

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

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Release of 3 suspects : AG Dept. responds

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The Attorney General’s Department states that the 03 suspects named in the letter by the Attorney General to the CID on Jan. 27, are not suspects arrested over the murder case of slain Sunday Leader Editor – Lasantha Wickrematunge.

In a media release, the department says that the recommendation was in relation to the abduction of Wickrematunge’s driver, who was not an eyewitness in the murder investigation.

The investigation into Wickrematunge’s murder has not concluded, the statement further notes.

The complete media release in sinhala is as follows :

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BASL opposes possible cabinet review over AG decision linked to Lasantha murder

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The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has raised concerns over a possible review by the Cabinet of Ministers over the Attorney General’s decision to release three suspects related to the murder of former Sunday Leader Editor – Lasantha Wickremetunga.

“The BASL is firmly of the view that decisions of the Attorney General in criminal matters should not be reviewed by the political authorities including the Cabinet of Ministers as that would undermine the independence of the office of the Attorney General, which is crucial to uphold the rule of law,” the BASL said in a letter to President Anura Kumara Disanayake.

The BASL said whilst the AG is a public functionary and as such is accountable to the public for his decisions, the AG performs a quasi role in respect of criminal matters.

“As such, the Attorney General has to decide whether or not to charge a suspect based on the material available and submitted to him by the investigating authority… In doing so, he will be required to consider whether such material is admissible in law and whether based on such material, there exists a reasonable prospect of a conviction, the BASL states.

“…we urge Your Excellency to ensure that there is no unwarranted interference with the exercise of the powers of the Attorney General and we trust Your Excellency will continue to protect the independence of key institutions including that the office of the Attorney General which is essential to protect the rule of law in our country,” the BASL further notes.

Sri Lanka’s Attorney-General Parinda Ranasinghe (Jnr) ordered the discharge of Premanand Udalagama, a former military intelligence officer, and Prasanna Nanayakkara, the then-DIG, who was remanded and bailed after evidence linking them to the murder and sabotaging the investigation. The decision has sparked widespread outrage.

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