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Express Pearl compensation : No coordination among agencies

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The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Sustainable Development inquired about the progress made in providing compensation due to the Express Pearl disaster and further seeking the support of the expert committee appointed by Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) to assess the damages.

This was discussed when the committee met in Parliament recently under the chairmanship of Member of Parliament – Ajith Mannapperuma.

The MEPA officials said that although they had asked the Attorney General’s Department in a letter about the activities of the expert committee appointed by MEPA and its future needs, they had not received a proper reply. However, the officials said that they had received information from the Ministry of Justice that an international, independent expert committee would be appointed to continue the assessment of the damages. As a result, the MEPA expert committee has not made a firm decision on how to proceed further, the MEPA officials said. Also, they pointed out that it is a problem that their institution is not aware of the work being carried out in this regard by the Attorney General’s Department.

It was revealed in the committee that since the payments related to the research activities carried out by the expert committee appointed by MEPA have not been made, the Ministry has been informed to submit a cabinet paper to look into the ability to make payments.  It was also disclosed that no appointments have been made to the expert committee for the year 2023.

Prof. Ajith De Alwis, co-chairman of the expert committee appointed by MEPA, who participated in the committee, said that the relevant universities have been questioned regarding his educational qualifications. The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has inquired about the appointment and the educational qualifications of two members appointed to the expert committee, the MEPA officials told the committee.

The attention of the committee was focused on the issues that have arisen due to the lack of good coordination between the Marine Environmental Protection Authority, the Ministry of Fisheries and the Attorney General’s Department. Due to this, it was revealed before the committee that several issues have arisen for the compensation of fishermen. Accordingly, the Committee Chair instructed that the Attorney General’s Department, the Ministry of Fisheries, the MEPA and the members of the expert committee appointed by MEPA jointly prepare a program and submit a related report to the Committee.

Also, since the disaster caused by this ship incident is the biggest destruction caused by microplastics in the world, the committee decided to seek the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for the research of the expert committee and to provide facilities for the same.

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Weather Alert: Showers to ease in Southwest, strong winds forecast in North

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Prevailing showery condition in the southwestern part of the island is expected to reduced gradually from today (01st)

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.

Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Hambantota and Trincomalee districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

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Aluthgamage and Fernando assigned printing work in prison

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Former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando, sentenced this week to jail for 20 and 25 years, respectively, have been assigned duties in the printing section at the Welikada prison, sources said.

Both of them are being held together away from the main section of the prison’s ‘chapel’ section, where prisoners serving life sentences and those convicted of murder and rape are held. The prison’s printing section prints its own documentation.

Prison sources said that in placing them in relevant wards to serve their jail term, the authorities had taken into consideration the security of the two convicts, as they might have had political enemies.

Mr Aluthgamage was handed a 20-year term of rigorous imprisonment, while Mr Fernando was given a 25-year term of rigorous imprisonment by a High Court trial-at-bar after being found guilty of causing a Rs 53 million loss to the state.

They were accused of importing carrom boards and checkers boards through Sathosa during the 2015 presidential elections and distributing them to clubs.

Their lawyers said yesterday they were awaiting the certified copy of the judgement to prepare the appeal papers. The appeal will be considered by the Supreme Court.

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

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COVID subvariants spreading in Asia detected in Sri Lanka

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The Medical Research Institute of Sri Lanka has confirmed that the COVID-19 variant currently spreading in the Asian region has also been identified in the country.

Dr. Jude Jayamaha, a specialist in viral diseases at the Medical Research Institute, stated that patients infected with the Omicron subvariants LF.7 and XFG are being reported locally.

Dr. Jayamaha explained that this finding was confirmed through research conducted on biological samples collected from several hospitals across the island.

However, he emphasized that there is no need for undue fear regarding these COVID-19 variants.

Health authorities have also stressed the importance of vulnerable groups—such as pregnant mothers, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses—following health guidelines, including wearing face masks and avoiding crowded places.

Dr. Jayamaha reiterated that new COVID-19 variants emerge periodically, and health authorities are continuously monitoring the situation, so the public should remain calm.

(newswire.lk)

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

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