News

Govt. MPs seek probe against Shavendra Silva, IGP & others

Published

6 months ago

December 16, 2022

editor

Filing a writ petition in Court of Appeal, 22 government Parliamentarians representing SLPP and several others have sought an order directing the authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation in order to ascertain as to whether former Army Commander General Shavendra Silva, IGP Chandana Wickremaratne or any other respondents have willfully disobeyed the orders given by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to take action to prevent the damages to property and people following the attack on Galle Face protesters on May 9.

Ministers Bandula Gunawardena, Prasanna Ranatunga and 37 SLPP activists including 20 parliamentarians whose properties were damaged or destroyed following the mob attacks filed this petition naming former Army Commander General Shavendra Silva, Defence Secretary Kamal Gunarathne, Senior DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon, Army Commander Lieutenant General H.L.V.M. Liyanage and several others as respondents. The Court of Appeal yesterday fixed the petition for support on January 16. This petition is to be supported by President’s Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardena.

The petitioners reiterated the importance of conducting a comprehensive investigation in order to ascertain whether there was a politically motivated plan or other agenda to undermine the state.The petitioners stated that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the capacity of Minister of Defence had appointed a ‘Board of Inquiry’ consisting of three highly decorated former commanders of tri forces, under the Chairmanship of the Admiral of Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, to ascertain lapses, if any, by the armed forces and State Intelligence Service, during the recent incidents of violence.

The petitioners said the conduct of former Army Commander General Shavendra Silva during the time period material to the instant application is highly questionable and that he has on several occasions disregarded direct and repeated instructions given to him by the former President, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence to protect the private property of the petitioners as well as other Citizen and also the public property of the State.The petitioners stated that the Board of Inquiry has found that the conduct of General Shavendra Silva on 31-03-2022 and 09-05-2022 are highly suspicious and questionable.

They further alleged that General Shavendra Silva had disregarded repeated instructions from then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Secretary of Defence to take action to prevent the damages to property and people being harmed near Beira Lake at Navam Mawatha in the afternoon and to clear the mob along the Galle road in front of the Temple Trees in spite of having over 4,500 including five Battalions from the elite Air Mobile Brigade, Special Forces and Commandos stationed in different locations within Colombo city limits.

They alleged Sri Lanka Police, and the armed forces, turned a blind eye, and did not take any action to prevent the ongoing violence and protect life and property of the citizens of Sri Lanka, despite the fact that the President had even declared a state of emergency and had issued Emergency Regulations.

(dailymirror.lk)

News

China reaffirms unwavering support for SL

Published

4 mins ago

May 31, 2023

editor

The Chinese Government has reaffirmed its unwavering support for Sri Lanka in its ongoing economic recovery efforts, the President’s Media Division said.

The visiting Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sun Weidong expressed these views when he paid a courtesy call on President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

He also expressed China’s eagerness to actively pursue avenues that would enhance and solidify the bilateral relations between the two nations.

News

New coconut disease found in Galle!

Published

52 mins ago

May 31, 2023

editor

A new insect disease that can pose a serious threat to coconut cultivation has been detected in Galle for the first time in Sri Lanka.

Galle area manager of the Coconut Development Board H.G.Hemantha revealed this at the Galle District Agriculture Committee meeting yesterday (30).

He said that this disease is a serious disease spread by an insect called Brontispa and so far coconut plantations affected by this disease have been identified along the coast from Dodanduwa to Kaburugamuwa.

He said that at least 4,000 such infested trees have been identified.

News

Manju Nishshanka’s uncle “Morris” a member of LTTE diaspora

Published

56 mins ago

May 31, 2023

editor

“Morris”, the uncle of Manju Nisshanka who is an activist of the group that released the video of Nathasha Edirisooriya, is a member of the LTTE diaspora, Balangoda Kassapa Thera alleged.

Edirisooriya is currently in remand prison for allegedly making a controversial statement.

Addressing a press conference, Kassapa Thera said not only Edirisooriya, but also others behind the incident should be arrested.

“Who is Manju Nishshanka? What is his relationship with Nalaka Godahewa? How Manju’s uncle sends money from the US? They are related to the LTTE diaspora. His uncle ‘Morris’ sends millions of rupees from the diaspora. Once, Manju has offered Mr. Anura Kumara to spend even three billion rupees. We respect his decision not to bow down at that time. The LTTE diaspora and ‘Born Again’ gang are behind this. The CID should conduct a proper investigation and arrest them.”

Natasha’s script by the USA – Wimal Weerawansa

Meanwhile, MP Wimal Weerawansa said that Natasha Edirisooriya has been employed in a project of the US State Department as well as USAID, and that she had been carefully groomed to insult Buddhism.

He expressed this in response to the questions asked by the journalists after attending the party leaders meeting of the Supreme Lanka Coalition at the Communist Party headquarters in Borella.

Question: Who is behind plans to insult Buddhism? the government or international forces?

Answer: Natasha has worked on a project for the US Department of State. In addition, she has worked for USAID. They are the ones who say “Suddhodana’s lad” and insult Buddhism. They are being properly groomed, built and scripted. This is not an innocent operation.”