News

Inconsistencies in articles of Rehabilitation Bill – SC

Published

2 years ago

October 20, 2022

editor

The Supreme Court has determined that several articles of the proposed Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill are inconsistent with the Constitution.

Speaker – Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena delivered the Supreme Court determination at the commencement of the Parliament sittings this morning (20).

The Supreme Court determined that the Bill, as a whole, is inconsistent with Article 12 (1) of the Constitution and can be enacted only by a special majority in parliament, unless the proposed articles are amended accordingly.

The SC determination states that this inconsistancy shall cease if :

(i) all references to “ex-combatants,” “violent extreme groups” and “other group of persons” are deleted from the Bill ;

(ii) the Bill is limited to the rehabilitation of drug dependent persons and such other persons may be identified by law.

News

Easter Sunday bombings : Rs. 295 mn. paid as compensation

Published

10 hours ago

April 20, 2024

editor

The annual reports of the Office of Reparations have revealed that over Rs. 295 million (295,499,069) have been paid as compensation to victims and property damage of the Sunday Easter bombings.

Under this, Rs. 273,747,000 have been paid as compensation for 719 victims while Rs. 21,752,069 have been paid as compensation for property damages.

News

350 medical specialists have left SL

Published

10 hours ago

April 20, 2024

editor

A study conducted by a group of specialist doctors at the Ministry of Health has revealed that 350 specialists have left the country during recent times.

Many of them have left for countries such as UK and Australia. According to a spokesperson of the ministry, economic hardships have been cited as one of the main reasons for them to do so.
Doctors suggest that the government should provide an immediate solution to this issue.

Commenting on the issue, Secretary of the Health Ministry – Dr. Palitha Mahipala says that there is still a shortage of anesthetists and pediatricians after most of them had left the country.

However, some who have gone for training, are returning after their training is complete, he adds.

Meanwhile, sources in the Health sector also say that over 200 nurses too have gone overseas, but new recruits have enabled to prevent hospital operations from continuing without hindrance.

(Source : Lankadeepa)

News

Details of SL recruits in Russian military, sought

Published

10 hours ago

April 20, 2024

editor

Sri Lanka has sought a report from Russian authorities on details of Sri Lankan military recruits and how many of them have died during the Russian-Ukraine conflict, the ‘Aruna’ newspaper reports.

According to a directive by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Russia has forwarded this request to the Russian Ministry of Defence.

Previously, the Human Trafficking, Human Smuggling and Maritime Crime Investigation Division (CID) arrested a retired major and an employment agent, identified as leaders of an organized scheme that recruited retired military personnel as mercenaries for the Russian army.

The Defence Ministry in Sri Lanka has urged the Tri Force commanders to brief Tri Force personnel not to fall for such rackets.

(Source : Aruna)