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Independence Day ceremony to be held on behalf of masses from 2025

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Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said that the government officials should be responsible for the pertinence and the benefits of the development projects implemented in the country on behalf of the people.

The Prime Minister expressed these views in a discussion held recently (09th) with senior officials of the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government regarding the future plans and the existing problems.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, further mentioned that, Government officials should have the ability to form a good conversation with the relevant parties by using their expert knowledge in all government development projects carried out under local and foreign financial allocations. As the government, we provide the necessary guidance. Therefore, in such cases, make sure to conduct regular discussions with the relevant parties. As government officials, you have a responsibility to carry out relevant development projects under favorable conditions for the government. Most of these projects are implemented on loans. All of these loans have to be paid back by the people of this country. Therefore, decide with a community friendly feeling whether the relevant development project is suitable for the country or not before initiating the projects. Our government is ready to stand for such officials at any time.

Until now, the Independence Day celebrations in this country were held on behalf of the elite. The government expects to hold the Independence ceremony on behalf of ordinary people of the country from 2025. The Independence Day celebrations should be organized in a way that school children and ordinary people are not oppressed.

Don’t get handing over of official residences of ministers as a political revenge. It’s a must to hand over the official residences with the abolition of the post of minister. Make a reminder to those who have not handed over their official residences yet. If there is no response, enforce the law.

Further, officials of the ministry explained the facts regarding the news that has emerged in the society on the transfer of a land to Sirimavo Bandaranaike College, to the Prime Minister.

It was revealed that then Government had decided to transfer two parcels of lands on both sides of the relevant school and the official residence used by the former minister Mahinda Amaraweera to Sirimavo Bandaranaike College, based on a proposal submitted by the then minister of education in 1994, Mr. Richard Pathirana which was passed by the cabinet of ministers and even though then government had taken measures to hand over the land bearing No. 11 to the school with the approval of the relevant proposal, due to the existence of an official residence on the land bearing No. 3, this transfer has not been taken place until now. Accordingly, the Prime Minister mentioned that the house in question should be taken over immediately, and required surveys should be done and the necessary measures should be made to hand over the said land to the school.

Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, Secretary to the Ministries of Justice, Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government and Labor Ministry S. Alokabandara and senior officials have participated in this event.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

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Request to cancel Chamara Sampath’s bail, rejected

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The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today (May 16) rejected a request by the  Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) to cancel the bail granted to Badulla District MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake and remand him again over alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as a member of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.

Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali delivered the decision after considering arguments presented by both parties.

In a motion filed before the court, the CIABOC alleged that the MP had interfered with ongoing investigations through his wife by prompting former President Ranil Wickremesinghe to hold a press conference. 

During this briefing, Wickremesinghe reportedly made inaccurate statements related to the case, portraying the MP’s actions as permissible.
However, President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa, representing Dassanayake, denied any interference or misconduct, arguing there was no evidence of witness tampering. The Commission also acknowledged that the former President is not listed as a witness in the case.

MP Dassanayake was initially granted bail on April 08 over the same incident.

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DMT stops issuing number plates over supply shortage

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The Department of Motor Traffic has notified owners of newly registered vehicles that the issuance of number plates has been temporarily suspended, effective April 28, due to a supply shortage.

In an official communication, the department acknowledged that although number plates are a mandatory component of vehicle registration, ongoing supply issues have made it impossible to fulfill this requirement at present.

As a result, both number plates and corresponding stickers for newly registered vehicles will not be issued until further notice.

The Department has assured vehicle owners that distribution will resume as soon as the supply is restored.

(dailynews.lk)

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

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CIABOC refutes Ranil’s claim

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The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) today (May 16) informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court that a recent statement by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe regarding a treasury circular was factually inaccurate.

The Magistrate was also informed that the statement may have interfered with an ongoing bribery investigation involving Badulla District MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake.

Wickremesinghe, speaking at a special media briefing, had stated that a circular issued in 2015 – during his tenure as Prime Minister – allowed provincial councils to withdraw fixed deposit funds prior to maturity.

However, the CIABOC has clarified that the circular in question was actually issued on November 22, 2016, whereas Dassanayake had withdrawn the funds much earlier, on February 29, 2016.

The Commission also disclosed that Mr. Wickremesinghe’s statement was made at the request of Dassanayake’s wife and that the accuracy of the circular’s date had not been verified before the public statement.

Dassanayake, who appeared in court today, is accused of causing a financial loss of over Rs. 17.6 million to the government by prematurely withdrawing fixed deposit funds belonging to the Uva Provincial Council during his time as Chief Minister.

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