A request made to allow new tamil political parties to join the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) led Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) has been rejected.
Since the Local Government elections are scheduled to be held early next year, a number of Tamil parties in the north have proposed to join the ITAK to form a political alliance.
A TNA spokesperson said that they will continue with the political parties and groups that were formerly with them, but would not join with new other parties. Accordingly, the traditional alliance of ITAK-TELO and PLOTE will continue.
Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) led by former MP Suresh Premachandran, MP C.V. Vigneswaran’s Tamil Makkal Party and the Tamil National Party led by former MP N. Srikantha had tried to join with the TNA-led ITAK.
A group of fishermen stranded at sea off the coast of Balapitiya were rescued today by a Bell 412 helicopter under the directive of the Secretary of Defence.
The fishermen were aboard a vessel that encountered distress in rough sea conditions. Upon receiving the alert, the Sri Lanka Air Force launched the helicopter to assist in the emergency rescue operation.
The Department of Meteorology has issued a Red Alert warning for strong winds and rough seas around Sri Lanka, effective from 12:30 pm today (May 30) until midnight tomorrow (May 31).
Former Sports Minister – Mahindananda Aluthgamage as well as former Trade Minister and Sathosa Chairman – Nalin Fernando, have been placed in a common ward at Welikada Prison, where they will be held with other general inmates.
Prison authorities confirmed that both individuals were issued standard-issue jumpers, along with a mat and pillow, as per prison protocol.
The two were brought to Welikada Prison yesterday afternoon following their sentencing and were subsequently subjected to medical examinations before being transferred to their assigned ward.
The Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar yesterday (May 29) sentenced the duo over their involvement in a major corruption case linked to the importation of sports equipment, which is infamously known as the ‘Carrom Board’ case.
Ex-Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment while former Trade Minister – Nalin Fernando was sentenced to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the case as the Lanka Sathosa Chairman at that time.
