News

Madhura goes to RW with Basil’s conditions!

Published

2 years ago

December 24, 2022

editor

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been urged by over a 100 MPs to table in parliament a PCOI report handed to him.

Former Navy Commander, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, former Air Force Commander AF Marshal – Roshan Goonetileke and Former Army Commander Daya Ratnayake are the members of the PCoI to ascertain lapses, if any, by the armed forces and State Intelligence Services during the incidents of violence in Mirihana on March 31st and island-wide violence since May 9th. The PCoI was appointed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

According to reports, a formal request in this regard, containing 115 signatures was handed over to the President by SLPP MP – Madura Withanage last Wednesday (21).

The MPs have urged everyone involved in violent acts to be punished regardless of their status.

The signatories include not only government MPs but also several independent MPs such as Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Udaya Gammanpila, Jayaratne Herath and Wasantha Yapa.

Although MP Withanage had handed over the relevant letter to the President, political sources say that this is only one of the two conditions posed by SLPP founder – Basil Rajapaksa.

Before ensuring that Mr. Wickramasinghe is appointed as President, Basil Rajajapaksa had posed two conditions which are : Assuring the right for all to engage in politics and a policy to uplift the economy without selling off assets.

BIZ

Card payments to be enabled on expressways

Published

1 hour ago

April 10, 2025

editor

The Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation has announced that a pilot project enabling card payments on expressways will be launched this week.

It is reported that this pilot project will initially be implemented at the Kottawa and Kadawatha interchanges.

Accordingly, commuters using these interchanges will be able to make payments via debit and credit cards, as well as through QR code scanning.

Following the pilot project, the Ministry further noted that from May onwards, it expects to roll out card payment facilities across all expressways in Sri Lanka.

News

Wanted ex-minister Prasanna had even visited the passport office!

Published

1 hour ago

April 10, 2025

editor

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed Mahara Magistrate Kanchana N. Silva yesterday (April 09) that former Minister Prasanna Ranaweera, had recently visited the Department of Immigration and Emigration to renew his passport and had also participated in political meetings at his party’s headquarters.

The passport office is located at the ‘Suhurupaya’ complex in Battaramulla, which also houses the Ministry of Public Security.

Law enforcement authorities are seeking to arrest Ranaweera over allegedly selling a plot of state-owned land in Kiribathgoda to a private party by forging documents.

Taking this into account, the court issued warrants to seize properties of Ranaweera and another suspect still at large.

Meanwhile, the Mahara Magistrate’s Court yesterday (April 09) rejected a bail application for former MP Mervyn Silva remanding 04 suspects including Silva until April 21.

During the hearing, suspects currently in remand – former Minister – Mervyn Silva, former Deputy Chairman of the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha – Dr. Jayantha Singhabahu Cabraal, Naveen Weerakoon and Silva’s then secretary – Don Sarath Kumara Edirisinghe alias “Singapore Sarath,” were not physically produced before court.

The Public Security Ministry, which oversees the DI&E, is located in the same building where passports are issued.

(Source: Aruna)

News

Parliament to debate Batalanda Commission report today

Published

2 hours ago

April 10, 2025

editor

The Parliamentary debate on the “Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the establishment and maintenance of places of unlawful detention and torture chambers at the Batalanada Housing scheme,” will commence in Parliament today (April 10).

The report was tabled in Parliament by the government on March 14.