President Anura Kumara Disanayake has appointed a committee to conduct an in-depth study on potential issues that may arise due to the new reciprocal tariff system introduced by US President Donald Trump and to submit recommendations to the government.

Accordingly, the committee includes the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, the Governor of the Central Bank, the Chairman of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board and the Director General of Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Additionally, Senior Economic Advisor to the President Duminda Hulugamuwa, Chief Economic Policy Advisor to the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Shiran Fernando, as well as Ashroff Omar, Sherad Amalean and Saif Jafferjee have also been appointed to the committee.

(President’s Media Division)

Former Chief Minister of the North Central Province, S.M. Ranjith, and his Private Secretary – Shanthi Chandrasena have filed an appeal, challenging the Colombo High Court’s judgment, which convicted them and imposed 16 years of rigorous imprisonment over a case filed by the Bribery Commission.

Ranjith and Mrs. Chandrasena, (who is also the spouse of former Minister S.M. Chandrasena) was sentenced to 16 years of rigorous imprisonment on corruption charges.

In addition to the prison sentence, Colombo High Court Judge Aditya Patabendige had also fined them Rs. 200,000 each , with an additional prison term imposed in case of default.

Through their appeals, the two appellants stated that they were seeking the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal to review and set aside their convictions and the sentences imposed by the Colombo High Court. The two appellants are also seeking an order to acquit and release them from the indictments. In their appeal applications, the appellants alleged that the High Court judge had failed to duly consider several pieces of evidence, including documentary evidence presented before the court.

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Three persons including former Minister Mervyn Silva, who was arrested for allegedly selling state-owned land to a private party by forging documents, have been further remanded.

They have been remanded until April 09 after being produced before the Mahara Magistrate’s Court this morning (April 03).

Meanwhile, during the trial, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has requested the court to confiscate the property of 03 individuals, including former State Minister Prasanna Ranaweera, who are currently evading arrest in connection with the incident.  Accordingly, the court has scheduled the consideration of CID’s request for April 09.