News

Namal’s alleged unpaid electricity bill issue challenged before SC

Published

1 year ago

September 1, 2023

editor

A lawyer has filed a Fundamental Rights petition before the Supreme Court seeking an order directing the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to produce before Court all relevant files maintained by the CEB regarding an alleged unsettled electricity bill adding up to Rs. 2.6 million in lieu of providing electricity to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s residence in Weeraketiya.

The petitioner Vijitha Kumara, an Attorney-at-law representing the Polonnaruwa Bar Association filed this petition naming the CEB, CEB Chairman, Auditor General, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera, MP Namal Rajapaksa, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, MP D.V. Chanaka and several others as respondents.

The petitioner is further seeking an order directing the Auditor General to provide a comprehensive audit report into providing electricity by the CEB during the period September 12, 2019 to September 15, 2019 to the Weeraketiya residence.

The petitioner states that JVP’s former Provincial Council member Nalin Hewage publicly disclosed that pursuant to a right to information request, it has been revealed that a sum of Rs. 2,682,246.57 was due and outstanding for a wedding held at the private residence of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2019.

The petitioner said it is public knowledge that Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa’s wedding was held on or about September 12, 2019 and a series of receptions were held at the Weeraketiya residence to celebrate the said momentous occasion.

The petitioner states that being a public spirited individual, he became curious as to how Namal Rajapaksa’s wedding was funded by public funds.

This petition had been filed through Attorney-at-Law Thamila Dinushi Perera and to be supported by Senior Counsel Thishya Weragoda. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)

(dailymirror.lk)

News

President holds talks with ITAK MPs

Published

9 hours ago

December 4, 2024

editor

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with Parliamentarians from the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) today (04) at the Presidential Secretariat.

During the discussion, the ITAK MPs brought to the President’s attention the longstanding challenges faced by the people in the Northern and Eastern regions.

Parliamentarians Sivagnanam Shritharan, Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam, Shanmugam Kugathasan, Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Gnanamuthu Srineshan, Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran, Elayathamby Srinath, and Thurairasa Raviharan also attended the meeting.

(President’s Media Division)

News

Govt. policy statement passed in Parliament sans vote

Published

9 hours ago

December 4, 2024

editor

The resolution on the Statement of the Government Policy presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Parliament on November 21 was passed unanimously in Parliament today (Dec. 04) without a vote.

The debate on the Statement of the Government Policy was held as a two-day debate from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm yesterday (Dec. 03) and from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm today.

BIZ

W.M. Mendis’ liquor manufacturing license to be suspended

Published

10 hours ago

December 4, 2024

editor

The liquor manufacturing license issued to W.M. Mendis & Co. Limited will be suspended from tomorrow (December 5) due to their failure to pay Rs. 5.7 billion in excise taxes and surcharges, the Excise department said.

Accordingly, as per the provisions Excise Ordinance Act, the Commissioner General of Excise has ordered to suspend the liquor manufacturing license issued to W.M. Mendis & Co. Limited effective from tomorrow.

The department further stated that measures have been taken to suspend the liquor manufacturing process from tomorrow (December 5) and to not renew the other licenses issued to the company from December 31 onwards if the company continues non-payment of tax arrears and surcharges.