News

No satisfactory progress ; President writes to Speaker

Published

5 months ago

November 3, 2022

editor

President Ranil Wickremesinghe pointed out that although the formation of the National Assembly has been concluded to bring far-reaching systematic changes, satisfactory progress has not been made with regard to other proposals.

The President has indicated this in a letter to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena today.

The establishment of a National Assembly and the appointment of three committees related to public finance and banking were proposed under far-reaching systematic changes.

In addition, it was also proposed to appoint the Banking and Financial Services Committee, the Economic Stabilization Committee and the Committee on Ways and Means related to banking affairs, as well as to delegate five youth representatives for the Sectoral committees and to establish the Parliamentary Budget Office.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed that although 17 Parliamentary Sectoral committees should be established as indicated by these proposals; the chairpersons have not been designated for them and the criteria for selecting the youth representatives to be appointed for this purpose has yet to be prepared.

The President has further stated in the letter that these proposals can be implemented when next year’s budget is implemented and consequently the systemic change expected by the government will be achieved immediately.

The drafted Bill for the Parliamentary Budget Office has also been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers and the President has informed Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena that he intends to present it to the Parliament after consultation with the party leaders and certification by the Attorney General.

News

12 Indian fishermen released on strict bail conditions

Published

3 hours ago

March 20, 2023

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Point Pedro Magistrate Ponnathurai Krishanthan has ordered ordered the release of 12 Indian fishermen who were arrested and remanded for fishing in the territorial waters of Sri Lanka.

The magistrate had ordered the release of the concerned fishermen under a suspended sentence of 1 1/2 – 10 years and forbade them from entering the Sri Lankan waters again.

The fishermen, who were released on strict conditions, are to be handed over to the Indian coastguard security officials through the Indian Consulate General in Jaffna with the help of the Navy.

(Source : Lankadeepa)

News

Closed area of ’18 Wanguwa’ reopened

Published

3 hours ago

March 20, 2023

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The stretch of the Kandy-Mahiyangana Road which was closed near the second bend of the 18 Hairpin Bends (18 Wanguwa) has been re-opened for traffic.

Police had announced last evening (March 19) that the 2nd hairpin bend of the ‘Dahaata Wanguwa’ on the Kandy-Mahiyangana road, was temporarily closed off due to an earth slip and rocks falling onto the road.

However, the stretch of road has now been reopened for traffic movement after clearing the debri.

The decision to reopen the road was taken after a joint site inspection by the Kandy district Disaster Management Centre, the NBRO and the RDA, says Director of the district DMC – Mr. Deshapriya Bandara.

However, he urged motorists to be cautious as there is a risk of further earthslips during heavy rain.

News

Kudu Salindu’s petition : AG given time to file objections

Published

3 hours ago

March 20, 2023

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The Court of Appeal today (March 20) granted time for the Attorney General (AG) to submit limited objections regarding the petition filed by the mother of Salindu Malshika Gunaratne alias “Kudu Salindu”.

She is requesting to ensure the safety of her son, who is currently detained under the custody of the CID.

Accordingly, the court has also ordered the Attorney General to file the relevant limited objections before April 04, 2023.

The petition was taken up before a judge bench consisting of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice A. Marikkar.