News

President’s secretary issues instructions to all ministry secretaries

Published

2 years ago

July 6, 2023

editor

E. M. S. B. Ekanayake, Secretary to the President gave instructions to all Secretaries to Ministries with regard to attending meetings of the Committees of the Parliament via an official letter today (06) copying to Honourable Speaker of Parliament and Secretary General of Parliament.

Accordingly, the officials attending meetings of any Committee of the Parliament were instructed to be equipped with the relevant knowledge of the subjects under discussion and be prepared to provide information when it is requested by the Committee.

Meanwhile it was recommended having preparatory meetings and to be prepared to answer the questions raised by the Honourable Members of the Committee with respect to the items on the agenda. However, in cases where the officials are asked questions that are not included in the agenda, they may request a reasonable time period to answer and respond within the agreed time.

In a situation where the Secretary to the Ministry cannot attend a meeting he/she has been invited to, a senior official could attend the meeting as a representative, with the permission of the Chairperson of the relevant Committee.

Further, the officials should attend the meetings of the Sectoral Oversight Committees with the approval of the relevant Minister. However, if the Minister has concerns regarding the matters to be discussed, those shall be conveyed to the Chairperson of the Sectoral Oversight Committee by the Minister.

If the Honourable Leader of the Opposition wishes to summon public officers to a meeting to be held in the Parliamentary premises, he will inform the Honourable Minister in writing, who will then sanction the officers to attend such meetings.

When the officials of the Ministry of Finance are summoned for finance-related Oversight Committees, they could attend the meetings with the approval of the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance.

(President’s Media Division)

News

Yoshitha Rajapaksa named suspect in money laundering case

Published

34 minutes ago

February 12, 2025

editor

Sri Lanka Police said that they will file charges against Yoshitha Rajapaksa under the Prevention Of Money Laundering Act.

This was confirmed by Police Spokesperson Senior Superintendent of Police Buddhika Manatunga during a press conference held in Colombo this morning.

SSP Manatunga stated that an investigation into Yoshitha Rajapaksa has been ongoing since 2016, following the discovery of over Rs. 59 million in his bank accounts. Rajapaksa has been unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the source of these funds. Consequently, the police initiated an investigation under the Prevention Of Money Laundering Act.

According to the Police Spokesperson, further investigations revealed that the funds were invested in fixed deposits and bank accounts maintained as a joint account with a woman named Daisy Forrest. Based on these findings, the Attorney General directed the police to name Daisy Forrest as a suspect in the case alongside Rajapaksa.

Today, the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court formally named Yoshitha Rajapaksa and Daisy Forrest as suspects in the money laundering case.

A foreign travel ban has already been imposed on Daisy Forrest. The police spokesperson said that Sri Lanka Police will continue to take necessary legal actions against all suspects involved in the case.

News

No Change in Litro Gas Prices for February

Published

45 minutes ago

February 11, 2025

editor

Channa Gunawardena, the Chairman of Litro Gas Company, has confirmed that the prices of domestic LP gas cylinders will remain unchanged for the month of February 2025.

News

17 Police officers discharged from service for drug use

Published

12 hours ago

February 11, 2025

editor

Sri Lanka Police have terminated the services of 17 officers in the past four months for consuming illegal drugs, including heroin and synthetic substances like ICE.

Police Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manathunga said that the Intelligence Units and Special Investigations Unit compiled a list of officers within the Sri Lanka Police Department suspected of using drugs.

The officers in question were tested and medical reports were sent to the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board. Following the results, the officers were dismissed from the police force.

SSP Manathunga also confirmed that investigations are ongoing into several other officers facing similar charges, and action will be taken based on their medical test results.

The Acting Inspector General of Police has instructed that strict action be taken against senior officers involved in the matter.