News

Prez issues order on Archeology Director about lands in North & East!

Published

3 weeks ago

May 15, 2023

editor

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has ordered the Director of Archeology to immediately stop the acquisition of land in the Northern and Eastern Provinces until further notice.

This order was made following a discussion held between the President and Tamil MPs of the Northern and Eastern Provinces at the Presidential Secretariat.

Lands related issues of the people of the Northern and Eastern Provinces, bringing a political solution and the development of the provinces were to be discussed at the Presidential Secretariat on May 11, 12 and 13.

However, it was decided to hold the discussions only on the 11th and 12th after it was agreed to discuss the development of the province on a separate day.

During the discussion, the representatives of Tamil political parties pointed out to the President that the Wildlife Department, Mahaweli Development Authority and the Department of Archeology are jointly occupying the lands belonging to the Tamil people in an unfair manner.

They pointed out that the Department of Archeology is carrying out this process by naming various lands as archaeological sites in a haphazard manner.

The representatives requested the President to order the heads of the relevant government agencies to prevent the forcible land acquisitions until the matter is investigated.

Furthermore, they have also requested the President to release the LTTE suspects who have been arrested under that Prevention of Terrorism Act by abolishing it.

The President has questioned the Attorney General about the issue and the Attorney General has said that an immediate decision will be taken in this regard.

The People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam and Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization representatives said that they have already had discussions with the President about the same issues, but the decisions taken were not implemented. Therefore, they requested that action be taken following the recent meeting.

Source – Aruna

News

Cabinet green light to ratify Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

Published

15 hours ago

June 6, 2023

editor

Cabinet approval has been granted to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and to take the necessary steps for legislation to enforce the provisions of the agreement.

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on Sep. 10, 1996. By the treaty, member states agreed to ban “any nuclear weapons test or other nuclear explosion” anywhere in the world. So far, 186 countries have signed the agreement and 177 countries have ratified the agreement.

Sri Lanka signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty on October 24, 1996. Sri Lanka is currently cooperating with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization in the areas of training, capacity development, data and information sharing. Sri Lanka’s ratification of the treaty would recognize Sri Lanka’s diplomatic role as an active proponent of international peace and security in a world free of nuclear weapons.

According to the government, ratifying the agreement will also enable the country to obtain useful data for civil and scientific purposes that will benefit many developing countries including Sri Lanka, such as tsunami warnings, climate change and geographical studies.

News

Overseas travel ban slapped on Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam

Published

15 hours ago

June 6, 2023

editor

The Kilinochchi Magistrate’s Court has issued an overseas travel ban on Ahila Ilankai Thamil Congress (AITC) MP – Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam over the recent incident of verbally abusing police officers during a function, police spokesman – SSP Nihal Thalduwa says.

Yesterday, the magistrate ordered to remand the AITC’s main female organizer in the North – East region, over the incident.

News

Verdict on petition challenging Diana Gamage’s MP seat, postponed

Published

15 hours ago

June 6, 2023

editor

The Court of Appeal has deferred the pronouncement of the verdict on the petition filed seeking an order to annul the Parliamentary seat of State Minister Diana Gamage.

Accordingly, the verdict is expected to be pronounced on the 25th of July.

The petition was called this morning before President of the Court of Appeal Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice A Marikkar.

Court heard arguments pertaining to the petition previously and was expected to announce the verdict today.

The writ petition was filed before the Court of Appeal calling for State Minister Diana Gamage to be stripped of her Parliamentary seat by activist Oshala Herath on the 15th of November 2022.

State Minister Gamage, the Immigration and Emigration Controller, the Minister of Public Security, the General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, the National Election Commission and its members, and the General Secretary of Parliament were cited as respondents in the petition.

(newsradio.lk)