The Sri Lankan Attorney General’s Department has informed the Supreme Court that Jude Shramantha Jayamaha, convicted in the Royal Park murder case and later granted a Presidential pardon, is no longer in Singapore.
The information was revealed yesterday (29) during the hearing of a fundamental rights petition filed in connection with his release.
Appearing for the Attorney General, senior State Counsel Sajith Bandara stated that although Sri Lankan authorities initially requested Singapore to extradite Jayamaha, Singaporean authorities have now confirmed he is not in their country. He further said that a special investigation has been launched to trace Jayamaha’s current whereabouts. The Bench, comprising Justices S. Thurairaja, Yasanta Kodagoda, and Janak de Silva, expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of progress in locating him nearly a year after the court order.
The court was also informed that efforts are underway to obtain an arrest warrant, although delays occurred due to issues retrieving the original case file.
The petition will be taken up again on July 28, with the Attorney General’s Department ordered to report the progress.
The Supreme Court was informed that former President Maithripala Sirisena has fully paid the one million rupee compensation he was ordered to pay after the Presidential pardon was revoked.
Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in the Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts today (July 02), the Department of Meteorology said.
A few showers may occur in the Jaffna and Mannar districts.
Fairly strong winds of about 30-40kmph can be expected at times over the Western slopes of the central hills and in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in the Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the Fourth review under the 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement, allowing the authorities to draw about US$350 million, said Evan Papageorgiou, IMF Mission Chief for Sri Lanka.
This brings the total IMF financial support disbursed so far to about US$1.74 billion.
“The EFF arrangement for Sri Lanka was approved by the Executive Board on March 20, 2023 in an amount of SDR 2.286 billion (395 percent of quota or about US$3 billion). The program supports Sri Lanka’s efforts to durably restore macroeconomic stability by (i) restoring fiscal and debt sustainability while protecting the vulnerable, (ii) safeguarding price and financial sector stability, (iii) rebuilding external buffers, (iv) strengthening governance and reducing corruption vulnerabilities, and (v) enhancing growth-oriented structural reforms.”
Minister of Transport and Highways Bimal Rathnayake has said that Cabinet approval has been granted to implement an islandwide online traffic fine payment system.
He made this statement during a media briefing near the Kottawa Expressway entrance, following a public awareness programme on mandatory seat belt use for vehicles travelling on expressways.
“The Cabinet approved the proposal today. At present, the online fine payment system is available only between Kurunegala and Anuradhapura. Now, we’re providing all police units with mobile devices, so that from this year, traffic fines can be paid from anywhere via mobile phones… Rather than paying fines, we urge everyone to drive carefully, wear seat belts, and avoid violations. Our core message is simple, travel safely,” the minister has said.
