News

RW named respondent as court to review injunction against e-passport purchase

Published

4 weeks ago

November 6, 2024

editor

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been named as a respondent of the writ petition filed with the Court of Appeal challenging the previous government’s decision to purchase passports from two foreign companies.

Wickremesinghe has been named as a respondent of the relevant writ petition filed by Epic Lanka Private Limited, through a motion submitted by the petitioning party, when the petition was taken up before the two-member Appeals Court judge bench comprising Justices Mohammed Laffar and P. Kumaratnam today (06).

During the hearing, the attorneys who appeared for the two foreign companies named as respondents stated that their clients have been critically prejudiced through the interim injunction issued by the court preventing the purchase of 5 million e-passports.

The attorneys, who pointed out that the relevant injunction will be in effect until the hearings of the petition are concluded, requested the court to issue an order lifting the injunction.

Meanwhile, appearing for the petitioning party, President’s Council Viran Corea argued that the process of purchasing the passports in question has been carried out under an informal procurement system.

Furthermore, the President’s Counsel objected to the lifting of the injunction issued, requesting for an expedited conclusion of the hearing of the petition and for a final verdict to be issued.

Following the consideration of the facts presented, the bench ordered the petitioning party to file objections related to the request to lift the injunction preventing the purchase of passports.

Later, the case was also ordered to be recalled on December 09 for the consideration of facts on whether or not the injunction should be lifted.

The petition has been filed by Epic Lanka Private Limited seeking an order invalidating the decision taken by the previous government to purchase 750,000 normal passports and 5 million e-passports from two foreign firms.

(adaderana.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

FEATURES

Draft proposed for “North-East People’s Action Plan”

Published

10 hours ago

December 1, 2024

editor

Political commentator/analyst Kusal Perera has issued a people centric program for North – East for social discourse which is as follows :

“ _Post-war issues the north-east wanted answers for, will not get trashed merely because 29% in N-E voted for NPP_ .”

– Kusal Perera / Daily FT 30 Nov.2024

North-East clearly exhibited its frustration and anger against traditional political leaderships. It is a fact, traditional political parties and leaderships don’t have a “people-centric” perspective, working on the understanding they could always manipulate the vote, in the absence of alternate leaderships.

This 2024 elections proved the people are no more ready to be manipulated to vote them as representatives of the people. At least a substantial majority in North-East did not, creating a space for an alternate action programme at grassroot level.

That action programme is proposed here as a two-part programme with initial demands in this current context and as the organisational democratic platform for a campaign.

Demands are –
01. all 22 Tamil and Muslim MPs (including NPP) in North-East issue a joint statement, confirming they stand for “full implementation” of the 13 Amendment to the Constitution

02. all 22 Tamil and Muslim MPs (including NPP) in North-East table a motion in parliament within month of December 2024, demanding the government announce they would implement the 13A in full and hold PC elections before end March 2025.

03. Public demand asking the President to present the APRC Final Report in parliament immediately (as the LLRC Report was presented)

04. De-militarise North-East administration as stressed in LLRC Final Report in establishing a civil administration

05. Minister of Justice and National Integration to provide a comprehensive list of “enforced disappearances” during and after the war to the parliament, with details and the present situation/status within 03 months

Campaign platform to constitute –
1. District level action committees consisting of people’s organisations, trade unions and professional associations

2. Federation of district action committees forming the N-E campaign platform

3. District Action Committees to form its local actions committees as electoral or professional committees

This is meant for a public discussion among North-East social activists and remains open for due amendments and alterations for improvement and implementation.

Kusal Perera – Political commentator/Analyst
2024 December 01

BIZ

Special Commodity Levy on big onions, slashed

Published

11 hours ago

December 1, 2024

editor

The Special Commodity Levy imposed on imported big onions, has been reduced by Rs. 20 to Rs. 10 per kilogram.

This will be in effect during the period from today (Dec. 01) to December 31, 2024.

However, it has been decided to keep the Special Commodity Levy imposed on imported potatoes unchanged.

Announcing the decision, a media release issued by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development states that the move comes amid a notable rise in the market price of onions.

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News

British citizen arrested at BIA over alleged terrorism financing

Published

11 hours ago

December 1, 2024

editor

Sri Lanka Police have arrested a 43-year-old British citizen of Sri Lankan origin for allegedly collecting and distributing funds for a terrorist group.

The suspect, originally from Kilinochchi, had left Sri Lanka in 2009 and later obtained British citizenship.

The arrest was made upon his arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake on November 30, 2024.

Authorities from the Immigration and Emigration Department had apprehended the individual, acting on an overseas travel ban issued by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court at the request of the Colombo North Crimes Division. The suspect was subsequently handed over to the Airport Police.

According to police sources, the suspect is accused of raising funds while based in the United Kingdom and channeling the money to individuals in Colombo and the Vanni region.

The Airport Police, in coordination with the Colombo-North Crimes Division, is currently conducting further investigations.

(adaderana.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)