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Warm welcome awaits President Ranil in India – Kwatra

Published

2 years ago

July 12, 2023

editor

Visiting Indian Foreign Secretary – Mr. Vinay Kwatra has yesterday (11) said that the purpose of his visit was essentially to prepare for the upcoming visit of the Sri Lankan President to India and was focused on ensuring the upcoming visit is “actually a point of positive transformation in the relationship.”

“My discussions earlier today with the Sri Lankan leadership as also with the Foreign Ministry were essentially focused on trying to ensure that the upcoming visit of Hon. President of Sri Lanka is actually a point of positive transformation in the relationship. We also discussed the key areas of partnership that we could progress ahead of the visit, going into the visit, priorities of the Sri Lankan leadership, as also shared with this the perspective of our leadership on the relationship, the strength of the relationship, different elements of cooperation in the relationship, elements of our partnership in years ahead across the entire matrix of economic partnership that India and Sri Lanka enjoy,” he has added.

The following is the transcript of media remarks made by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra yesterday, as issued by the Indian High Commission in Colombo.

………I just wanted to share with you what we have been able to achieve in this very short duration visit of mine. I arrived last night and this morning, I have had the privilege of calling on His Excellency the Foreign Minister, His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka, and also had discussions with my counterpart the Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka. We also had a chance to meet with a few ministers on the sidelines of the lunch.

The purpose of my visit is essentially to prepare for the upcoming visit of Hon. President of Sri Lanka to India. My discussions earlier today with the Sri Lankan leadership as also with the Foreign Ministry were essentially focused on trying to ensure that the upcoming visit of Hon. President of Sri Lanka is actually a point of positive transformation in the relationship. We also discussed the key areas of partnership that we could progress ahead of the visit, going into the visit, priorities of the Sri Lankan leadership, as also shared with this the perspective of our leadership on the relationship, the strength of the relationship, different elements of cooperation in the relationship, elements of our partnership in years ahead across the entire matrix of economic partnership that India and Sri Lanka enjoy.

As I said, our objective is to ensure that the visit of Hon. President of Sri Lanka to India is a huge success. He is a well known leader and a very strong supporter of the relationship. We have worked and cooperated very well in the last 14-16 months of various challenges that Sri Lanka went through and I can assure that a very warm welcome awaits him in India.

We eagerly look forward to Excellency the President’s visit to India and make it a success both of his visit but also a similar success of our relationship.

Thank you very much!

News

Release of 3 suspects : AG Dept. responds

Published

10 hours ago

February 7, 2025

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The Attorney General’s Department states that the 03 suspects named in the letter by the Attorney General to the CID on Jan. 27, are not suspects arrested over the murder case of slain Sunday Leader Editor – Lasantha Wickrematunge.

In a media release, the department says that the recommendation was in relation to the abduction of Wickrematunge’s driver, who was not an eyewitness in the murder investigation.

The investigation into Wickrematunge’s murder has not concluded, the statement further notes.

The complete media release in sinhala is as follows :

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BASL opposes possible cabinet review over AG decision linked to Lasantha murder

Published

10 hours ago

February 7, 2025

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The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has raised concerns over a possible review by the Cabinet of Ministers over the Attorney General’s decision to release three suspects related to the murder of former Sunday Leader Editor – Lasantha Wickremetunga.

“The BASL is firmly of the view that decisions of the Attorney General in criminal matters should not be reviewed by the political authorities including the Cabinet of Ministers as that would undermine the independence of the office of the Attorney General, which is crucial to uphold the rule of law,” the BASL said in a letter to President Anura Kumara Disanayake.

The BASL said whilst the AG is a public functionary and as such is accountable to the public for his decisions, the AG performs a quasi role in respect of criminal matters.

“As such, the Attorney General has to decide whether or not to charge a suspect based on the material available and submitted to him by the investigating authority… In doing so, he will be required to consider whether such material is admissible in law and whether based on such material, there exists a reasonable prospect of a conviction, the BASL states.

“…we urge Your Excellency to ensure that there is no unwarranted interference with the exercise of the powers of the Attorney General and we trust Your Excellency will continue to protect the independence of key institutions including that the office of the Attorney General which is essential to protect the rule of law in our country,” the BASL further notes.

Sri Lanka’s Attorney-General Parinda Ranasinghe (Jnr) ordered the discharge of Premanand Udalagama, a former military intelligence officer, and Prasanna Nanayakkara, the then-DIG, who was remanded and bailed after evidence linking them to the murder and sabotaging the investigation. The decision has sparked widespread outrage.

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Ravi K submits motion to abolish MP pensions

Published

10 hours ago

February 7, 2025

editor

United National Party MP Ravi Karunanayake today (Feb. 07) submitted a Private Members’ motion in Parliament calling for the abolition of pensions for parliamentarians.

The motion seeks to end the pension scheme currently available to MPs.

Noting that an opinion of a certain political party has turned this into a ‘betrayal’, leading to the public’s trust in MPs being damaged, MP Ravi said he sought to restore this.