News

Wijeyadasa slams ‘The Morning’ report on Thilini Priyamali case

Published

3 years ago

October 22, 2022

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Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe yesterday (21) stated in Parliament that a news report that had appeared on ‘The Morning’ newspaper had violated his parliamentary privileges.

He urged the Speaker to hold a probe by the Privilege committee.

“I, being the Chairman of the Privilege Committee, would stay away from it temporarily to enable the probe. Appoint someone else as the Chairman and carry out the probe on the matter,” he told the Speaker.

The court case with regard to the financial fraud charges faced by Thilini Priyamali was taken up by the Fort Magistrate last Wednesday (19) and the newspaper had reported that lawyers from Rajapakshe’s chamber are appearing for Thilini Priyamali.

Speaking on the newspaper report, Wijeyadasa had said :

“I don’t have a chamber as the Minister of Justice, but some of my junior lawyers are appearing for Thilini Priyamali at the moment. There are journalists who are prepared to publish anything if they are given bottles of arrack,” he said.

“This is not an issue on my parliamentary privileges alone. Media tend to blame all 225 MPs for wrongdoing which a few MPs were accused of.

“An honest MP cannot send his/her’s child to school as others raise various questions,“ he said,“Criticizing the MPs is good, but one must not do it with vested interests and malice,” he also said.

The article in question had stated that President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne yesterday (19) raised concerns regarding the presence of a group of lawyers, including the Justice minister’s son – Attorney-at-Law Rakhitha Rajapakshe, appearing on behalf of Priyamali.

Slamming the media, Wijeyadasa has said that he looked into the matter and found no such thing was said. “This is an offense punishable by a two-year sentence,” he added.

Liberty Publications, which owns ‘The Morning’, is chaired by Dilith Jayaweera.

News

8,742 Vesak Dansals registered islandwide

Published

4 hours ago

May 12, 2025

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The Public Health Inspectors (PHI)’s Union states that a total of 8,742 Dansals have been registered islandwide, in line with Vesak celebrations this year.

According to the PHI’s Union chairman – Upul Rohana, the highest number of ‘Dansal’ is registered in the Western Province, particularly in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) area.

The union has also urged organiser to reduce the use of polythene and plastic during food distribution efforts.

News

Financial assistance from President’s Fund for Gerandi Ella bus accident victims

Published

5 hours ago

May 12, 2025

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A sum of Rs. 1 million from the President’s Fund will be granted for each individual who lost their life in the Kotmale bus accident, the President’s Media Division states.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake has directed that a sum of Rs. 1 million be granted from the President’s Fund to each individual who lost their life in the tragic bus accident that occurred early this morning (11) in the Garadiella area, Kotmale.

Accordingly, arrangements have been made to promptly disburse these funds to the next of kin of the deceased through the President’s Fund.

In addition to this assistance, compensation will also be provided to the affected families through the Sri Lanka Transport Board and relevant insurance schemes.

Meanwhile, authorities continue to investigate the cause of the accident, which has claimed 22 lives so far.

(Pic : Accident1st)

News

Maxwell gets 5-yr. ban

Published

5 hours ago

May 12, 2025

editor

Former Secretary of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) Maxwell de Silva was handed a five-year ban, sources revealed.

Earlier, De Silva was suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Ministry of Sports due to various irregularities committed by him over several years.

Accordingly, the NOCSL Executive Committee decided to hand down a five-year ban on De Silva, considering the recommendations made by the NOCSL Ethics Committee, NOCSL President Suresh Subramaniam told the Daily Mirror.

Subramaniam further stated that the penalty on De Silva has already been communicated in writing to the IOC.

Accordingly, the former secretary, who has been banned for five years, is now completely prohibited from representing the NOCSL at any foreign event or international conference.

(dailymirror.lk)

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