President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, currently on a three-day official visit to India, was formally welcomed today (16) at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India.
The ceremonial reception began with President Dissanayake being escorted to the Rashtrapati Bhavan by a horseback parade. He was warmly greeted by Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The event included a 21-gun salute, marking the occasion with full state honours. Following the formalities, President Dissanayake inspected a guard of honour presented by the Indian Armed Forces.
Subsequently, representatives from both nations were introduced to the leaders. The event was attended by a large number of state officials and diplomats.
After the reception, President Dissanayake visited the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial at Rajghat to pay his respects. To commemorate his first official overseas visit, he planted an Ashoka tree at the Gandhi Darshan premises near Rajghat and signed the guest book.
Later in the day, President Dissanayake is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bilateral discussions. Additionally, he will hold a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu tonight.
The President is also set to meet with Indian Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Health Minister J.P. Nadda for further discussions.
Furthermore, discussions with prominent Indian business leaders are planned, focusing on potential investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.
Two individuals arrested yesterday (July 16) over the abduction and murder of a youth in Kahawatta have been remanded until July 28.
They were remanded after being produced before the Pelmadulla Magistrate’s Court.
Four suspects were arrested in this regard yesterday and the Homagama Magistrate had granted permission to police to detain two suspects for 07 days for questioning while remanding the remaining 02 suspects until they were produced before the Pelmadulla courts today.
A newborn has been found abandoned in a paddy field in Paragahadeniya, Mawathagama earlier today (July 17), police stated.
A local resident passing through the paddy field had noticed the newborn lying under a tree in the field and subsequently informed the Mawathagama Police.
The baby was subsequently admitted to the Mawathagama Divisional Hospital.
A doctor who examined the infant had stated that the baby appeared to be one or two days old and following initial examinations, the baby was transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital.
The Supreme Court today invalidated the interim injunction previously issued by the Court of Appeal preventing the enforcement of the former government’s decision to compulsorily retire nurses in four grades at the age of 60.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court also issued another order to the Court of Appeal to re-examine the petition filed before the court regarding this matter.
The Supreme Court issued this order when an appeal filed by the Attorney General, seeking to declare the relevant interim injunction issued by the Appellate Court as unlawful and invalid, was taken up for hearing today.
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Janak de Silva and A. H.M.D. Nawaz issued the order.
During the previous government, the Cabinet of Ministers had taken a decision to make government employees compulsorily retire at the age of 60 years.
The Court of Appeal, which heard writ petitions filed by the Public Service United Nurses’ Association and its President, Venerable Murutthettuwe Ananda Thero, had issued this interim injunction, preventing the implementation of the relevant decision.
The Attorney General had later filed an appeal petition in the Supreme Court, stating that the manner in which this interim injunction was issued is contrary to the law and that the Court of Appeal does not have the power to issue such an order.
After hearing the petition, the three-judge Supreme Court bench issued this order nullifying the interim injunction.
(adaderana.lk)
(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)