News

Interim order against Sports minister’s gazette

Published

4 weeks ago

February 27, 2023

editor

The Court of Appeal has issued an interim order preventing the implementation of a gazette notification issued by the Minister of Sports in relation to the regulation of activities of sports associations including Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), until the hearing of the writ petition filed by the SLC and several sports associations is concluded.

The order was issued by the two-member appellate court bench consisting of the President of the Court of Appeal Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice A. Marikkar when a writ petition filed by several sports associations including the Sri Lanka Cricket was taken up for consideration today (Feb. 27).

Accordingly, the Court of Appeal also ordered the respondents of the case including the Minister of Sports to file objections related to the petition on or before April 27, if any.

Further, the petitioning party was ordered to file any relevant contradictions before June 12, whereas the petition was ordered to be recalled on June 22.

The petitions point out that the Minister of Sports has issued a series of regulations on December 14, with regard to the matters including the Tenure of Sports Associations, holding elections, term of office of the positions held in sports associations and age limitations.

President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva and other attorneys, who presented facts before courts on behalf of the petitioning party, mentioned that these regulations issued by the Minister of Sports are beyond his authority.

The attorneys of the petitioning party also stated that the Minister has violated the power of the Parliament by enacting the laws, pointing out that the relevant regulations are against the law.

President’s Counsel Uditha Egalahewa, who appeared for the responsible Sports Minister, expressed that the Government’s Auditor General has also conducted an investigation and submitted a report on the alleged corruption irregularities carried out in the SLC.

He further emphasized that the Government’s Auditor General has recommended that a criminal investigation be conducted on such suspicious activities, adding that the Minister proceeded to issue the series of relevant regulations after taking all those facts into consideration.

The President’s Counsel also alleged that the petitioners have tried to conceal the facts through these petitions.

(adaderana.lk)

News

President’s House to be shifted to Sandun Uyana

Published

32 mins ago

March 27, 2023

editor

The government has decided to construct a new President’s Official Residence and the Presidential Secretariat on the site of the National ‘Sandun Uyana’ (Sandalwood Garden) built at a cost of Rs.300 million.

Since it has been decided to use the President’s House premises in Colombo Fort for a development project under the Colombo Port City Project, it has been decided to build a new President’s House and the Secretariat at the Sandun Uyana.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana Wickramaratne has also recommended that the Sandun Uyana prepared in nine acres near the Parliament premises is suitable for that purpose.

Accordingly, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to prepare future plans and submit a report.

The President’s Office said that it has also been decided to relocate the Prime Minister’s office and the Prime Minister’s official residence on another plot of land located near the Sandun Uyana.

The President has informed the UDA to look into the possibility of moving the Cabinet office to another plot of land nearby, and the President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake to study the space required for this construction and submit a report.

The Sandun Uyana project was built and opened during the tenure of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

A total of 300 red sandalwood plants and 900 white sandalwood plants were planted in the garden at a cost of Rs.300 million by the UDA.

Although this garden was planned to be opened by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on July 20, 2021, it was opened by Minister Namal Rajapaksa.

BIZ

Only 50 Dollars to go to India by passenger ferry!

Published

1 hour ago

March 27, 2023

editor

Sri Lanka will commence the operations of the passenger ferry service between Kankesanthurai and Pondicherry on April 29, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation said.

It said a passenger terminal is currently being constructed at the Kankesanthurai Port to facilitate the ferry service by the Sri Lanka Navy.

Ferry owners have mentioned during a recent discussion that they will be charging 50 US Dollars per passenger for a one-way trip, while allowing a passenger to carry baggage weighing 100kg.

A ferry is expected to carry 150 passengers at a time and will take around 4 hours to travel from Karaikal Port in Pondicherry to Kankesanthurai.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that any businessman in India and Sri Lanka can join this passenger ferry service.

News

Uebert Angel brought in by Jerome Fernando involved in gold smuggling!

Published

2 hours ago

March 27, 2023

editor

It has been revealed that Zimbabwean pastor Uebert Angel, who was brought to Sri Lanka by ‘Born-Again’ religious sect leader Pastor Jerome Fernando, is involved in large-scale gold smuggling.

This was revealed during an investigation conducted by Al Jazeera News.

This pastor has also worked as a Zimbabwean diplomat.

The Zimbabwean pastor has participated in the services held at the Katunayake ‘Miracle Dome’ hall owned by Pastor Jerome Fernando on several occasions.

During his visit to Sri Lanka, the Zimbabwean pastor had met former presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa as well.

According to Al Jazeera, Uebert Angel has laundered millions of US dollars through gold smuggling.

Angel, appointed ambassador-at-large and a presidential envoy by Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa in March 2021, has told reporters he would be able to carry large volumes of dirty cash into the country using his diplomatic status.

The 44-year-old, who claims to be a prophet and heads a congregation — the Good News Church — with branches in 15 countries, said he would facilitate a scheme through which unaccounted cash could be exchanged for Zimbabwe’s gold.

Source – Aruna