Colombo (LNW): The National Police Commission’s (NPC) responsibility is to clean up the Police Service in Sri Lanka, and if there are officers within the Sri Lanka Police itself who file false charges against honest Police officers for the mere benefit of politicians, the NPC including its Chairperson should pay attention to such, the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) said in a statement.
Full Statement:
We are grateful to the Judiciary for acquitting four skilled, brave, honest and independent Police officers including former Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Director, Shani Abeysekara, who suffered severe injustice in a fully politicised regime. We, as the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) raised our voice about the injustice caused to them from the beginning.
Abeysekara and other officers who became the victims of a programme launched by a group of opportunists merely for their political benefits, endured great mental trauma over the past few years. They were stopped from getting their salaries and other benefits, and such incidents should never happen again.
In the name of humanity, we strongly believe that the National Police Commission will act to correct the injustice caused to these officers, and grant them the salaries and promotions they deserve at the earliest possible.
Furthermore, if there are officers within the Police Department itself who file false charges against honest Police officers to please politicians, we appeal to the NPC including its Chairman to pay attention to such, clean the Police service, and make it earn public respect again!
Sunil Jayasekara General Secretary National Movement for Social Justice 27.08.2023
Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka should be calling in a referendum prior to building a bridge linking India and Sri Lanka, in order to seek the public’s consent for such a move, Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said, addressing the Sunday Mass held at the National Basilica Church in Thewatta, Ragama yesterday (27).
If a bridge is to be constructed linking the two nations, it would be another event remembering that Sri Lanka is being sold out by pieces to different countries and forces, in the rulers’ stupidity leading the country towards destruction, the Cardinal noted.
He added that Sri Lanka has always been a free country and therefore, should never be slaves of any state, and stressed that the island nation was once forced by India to implement certain matters based on their opinion.
The Cardinal concluded that a referendum must be held to obtain the public opinion on building this bridge.
Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan government is committed to preserving the unitary state, territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of the motherland, which has been protected from one generation to another by the forefathers, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said, addressing the Sathyakriya and Adhishtana Pooja which was held for the 29th year together with several national organisations, under his patronage on Saturday (26), at Kataragama historical Kirivehera Chaithya.
The Full Statement:
“We dedicate ourselves to preserve the unitary state, territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of the Motherland, which has been protected from generation to generation in this holy land nourished by the blood and sweat of our forefathers.
Let’s dedicate ourselves to protect and preserve the noble Sambuddha Order and Maha Sangharatna, which was bequeathed to the nation with great honour and pride by our ancestors for more than two thousand five hundred years, and gift it to the world for its perpetuation.
Let’s protect our ancient culture, rivers, streams, lakes, water bodies, forests, animal sanctuaries, etc.
Enriched with renewable energy, we pledge to turn Sri Lanka into an environment-friendly country self-sufficient in food that could face the challenges of the climate change.
Let’s participate widely in economic innovation by ensuring the respect and safety of women and their equal participation.
We are committed to building a country in which youths are rich in knowledge, skills and positive attitudes and to create a future that guarantees new jobs and livelihood strategies.
By strengthening the democratic society, we commit ourselves to establish a mixed election system for the supreme Parliament and public representative bodies by reforming the Constitution to create a participatory democracy.
To ensure a leap forward in national economic revitalisation, we are committed to create new programs that will lead to increase production and exports by effectively using lakhs of unutilised lands, state lands and oceans across the country with people’s participation.
Together with the intellectuals and professionals, we dedicate ourselves to provide relief and facilitate capacity to rebuild for the farmers, working people, local businessmen, elderly parents, war heroes who have been affected by the current economic crisis that has collapsed and suffering from the burden of life.
Let us make a pledge to the entire nation at the historic Kataragama Kiriwehera Pooja Bhumi with determination to stand in the noble human virtues with all the people of the country.”
The Maha Sangharatna, General Secretary of the (Mahajana Eksath Peramuna) MEP, Tissa Yapa Jayawardena, Deputy Secretary, Member of Parliament Yadamini Gunawardena, Vice President, Minister of State Sisira Jayakodi, MEP activists, who traveled from various parts of the island to participate in this event.
Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapaksa, State Ministers Janaka Wakkambura, Piyal Nishantha, Anupa Pasqual, Shashindra Rajapaksa, and Jagath Pushpakumara, MPs Gevindu Kumaratunga, Gayashan Navanandana, leaders of Buddhist organisations including national organisation leaders Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara, lawyer Kalyananda Thiranagama, Custodian of Kataragama Devalaya Dishan Wickremaratne, All Ceylon Buddhist Federation President Chandra Vakishta, representatives of various mass organisations and a large number of people attended the event.
Colombo (LNW): Showery condition is expected to enhance to some extent in the south-western part of the Island in the next few days starting from today (28), the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today.
Several spells of showers will occur in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Nuwaraeliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts, and showers or thundershowers will occur at a several places in Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the evening or night, the statement added.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
On the apparent southward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka during 28th of August to 07th of September in this year. The nearest towns of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (28) are Kovilan point and Mallakam (Jaffna District) about 12.11 noon.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Showers may occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Matara via Galle.
Winds:
Winds will be south-westerly and speed will be (25-35) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (45-55) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Hambantota to Pottuvil, and from Puttalam to Trincomalee via Mannar and Kankasanthurai.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Hambantota to Pottuvil and from Puttalam to Kankasanthurai via Mannar may be rough at times.
High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Milinda Moragoda paid a farewell call on Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India Shri Nitin Gadkari on 24 August in New Delhi.
At the outset, High Commissioner Moragoda thanked the Indian Road Transport and Highways Minister for the cooperation that the latter extended to him during his tenure in New Delhi.
He also apprised the Minister of the references to connectivity, particularly those that are on road connectivity, in the Indo-Lanka joint document “Promoting Connectivity, Catalysing Prosperity: India-Sri Lanka Economic Partnership Vision”, which was issued following bilateral talks between the President of Sri Lanka and the Prime Minister of India in July. The High Commissioner and the Minister discussed ways and means through which the connectivity goals stipulated in the joint Vision document could be materialized.
The discussion also focussed on the cooperation in promoting alternatives to fossil fuels such as electricity and bio-fuels in the transport sector. These alternatives were seen as highly cost-effective and environment friendly, suitable to a country like Sri Lanka. The Minister spoke on the Indian experience in alternative fuels and expressed his willingness to share the relevant expertise with Sri Lanka.
High Commissioner Moragoda invited Minister Gadkari to visit Sri Lanka at a mutually convenient time, which the Minister accepted.
High Commissioner Moragoda also presented to Minister Gadkari a stone obtained from the stream flowing besides the Seetha Amman Temple in Seetha Eliya (Ashoka Vatika) in Sri Lanka, which is believed to be the site where Seetha was held captive according to the Ramayana.
Hailing from the State of Maharashtra, Shri Nitin Gadkari is the longest serving Minister for Road Transport and Highways of India currently running his tenure for over eight years since 2014. He also served as the President of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) from 2009 to 2013. Previously, he has held the ministerial portfolios of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises; Shipping; Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation; and Rural Development & Panchayati Raj. He has authored several books as well.
Colombo (LNW): The Defence Ministry of Sri Lanka has approved the Chinese research vessel ‘Shi Yan 6’ to carry out geophysical and seismic survey on Sri Lankan waters in collaboration with the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA).
The approval was granted upon a request by the NARA and the Foreign Ministry, according to a Ministry Spokesperson.
The survey vessel’s arrival in the Sri Lankan waters sparked grave security concerns by India, and subsequently led to many speculations on and off the media.
The vessel had previously visited Sri Lanka on April 20, 2022, and remained in the Sri Lankan waters for a period of ten days, attracting the attention of many parties.
Over the past years, a large number of Chinese vessels had reached Sri Lankan ports, and these include the Shi Yan 6, Shi Yan 1, Shi Yan 3, Xiang Yang Hong 3, Xiang Yang Hong 18, Xiang Yang Hong 1, Xiang Yang Hong 6, and Xiang Yang Hong 19.
Colombo (LNW): Anyone involved in illegal pyramid schemes will be punishable by criminal law, said Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, introducing new measured aimed at addressing the issue of pyramid schemes.
In a statement, the Ministed pointed out that both individuals are organisations involved in such schemes will be held accountable under criminal law.
The move comes in in the government’s initiative of strengthening regulations and penalties associated with such fraudulent financial schemes.
He added that the government of Sri Lanka intends to collaborate with law enforcement agencies and financial institutions to swiftly detect and take action against illegal schemes such as pyramid schemes.
Colombo (LNW): The Heat Index is expected to increase up to ‘caution’ level at some places in North-Central, Uva and Eastern Provinces and in Vavuniya and Mullativu Districts, warned the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology today (27).
The ‘caution’ level heat index advisory, accordingly, has been issued to 09 districts, and will be in effect till tomorrow (28).
The public, therefore, is urged to stay hydrated and take breaks in the shade as often as possible, check up on the elderly, the sick and the children, limit strenuous outdoor activities, and wear lightweight and white or light-coloured clothing.
Colombo (LNW): The use of Co-Amoxiclav, a class of antibiotics, has been temporarily suspended amidst reports on the death of a patient at the Colombo National Hospital, who was treated with the said antibiotic, announced Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.
Early reports claimed that a 50-year old person who had arrived from Warakapola to receive treatment at the Colombo National Hospital for a cut wound died upon being administered the antibiotic.
There were 21,000 vaccines in the relevant drug category, and 18,000 of them have been used so far, but the situation is reported only in relation to one vaccine amongst them, the Minister said.
An investigation is also underway through the expert committee appointed to probe into issues related to medicines, he added.
