Military formalities, including a Guard Turn Out and a colour-rich Guard of Honour saluted the outgoing 23rd Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, General Shavendra Silva at the formal farewell ceremony, held at the Army Headquarters this afternoon (31), amidst a representative gathering of senior officers and other ranks of the Army.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been ordered by the Supreme Court to immediately arrest former MP Duminda Silva.
This is following the revocation of the Presidential Pardon granted to the former MP by President Rajapaksa.
Silva’s foreign travels have been banned and the Supreme Court has issued an interim to hand over his passport to the Court.
The above order was made in consideration of the fundamental rights petition filed by former MP Hirunika Premachandra challenging the Presidential Pardon granted to Silva.
The petition was called in before the Supreme Court Bench comprising Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Preethi Padman Surasena, and Achala Vengappuli.
MIAP
Government institutes, corporations and constitutional boards operating under ministries have been gazetted.
Accordingly, institutes belonging to 23 ministries have been gazetted and accordingly, every body that belongs to neither of the ministries will be under the purview of the President.
According to the declaration, 42 bodies will be under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is serving as the Minister of Defence.
Sri Lanka Telecom PLC, Board of Investment and the Colombo Port City Economic Commission operate under the President. Meanwhile, 42 bodies including the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission and the Sri Lanka Standards will also operate under the President.
MIAP
The Presidential Pardon granted to former MP Duminda Silva has been revoked by an interim order issued by the Supreme Court.
The order was made as a fundamental rights petition filed by former MP Hirunika Premachandra was taken up for consideration.
Sri Lanka is recommending airlines carry enough jet fuel to last return trips or fill up elsewhere, as the island grapples with a shortage of everything from oil to food due to a foreign-exchange crisis.
“We’ve asked airlines to carry the required fuel while operating to Sri Lanka, because there is a shortage of aviation fuel, and we have to manage the situation,” Rayhan Wanniappa, a director of Sri Lanka’s Civil Aviation Authority, said in a phone interview Monday. “Airlines are bringing certain additional supplies, while we are also providing from our stocks.”
How Sri Lanka Landed in a Crisis and What It Means: QuickTake
Airlines that fly to Sri Lanka, including Dubai’s Emirates Airline are tankering — carrying more fuel than required — while the island’s flag carrier is using the Southern Indian city of Chennai and Dubai to refuel for long-haul flights, people familiar with the matter said, declining to be identified as plans are confidential. There’s increased refueling at southern Indian airports by international flights to and from Colombo to offset the shortage, according to an official at Indian Oil Corp.
Sri Lanka has been plagued by a dearth of necessary items, power cuts and rampant inflation, leading to public protests calling for the ouster of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The country defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time this month, and has started bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund.
SriLankan has taken measures for minimum interruption to flight schedules, a spokesman for the airline said. The steps include fuel tankering and refueling aircraft through technical stops at foreign airports, he said.
Singapore Airlines Ltd. is uplifting additional fuel on flights departing Singapore to Sri Lanka due to the shortage, a representative said in an email. Emirates didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Bankrupt Sri Lanka Takes Russia Oil as Fuel Crisis Persists
“There’s been no effect in airport and airline operations,” said G.A. Chandrasiri, chairman of the Airport and Aviation Services, that operates the main airport in Colombo. “This is just a preventive measure.”
The Indian ocean nation has been trying to come up with cash to pay for oil that’s been sitting on tankers off its coast as its fuel crunch persists. The country’s sole refinery is attempting to restart after three months of shutdown, with crude supplies from Russia which it hopes to refine into usable fuel.
— With assistance by Debjit Chakraborty, and Asantha Sirimanne
In the shortage of rice in the country there is a need to import a large quantity of rice this year, said Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, speaking to the briefing held in announcing Cabinet decisions today (31).
“There is a shortage of rice. For now, the Trade Minister is acting on importing rice. There is a need to import a large quantity of rice this year,” Amaraweera said.
The Minister went on that however, a plan is being drawn up to stop the importation of rice from next year and to produce the required quantities locally. As of now, 338,000 metric tonnes of rice have been imported, he revealed.
Amaraweera added that the Paddy Marketing Board will obtain 40,000 metric tonnes of rice and supply them through the SATHOSA outlets and supermarkets.
MIAP
Lester Piggott, 11-time champion jockey and nine-time winner of the Derby, died on Sunday aged 86; Ghiani was presented with his champion apprentice trophy by Piggott on what turned out to be one of the nine-times Derby-winning jockey and 11-time champion’s final public appearances
Marco Ghiani has reflected on the “really special” moment he received his champion apprentice title from Lester Piggott on Qipco Champions Day at Ascot in October.
On Sunday the racing world collectively paid tribute to the legendary Piggott, after his family announced he had died peacefully in Switzerland at the age of 86.
Popular Italian Ghiani, whose parents own a pizza restaurant in his homeland, was not even born when Piggott was in his pomp, but is fully aware of the indelible mark he made on the sport.
“When I was a child we were really clueless about racing, but when I came to work with horses we started seeing Frankie (Dettori) and Lester and Willie Carson, so he’s always been there,” he said.
“Everyone knew who Lester was.”
Despite barely being able to speak English at the time, Ghiani took the brave decision to leave home and enrolled at the British Racing School aged just 16, joining Luca Cumani’s stable in Newmarket.
The now 23-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2021, accumulating 51 winners during his title season including at Royal Ascot victory in the Hunt Cup aboard Real World, who he went on to steer to Listed and Group Two success at Newbury and York respectively.
On Champions Day he was presented with his title trophy by Piggott on what turned out to be one of the nine-times Derby-winning jockey and 11-time champion’s final public appearances.
Ghiani admits it is a day he will never forget.
He added: “It was really special and a very good experience. Obviously he (Piggott) didn’t talk much, but it was a privilege to receive the trophy from him.
“To get the title from him, it was a great day and will be in my memory forever.”
Major General Vikum Liyanage has been appointed as the new Commander of the Sri Lanka Army. The appointment letter has been handed over to Liyanage by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the President’s House.
Liyanage who is the highest ranking official in the Army is due to assume duties as the 24th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army tomorrow (01).
Meanwhile, General Shavendra Silva who is Liyanage’s predecessor and is retired has been appointed as the Chief of Defence Staff. During his tenure as the Army Commander, Silva also served as the acting CDS.
Silva is also due to assume duties tomorrow.
MIAP
The matter on dual citizenship in the 21st Amendment to the Constitution is just another clause and all clauses contained in the amendment will equally be taken into consideration, said MP Charitha Herath, speaking to reporters today (31).
The matter will be discussed in depth with Minister Wijedasa Rajapaksa, he noted, adding that the current economic and political crises should be solved at the same time.
MIAP
Shashi Weerawansa, wife of MP Wimal Weerawansa, who was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for two years has been released on bail as per the order of the Fort Magistrate Court today (31).
Mrs. Weerawansa was convicted for obtaining a passport through counterfeit documents and later she had lodged an appeal before the Colombo High Court.
She requested the Fort Magistrate Court to grant her bail as she had filed an appeal against the verdict. The verdict was due to be announced today.
Accordingly, Fort Chief Magistrate Nandana Amarasinghe concluded that Mrs. Weerawansa be granted bail.
MIAP
