President of Iceland assures to strengthen further the bond of friendship between Sri Lanka and Iceland.

Guoni Th. Johannesson, President of Iceland congratulating Honourable Ranil Wickremesinghe on his election as the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, has further assured to strengthen the bond of friendship between the two countries.

He also expressed confidence that the people of Sri Lanka will successfully deal with the economic challenges while preserving the social harmony, which must be quintessential to Sri Lanka.

President Johannesson expressed that people enjoy good relations and there is no doubt that increasing the exchange could be of considerable benefit to both Sri Lanka and Iceland.

Expressing his views on the high inflation Sri Lanka has suffered, he said that inflation is a common problem that Iceland has recognized very well.

Furthermore, he has invited everyone to do their best to stand together when wrestling with issues like the recent pandemic and environmental threats.

He assured his support to strengthen further the bond of friendship between the two countries and wished the government and the people of Sri Lanka good fortune in the future.

President’s Media Division

Senior Journalist Chathura Vidyaratne is reportedly proposed for the post of new Chief Executive Officer of Swarnavahini Media Network.

Vidyaratne, a well-seasoned media personnel in the field of journalism, previously served in Divaina, Lakbima, Lakehouse and Jathika Rupavahini. He is the only son of one of the founding journalists of Divaina, Rupasiri Vidyaratne, who covered stories on judicial proceedings on the paper.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Chathura entered journalism and in 2009 gained citizenship in London, UK. During his recent visit to Sri Lanka, he agreed to accept the post of CEO of Swarnavahini, based on a request by President Wickremesinghe.

Swarnavahini had been under the executiveship of Sudeva Hettiarachchi, a former Director General of the President’s Media. He left Hiru Media Network and came to Swarnavahini, without stepping down from his post at the President’s Media Unit. Accordingly, Swarnavahini was under Hettiarachchi’s control even when he was still serving at the President’s Media Unit.

Correspondents claim that Hettiarachchi has been removed from the post of CEO of Swarnavahini and he came to the studio this (04) morning, thanked everyone and left.

MIAP

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa speaking to Parliament today (04) said the fishing community has faced a serious issue due to the jacked up prices of kerosene and other types of fuel.

Pointing out that the livelihood of the fishing community has completely been affected by the price revision on fuel, the Opposition Leader urged the government to immediately solve this problem.

“Due to jacked-up prices of kerosene and other types of fuel, the fisher community has faced a serious issue. Their livelihood has been completely affected due that. The government should forthwith intervene to solve this problem,” Premadasa said.

MIAP

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa addressing the Chambers today (04) said one of the seats belonging to the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) at the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (CoPE) will be offered to MP Prof. Charitha Herath, in appreciation of his service as the former Chairman of the Committee.

Accordingly, SJB MP Dr. Harsha De Silva has willingly withdrawn from the CoPE, making one seat vacant at the Committee.

The CoPE under Prof. Herath’s chairmanship managed to conduct investigations on a number of public enterprises and was appreciated by many parties regardless of political differences. His name was not added to the list of CoPE members this time, leading to speculation on the political arena and among the general public alike, claiming that the former CoPE chief was deprived of his chance to enter the Committee due to his decision to detach from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and serve independently in Parliament.

Nonetheless, following Dr. Silva’s withdrawal, the vacant seat at the CoPE may be given to Prof. Herath.

MIAP

Police Sergeant Buddhika Kumara (Badge No.42313), who averted an attempted robbery near a private bank in Tambuttegama, has been promoted to the post of Sub-Inspector, in appreciation of his service and commitment to enhance the Sri Lanka Police’s reputation.

Subject to the approval of the Public Service Commission, Mr. Kumara was promoted to the post of Sub-Inspector by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and was granted a cash reward of Rs. 2.5 million from the Police Reward Fund and a Police Valour Medal.

The event was held on October 03, 2022 under the patronage of Public Security Minister Tiran Alles and the participation of Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne at the Public Security Ministry.

Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of North Central Province Kitsiri Jayalath and the promoted officer’s mother, wife and children, other senior police officers, Tambuttegama Assistant Superintendent of Police and Tambuttegama Headquarters Police Inspector also graced the occasion.

On the afternoon of 26.09.2022, a businessman who visited the said bank in Tambuttegama to deposit money was robbed of Rs. 22.3 million by two armed assailants on a motorbike, but during their getaway point, Sergeant Kumara (Badge No.42313) in a heroic act prevented the loot and arrested the two assailants on the spot and safely retrieved the money.

MIAP

All fuel distributors have decided not to order fuel this (04) morning, said Co-Secretary of the Petroleum Distributors’ Association Kapila Naotunna, speaking to media today.

“The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has charged back about 45 per cent of the commission paid to the distributors as a monthly usage fee. This charge – the managing director actually confirmed that this is not currently charged – was made without any prior notification. Then the Deputy Manager of the Finance Department of the Corporation charged the amount from the accounts of the distributors at about 4.30 pm yesterday evening. In objection to this charging, all distributors have decided to refrain from ordering fuel today (04). Until a solution is found, until the amount charged is returned to the distributors’ accounts, ordering of fuel will not take place as decided,” Naotunna said.

He went on: “In fact, it is the customer who is aggrieved by this. Because, when we cease the ordering of fuel, a huge fuel shortage will spread across the country once again. So, we hope that the authorities of the Corporation will immediately solve this problem without driving the people into that situation.”

However, Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara tweeted last night saying that the distribution of fuel will carry out uninterruptedly and urged the public not to be deceived by such false news.

MIAP

President Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing the Ruling Party MPs’ meeting last (03) night shared his views on former MPs of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Sunil Handunnetti and K.D. Lalkantha

Following the anti-government protesters’ acquisition of the Presidential Secretariat and the President’s House at the July 09 uprising, both Handunnetti and Lalkantha drove the public to seize Parliament in a plot to weaken all parliamentary affairs, the President said.

Claiming that no probe was ever conducted into this act, President Wickremesinghe urged Leader of the House Prasanna Ranatunga to inform the Speaker in this regard.

The two former JVP MPs may be arrested based on an investigation into the allegation of provoking the public via Social Media, according to political sources.

MIAP

The Judicial Service Union, a judicial collective in which all magistrates and district judges of Sri Lanka hold membership, has lodge a petition at the Court of Appeal demanding a probe and penalisation against State Minister and Ruling Party MP Sanath Nishantha on the allegation of committing contempt of court based on one of his comments during a recent press conference.

The petitioner pointed out that State Minister Nishantha’s comments during a briefing on August 23, 2022 on anti-government protesters being granted bail has undermined the power of the magistrates and the dignity of the Judiciary, thereby violating Clause 105 (3) of the Constitution which leads to contempt of court.

A separate petition against Nishantha’s comments has already been lodged with the Appeal Court and the Ruling Party MP has also been issued summons.

MIAP