The Attorney General has instructed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to arrest former Minister Johnston Fernando, over the mob attack launched by pro-Rajapaksa protesters on the peaceful protests held in GotaGoGama and MainaGoGama on May 09.
Excerpts from the CID’s probe into the allegations have been submitted to the AG’s Office and the above instruction was made thereafter.
MIAP
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has reportedly headed to the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital to arrest ex-convict Duminda Silva, whose pardon granted by President Rajapaksa was suspended by the Supreme Court yesterday.
The brother of the famous media mogul was recently out of the country but has admitted himself to the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital upon return.
However, following the Supreme Court’s order, even the Attorney General had instructed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to immediately arrest the former MP.
Reports claimed that even the President himself has instructed the Criminal Investigation Department (IGP) to expedite the arrest regardless of his whereabouts.
The order to arrest Silva was declared by the Supreme Court upon considering a fundamental rights (FR) petition filed by former MP Hirunika Premachandra challenging the President’s decision to pardon him.
Accordingly, Silva’s conviction will be reenacted until the hearing is concluded.
MIAP
The Public Service Commission has ordered the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security to justify his action of transferring three Senior Deputy Inspector Generals (SDIG) of Police without its approval within three days.
Secretary of the Public Service Commission A.M.B. Daya Senarath in a letter addressed to the Ministry has called for a report pertaining to the transfers.
Prior to being proceeded, transfers involving SDIGs and DIGs should be approved by the Public Service Commission and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) acted beyond the Commission’s powers, Senarath noted, stressing that the IGP has no capacity to act beyond the powers vested in the Commission by the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2002/24 dated November 20, 2020.
SDIGs M.D.R. Daminda and K.A. Rohana and acting SDIG L.K.W.A. Silva were transferred by the IGP on May 27 citing service requirements.
MIAP
Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage who was appointed as the 24th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army assumed duties at the Army Headquarters today (01).
Liyanage joined the Sri Lanka Army on October 27, 1986 as a Cadet officer and served as the Commanding Officer of the 08th Gajaba Regiment of 57th and 56th Brigades.
In his career as a military officer, Liyanage has been awarded many medals including the Ranavikrama and Ranasura Medals, the Eastern Humanitarian Operation Medal and the Northern and Eastern Operational Medals.
MIAP
Senior Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Thennakoon who is currently on compulsory leave is likely to be arrested today, sources disclosed.
Thennakoon was accused of failing to avert the brutal assault launched on peaceful protests held in GotaGoGama and MainaGoGama on May 09 and is being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
As a statement was being recorded from the SDIG, Thennakoon had confessed that he had been telephoned by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and ordered not to dissolve the crowd who attacked the protests.
To corroborate Thennakoon’s story, the CID had obtained the SDIG’s mobile phone and its investigative unit is further probing the case via telephone data.
As a result, the SDIG is said to be arrested today.
MIAP
The crude oil price has surged again in the global market, exceeding the US$ 124 price margin of a barrel of crude oil.
Crude oil prices have been indicating a rise in the global market over the past month and fuel prices in the domestic market have also been rising simultaneously.
Nevertheless, fuel prices are likely to increase again this month given that the Subject Ministry has announced that fuel prices in the domestic market will respond to a ‘fuel price formula’ in compliance with the global market.
MIAP
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has reportedly instructed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to seek former MP Duminda Silva regardless of his whereabouts and arrest him.
Silva who was convicted and sentenced to death row over the murder of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra was pardoned by the President and former MP Hirunika Premachandra had filed a fundamental rights petition challenging the President’s decision.
Taking the petition into consideration, the Supreme Court decided to suspend the presidential pardon granted to Silva until the conclusion of the hearing. Accordingly, the Court ordered the immediate arrest of the former MP.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General has also instructed the Inspector General of Police to immediately arrest Silva in compliance with the Court order.
Silva is reportedly out of Sri Lanka.
MIAP
Six persons including Wasantha Handapangoda, Chairperson of the pro-Rajapaksa trade union Podujana Guru Sangamaya were arrested yesterday (31) in connection with the brutal assault launched on the peaceful protests held in front of Temple Trees and in GalleFace on May 09 and the suspects are due to be produced before the Fort Magistrate Court today (01).
The suspects were summoned to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for statements after which the arrests were made.
MIAP
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken steps to provide relief to those people who have been affected by the floods.
Accordingly, a preliminary discussion was held between the Prime Minister’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake and the District Secretaries of Kalutara, Gampaha and Galle.
During the discussions with the Ratnapura District Secretaries, the Prime Minister has stated that the Treasury Operations Department has allocated funds to provide relief to the people affected by the floods.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has also instructed the Treasury to take steps to provide relief funds through District Secretaries.
Sri Lanka Economic Crisis: Sri Lanka is experiencing its worst financial meltdown since independence, leaving authorities struggling to pay for adequate supplies of vital imports.
Colombo:
Cash-strapped Sri Lanka’s main seaport unveiled a free bicycle service on Tuesday, allowing workers to navigate the facility without petrol-powered vehicles, as the island nation struggles with unprecedented fuel shortages.
The island nation is experiencing its worst financial meltdown since independence, leaving authorities struggling to pay for adequate supplies of vital imports.
Motorists around the South Asian country are forced to spend hours or even days waiting for rationed fuel at gas stations.
The bicycle initiative was aimed at conserving petrol in the Colombo deep-sea container port, Sri Lanka Ports Authority chairman Prasantha Jayamanna said.
“We have built a cycle track along a disused railway line for those who come to the port to use cycles instead of other vehicles,” he told reporters.
The port in Sri Lanka’s capital sits on 469 hectares (1,160 acres) of land, with its longest road stretching four kilometres (2.5 miles) through the facility.
Shipping lines operating through the port — located in the Indian Ocean, along the world’s busiest east-west maritime trade route — donated 100 bikes to kick off the initiative, Jayamanna said.
Despite Tuesday’s announcement, Jayamanna said the port was “insulated from the economic troubles” plaguing Sri Lanka, and was offering petrol from its own reserves to dock workers who were struggling to source fuel elsewhere.
“We are carrying out our work as usual as we have our buffer stocks of fuel,” he added.
Sri Lanka’s economic crisis was sparked by a crunch on foreign currency reserves that also left importers unable to source food, fuel and other goods.
Rampant inflation, frequent blackouts and long queues for essentials have made life a misery for the island’s 22 million people.
The government is seeking urgent assistance from the International Monetary Fund and has also defaulted on Sri Lanka’s $51 billion foreign debt.
Weeks of public protests have called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign, with police firing tear gas to disperse a huge demonstration outside the leader’s home on Sunday.
Jayamanna said the crisis had not disrupted operations at the port, which generates much of its revenue in dollars and still plans to pay for a $500 million expansion.
