Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Jagath Alwis has been informed to resign from his post. He has been informed to resign by new Minister Tiran Alles.

Accordingly, Silva has handed over his letter of resignation to the President, according to reports.

MIAP

Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Jagath Alwis has produced a statement with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), in connection with the violent events occurred on May 09.

Alwis is accused of ordering the Police not to disperse Mahinda Rajapaksa’s devotees who had come from Temple Trees to attack the peaceful protest in GalleFace and allowing them to incite violence.

MIAP

Many parties are trying to attribute all the violence that took place on May 09 to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), said JVP former MP Sunil Handunnetti. The former MP pointed out that not only members of the JVP but members of all political parties were present at the event of violence that day as well.

In the backdrop, it is not fair to put everything on the account of only one party, Handunnetti emphasised, speaking to reporters after visiting the Inspector General of Police (IGP) today (23).

Stressing that wearing red does not make someone a JVPer, Handunnetti added that those who put the blame on their party does not understand this simple reality.

The former CoPE Committee Chief also assured full corporation with the ongoing investigations pertaining to the violent events on May 09, adding that the IGP has been informed in this regard as well.

Speaking to reporters, JVP/NPP MP Vijitha Herath noted that only a few suspects among the arrestees in connection with the violent events are recognised to have been members of the JVP, adding that a majority of the arrestees being members of other political parties proves that the JVP has no direct involvement in the events.

The matter has also been informed to the IGP, MP Herath further revealed.

MIAP

The Attorney General has instructed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to transfer Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) to another division. The matter has been communicated in writing.

The decision to transfer SDIG Thennakoon comes in on the concern that the investigations into the assault on the GotaGoGama on May 09 may be interfered.

Meanwhile a motion has been filed in the Colombo Magistrate Court seeking the arrest of Thennakoon.

MIAP

Former President MP Maithripala Sirisena has reportedly left his residence on Paget Road, Colombo, in obedience to the order issued by the Court.

Accordingly, the former President has left the residence last week and moved to another house in Colombo 07.

The residence on Paget Road was built by fusing several quarters entitled to government ministers and handed over to Sirisena when he was retiring from the presidency.

But a petition was filed in the Court seeking annulment of the Cabinet decision to provide the residence.

Upon hearing the petition, the Supreme Court issued an order barring the former President from residing in the residence until the hearing’s conclusion, which was on March 29.

MIAP

Eight Cabinet Ministers have been sworn in for ten Ministries a short while ago.

The travel ban imposed to former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Ajith Nivard Cabraal has been extended till June 25 as per the order of the Colombo Magistrate Court today (23).

This was when the private complaint lodged by former Governor of the Southern Province Keerthi Thennakoon was taken up today.

Although Cabraal was summoned to appear in Court today, he did not appear and his lawyer Shavindra Fernando informed the Court that his client would appear in Court on the next hearing date.

Cabraal is accused of;

• paying off US$ 6.5 million to a US National Zhuberi without the approval of the Cabinet or the Monetary Board of the CBSL during his tenure as the CBSL Chief in the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime;
• causing a loss of US$ 500 million to the country via sovereign bonds due on January 18 during his tenure as the CBSL Chief in the current regime; and
• appointing close relatives for positions and causing a loss of Rs. 10.04 billion through treasury bonds and bond issues by releasing confidential information

MIAP

SLFP MP Mahinda Amaraweera has been sworn in as the Cabinet Minister of Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation.

The swearing in of new Cabinet Ministers has commenced and is being carried out now. Stay tuned for more information.

A motion seeking the issuance of an arrest warrant for Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in Charge of the Western Province Deshabandu Thennakoon has been filed in the Colombo Magistrate Court.

Filed by Attorney at Law Gunaratne Wanninayake on behalf of Gayani Dilrukshi this (23) morning, the motion is in connection with the May 09 assault on the Galleface Protest ground.

Last week, Colombo Magistrate Thilina Gamage also expressed his displeasure to the Police for following an approach towards the SDIG in contradiction with many arrests made by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) related to the assault.

MIAP

Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Admiral Jayanath Colombage has reportedly resigned from his post.

Accordingly, Aruni Wijewardena has been appointed as the new Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

However, Colombage will continue to serve as a President’s Additional Secretary, sources said.

MIAP