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10 US Congressmen Ask Secretary of State to take Action Against Sri Lanka

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10 US Congressmen Ask Secretary of State to take Action Against Sri Lanka

A letter has been sent to US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and USAID head Samantha Power asking them to take necessary measures against the repressive laws in force in Sri Lanka. 10 US Congressmen have signed this letter.

Pointing out that the right of citizens to protest must be protected and the use of violence against peaceful protesters and journalists must be immediately stopped, the Congressmen request the Secretary of State and the head of USAID to put pressure on the Government of Sri Lanka through all possible means.

The Congressmen emphasize that all possible measures should be taken to stabilize Sri Lanka and immediate steps should be taken to provide relief to the Sri Lankan people through USAID.

Import of 300 items temporary banned

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Import of 300 items temporary banned

The Ministry of Finance has issued an announcement suspending the import of over 300 items. President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Minister of Finance has signed this announcement.

According to this decision, the import of the relevant goods will be implemented from August 23.

Person who stole 03kg of rice to feed his children starving for 04 days arrested

Ashika B
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Person who stole 03kg of rice to feed his children starving for 04 days arrested

A person who stole 03 kg of rice and some other items has been arrested by the Borella police. The arrest was made based on a tip given by the security guards of the store.

The suspect, a resident of Dehiwala area, has told the Police that his two children have been starving without food for 04 days. Further, he has mentioned that these items were stolen to quench their hunger.

It is reported that the sub-inspector who investigated this incident has reimbursed the value of the relevant goods and released the suspect.

Due to the economic crisis that has ensued in the country, the prices of essential commodities including food have risen to a level that the ordinary people can no longer afford and due to this, such thefts are reported daily.

OV

Ex President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s return in early September

Ashika B
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Ex President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s return in early September

As the Political sources say, the former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is currently staying in Thailand, is ready to come to Sri Lanka in early September.

Mr. Rajapaksa’s nearby ones had previously announced that he would be coming to Sri Lanka tomorrow(24). Therefore, a group of the members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) were ready to make the welcoming of the former President at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

However,it was later reported that the arrival of the former President has been delayed by two weeks.

The security of the former President and his family members has been considered these days and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) had informed President Ranil Wickremesinghe in a letter to urgently consider providing the security and the facilities for the former President.

OV

Fuel queues likely to reemerge as issuance restricted

MIAP
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Fuel queues likely to reemerge as issuance restricted

The issuance of fuel for stations is being restricted on a daily basis all over the island, leading to a potential reemergence of fuel queues in the future, revealed the Petroleum Distributors’ Association.

Following the implementation of the QR Code system for fuel issuance, the fuel queues ended and now there are no queues at any station. With the implementation of the national fuel pass system there is a clear decline in the number of people coming for fuel, stations owners said.

As of now, the daily issuance of fuel has been restricted, and it would be problematic as the stations belonging to the Indian Oil Company (LIOC) are receiving fuel without any shortage but those of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) are not, the Union pointed out.

MIAP

Govt to introduce new bill replacing PTA!

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Govt to introduce new bill replacing PTA!

A new bill assuring National Security will be drafted replacing the currently enforced Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), revealed Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardena.

As per a Cabinet decision, the drafting of the new bill is already in progress at the Justice Ministry, the Minister said addressing the briefing held in announcing Cabinet decisions today (23).

Once the new bill is drafted it will be tabled in Parliament for approval, he added.

MIAP

IUSF arrestees taken to Tangalle Prison

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IUSF arrestees taken to Tangalle Prison

The arrested Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) members including its Convener Wasantha Mudalige, Convener of the Inter-University Bhikshu Federation Ven. Galwewa Siridhamma Thero and Hashan Gunathilake of the University of Kelaniya were taken to the Tangalle Prison last (22) night. The three were arrested due to a IUSF protest held on August 18.

The Defence Ministry approved the Police to question the three under a 90-day detention period and accordingly, the suspects were taken to the prison by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID).

A 72-hour detention order was obtained at the time of their arrest and interrogation was carried out thereafter. Without presenting them to a Court, the IUSF members were referred to a 90-day detention period under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

MIAP

Tycoon and Melwa Director Anandaraja Pillai escapes CID radar after July 09th uprising

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Tycoon and Melwa Director Anandaraja Pillai escapes CID radar after July 09th uprising

Anandaraja Pillai, a director of Melwa Group and a well-known business tycoon, still remains at large after the July 09th insurgence where he openly endorsed the anti-government protesters who made the historic breach at the President’s House, while thousands of civilians are being tracked down and some arrested for their actions, sources said.

Steel wire kingpin Melwa is a company that holds the monopoly in the construction industry and became unimaginably rich during the previous Rajapaksa regime. Harboured under the Rajapaksa shelter, its Director Pillai became the owner of one of the five Super Bentley motor cars in Sri Lanka. The wealth the business tycoon collected during this period is yet to be comprehended that he has even built six Hilton hotels in different areas in the country including Yala.

Being blessed by the Rajapaksas for his grand entrance to the niche level of society, Pillai took his turn against the Rajapaksas by not only levelling himself with the anti-government protesters but also publicly releasing photographs of himself celebrating the July 09th victory by lying on the President’s bed.

The Police have so far arrested a number of civilians for trespassing and breaching the President’s House and even released photos to the media to identify others. The number grows by thousands as young boys and girls whose energetic and rebellious views against the ex president and the government drove them to breach the President’s House, but monopolies like Pillai, who claimed ownership to the ‘Aragalaya’ by openly posing himself to the camera, has not even been questioned to date.

It would be a question whether he has the current government and even the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) under his pedal as well.

Pillai has now removed all the photographs he posted on Social Media, but he goes on babbling that whoever comes to power will be under him in what he describes as his ‘method of subversion’, sources further said.

Overseas travel ban on former CBSL Chief lapsed

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Overseas travel ban on former CBSL Chief lapsed

The overseas travel ban imposed to former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Ajith Nivard Cabraal will be lapsed today (23).

Sarath Jayamanne PC, the lawyer for the Complainant, Ven Thinniyawela Palitha Thera said they are not yet ready with the amended plaint. The Colombo Fort Magistrate Hon Thilina Gamage ordered the Complainant to file the amended complaint before 15th November.

The Complainant’s lawyers also didn’t ask for an extension of the travel ban on the defendant, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, and the travel ban lapsed.

Defendant’s lawyer Sampath Mendis PC informed Court that he has several preliminary objections to raise in relation to the filing of this case and that he would do so once the amended complaint is filed.

CBSL has become a White Elephant : Waste of tax payers money?

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CBSL has become a White Elephant : Waste of tax payers money?

Several big companies have defrauded local banks. Generally the banks go after the small companies. Not the big companies. Despite shareholders and Directors writing to the CBSL no action is taken. Conflict of Interest galore but the fit and proper test is totally ignored by CBSL.

Several banks have ignored governance rules when appointing directors. For example Daya Gamage, Arjun Aloysius -WM Mendis have been given Billions nothing has been done against the officials. We have highlighted the bad lending at HNB to a big shareholder. Amal Cabral is a director of HNB. He heads the debt recovery committee according Union sources of Hatton National Bank.

We understand CIC has defaulted to the tune of 700 million the bank. The board
has decided to write off a loss of 700 million and acquire a defunct assets. Cabral is a Director or Chairman of a CIC subsidiary. The Chairperson is a Director of Sunshine Holdings. Amal Cabral is the Chairman of Sunshine holdings.

We understand a CIC employee is a Director of the Bank. What a web of connections .What is CBSL doing or investigating these connections. Public
deposits are at risk. What is SEC doing? No compliance? Another case in point is MTD walkers.

Then Board and some employees misrepresented the true situation of the company and acted like confidence tricksters, giving newspaper interviews etc only to end up as conmen. Violated all SEC and CBSL rules and cheated investors, the public and the banks PEOPLES BANK default of Rs 10 Billion ,should be treated as criminal as its public funds.A proper investigation must be done to ascertain whether cash cheques were withdrawn, who approved them? The chairman?
The CFO ? The accountant ? Who cashed those cheques if so? Who did they give the cash to?

One must study the board minutes to see the depth of involvement and who is responsible and whether there are any explanations to what happened to the money. In 2019 News 1st in an exclusive exposé on a conflict of interest involving the Chairman, who served as the Director of Peoples Bank and as the Chairman of MTD Walkers PLC has now uncovered yet another irregular business dealings.

The People’s Bank granted MTD Walkers PLC various types of borrowings at times amounting to Rs 10 billion. These borrowings were granted without sufficient and easily realisable assets.

Without proper securities in place, the bank will be unable to recover the monies owed to it. The Credit was given by Aruni Goonthileke now Chairman of HNB, unions say criminal charges are to be put against her soon. Whilst there were significant disclosures by News 1st in the past regarding various malpractices involving the state banks and MTD Walkers PLC, the authorities are yet to initiate any legal action.

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has placed MTD Walkers PLC (KAPI.N0000) on a watch list.The company’s financial records show a staggering Rs 18 billion debt to many local banks. Of the Rs 18 billion, Rs 4 billion is owed to state banks on top of other borrowing facilities already granted to MTD Walkers PLC.The SEC has ordered the MTD the board CEO, CFO and all management personnel to desist in any manner from destroying, concealing, altering, removing, amending or cause the destruction, concealment, alteration, amendment or removal of any information that is in the records or books maintained by the Company. SEC further imposed a fine of Rs.36.3 million on the MTD directors for breach of listing rules violating rule no.6 of the Act. “The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) hired a local
audit firm to get to the bottom of MTD accounts.

The auditors will advise future course of action against MTD Walkers taking note on the debentures issued, the non-submission of the Annual Reports for the financial years ended 2018/2019, interim financial statements after 30 June 2019 and on the complaints received alleging that the assets of MTD Walkers were being sold and funds being siphoned out without proper internal controls. Despite all these allegations the Central Bank has done nothing other than being a silent bystander. (https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Peoples-Bank-acquires-Arjun-Aloysius-owned-W-M-Mendis-Co-s-Aluthgamadistillery/273-235304)

Adolf

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