The Court of Appeal today acquitted and sentenced SLPP MP Premalal Jayasekara alias ‘Choka Malli’, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death.
The MP had filed a petition in the Court of Appeal challenging the death sentence passed by the Ratnapura High Court and the death sentence was upheld.
The Court of Appeal has acquitted the other two persons who were sentenced to death in connection with the murder.
The stock market authorities have decided to limit the daily activities of the Colombo Stock Exchange to 2 hours.
Today and tomorrow (31-01) the stock market will start at 10.30 am and daily trading will be limited to 12.30 pm only.
There is interference in 3G and 4G transmission due to long hours of power cuts and the shortage of fuel for power generators, several mobile service providers said.
Sri Lanka is currently hit by a shortage of forex and essential items including fuel required for power generation. Rolling power interruptions have been gravely affecting the day-to-day life of the general public over the past few weeks.
Meanwhile, it is reported that several foreign television channels have also decided to suspend their broadcasts in Sri Lanka due to power outages and the dollar crisis.
The Ceylon Private Bus Owners’ Association says that all private buses will have to be taken out of service by Monday as the diesel crisis has intensified.
“The diesel crisis has seriously affected private buses. We have a problem with when diesel will arrive. Therefore, we clearly state that we do not expect diesel to be available in the next two days. However, we will have to stop the bus service completely by Monday. Because we can’t run buses without diesel. SLTB has failed to provide diesel ”
The President of the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association Gemunu Wijeratne stated this in a statement issued to the media today (31).
An attempt by the Chairman of ‘Surakimu Sri Lanka’ Pahiyangala Ananda Sagara Thero to be sworn in as the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has been foiled by the security forces yesterday (30), reports say.
“We can do better at governing the Central Bank. Therefore, today we tried to go inside the Central Bank and take the oaths as the Governor of the Central Bank. But it was not allowed. I believe we can do this job better than the Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal ”
He also stressed that the Mahanayake Theras should come out and reach an agreement against the current crisis in the country.
The protest in front of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka was organized by Surakimu Sri Lanka.
Dr. Mahinda Pathirana, a theorist of the SLPP and chairman of the Sri Lanka Press Council, says that despite some extremist groups creating a bubble of protest against the government on social media networks, the intelligent citizens of the country have unshakable faith in the Rajapaksa government.
Following are the comments made by him on social media.
Wimal Weerawansa, a Leader of the 11 small parties in the government says that the present government should be defeated in Parliament and a new journey should be started and the people should force the ministers and MPs to leave the present government.
“The government has fallen into a dark fate. Such a government cannot save this country from a situation like this. That is why we have invited everyone to defeat this government in Parliament and embark on a new journey. They should not be allowed to destroy this country like this”
Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa was speaking to the media yesterday (30) after a meeting of representatives of the 11 smaller parties in the government including the Sri Lanka Freedom Party yesterday (30) with Ven. Iththapane Dhammalankara Thero
What the government has done to the economy Covid or no Covid is unpardonable . See the numerous hardships my wife and I had to endure; 7 hour power cut, no gas , no petrol , 25% price hikes. This is not what we ever dreamed would happened in Sri Lanka. As retirees we are doomed. Fortunately my son took us down under to give us some relief for a few months . How many can do that? The rest more than 70% suffer silently. As leaders what is handed over to you must be left in a better state.
This is far worse than what we had to endure in the 70s under the SLFP. The Economy is on the verge of a total collapse: a dire warning from the man who probably should be the Governor of the Central Bank to overcome this grave crisis. A career Central Banker, Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe, recently retired as the Senior Deputy Governor. IF President Gota is serious about avoiding an imminent crash, he should immediately replace the Finance Minister, the Treasury Secretary and the Governor of CBSL.* In no country in the world has the core group that disrupted an economy also been the ones to fix it. We have only days left, and at most a few weeks. The President needs to act NOW.What is the opposition doing ? Other than protesting? Corporate leaders are silent but accepted top appointments? So my appeal to these businessmen who supported openly for the Rajapakse’s to come into power, watched in silence as they messed up, but happily enjoyed the handouts and concessions and positions dished out for them, must wake up before it is too late for Sri Lanka. As they settle in the back seats of their Bentleys, Range Rovers and Benz Cars after a day’s work and rest their heads on the soft pillows in their luxurious cars, must think of the millions who live on a daily wage (60%) of population who can no longer put 2 meals together. History will certainly judge them sooner or later. Don’t watch in silence whilst we become a Lebanon or a Venezuela .
Because the country won’t be stable for you and children to enjoy your wealth you have earned.
Be tough with the government. In fact journalist muheed Jereen had even suggested that those billionaire businessmen who financed and supported Gota and danced with Dr P B Jayasundara should dole out 100 Million USD loan to the country to bail out Sri Lanka. Knowing how profit seeking most of you are, it is very unlikely . Many of you have either shifted are already planning to shift to Dubai till the crisis blows over.
So please think of your workers, your relatives and how you started life and do something to save Sri Lanka. The situation is very serious unlike ever before.
https://ceylontoday.lk/news/bop-crisis-might-lead-to-banking-crisis-drnandalal-weerasinghe
Adolf
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Electrical Engineers’ Association says that the people will be able to celebrate the New Year with light only if they receive both the rain to fill the reservoirs associated with the hydropower plants and the money needed to purchase fuel.
“With the amount of fuel we have now, we have 10 hours of power cuts. In this situation, we have to increase the number of hours ahead. Because the Barge power plant also has fuel left for another three days. Accordingly, the power disruptions period will have to be further increased. If we are given fuel we can provide electricity. We clearly state that the government and the relevant institutions including the Petroleum Corporation should provide us with fuel as soon as possible so that we can reduce the amount of this power cut as much as possible.”
The President of the Ceylon Electricity Board Electrical Engineers Association Anil Ranjith Induwara stated this addressing a media briefing held yesterday (30).
The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) in collaboration with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Vietnam, organized a fam tour for a delegation of Vietnamese tour operators/agents representing 13 Vietnamese companies, including media personnel as well.
The main purpose of their participation at this fam tour was to convey the message to the rest of the world and their fellow citizens that Sri Lanka is a safe and an attractive destination for tourism, filled with a myriad of holiday opportunities to choose from.
Considering the importance of attracting more tourists to Sri Lanka, and creating greater awareness of the destination, it was decided to showcase Sri Lanka tourism products to the foreign consumers, by giving them the opportunity to experience a tour in Sri Lanka, with the purpose of attracting more Vietnamese tourists and encouraging them to promote the destination among potential travelers as the best destination to visit during the holiday season.
Further, travel agents’ familiarization tours have been identified as an important activity to invest on the trade, as they are the main point in promoting the country to the travel community who seek the advice of an agent in organizing their tours.
During the fam tour, the delegation visited places such as Negombo, Sigiriya, Minneriya Wildlife Park, Dambulla Cave Temple, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy, Nuwaraeliya, Ella, Galle and Colombo, from 13th to 19th March 2022.
Moreover, a B2B event was held with the local DMCs and their Vietnamese counterparts, including Industry staskeholders and Tourism officials.
The B2B session with Sri Lankan travel agents gave the Vietnamese Tour operators to engage with the Industry stakeholders and also the opportunity to develop new business contacts to further promote the market.
This year in 2022, Tourist arrivals recorded an excellent increase of 96,507 in February, where it depicted a considerable change of 2,767.1 compared with 2021.
Another purpose of organizing this FAM Tour was to encourage more Tourist arrivals from Vietnam, and spread the message among travelers about Sri Lanka as a desirable destination with a host of travel opportunities to explore.