Home Blog Page 2457

Minister Johnston Fernando acquitted in three cases filed against him

CN
-
0
Minister Johnston Fernando acquitted in three cases filed against him

Minister Johnston Fernando and three others have been acquitted in three cases filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption alleging that 153 CWE employees were used for political activities.

The cases were taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Buddhika C. Ragala today (28).

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption had filed the case alleging that 153 CWE employees had been removed from their legal duties between 2010 and 2014 and used for political purposes making a loss to the government.

A case against Rajitha Senaratne to be heard on 30th March

CN
-
0
A case against Rajitha Senaratne to be heard on 30th March

The Colombo High Court has ordered that the case against Rajitha Senaratne, the then Minister of Fisheries, and three other defendants, alleging that the government had incurred losses by leasing out the Modara fishing harbor to a private company between August 1, 2014, and November 1, 2014, to be called on the March 30th.

The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Navaratne Marasinghe today (28).

The Bribery Commission handed over several documents pertaining to the case to the lawyers of the defendants and if there are any deficiencies, the lawyers representing Rajitha Senaratne and the defendants requested the court to give them a date to present their case before the court.

The High Court judge granted the request and directed that the case be taken up for hearing on March 30.

The other accused in the case is former chairman of the Fisheries Harbor Corporation Upali Liyanage and its managing director Nil Ravindra Munasinghe. The Bribery Commission has filed the indictment on five charges.

Bus falls down precipice: one dead, 16 injured

CN
-
0
Bus falls down precipice: one dead, 16 injured

It is reported that a bus traveling from Salankanda to Hatton has fallen into a precipice this morning (28).

The accident took place in the Buttergala Estate area on the same road around 08.30 this morning, killing one person and injuring 16 others.

This was a private bus transporting employees from Salankanda to a private company in Hatton.

The bus was traveling at a high speed when the driver lost control and fell into a precipice of about 75 feet.

President summons the Chairmen and CEOs of all public companies in Sri Lanka

CN
-
0
President summons the Chairmen and CEOs of all public companies in Sri Lanka

It is reported that President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is preparing to convene a discussion with the Chairmen and CEOs of all public companies in Sri Lanka.

According to sources, a business council comprising of these leading businessmen will be formed in the near future.

It is hoped that this will enable the business community to present their problems directly to the President and seek solutions to boost the country’s export earnings and boost local industries, which will greatly contribute to the development of the country’s business sector.

Dhanuna Tilakaratne’s bank accounts which were frozen following a lawsuit, reactivated

CN
-
0
Dhanuna Tilakaratne’s bank accounts which were frozen following a lawsuit, reactivated

Sources say that the bank accounts of Dhanuna Tillekeratne, the son-in-law of former Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, who was later acquitted of allegations that he had submitted forged documents to obtain tenders to supply goods to the Army, have been reactivated, sources said.

The allegations were made after Sarath Fonseka contested the Presidential election in 2010 and seven bank accounts belonging to Dhanuna Tilakaratne were frozen following a lawsuit filed in this regard.

Dhanuna Tilakaratne was acquitted of these charges in 2015 but the ban on the relevant bank accounts had not been lifted.

However, sources said that the bank accounts have been reactivated with the intervention of a strongman of the present government.

Another ruling party MP infected with COVID19

CN
-
0
Another ruling party MP infected with COVID19

It is reported that Akila Ellawala, the Ratnapura District Parliamentarian of the SLPP has also been infected with the Covid-19.

Accordingly, 10 parliamentarians have been infected with the corona since the commencement of the new parliamentary session.

Vijitha Herath and Piyadasa Kudabalage to be appointed to the chairman posts at CEB and SLIC respectively  

CN
-
0
Vijitha Herath and Piyadasa Kudabalage to be appointed to the chairman posts at CEB and SLIC respectively  

It is reported that former Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board Vijitha Herath is to be appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of M.C.C. Ferdinando.

Vijitha Herath is an experienced is also an Engineer by profession who worked as the CEB Chairman before Ferdinando. He is currently the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation.

Sources said that Piyadasa Kudabalage, a former CEO of the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation is to be appointed as the Chairman of the corporation.

Piyadasa Kudabalage is an experienced person who served as the CEO of the Insurance Corporation of Sri Lanka when the present Secretary to the President Gamini Senarath was the Chairman.

He and three others were indicted during the last Yahapalanaya government on charges of embezzlement of Litro Gas Company and were acquitted by the Special High Court in 2019 after a lengthy trial.

Piyadasa Kudabalage is currently the Group CEO of Laugfs.

No power cuts until Monday – PUCSL urges public’s support for crisis management (VIDEO)

MIAP
-
0
No power cuts until Monday – PUCSL urges public’s support for crisis management (VIDEO)

There will be no power cuts until next Monday, said Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Janaka Rathnayake, speaking to media today (27), following a discussion held with a team including officials of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) this afternoon.

The PUCSL also noted that the public’s cooperation for crisis management would be important at this stage, given that a capacity of about 30 megawatts could drop tomorrow, despite the decision not to proceed with any power cuts until Monday.

Commission Chairman Rathnayake further stressed that state-run and private institutions have also been instructed to minimise the use of electricity and to pay attention to matters such as the reduction of using air conditioners during peak hours, avoiding the use of appliances that consume more power and turning off street lights.

Marikkar reveals government’s collapse in August (VIDEO)

MIAP
-
0
Marikkar reveals government’s collapse in August (VIDEO)

The government is set to collapse as three factions will be leaving it in August, 2022, claimed Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP S.M. Marikkar, speaking to a briefing held in the Opposition Leader’s Office today (27).

Accordingly, three groups, the leftist group led by Maithripala Sirisena, a group of more than fifty persons previously believed to be devotees of Basil Rajapaksa and another will be withdrawing from the government, leaving Ministers like Johnston Fernando, Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Rohitha Abeygunawardena and MPs like Tissa Kutti Arachchi to be the remaining members of the government, Marikkar revealed.

Claiming that this move will definitely take place, the SJB MP added that the ‘majority,’ therefore, will be designated as the Opposition, in a move of dissolving Parliament and ousting the Rajapaksa Family via an election thereafter.

Gammanpila must be removed, if ‘Power – Fuel Drama’ not scripted by government: Ananda Palitha

MIAP
-
0
Gammanpila must be removed, if ‘Power – Fuel Drama’ not scripted by government: Ananda Palitha

The drama staged by the Power Minister and the Energy Minister recently was scripted by the government, alleged Convener of the ‘Samagi Ekabaddha Khanijathel Wurthiya Samithi Sammelanaya‘ Ananda Palitha, speaking to a briefing held in Colombo.

Had it not been scripted by the government, Udaya Gammanpila must be removed from his portfolio as the Minister of Energy, he pointed out.

“Now, it is said that crude oil is to be imported to the Refinery on the 30th. As the Refinery is set to be operated, fuel is being purchased from India for the CEB in a hurry, when it is possible to produce them 100 per cent in the refinery. It is not possible to pay India in dollars when the CEB cannot afford even rupees, is it? It will probably further drag the country down. That being said, this is divided into two points. One, the Minister tabled special suggestions to solve this crisis. One of the suggestions was the immediate implementation of the Fuel Price Formula. Will dollars be flown this way if the Fuel Price Formula is implemented? Will ships sails for free? Will the people receive more money in their hands? Will free fuel be given? No… This attempt is to increase the price of fuel. Why? It was not slashed when there was a declining for fifteen months. When there was a slight surge for two months, they increased the price by rupees on the grounds of the dollar crisis and on the claim of curbing the debts. The debts soared. Then it was increased on December 20 on the justification of curbing the consumption and saving dollars, hence the global price was dropping at that time. Now, when the price is increasing in the global market, we have no way of increasing it, because it was already increased when the global price was dropping. The soaring on December 20 had taken place when the price was dropping for three consecutive months. Now, as they cannot afford to increase again, they attempt to purchase fuel for the CEB from India. Now, it is said that the CPC cannot function. This drama was being staged by the Power Minister and the Energy Minister on the blessings of the government. If that is not the case, the Energy Minister must be removed.”

MIAP

1...2,4562,4572,458...2,538Page 2,457 of 2,538